Japan coach Akira Nishino concedes experiment caused their defeat against Ghana

Japan coach Akira Nishino has admitted his experiment caused their 2-0 defeat to Ghana in Wednesday's international friendly game at the Nissan Stadium.

A 9th minute free-kick strike from Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey, who was handed the captain's armband in the game, set the winning tone for Ghana before UD Levante forward Emmanuel Boateng sealed victory for the West Africa giants in Yokohama.

In the build up to the game, Coach Nishino hinted that he will try out new formation against the Black Stars but the move didn't work - which he took full responsibility for in the wake of the match.

“Some things worked and some things didn’t, and the things that didn’t led to this result,” said Nishino.

“I was able to try out a lot of things and I was able to look at a lot of players, but we were looking to win the game and the fact that we didn’t is disappointing. As time went on things picked up, but we didn’t start the game well. We weren’t all on the same page.”

Japan still has two friendlies to play in Europe against Switzerland and Paraguay before it begins its World Cup campaign against Colombia on June 19. Japan will also face Senegal and Poland in Group H.

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