On Friday 15 November, SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) played their fifth match of Group C in the final round of the FIFA World Cup 26™ Asian Qualifiers in Jakarta, where they defeated Indonesia 4-0. The win takes the team's record to four wins and one draw, giving them 13 points and keeping them at the top of the standings at the halfway stage. They now face China PR in Xiamen on Tuesday 19 November.

Over 60,000 fans packed the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, most of them wearing the home team’s red to create a completely away atmosphere for the visitors, with the home supporters cheering enthusiastically even before kick-off and loud boos echoing throughout the stadium as the Japanese players were introduced.

Japan, aiming to qualify for their eighth consecutive World Cup, stuck with a 3-4-3 formation despite the absence of injured players TANIGUCHI Shogo (Sint-Truidense VV) and UEDA Ayase (Feyenoord). SUZUKI Zion (Parma Calcio 1913) started in goal with a backline of ITAKURA Kou (Borussia MG), HASHIOKA Daiki (Luton Town) and MACHIDA Koki (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise). ENDO Wataru (Liverpool FC) and MORITA Hidemasa (Sporting CP) anchored the midfield, while DOAN Ritsu (SC Freiburg) and MITOMA Kaoru (Brighton & Hove Albion FC) were deployed on the flanks. MINAMINO Takumi (AS Monaco) and KAMADA Daichi (Crystal Palace) were placed in the centre under lone striker OGAWA Koki (NEC Nijmegen). .....

🔹試合終了🔹️

🏆FIFA #ワールドカップ 26アジア最終予選(3次予選)
🇯🇵SAMURAI BLUE 4-0 インドネシア代表🇮🇩

⌚️21:00(🇯🇵)
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🔗https://t.co/1GBkVvh7PK@FIFAWorldCup #FIFAWorldCup #AsianQualifiers#夢への勇気を #SAMURAIBLUE #jfa #daihyo… pic.twitter.com/Ekx3OVZ557

— サッカー日本代表 🇯🇵 (@jfa_samuraiblue) November 15, 2024

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