'Human Octopus' Lee Young-pyo correctly predicted Japan's four-goal victory: "They have the power to reach the Round of 16, but I wouldn't be envious." Why?

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Young-pyo (49), a KBS commentator who broadcast the match against Japan, also expressed hope for the strong performance of the South Korean national football team.

On the 21st (Korea time), Japan secured a decisive 4-0 victory over Tunisia in the second group stage match of Group F at the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, for the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup.

After drawing 2-2 with the Netherlands in the first match, Japan's win today placed them second in the group with one victory and one draw (4 points). Even a draw against Sweden in the upcoming third match would secure their advancement to the Round of 32 as the group's second-place team. Moreover, Japan achieved the remarkable feat of scoring four goals in a single World Cup match for the first time by an Asian nation.

Lee Young-pyo, who broadcast the match, predicted Japan's four-goal victory early in the game. He stated, "The timing of the first goal is crucial," and added, "If Tunisia concedes first, the match could spiral out of control, leading to a comfortable Japanese victory," forecasting a 4-1 win for Japan.

Regarding the Japanese national team, he analyzed, "Their probability of winning the championship is in the single digits, but they have frequently come close to reaching the Round of 16 and are a team with sufficient potential to actually advance."

When Daichi Kamada scored the opening goal just four minutes into the first half, Lee Young-pyo pointed out, "Tunisia conceded too easily. They are deviating from their planned strategy and face the risk of conceding a large number of goals." Regarding Ayase Ueda's second goal, which came in the 31st minute of the first half, he commented, "This goal will be a turning point for the match." When the first half ended 2-0, he expressed disappointment, saying, "If they can catch up to 2-1, they might attempt a comeback, but conceding more goals would be a major disaster. Although I had high hopes for Tunisia before the match, their performance is not significantly different from their 1-5 loss to Sweden in the first match."

As Tunisia attempted to apply pressure in the second half, Lee Young-pyo encouraged them, saying, "They have become more aggressive than in the first half. They must pour out everything they have." However, when Japan scored consecutive goals in the 24th and 38th minutes of the second half, he expressed regret, stating, "For Tunisia, it might have been better if the match had ended earlier; this was a painful time."

With the match ending in a 4-0 victory, Lee Young-pyo offered a final assessment, mentioning Hajime Moriyasu's "Death Note theory" and various records, saying, "It was a very happy day for Japan."

When asked, "Aren't you envious of Japan's performance?" he replied, "I do not feel envious, as I expect our players to deliver equally impressive matches in the remaining third match."

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*This content was translated by AI.