Key events<\/p>\n
Time for some half-time reading, and how could we go past a byline that reads: Sid Lowe in Chattanooga?<\/p>\n
double quotation markCape Verde are not the only ones to have kept Spain out at this World Cup. Turns out it was even harder to get past security on the gate of the team hotel in downtown Chattanooga. Two days after the 0-0 draw in their opener<\/a>, Luis de la Fuente gave his players the day off, a chance to clear their heads and leave the disappointment behind. Lamine Yamal went to Nashville, Dani Olmo headed for Hamilton Place mall and Rodri strolled the Tennessee river with his partner. When Borja Iglesias got back before the 9pm curfew, they didn\u2019t recognise him and wouldn\u2019t let him in.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a bit of a shame that the games in Monterrey so far have been night game, the view of the Cerra de La Silla mountain is breathtaking,\u201d emails Evan Garcia.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course the Azteca needs no introduction but I\u2019m hoping that the rest of the world is noting the two other great stadiums in Mexico and maybe tries paying attention to Liga MX.\u201d<\/p>\n Don\u2019t you mean three great stadiums Evan? I reckon Guadalajara\u2019s volcano-inspired arena is a beauty too.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Half-time: Tunisia 0-2 Japan<\/p>\n Japan looked very very good in that half and are well worth their lead. Tunisia are flattered by their combined 1-7 scoreline after three halves of World Cup<\/a> action.<\/p>\n Ayase Ueda of Japan celebrates after scoring a goal Photograph: Miguel Sierra\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.55 EDT<\/p>\n 45+4 mins: In the shadow of half-time Ben Slimane can launch a deep free-kick intot he box. A Tunisian teammate wins the resulting header but it dribbles harmlessly into Suzuki\u2019s gloves.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45+2 mins: Why don\u2019t you throw one over Valery? He gives it a mighty hurl into the box but Japan<\/a> head the first effort away then Hannibal is penalised for a foul on Suzuki.<\/p>\n Japan’s Zion Suzuki reacts. Photograph: Daniel Becerril\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.52 EDT<\/p>\n 45+1 mins: There are blue jerseys everywhere, perpetual motion in defence and attack. Tunisia have a decent opportunity to break but as soon as the ball is slowed down to allow teammates to join in Japan<\/a> snap into the tackle then bully their way to the second ball.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 mins: Ito dinks over a dangerous free-kick that Dahmen just about deals with. Tunisia then benefit from the bounce of the ball.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 44 mins: Lovely interplay from Nakamura and Kamada on the left. The ball is eventually given away but that immediately prompts the former to dispossess Valery and send Tunisia heading backwards.<\/p>\n Japan’s Keito Nakamura in action with Tunisia’s Yan Valery. Photograph: Daniel Becerril\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.46 EDT<\/p>\n 42 mins: Tunisia are just getting no time on the ball. Sano and Kamada are winning every 50:50, intercepting at will, and the structure off the ball is blocking every passing lane.<\/p>\n Hannibal Mejbri of Tunisia battles for possession ball with Daichi Kamada and Takehiro Tomiyasu of Japan. Photograph: Heuler Andrey\/ZUMA Press Wire\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.45 EDT<\/p>\n 40 mins: Doan now prospers down the right. He lays the ball back for a deep cross to Kamada at the far post. He smartly recycles possession and Japan<\/a> come back out, but the referee gives Tunisia a break with a soft free-kick.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 38 mins: Almost! Ito typifies Japan\u2019s slow-slow-quick strategy with a blistering dart in off the right wing that carves past three Tunisian defenders and into the penalty area at series speed. Too fast perhaps, because he loses his balance and the ball runs behind for a goal kick when something magical looked in the making.<\/p>\n Japan’s Hiroki Ito, left, and Tunisia’s Elias Saad go for a header. Photograph: Matias Delacroix\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.42 EDT<\/p>\n 36 mins: Japan are a neat contrast to some of the South and Central American sides we\u2019ve seen this World Cup<\/a>. They are eager to get on the ball and stroke it around their back three to control the tempo and territory, but there is a purposefulness to it that has been absent in so many of their rivals. It contains the same game management but with a real sense of a cocked fist ready to strike.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.38 EDT<\/p>\n 34 mins: Japan<\/a>, like group rivals the Netherlands earlier today, are announcing themselves as contenders capable of going a long way into this draw.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 33 mins: Tunisia are heading out of the 2026 World Cup<\/a> as things stand.<\/p>\n Tunisia’s Aymen Dahmen in action as Japan’s Ayase Ueda scores their second goal. Photograph: Raquel Cunha\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.38 EDT<\/p>\n Tunisia step off Ueda as he advances towards the right corner of the box. They regret it when the Feyenoord striker unleashes a powerful low drive that goes through Talbi\u2019s legs and arrows into the far corner of Dahmen\u2019s net. Stunning finish.