Vahid Halilhodžić leads Japan to the World Cup

Japan's footballers defeated Australia 2-0 in the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup and secured their place in Russia, reports the Patria agency.

Japan took the lead with a goal by Asano in the 41st minute, and the final 2-0 was set by Ideguchi eight minutes before the end of the match.

With this victory by Japan, in addition to securing a spot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Vahid Halilhodžić kept his job as the national team's coach, as the media in the country had written for days before the match that only a win would keep our expert on the Samurai bench.

Japan is now the leading team in Group B with 20 points from nine matches played. Saudi Arabia is second with 16 points, the same as third-placed Australia.

The top two teams go directly to the World Cup, while the third-placed team in the group goes to the playoffs. The group also includes the UAE with 13 points, Iraq with five, and Thailand with two points. One round remains until the end of the qualifiers.

After Ivory Coast and Algeria, this is the third national team that Halilhodžić has led to the World Cup, a result that few experts in the world can boast of.