Japan coach Nielsen warns 'untested' Japan defence against complacency

[p]The two-time champions have been dominant in Australia, slamming 24 goals past their four opponents so far -- the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philippines/CINRvtL5/"]Philippines[/a], Taiwan, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/vietnam/8I9Z6Cti/"]Vietnam[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/india/roU6mwR8/"]India[/a].[/p][p]They have yet to concede, with barely a shot for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/bcOx8Zz6/"]Manchester City[/a] goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/yamashita-ayaka/Q5e6DVZN/"]Ayaka Yamashita[/a] to deal with.[/p][p]That will likely change in Sydney on Wednesday against a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-korea/6LgUhbye/"]South Korea[/a] side that has scored 16 and let in just three across their campaign so far.[/p][p]"[b]It doesn't concern me that our defence hasn't been tested much,[/b]" said Greenlander Nielsen after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ltLyWcnC/"]Japan[/a] thrashed the Philippines 7-0 in their quarter-final on Sunday.[/p][p]"These players have had to work very hard to earn a place in this team and we are capable. We are still not where we would like to be but we are getting there.[/p][p]"[b]I am happy for South Korea's qualification to the semi-finals and we are confident that we will be ready for the challenge,[/b]" he added.[/p][embed guid="55fa6c8b-9980-46e4-a7ba-6d7d916cb64b" url="https://x.com/ItsPoletti/status/2033391990600257852" social-type="twitter" /][p]Against the Philippines, Japan mustered an incredible 50 shots, 17 of them on target.[/p][p]Their dominance ensured they qualified for a 10th consecutive World Cup in Brazil next year, with the top six finishers at the continental competition booking their ticket.[/p][p]Japan are the only Asian country to have won the World Cup, in 2011, but Nielsen said it was too early to talk about their chances of repeating the feat.[/p][p]"[b]We are in the middle of a tournament right now and we are happy to be in the semi-finals with a chance to win it,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]"[b]We have so much respect for this competition and once the job is done here, then we can start talking about the World Cup.[/b]"[/p]