<\/p>\n Ayase Ueda of Japan is challenged by Dylan Bronn of Tunisia. Photograph: David Ramos\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.59 EDT<\/p>\n GOAL! Tunisia 0-2 Japan (Ueda, 31)<\/p>\n Japan make it two, and it\u2019s no less than they deserve.<\/p>\n Ayase Ueda of Japan scores his team\u2019s second goal. Photograph: Carl Recine\/Getty ImagesJapan\u2019s second goal. Photograph: Eloisa Sanchez\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.39 EDT<\/p>\n 28 mins: Renard continues to strain his neck and bellow at the absolute top of his voice. It\u2019s like that time Alan Partridge was unheard in a car park. His team are putting in a shift but they are a step down in quality from Japan<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Dan!Share<\/a><\/p>\n So desperate for content you need your eyeballs occupying for the two minutes the ads are on? How about a Team of the Tournament (minus the superstars) argument starter.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 23 mins: Japan<\/a> slow the tempo down, which has been pretty lively, working the slow-slow quick routine to try and exploit room down the right. Tunisia are alive to it and are rewarded with a quick drink and a telling off from the substitute teacher.<\/p>\n Hannibal Mejbri of Tunisia is challenged by Daichi Kamada and Takehiro Tomiyasu of Japan. Photograph: David Ramos\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.27 EDT<\/p>\n 21 mins: Japan<\/a> have not fashioned any further shots on goal in the past ten minutes but have threatened with a couple of balls over the top, some broken play in midfield, and strategic build-up down the left. They are a multiple threat<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 20 mins: Renard is absolutely screaming his lungs out on the touchline, urging his team to follow his instructions. He looks like a senior officer from House Lannister demanding his troops lay down their lives for Casterly Rock.<\/p>\n Tunisia coach Herve Renard reacts Photograph: Daniel Becerril\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.57 EDT<\/p>\n 19 mins: The Japanese FA have been building towards this since the creation of the J-League and hosting of the 2002 World Cup<\/a>. It is a testament to bold ambition and strategic organisation. And it\u2019s clearly no accident because the Japanese women\u2019s team also play like this.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 18 mins: In Moriyasu\u2019s 3-4-3 Japan<\/a> have the ability to appear to both pack the midfield and operate with constant width. With their technical ability and speed of ball movement it makes for a lovely watch.<\/p>\n Nakamura of Japan controls the ball. Photograph: Ryan Pierse\/FIFA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.23 EDT<\/p>\n 16 mins: Saad curls over an outswinger but Itakura gets his head to it first, then attacks the second ball and Japan<\/a> can break at speed. Kamada has options ahead of him but Ben Slimane does superbly to stop the move in its tracks.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 14 mins: Tunisia have regrouped after a ten minute Japanese siege but the Samurai Blue are so busy in defence the North Africans are allowed no time on the ball. They do win a corner on the right though. They will need to make the most of set pieces.<\/p>\n Japan’s Takehiro Tomiyasu, Tunisia’s Ellyes Skhiri and Tunisia’s Montassar Talbi battle for the ball. Photograph: Sofia Yaker\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.18 EDT<\/p>\n 13 mins: I\u2019m not a fan of technology in football, but that is a great example of how it can be used effectively. I would have given that in real time. Geoff Hurst would have celebrappealed without even turning to look at the referee.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 12 mins: Oh wow, that is absurd. Replays show the ball was kept out by the width of a bee\u2019s wing. That would have made a grand slam crowd \u201coooh\u201d when Hawkeye reveals a tennis ball just clipping the outside edge of the line.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 10 mins: SO CLOSE TO TWO AGAIN! The corner comes across, Dahmen flaps it away from the danger zone but not completely clear. Tomiyasu drills it back in, it\u2019s deflected towards goal and looks like it may have crossed the line, only for Dahmen to somehow claw it back with an absolutely heroic piece of goalkeepeing. That is as close as they come without being awarded.<\/p>\n Japan’s Takehiro Tomiyasu reacts after a missed chance. Photograph: Daniel Becerril\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.16 EDT<\/p>\n 9 mins: SO CLOSE TO TWO! Suzuki goes long, Talbi lets it bounce, Ueda does superbly to win possession and square across the six yard box but Bronn does superbly to slide in, avoid the own goal, and deflect the ball away for a corner.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 8 mins: This is energetic and direct from Japan<\/a>, they are leaving nothing to chance following the Netherlands\u2019 hammering of Sweden earlier today.<\/p>\n Takehiro Tomiyasu,Sebastian Tounekti Updated at\u00a000.15 EDT<\/p>\n 6 mins: Ueda is almost in immediately afterwards but he can\u2019t find the target with a half-chance.<\/p>\n
Japan’s Takehiro Tomiyasu, right, and Tunisia’s Sebastian Tounekti battle for the ball. Photograph: Dolores Ochoa\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n