After their 2-0 defeat against Qatar in a friendly warm-up match for their 2022 World Cup Qualifier, Lions coach Tatsuma Yoshida was quick to praise his team for the positive aspects of their play - but not without a prophetic warning for his charges.
The Japanese insisted that his team must not get used to losing even if their 159th FIFA ranking deems them as minnows. Indeed, Tatsuma was trying to get his players into right frame of mind when they take on Yemen in their 2022 World Cup Qualifying Campaign.
Clearly those words seemed to have an impact as the Lions came out roaring to a 2-1 victory over their Middle Eastern counterparts under the pouring rain in Bahrain.