FIFA FOOTBALL WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 - NEWS BLOG - UPDATE 11

 JAPAN ADVANCES TO THE FINAL ROUND OF FOOTBALL WORLD CUP

"It's not impossible to win" Shibuya is delighted after Japan's advance to the final T

The archipelago was abuzz with the activities of Samurai Blue from the wee hours of the morning. In the first round of the World Cup Qatar, the Japan National Team defeated the powerhouse Spain 2-1 on 2 September. The team finished first in their group and qualified for the playoffs, and the domestic spectators cheered with joy.

In front of Shibuya Station in Tokyo, where young people gathered, a whirlpool of joy filled the city. At the sports bar "Fields" near the station, about 40 fans watched the game. With the kick-off at 4 a.m., a call arose in the store, saying, "Nippon, Nippon."

Atsuya Fujita (21) = Koshigaya City, Saitama Prefecture = a third-year university student who watched the match wearing the same blue jersey as the Japan National Team, continued to play soccer from the age of 3 until high school, and once played against the club team to which KUBO Takefusa belonged when he was in junior high school. "Kubo has been an outstanding player since his time, and I have high hopes for him this time," he said.

Spain took the lead from start to finish in the first half of the match. When they conceded the opening goal in the 11th minute of the first half, screams rang out in the store. A 27-year-old female office worker from Tokyo's Nerima Ward, who took two days off work to watch the match, clasped her hands and prayed for victory, saying, "I want you to make another miracle like the one you did against Germany."

The heavy atmosphere changed three minutes into the second half when Ritsu Doan scored the equaliser. When a sharp mid-range shot was scored, cheers of "War" went up, and the voltage in the store increased all at once. In the sixth minute, TANAKA Aoi's shot was approved by VAR and the comeback was decided, and the excitement reached its climax.

As soon as the final whistle blew and Japan were clinched to advance to the playoffs, the fans burst out with joy as they jumped and hugged each other while shouting Nippon Call. Takamitsu Masui, a 55-year-old office worker in Tsu City, excitedly said, "Japan's tenacity is due to the experience of the 'Doha tragedy' (in 1993, when Japan missed out on qualifying for the World Cup for the first time). The store manager, Mamoru Tanaka, 68, said, "To be honest, I didn't think I could win, it's like I'm dreaming."

After the game, the scramble intersection in front of Shibuya Station was filled with young people high-fives and hugging each other. The security officer called out to passersby, "Don't stop straight and go ahead." Kento Otani, a 20-year-old third-year university student from Minami-ku, Sagamihara City, who was enjoying taking photos with passersby, said, "I believed that Japan would definitely win, and I won't lose the next match against Croatia." Yura Sasahara, a 20-year-old second-year university student from Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture, who was watching the game at a nearby izakaya, looked up at the white sky, saying, "Japan won, so it was a very pleasant morning, so I'm going to head to today's class."

FANS CELEBRATE JAPAN'S VICTORY OUTSIDE THE KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL STADIUM, DOHA, QATAR

Kou Itakura: "This is not what we are aiming for, but a new history" World Cup

The Japan of Group E of the first round of the World Cup Qatar defeated Spain 2-1 on Sunday (2 Japan hours) to advance to the final tournament for the second consecutive time. Itakura Kou (Borussia MG), who has played the full game so far, said, "I want to make new history from here." The main comments are as follows.

I want to go to support next

――What kind of mindset did you have in the second half?

◆Somehow, we have to score one goal first. I think we started very well in the second half and we scored two goals to make the team easier. From there, I was able to focus on defending myself with a clear idea of what I was going to do.

――He looked very emotional after the game.

◆I was happy and frustrated that I couldn't play next time (due to cumulative warnings).

――About the scene where you received a yellow card.

◆ There is no point in saying what to say about it now. I'm disappointed that I received it and that I can't play next time, but I want to entrust it to the players to support them.

――What is your mentality when you defend it?

I could feel that everyone was concentrating, and I was always telling them not to create a gap. There is no pinch made at all. Desperately defended.

――It was a rare three-back with Maya Yoshida and Shogo Taniguchi.

◆We have to reflect on the fact that we conceded one goal, but I think we were able to keep up with each other throughout the match.

――We beat Germany and Spain.

◆ I have never been so happy, and I am honestly happy that the Japan is quite exciting. But that's not where we're going. I still want to make a new history from here.

Aoi Tanaka's winning goal is recognized by VAR against Spain in the World Cup

The Japan of Group E of the first round of the World Cup Qatar defeated Spain 2-1 on Sunday (2 Japan hours) to advance to the final tournament for the second consecutive time. Aoi Tanaka's goal in the sixth minute of the second half was confirmed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

Trailing 1-1, Japan Ritsu Doan's cross from the right was reacted to by Kaoru Mitoma from the far side. He dived to the left of the goal and turned the ball over, and Tanaka in the center pushed in with his body. The referee checked with VAR to see if the ball had crossed the goal line when Mitoma turned the ball over.

According to the rules of the game of soccer, "out of play" is when "the ball completely crosses the goal line or touchline on the ground or in the air". This time, the ball was slightly on the line, so play was judged to continue and the goal was conceded.

Tanaka patted his chest, saying, "To be honest, I thought I was out (from the goal line), but I couldn't help it, so I'm glad I went in."

Costa Rica temporarily upset to Germany: Dream shattered, but coach 'proud'

Costa Rica came back from a tenacious defence to score two goals in the second half. Although they created a showcase, they could not withstand the onslaught of Germany and conceded three goals, and did not upset the turn.

In the second half, when the score was 0-1, the players who had been withdrawing from their own half came forward. In the 13th minute, Tejeda pushed in from a quick break to equalise. In the 25th minute, he invited an own goal from a free-kick.