Takefusa Kubo Praises Ayumu Seko’s Dominant Performance for Japan vs Venezuela
- Japanese defender Ayumu Seko has emerged as a central figure in the national team’s defensive rotation following his performance during the international window.
- Across the two matches against South American opponents, Seko logged 59 minutes as a right-sided center-back in a three-man defensive line before transitioning to the central role for...
- Beyond his defensive duties, Seko has become a primary distributor for the Japan squad.
Japanese defender Ayumu Seko has emerged as a central figure in the national team’s defensive rotation following his performance during the international window. The Le Havre center-back was the only player to start both matches for Japan, appearing in a 3-1 victory against Uruguay on September 24 and a 2-1 win over Venezuela on September 28 at E-Peace stadium.
Seko’s defensive impact and versatility
Across the two matches against South American opponents, Seko logged 59 minutes as a right-sided center-back in a three-man defensive line before transitioning to the central role for 103 minutes. His physical presence proved decisive in neutralizing opposing strikers, with his aggressive positioning preventing attackers from turning toward the goal. In the match against Uruguay, Seko successfully covered for goalkeeper Tomoki Hayakawa to prevent a potential goal by Darwin Núñez. He replicated this defensive contribution against Venezuela by clearing a set-piece attempt off the goal line shortly before halftime.
Strategic role in ball distribution
Beyond his defensive duties, Seko has become a primary distributor for the Japan squad. He demonstrated stability in building play from the back and utilized vertical passing to create offensive opportunities. During the Uruguay match, his role included overlapping runs deep into enemy territory. Against Venezuela, Seko collaborated with Daichi Kamada in the first half and Ao Tanaka in the second to serve as the pivot point for the team’s attack.
Teammate assessment of Seko’s growth
Midfielder Takefusa Kubo, a longtime teammate of Seko’s since their time with the U-15 national team, praised the defender’s development following the Venezuela match. Kubo noted that Seko displayed the composure of a veteran throughout the recent series.
Kubo said that Seko has become clever and that he believes there was not a single wasted mistake. He added that the defensive recovery Seko showed in the previous Uruguay match continued and that he seemed to have a great deal of composure during the Venezuela game, noting that he had the presence of a veteran.
Kubo suggested that Seko’s growth is rooted in increased confidence and consistent playing time. He noted that the defender’s performance level is currently underrated, adding that he believes anyone who would find fault with the current Seko likely does not understand soccer and that he is truly a very good player.
Factors influencing the defensive transition
Kubo attributed Seko’s rapid improvement to mental stability, which has evolved alongside his increased opportunities to play at the international level. Because Seko’s performance has historically been sensitive to his mental state, the trust placed in him by the coaching staff to start consecutive matches appears to have served as a catalyst for his recent output. As of September 28, Seko has not commented publicly on his performance, leaving the field quickly following the Venezuela match.