Keito Nakamura, who scored on his World Cup debut, has declared himself ready to carry Japan's attacking burden after teammate Takefusa Kubo was officially ruled out of Thursday's Group F clash with Tunisia due to injury.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Nakamura expressed confidence: "I had a great start and I want to keep that going. We know Tunisia are a strong opponent, but the whole team is ready."
The absence of Kubo, one of Japan's key attacking stars, is a significant blow for the Samurai Blue. However, manager Hajime Moriyasu is expected to rely heavily on Nakamura, who has maintained hot form since his historic goal in the opening match.
The Japan‑Tunisia Group F encounter is shaping up to be a tense affair as both sides are eager to secure a place in the knockout stage.
