Episode 232 - Japan 2-1 Colombia

Alan Gibson and Cesare Polenghi guest on this week's podcast, recorded right after Japan's stirring 2-1 triumph over Colombia in their first Group H game at the 2018 World Cup.

We begin the episode with a discussion on where this win ranks amongst the Samurai Blue's (admittedly small) list of World Cup victories, and then chat about the key selection decisions Akira Nishino faced following the three friendlies leading in to the Colombia match.

We then work our way through the key moments of the match, beginning with the Carlos Sanchez red card naturally, Japan not doing enough to ram home their advantage in the first half (where the Eiji Kawashima conundrum gets another airing), and then all of the positives that came out of the second half: the chances that came before the second goal; Yuya Osako's winner and what it could do for him confidence-wise in the rest of the tournament; and the assured way Nishino's team saw out the last 20 minutes.

After wrapping up the Colombia game (to 40:10), we then shift our focus to the next match, against Senegal, and discuss whether Nishino might consider a return to three at the back against The Lions of Teranga, or roll on with an unchanged side.

Follow my guests on twitter and the web:

Cesare - @CesarePolenghi

Football Tribe

Alan - @jsoccermagazine

JSoccer.com