GUADALUPE, MEXICO — A sun-drenched Estadio BBVA hosted one of Group F's most anticipated clashes, and it delivered drama in abundance. Japan, the Asian powerhouses ranked comfortably above their North African opponents, were expected to control proceedings — and for long stretches they did. But Tunisia, shorn of suspended centre-back Montassar Talbi, had other ideas in the first half.

The opening 30 minutes belonged to Japan in terms of possession, but Tunisia's disciplined 4-3-3 low block frustrated Wataru Endo's attempts to find pockets between the lines. Then, on 34 minutes, the Estadio BBVA erupted in surprise. Ellyes Skhiri — Tunisia's heartbeat in midfield — dispossessed a dawdling Daichi Kamada deep in his own half and immediately threaded a first-time pass into the channel. Hannibal Mejbri, the Burnley midfielder who has been one of the most exciting young players in the Championship this season, took one touch to set himself and unleashed a ferocious left-footed drive that screamed into the top-right corner past a helpless Zion Suzuki. 1-0 Tunisia, and the upset was on.

Japan pressed for a response before the break, with Ayase Ueda heading wide and Takefusa Kubo forcing a sharp save from Aymen Dahmen, who was commanding in the Tunisian goal. Mortadha Ben Ouanes picked up a yellow card for a cynical foul on Kubo just before half-time, a sign of the pressure building on the Tunisian midfield.

Hajime Moriyasu made a decisive tactical change at the interval, introducing Daizen Maeda and shifting Kubo into a more central attacking role. The effect was immediate. Japan's press became suffocating, and on 57 minutes the equaliser arrived. Kubo collected the ball on the right, beat two men with a shimmy and a stepover, and rolled a low cross to the back post where Ueda arrived to tap home. The Feyenoord striker had been denied twice by Dahmen in the first half; this time there was no stopping him.

Japan smelled blood. Junya Itō was booked for simulation in the 63rd minute — a moment of frustration from a winger who had been largely nullified by Ali Abdi. Tunisia's Adem Arous, introduced as a defensive reinforcement, picked up a yellow of his own nine minutes later for a reckless challenge on Maeda.

The decisive moment came on 78 minutes. Kamada, who had been quiet after losing the ball for Tunisia's opener, made amends magnificently — a perfectly weighted through ball split the Tunisian defence and found Ritsu Dōan arriving at full pace. The Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder, making his World Cup debut, kept his composure and slotted low past Dahmen's left hand. 2-1 Japan.

Tunisia threw men forward in the closing stages, with Khalil Ayari and Rayan Elloumi introduced to add fresh legs. Rani Khedira was booked in the 85th minute for a desperate lunge. But Japan's defensive organisation — marshalled superbly by Hiroki Itō and Kō Itakura — held firm. Three points for the Samurai Blue, and a statement of intent in Group F.