Japan's World Cup issue exposed: Can't press lead, says Fukuda

Japan's World Cup weakness exposed

Japan's World Cup weakness has been exposed by Fukuda Masahiro. The team struggles to press when leading, a problem that needs addressing. Despite recent form of 2W-2D-1L (LDWDW), they lost 2-1 to Brazil on June 29, 2026.

Why does attack drop when leading?

Fukuda analyzed why Japan's attack weakens when leading. He pointed out the team becomes too defensive, weakening their frontline press. This makes them vulnerable to counterattacks.

How to solve this issue?

Fukuda suggests strengthening frontline press to maintain attack when leading. He also emphasizes improving midfield positioning to balance attack and defense.

Future outlook

Japan plans to address this issue in practice matches and training. They aim to learn from the Brazil loss and adopt a more attacking style.