In the 5th round of the qualifiers, Japan won 4-0 away against Indonesia. Takumi Minamino, who scored a goal, said in a post-match interview that Indonesia’s defense once left the Japanese team at a loss. Regarding the match against China on the 19th, Minamino stated that it will be a tough game.
Minamino admitted that Indonesia’s defense made it difficult for him to find scoring opportunities, “Personally, I couldn’t create too many chances. If there was an opportunity to shoot, I would definitely try. Thank you to Takefusa Kubo for passing me a great ball. I was determined to take the shot, and the result was good.”
Minamino noted that Indonesia’s defense was solid for the first half-hour, “The opponent defended us tightly from the start of the first half, making it hard to create opportunities. I felt their focus was on defending the two flanks, but we kept trying to break through. I think this is something we need to improve.”
In the 6th round match on the 19th, Japan will face China away in Xiamen. Minamino stated that it will surely be a tough battle, “I think the upcoming away match will also be very challenging, so we need to be well-prepared and ready to face the challenge.”
