WISSAM DEHBI / AIPS* in DUBAI: Japan were reflecting on an important lesson about possesson football as they flew home after their defeat by Sweden in the second round of the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013.

Japan ‘won’ the match in terms of possession by 75pc to 25pc but their efforts all went to waste against a strong Swedish defence and goalkeeper.

It was a hard blow for the young Japanese players who had aroused admiration in the first round after winning their three matches.

Like all the other fantastic young players evolving through the Japanese system, they resembled a mini Barcelona.

They looked fantastic in the first round matches and did not play badly against Sweden. But they lacked the necessary cutting edge. Hence they are going home and Sweden are heading for the quarter-finals.

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* AIPS, the international sports journalists association, is running a Young Reporters course at the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013 with the support of the local organising committee and FIFA

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