Japan captain Maya Yoshida has warned the Blue Samurai they will need to find an extra gear to challenge co-favourites Iran and South Korea for the Asian Cup title.
The Southampton defender admitted Japan had benefited from two controversial penalty decisions after a 1-0 victory over Oman in Abu Dhabi at the weekend sent the Blue Samurai into the last 16.
“We have to be more clinical,” Yoshida told AFP after Japan’s second straight win in Group F.
“We should have scored two or three more. Our performances are still not good enough clearly.”
Genki Haraguchi converted from the spot after 28 minutes after tumbling theatrically under little or no contact.
Oman then had a legitimate penalty shout waved off after Yuto Nagatomo appeared to use his hand to…
