7-0. 5-0. Two consecutive wins and 12 points lost in the Asian qualifying round. He boasts strongest competence in Asia, at least the quarterfinals at World Cup. This is what Korean soccer dreamed of. Japan is doing everything it can.
Japan defeated Bahrain 5-0 in the second round of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup at the Bahrain National Stadium in Lipa, Bahrain on the 11th (Korea time). The first round match against China, which was held at home Saitama on the 5th, was won 7-0. It is demonstrating its full de-Asian destructive power and is conducting a fire test.
The mood is completely opposite to that of Korea, which met a lower-ranked team, including Palestine and Oman, and drew a draw after a rough match and won a new victory thanks to a score that was almost a theater goal. The difference in level is palpable to the extent that the expression “rival competing for the strongest in Asia” is overshadowed.
Japan has scored 25 points and lost no points in the last five games against Asia as of the World Cup qualifiers.
Korea was expected to have a thorny road as it was in the same group as Australia and Saudi Arabia in the third qualifying round, but the team is making fun of the move. Rather, Korea, which has been enjoying the joy of avoiding strong teams, is expected to face a bumpy road.
Japan had nine players score goals in the first and second rounds of the third round of the preliminary round. This means that Japan has diverse routes of attack and does not depend on a specific player.
In the match against China, Takumi Minamino scored two goals, and Kubo Takefusa, Ito Junya, Mitoma Kaoru, Endo Wantaru and Maeda Daizen scored. In the match against Bahrain, Ayase Ueda and Hidemasa Morita also scored two goals, respectively, and Koki Ogawa also scored one.
Korea tends to rely on big league players such as Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, and Hwang Hee-chan. If they remain silent or expose their ups and downs, the game becomes very difficult.
This was directly linked to the match when Son Heung-min lost two crucial chances in the match against Palestine. It ended in a 0-0 draw after a rough match. The match against Oman, where Son Heung-min flew, won 3-1.
Compared to Japan, which does not give any gap to the underdog team, the Korean defense organization is also disappointing.
South Korea has still not been able to solve the three-term task, which has been pointed out as a problem since the Asian Cup.
Amid the increasing importance of defensive midfielders in modern soccer, Korea is worried. As the midfield fight was not clearly overwhelmed, the last line was often exposed to the opponent’s attack and peeled off.
Coach Hong Myung-bo trusted Park Yong-woo, who had difficulties at the Asian Cup, to the same position, but the match against Oman was far from stable. 안전놀이터
Of course, the probability that Korea will not even make it to the World Cup finals is very low in reality.
In the third qualifying round, in which six countries play full leagues, only the second-place finishers can advance to the World Cup, while the third-place finishers also have chances to advance to the fourth qualifying round (playoff). Six teams will also compete in the fourth qualifying round, and even the second-place finishers can play in the World Cup. Even if the team finishes third, there is still an intercontinental playoff.
However, as Korea’s advance to the World Cup finals itself is not a goal, we can’t help but envy Japan, which is leading far ahead.