It has been a dismal international break for the Leeds United players involved with their countries. Just ask Gabriel Gudmundsson, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Karl Darlow.
Gudmundsson’s Sweden lost games to Switzerland and Kosovo and find their World Cup qualification hopes hanging by a thread. Leeds’ Welsh trio were hammered by England before facing Belgium.
A huge clash in the race for European qualification, but they suffered a 4-2 loss despite Joe Rodon scoring the opener. Brenden Aaronson and Ilia Gruev were unused by America and Bulgaria in their first games.
The only Leeds player involved in a win before Tuesday was Isaac Schmidt, but he was unused as The Swiss beat Gudmundsson’s Sweden. Now, finally, a Leeds player has played in a win during the break.
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Japan come from behind to beat Brazil in stunning fashion
Ao Tanaka started Japan’s first game during the break and lasted 80 minutes, as his side drew 2-2 with Paraguay. On Tuesday, Tanaka was on the bench as Japan took on Brazil at the Tokyo Stadium.
It looked as if Brazil were going to cruise to a win, leading 2-0 at half-time. Paulo Henrique and Gabriel Martinelli put Carlo Ancelotti’s side two to the good, only for Japan to score three second-half goals.
Takumi Minamino, once a target for Leeds, got the ball rolling before Genk’s Junya Ito created goals for Keito Nakamura and Ayase Ueda to put Japan back in front, winning 3-2. Tanaka came on as a sub.
The Leeds midfielder replaced Minamino on 74 minutes and helped Japan hold onto their lead, even if Ancelotti brought on Richarlison and Estevao in the latter stages. An impressive win for Tanaka’s Japan.
Incredibly, Ao Tanaka is now unbeaten in three years with Japan
Tuesday’s win over Brazil saw Tanaka win his 35th cap for Japan, in which he has scored eight goals. But incredibly, Tanaka is now unbeaten in games he has played with Japan since their 2022 World Cup exit.
Tanaka came on for 15 minutes as Japan lost on penalties to Croatia in the last 16 in Qatar, but has since not lost a single game with Japan. That is a run of 16 games without losing while wearing a Japan shirt.
If Tanaka is going to make a case for a starting role at the World Cup next summer, another game without defeat is only going to help his chances. It is a quite remarkable run for the Leeds United midfielder.
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