Following Japan's impressive 4-3 friendly win over Uruguay, manager Hajime Moriyasu on Wednesday lauded his new-look side for its seamless integration of overlapping generations of players.
The victory Tuesday in Saitama was the third in three matches under the new boss and the first combining established players from this summer's World Cup with newer members who have quickly made their mark on the international stage.
"They really melded together," said Moriyasu, who took the reins after Akira Nishino stepped down at the end of the World Cup in Russia.