By Our Man in Al Rayyan
DOHA, Qatar – JAPAN stamped their authority all over the FIFA U-17 World Cup today, dismantling South Korea 3-0 in a clash that was as much a triumph for their young stars as it was a showcase for Qatar’s futuristic football infrastructure.
While the young Samurai Blue delivered the goals, the true star of the show was the incredible Aspire Zone complex in Al Rayyan, Doha, where the high-stakes AFC derby was played out.
For the first time in tournament history, FIFA has centralised the action, with all non-final matches being held across the cluster of state-of-the-art pitches within the vast Aspire Zone sports city. And what a stage it proved to be!
The atmosphere was electric as the two Asian rivals took to one of the immaculate, hyper-maintained pitches, a world away from the sprawling, often isolated venues of previous tournaments.
The compactness of the setting, which sees multiple games played within yards of each other, gave the whole day a festival feel that clearly agreed with the Japanese side.
Japan’s goals—a first-half thunderbolt followed by two clinical strikes in the second period—came courtesy of fluid, high-tempo football that seemed perfectly suited to the pristine conditions. The Korean defence simply had no answer to the speed and precision of their rivals.
The 3-0 scoreline was a fair reflection of the game, cementing Japan’s place as one of the tournament heavyweights and sending South Korea packing.
But the lasting impression for fans and pundits alike is the sheer quality of the venue.
The Aspire Zone, a hub of elite sports performance and training facilities, looks set to be the star of the show right up until the final, which is due to take place at the iconic Khalifa International Stadium.
While the Young Lions of England look to make their own mark in the desert, they will be watching Japan’s dominant display and taking notes—not just on their opponents, but on the world-class pitch they’ll need to conquer to lift the trophy in Qatar.
