GUADALUPE, Mexico - Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu is bracing for a totally different challenge from their opener when they take on Tunisia on Saturday in an encounter marking the 1,000th match in World Cup history.
Speaking at Estadio Monterrey in Mexico a day before their second Group F game, Moriyasu appeared cautious despite starting with a 2-2 draw against one of the tournament favorites, the Netherlands.
"Our players performed well against the Netherlands, but no one is feeling satisfied. That result doesn't guarantee a win against Tunisia," Moriyasu told a press conference.
Moriyasu will be without injured star Takefusa Kubo against Tunisia, but he was given a boost after Real Sociedad sporting director Erik Bretos said on X that the attacker "has a light injury" and there is "a chance he can play again at the World Cup."
The manager will need to make quick adjustments to his original plan, after Tunisia appointed Herve Renard as their new manager after their opening 5-1 battering by Sweden.
"Tunisia had a change of manager and will come out fighting with extremely high motivation," desperate to redeem the defeat from the first game in order to progress from the group stage, Moriyasu said.
"We mustn't be defensive against such a mentality and must be prepared to make the effort to win the match."
A totally different environment is also set to test the Samurai Blue players after their opener took place under air-conditioning at Dallas Stadium.
But the manager was confident in his team's preparations, having held a pre-tournament camp in Monterrey in early June to familiarize with the conditions.
"(This match will take place) in the heat and under extremely difficult circumstances for the players," Moriyasu said.
"But we had a pre-tournament camp expecting that, to deal with the heat and get to know the environment of the city. We have that experience and coupled with the good preparations we've made, I believe the players will be calm and perform to their fullest."
Renard said he is trying to keep "everyone concentrated and determined."
"We must respect the opponents but not fear the Japanese team," he said. "We had a short amount of time, but there's no excuse. We must dig deep to play well tomorrow."
With the fixture marking the 1,000th match in the history of the world's biggest sporting event, Moriyasu was confident both Japan and Tunisia would rise to the occasion.
"I feel happy about us playing in such a significant match," he said. "It'll be watched by people around the world, and I want our Japan team and Tunisia to produce a match befitting of the tournament's history."
