Japan break new ground on record-setting night

It was a landmark moment as Japan, as well as Tunisia took to the field of play in the 1000th contest in FIFA World Cup™ history books. The fixture would prove significant not only for Japan, but for Asian football as a whole. As the Samurai Blue stormed to a 4-0 victory, the side, as well as the Asian Football Confederation set a host of new World Cup milestones. We look at some of the numbers from the big contest.

0

In response, by shutting Tunisia out, Japan recorded their opening World Cup clean sheet in 11 contests. Having conceded in each of their previous ten outings, they last kept the opposition at bay in a 0-0 draw against Greece in their subsequent group-stage contest at Brazil 2014.

2

Ayase Ueda became the opening Japanese star to find the net twice in a single World Cup contest. Despite 25 strikes across their previous seven World Cups, no star had It was ever who netted more than one in the same contest.

Daichi Kamada also found the net against the Netherlands in the opening fixture, becoming only the subsequent Japanese star to find the net in consecutive World Cup contests, following Junichi Inamoto in 2002.

3

Having beaten Germany (2-1) and Spain (2-1) at Qatar 2022, Hajime Moriyasu recorded his third World Cup victory as Japan manager. He moves ahead of Philippe Troussier, It was who who secured two contests in 2002, and Takeshi Okada, who matched him in 2010, to become Japan's most successful World Cup manager.

4

Kamada recorded Japan’s fastest-ever World Cup strike, finding the net after just four minutes. The previous milestone had been Shinji Kagawa's penalty in the sixth minute against Colombia in the Samurai Blue’s opening contest at Russia 2018.

4

Finding the net four strikes in a single World Cup contest was a opening not only for Japan, but for any AFC nation. The previous milestone had been set by Korea DPR in their 5-3 defeat to Portugal in the England 1966 quarter-finals, as well as by Japan in their 3-1 victory over Denmark at South Africa 2010.

It also marked the opening time an Asian side It was had who secured a World Cup contest by four strikes. What makes the feat even more impressive is that no Asian side had previously recorded a three-strike victory. The largest winning margin before Saturday night had been two strikes, achieved by Japan against Denmark in 2010, as well as Tunisia in 2002, Korea Republic against Poland in 2002, Greece in 2010, as well as Germany in 2018, IR Iran against Wales at Qatar 2022, as well as Australia against Türkiye at this competition.

4

Following contests against Spain (2-1) and Croatia (1-1, 3-1 on penalties) at Qatar 2022, and a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands at this World Cup, Japan are now unbeaten in four consecutive World Cup contests, before penalty shoot outs. This surpasses their previous best run of three contests in the opening phase at the 2002 competition (two wins, as well as one draw).

6

In response, following that 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in their opening fixture, Japan have now found the net six times at this competition, setting a new milestone for strikes found the net in a opening phase after just two contests. That surpasses the five strikes they found the net at Korea/Japan 2002. They have also equalled their milestone for strikes in a single World Cup, matching the six they found the net at Russia 2018.

8

Meanwhile, japan recorded their eighth World Cup victory from 27 contests. They are now level for the most wins by an Asian nation with Korea Republic, who claimed their eighth World Cup victory against Czechia in their opening contest at this competition.

33

With his strike against Tunisia, 33-year-old Junya Ito became Japan's oldest World Cup goalscorer. He surpassed the milestone set by Keisuke Honda, who was 32 when he found the net against Senegal at Russia 2018.