World Cup hosts Russia extended their winless run to six matches on Wednesday night as they lost an international friendly in Austria.
Meanwhile, in his first match as manager, Akira Nishino watched his Japan side suffer defeat at home to Ghana.
The outcome of both matches is likely to reduce interest in Russia and Japan as sources for World Cup Fantasy investment.
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AUSTRIA 1-0 RUSSIA
Russia’s well-documented problems in defence were highlighted in their third friendly reverse in a row, this time to Austria.
Previous 2018 defeats have been in meetings with more established international powers such as Brazil and France, but this latest setback is more discouraging for Stanislav Chchesov’s men as they failed to even mount a convincing attack against a nation that not qualify for the World Cup finals.
Russia began the fixture operating a high press in a 4-1-4-1 system but lost control due to inaccuracies at both ends of the pitch.
The only goal of the match came on 28 minutes when aged centre-backs Sergei Ignashevich and Vladimir Granat afforded Marko Arnautovic too much time to control the ball and find team-mate Alessandro Schopf.
The Schalke midfielder was left unmarked by full-back Mario Fernandes and was able to fire a shot past Igor Akinfeev high into the net.
The same issues surfaced again in the second half as Arnautovic, being watched from the stands by Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, had a chance to make it 2-0 but hit a volley just over the crossbar.
Russia also lacked any pace or any accuracy going forward with Fedor Smolov, their top-scorer during friendlies in the last two years, having their only real chance of the match. The Krasnodar striker hit his effort wide.
Smolov was one of our World Cup Fantasy key targets, but he lasted just 72 minutes before Artem Dzyuba was brought on as a substitute. Alexandr Samedov was replaced on 63 minutes.
Two players who we picked out ‘Long Shots’ for World Cup Fantasy investments did not start the match. Alan Dzagoev came on for Daler Kuzyaev in the second half before Alexsei Miranchuk replaced Samedov.
Russia XI (4-1-4-1): Akinfeev; Fernandes (Smolnikov 68’), Ignashevich, Granat, Kudryashov; Zobnin; Samedov (Alexsei Miranchuk 63’), Kuzyaev (Dzagoev 56’), Golovin (Anton Miranchuk 76’), Zhirkov (Cheryshev 64’); Smolov (Dzyuba 72’).
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JAPAN 0-2 GHANA
New manager Nishino experimented with three centre-backs in his first match in charge of Japan, leaving household names such as Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki on the bench.
His plans back-fired though as the Black Stars, who missed out on Russia 2018, capitalised on a poor display from the Asian side.
Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey put the visitors in front in the ninth minute with a free-kick.
In the second half, Emmanuel Boateng converted a 51st minute penalty after goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima gave away the spot-kick.
There were some encouraging signs for Japan as full-backs Yuto Nagamoto and Genki Haraguchi posed threat in wide areas but the centre-back trio, led by Southampton’s Maya Yoshida, were left exposed and sat too deep.
Kagawa, who has been plagued by injuries of late, looked good when he came on at half-time.
Since the defeat in Yokohama, Japan’s squad was cut down to the final 23-man version with Kento Misao, Yosuke Ideguchi, and Takuma Asano all dropping out.
Japan XI (3-4-2-1): Kawashima; Yoshida, Hasebe (Ideguchi 76’), Makini; Haraguchi (Sakai 45’), Oshima, Yamaguchi (Shibasaki 60’), Nagatomo; Honda (Okazaki 59’), Usami (Kagawa 45’), Osako.
Further Analysis
Group A – Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group B – Iran, Morocco, Portugal, Spain
Group C – Australia
