Japan are playing the prettiest soccer at the World Cup. On the basis of their highlights, they look like they're going to repeat as champions. In their Round of 16 win over the Netherlands on Tuesday, they scored this goal, maybe the best of the tournament so far. Mizuho Sakaguchi couldn't have struck this any better.
Japan play gorgeous soccer, but their World Cup resume remains unimpressive
Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Everything about that move is spectacular. The initial backheel pass, the decision to cut the ball back towards the top of the box, the dummy run and the perfect finish. Most other teams don't even look capable of scoring goals that good right now, and even if France and Germany have it in them, they haven't done anything this impressive yet.
But Japan also conceded this awful goal. Ayumi Kaihori committed the worst howler of the tournament in stoppage time, gifting the Netherlands a way back into the match. The Oranje didn’t capitalize -- Japan won 2-1 -- but it was an inexcusably bad error in a crucial moment.
This came not long after the Netherlands were denied two huge chances inside the box, and in the three minutes after this error, they had Japan on the back foot and looked capable of forcing extra time. If they had another couple minutes, they might have pulled it off.
Maybe Japan will turn it on when it really matters. Maybe Australia are a good enough opponent that a switch will flip, they'll bust out the good stuff for 90 minutes and assert themselves as World Cup favorites. But so far, Japan have played three average and one downright bad team and beaten all of them by just one goal. They're a hell of a lot more aesthetically pleasing than the Matildas, the United States or Canada, but are they more effective? No, not really.
Between their talent, their pretty play and their status as defending champs, it’s easy to buy into Japan as World Cup contenders. And yet, all of the other seven remaining teams have a more impressive win on their resume.
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