‘3 wins, 3 losses, 11 goals scored, 0 goals conceded’ FIFA ranked No. 11 Japan thrashes No. 6 Spain 4-0, ‘looking to win first title in 12 years’

‘Samurai Blue’ Japan’s dominance over ‘Invincibles’ Spain has resulted in a remarkable 3 wins from 3 group games, 11 goals scored and 0 conceded.

The Japan women’s national football team (ranked 11th in FIFA) defeated Spain (ranked 6th in FIFA) 4-0 in their third Group C match at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia-New Zealand 2023 at Wellington Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand, at 4:00 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday.

Japan is one of the “Big Four” of Asia, along with Australia (FIFA Ranking 10), China (FIFA Ranking 14) and South Korea (FIFA Ranking 17). After winning the 2011 World Cup in Germany and finishing as runners-up at the 2015 World Cup in Canada, Japan was disappointed to be knocked out in the round of 16 at the 2019 World Cup in France. The team came into the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with a different mindset.

They were expected to breeze through the group stage. There was a large objective power differential between Spain and Japan, and between Costa Rica (ranked 36th in FIFA) and Zambia (ranked 77th in FIFA).

Japan was incredible. With clean sheets against Zambia (5-0) and Costa Rica (2-0), they booked their spot in the round of 16 early. The Spanish result would decide first and second place.

It wasn’t over. Japan would go on to demolish Spain (4-0). Hinata Miyazawa opened the scoring in the 12th minute, Riko Yuki added a goal in the 29th minute, and Miyazawa scored multiple goals in the 40th minute. Even substitute Tanaka Mina rattled the net in the closing stages of the match. 꽁머니사이트

In the end, Japan finished the group stage with an impressive record of “3 wins from 3 games” and “11 goals scored and 0 goals conceded”. They are the only one of the 12 nations to go undefeated in Group A through Group C so far.

Advancing to the Round of 16, Japan will face Norway, who finished second in Group A (W4, D1, L1, 6 goals scored, 1 goal conceded), at 5 p.m. on Aug. 5 at the same Wellington Stadium that hosted Spain. Japan are on a quest to repeat their 2010 glory and become champions for the first time in 12 years.