Japan’s Debut Sparks Cricket Exchange Buzz
Before Japan took the field, other Asian football powerhouses had already made their mark—or missteps—on the World Cup stage. South Korea, making their ninth appearance in the tournament, narrowly lost to Sweden 0-1. The margin could have been far worse if not for goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo’s stunning saves that denied Sweden three clear chances. Unfortunately, South Korea’s midfield was disjointed, with Ki Sung-yueng and Koo Ja-cheol still struggling to find chemistry, leaving the attack line led by Son Heung-min isolated and ineffective. The performance left …