Japan star Ayase Ueda channels four years of frustration into World Cup dream

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ULXPdOUj/"]Japan[/a] thrashed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tunisia/QqZVYk95/"]Tunisia[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/japan-ULXPdOUj/tunisia-QqZVYk95/?mid=SzGJdIdt"]4-0[/a] on Saturday to join the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]Netherlands[/a] at the top of Group F and all but seal their place in the last 32 with a game to spare.[/p][p]That game is against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sweden/OQyqbHWB/"]Sweden[/a], who sit third after being hammered [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/netherlands-WYintcWb/sweden-OQyqbHWB/?mid=0rAjVxuo"]5-1[/a] by the Dutch in Houston.[/p][p]In the landmark 1,000th match in the history of the World Cup, Japan put on a show in Mexico's Monterrey to demonstrate why they are fancied to go far in the tournament.[/p][p]Japanese [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/feyenoord/8zjySeoN/"]Feyenoord[/a] striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ueda-ayase/8Ssd0upn/"]Ayase Ueda[/a], who has been linked with a move to the Premier League, scored from outside the box in the first half and got his second near the end with a clever header.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kamada-daichi/bayITLyE/"]Daichi Kamada[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/junya-ito/j9vuLu2S/"]Junya Ito[/a] got the others against an outclassed Tunisia, who cannot now advance.[/p][p][b]"I'm genuinely happy. It feels as if what I've built since feeling that frustration four years ago paid off," [/b]the 27-year-old Ueda told reporters.[/p][p]The forward played just 45 minutes at the 2022 World Cup as Hajime Moriyasu's side bowed out in the last 16 to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a].[/p][p]But he arrived in North America off the back of banging in 25 goals in 31 appearances in the league for Feyenoord.[/p][embed guid="09b2e544-2144-4f91-99dd-0bdb71decfe6" url="https://x.com/Feyenoord/status/2068590648878408009?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]He topped the scoring charts in the Dutch Eredivisie, reportedly igniting interest from several English clubs, including [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tottenham/UDg08Ohm/"]Tottenham[/a].[/p][p]His clinical double against a wretched Tunisia were his first World Cup goals.[/p][p][b]"(It) felt totally different to all the ones I had scored before in terms of joy, sense of accomplishment and the weight of responsibility I've been carrying,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"The quality of my play is different from four years ago, and I'm playing with confidence."[/b][/p][p]Japan, who beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] at Wembley in the lead-up to the World Cup, twice fought back to hold the Netherlands to a 2-2 draw in their opening match.[/p][embed guid="aca6aa09-6493-4611-9c03-205460c4929b" url="https://x.com/Feyenoord/status/2068580471420662204?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]They next face a Sweden side on Thursday in Dallas, who beat Tunisia 5-1, only to go down by the same scoreline to the Netherlands.[/p][p]With even third place in the group possibly enough to reach the next round, Graham Potter's Sweden are still in a strong position to progress.[/p][p]But speaking after the thumping in Houston on Saturday, Netherlands skipper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-dijk-virgil/U59RNqOr/"]Virgil van Dijk[/a] warned Sweden that Japan presented a huge challenge.[/p][p][b]"Japan are a very disciplined side, they keep it very compact and tight," [/b]said the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] defender.[/p][p][b]"Sweden will have a very, very tough job ahead of them, that's for sure."[/b][/p]