Cristiano Ronaldo missed out on a first trophy of the new season as his Al Nassr side were thrashed 4-1 by Al Hilal in the final of the Saudi Super Cup on Saturday.
Japan won the World Cup in 2011, and what should have been an era of excellence was squandered by bad coaching and complacency. Now, 12 years later, they appear poised to win it all again.
Erik ten Hag has admitted Lisandro Martínez played when he “was not 100% fit” before the Manchester United defender suffered a recurrence of the foot injury which cut short last season.
