FIFA FOOTBALL WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 - NEWS BLOG - UPDATE 15

 JAPAN VS SPAIN FOOTBALL MATCH - A HISTORY IN THE MAKING

"Always return the favor" in class literature collection Takehiro Tomiyasu's mentors look forward to the next match

Japan finished first in the first round of the World Cup Qatar. In the matches against Germany and Spain, defender TOMIYASU Takehiro (24) = Arsenal = who supports the breakthrough of the Japan with a stable defense while playing as a substitute is expected to perform well in the final tournament match against Croatia (0:00 am = Japan hours on the 6th).

Mr. Arata Taniguchi (40) = Noma Junior High School teacher = who was in his third year at Sanchiku Junior High School (Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City), said excitedly, "I'm really glad that Take(Tomiyasu) played a solid role and contributed to the victory, and I was happy to see his smile on TV." I was worried about the state of my injury before the start of the World Cup, so I was very happy.

Tomiyasu, who started playing soccer with the local "Sanchiku Kickers" in the first grade of elementary school, joined the development organization of J.League club Avispa Fukuoka as soon as he entered junior high school. He was selected as a generational Japan representative and sometimes missed several weeks of school due to overseas trips. However, he was highly sought after, serving as a class committee member in the third year of junior high school, and "involved the whole class in athletic competitions and choir competitions." For Taniguchi, who was still inexperienced in his fourth year as a teacher, Tomiyasu was a reliable person who could organize the class.

"He has a core and does not waver, but unlike letting himself through, there is humility. They do what they have to do, and they have a wide range of human beings." My impression at the time was the same as that of Tomiyasu, who answered interviews as a representative of the Japan.

In Tomiyasu's essay, which was published in his class collection before graduation, he wrote about his "dream for the future" when he aspires to become a "world-class player." It contained gratitude for the support of many people and determination to overcome the "walls" that will be encountered in the future with their thoughts in mind. "I will definitely return the favor." So is the end of the sentence.

He signed a professional contract with Avispa at the age of 17 and steadily rose to the top of the ladder in Belgium, Italy and England at the age of 19. However, when he returned to Japan, he continued to interact with local teams and schools, interacting with the children and practicing with them.

"I think he's a tough guy." Yoshisuke Yamada, 55, a teacher at Kyusan University Kyushu High School (Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City), where Tomiyasu attended for two years, said. While I was in school, I was surprised to see him taking classes on the day he returned home early in the morning from an overseas tour. I recall that it was unique to the calm and serious Tomiyasu. When I came to the school three years ago, I talked in front of the members of the women's soccer team where Yamada is the coach and took pictures.

Ahead of the match against Croatia, which is the first World Cup last-eight match for the Japan National Team, expectations are high for Tomiyasu. "I want them to play their own games without injury," Taniguchi said. Mr. Yamada envisions Daiichi as "Croatia is formidable, but the experience of Tomiyasu will be alive." Tomiyasu's "return of the favor" continues.

"If it takes one millimeter" Kaoru Mitoma's turnaround that won't give up 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.

Kaoru Mitoma's determination to not give up until the end led to a dramatic come-from-behind victory following the match against Germany.

In the sixth minute of the second half, Tanaka Ao stretched his legs while sliding in a cross that seemed to break the goal line, and Tanaka Ao pushed the ball in.

According to the rules of the game of soccer, when "the ball completely crosses the goal line or touchline on the ground or in the air", play is interrupted and is "out of play". "All lines must be the same and must not exceed 12 centimeters," the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) confirmed that the ball was slightly on the line.

"I thought it would be nice if it took one millimeter. My feeling was that it was in the middle (of the line)," Mitoma said. "I'm glad I had a little longer legs," he said cheerfully.

JAPAN NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM

Knowing the risk in the match against Spain Coach Moriyasu: "As planned" World Cup

In the soccer World Cup Qatar, Japan defeated Spain 2-1 in the final match of Group E of the first round on 1 May (2 days Japan hours). Japan finished top of the group with six points, with two wins and one loss, and qualified for the playoffs for the second consecutive time.

Countering Spain's fine passes

In order to counter Spain's powerful attacking line-up, Japan chose a defensive formation with a back three from the start.

The final line of the two races so far has started with a back four, and then changed to a back three. Captain Maya Yoshida, who led the final line in the middle of the back three, revealed his aim. "I'm going to go with three or five backs. The plan was to put up with it in the back."

Spain are particular about possession of the ball and build their attacks from their own half by connecting short passes. The team was led by coach Hajime Moriyasu and played against Yoshida in the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics, and the choice was made in consideration of the fact that the back four did not work effectively.

In order to fill the space for the opponents to make fine passes and attack, Yuto Nagatomo and Junya Ito, who entered both sides of the midfield, also went down and formed a back five to create blocks in their own half and withstand the opponent's attacks.

They struggled to concede the opening goal in the 11th minute of the first half, but Yoshida continued to apply pressure to prevent the ball from being contained in Morata, who scored the opening goal with a central forward who was the starting point of a linked attack. Keeping the wounds to a minimum, he waited for an opportunity to fight back.

Compete with risk awareness

Then, in the first 10 minutes of the second half, when Spain was expected to slow down, they set up a game to beat their opponents. From the start of the second half, Ritsu Doan and Kaoru Mitoma were introduced at the same time, and they decided to take risks and attack.

He ran Daizen Maeda on the front line towards the opponent's ball holder. Not only Maeda, but also the second and third arrows and the players on the front line will join in. Doan's equaliser in the third minute of the second half came when Maeda boldly pressed the opposing goalkeeper Simon. Aoi Tanaka's comeback goal three minutes later also delivered a long ball from his own half vertically and quickly. Coach Moriyasu emphasized that the match went according to plan, saying, "The players practiced defending well even when the opponent had the ball in their hands and connecting good defence to good offense.

After the comeback, they defended again, keeping the ball only 17% compared to Spain's 74%. Still, Doan insisted, "The ball was in control, but that was a tactic." Although they spent a considerable amount of time in their own half trying to escape, Yoshida boasted, "I somehow imagined that it would be difficult to pry open the defence (even in Spain) against an opponent who drew the ball, and I was able to do that for quite a long time until the end." It was a comeback play after sharing the image of each "offense" and "defense"