Ao Tanaka vows to 'fight responsibly' after Japan's timely World Cup boost | OneFootball

Leeds United midfielder Ao Tanaka issued a determined message as Japan head to the 2026 World Cup, fresh from a 1-0 friendly win over Iceland.

He returned to the starting XI in Tokyo, partnering Liverpool's Wataru Endo, and logged 73 minutes. It was goalless when he was replaced by Keisuke Goto, before Koki Ogawa won it late with a header.

The player said in an Instagram post, "Thank you for your support. I will fight responsibly."

Japan will soon fly from Tokyo across the North Pacific for Group F, opening against the Netherlands in Dallas, Texas on Sunday June 14.

They then face Tunisia in Guadalupe, Mexico on June 21, before meeting Gabriel Gudmundsson's Sweden back in Dallas five days later.

Japan are seven matches unbeaten since a 2-0 defeat to the USA in September, a run that includes big wins over Brazil, England and Scotland.

Tanaka will hope to keep his place after starting the final warm-up and to help Japan reach the knockout phase for a third straight World Cup, having made the last 16 in 2022 and 2018 but never gone beyond it.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk