With their record 4-0 demolition of Tunisia on Saturday, Japan avoided repeating their 2022 World Cup pitfall, but more significantly demonstrated a growth of character that underscored their emergence as serious contenders.Their famous 2-1 comeback wins over powerhouses Germany and Spain four years ago in Qatar sandwiched a sluggish 1-0 defeat to Costa Rica, and concerns had persisted about their ability to break down World Cup-level opponents who are happy to cede possession.But after grinding out a draw with the Netherlands on June 14, Hajime Moriyasu's players fine-tuned their approach …READ FULL ARTICLE
