Japan wary of fired up and wounded Tunisia for World Cup landmark game / Photo: Julio Cesar AGUILAR - AFP
-
French Olympic gold medallist Florent Manaudou announces retirement
-
Romania shuts nuclear plant as Danube drops
-
Tourists rescued by boat as forest fire threatens Greek beaches
-
Millions of Europeans struggle with another wave of extreme heat
-
Indicted Raul Castro reappears after months out of public view
-
Israel reopens once-closed West Bank settlement
-
Italian teen Curtis breaks women's 50m backstroke world record for second time
-
Taylor to captain New Zealand for first time against Bulls
-
Taulagi steps out of 'comfort zone' with code switch to French Top 14 new boys
-
Carrick urges Man Utd to push for more signings to boost title bid
-
Leicester's Thai owners put troubled club up for sale: reports
-
'This was my World Cup' says Somali ref after UEFA Super Cup
-
Stocks steady as US inflation worries ease, oil slips
-
Survivors tell of horror of Zimbabwe ferry sinking as death toll hits 46
-
Porsche to end production of flagship electric car: report
-
Juventus forward Vlahovic signs three-year Besiktas deal
-
Twitch sparks gamers' wrath with Amazon AI sharing deal
-
Tielemans apologises for offending Villa fans with Man Utd boast
-
Blaze forces families to abandon Turkish tour boat
-
Stocks gain as US inflation worries ease, oil slips
-
'If you can, move!' say Rome's viral dancing seniors
-
Heavy rain soaks eastern Japan, prompting highest-level warning
-
Zambia voters weigh Hichilema's economic record
-
Celtic boss O'Neill 'much better' after hospital procedure
-
SBCFX to Showcase Trading Innovation, Regional Growth Strategy, and Future Vision at iFX EXPO Asia 2026
-
MEXC July TradFi Trading Shifts Toward AI Storage as SNDK Futures Volume Surges More Than 15x Times
-
Hodgkinson sets up Werro showdown after Euro 800m drama
-
Maghreb sees demographic shift with fertility at historic low
-
'How many will die?': the mysterious ailment killing Kenyan elephants
-
European stocks gain as oil prices ease
-
Arteta coy over Lewis-Skelly's Arsenal future after 'emotional' celebration
-
Infantino future should be decided by election says African football chief
-
Romania shuts down nuclear plant as Danube drops
-
Man City star Doku signs five-year contract extension
-
German steel giant Thyssenkrupp weighs options as Rhine drops
-
Fabien Barthez joins Zidane's new France coaching setup
-
US ambassador denounces settler siege as Israel dispatches troops
-
Taiwan chokes mobile internet speeds in drill for Chinese attack
-
Hasan takes 6-55 as Bangladesh claim opening day of Australia Test
-
From Chinese AI to Global ETFs: STARTRADER Launches 45 New 24/7 Stock and ETF CFDs
-
Taiwan says AI agents used in cyberattacks targeting island
-
Tech stocks enjoy rebound after US inflation on mixed day for markets
-
Japan protests Putin's first visit to disputed islands
-
Hasan takes 6-55 as Bangladesh bundle out Australia for 198
-
Kiss wants fit-again Wallabies playmaker Gordon to 'open up' Japan
-
Swiatek sinks Svitolina to set up Rybakina title clash in Toronto
-
British eccentrics push humble garden shed to new heights
-
Australia's Pallister shines, mixed relay record falls as Pan Pacs open
-
Zambia votes with president's economic record on the line
-
Hasan puts Bangladesh in charge as Australia struggle to 183-8
Japan wary of fired up and wounded Tunisia for World Cup landmark game
Hajime Moriyasu warned his Japan side Friday they will need to match the intensity of a Tunisia team fired up by a change of coach for the landmark 1,000th World Cup game.
Fresh from a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in Texas, Japan face a Tunisia side smarting from being thrashed 5-1 by Sweden in Group F.
Frenchman Herve Renard has been parachuted in by Tunisia ahead of Saturday's game in Monterrey, Mexico, after Sabri Lamouchi was given the boot on Monday.
Lamouchi is the first coach in World Cup history to be sacked after just one game.
The Netherlands are outside bets to win the World Cup in North America, but Moriyasu said a wounded Tunisia will be "an even more intense game".
"They will have a great motivation to do their best so they can get to the next stage. I believe they will battle us with that mentality and we will not take that passively," the Japan coach said.
"To win we should have a stronger will than them."
He believes that the well-travelled Renard, who masterminded Saudi Arabia to a shock 2-1 win over eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, will have Tunisia raring to go.
"He will bring out the best in the players," said Moriyasu, who will be without key attacker Takefusa Kubo through injury.
"The new coach will definitely fire up the players.
"Mr. Renard's passion I am sure comes through in his team talks."
Moriyasu is also wary of the different conditions compared to the game against the Netherlands, which took place in an air-conditioned stadium with a roof.
The Monterrey weather is forecast to be close to 30C on Saturday with possible storms.
"It will be a more difficult environment," said Moriyasu, who has stated that his aim is to win the World Cup.
Japan had a training camp in Monterrey before the tournament, and the coach said that will help prepare them.
"We have taken measures to deal with the heat and have experienced this environment," he said.
"We have prepared very well and the players are calm."
Moriyasu said that being involved in the 1,000th World Cup match was an honour and he wants his men to put on a show.
"We want to make sure that it is a brilliant game worthy of being the 1000th game of the World Cup," he said.
R.Lee--AT
