FIFA FOOTBALL WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 - NEWS BLOG - UPDATE 17

 JAPAN'S VICTORY AGAINST SPAIN MAKES NAGASAKI PROUD

Group E in a close match: Rapid scoring progress Japan advances to the final T on paper

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. The match between Germany and Costa Rica in the same group at the same time was also a fierce battle for points, and the standings changed rapidly.

In the final tournament, the second place out of four teams in each group of the first round will advance. The standings are determined in the following order: (1) points (3 points for wins, 1 draw, 0 points for defeat), (2) goal difference, and (3) total number of goals scored. In the event of further entanglement, the order of ▽ the head-to-head record between the teams in question ▽ "fair play points" based on the number of warnings and ejections ▽ draw -- will be determined.

Before the final match of the first round, Group E was 1st place Spain (4 points, plus 7 goal difference), 2nd place Japan (3, 0), 3rd place Costa Rica (3, minus 6) and 4th place Germany (1, minus 1). Japan and Germany had the same number of goals scored at 2.

The game moved 10 minutes into the first half when Germany scored the opening goal from Costa Rica to move up to second place. Japan had the same points and goal difference as Germany, but fell short of them in goals and fell back to third place. One minute later, Spain opened the scoring and finished the first half with Spain, Germany, Japan and Costa Rica in the standings. Japan's defeat became a reality.

Three minutes into the second half, Japan equalized Spain with a goal from Freiburg. Japan are level with Germany on points, goal difference and goals, and move up to second place thanks to head-to-head results. Three minutes later, TANAKA Ao (Dusseldorf) added another goal to fend off Spain and take the lead.

From there, the match between Germany and Costa Rica took a tumultuous one. Goals in the 13th and 25th minutes put Costa Rica ahead of the pack, with Japan in first place and Costa Rica in second. World Cup champions Spain and Germany were on the brink of elimination.

Germany equalised with Costa Rica in the 28th minute and scored back-to-back goals in the 40th and 44th minutes to level on points with Spain. However, they fell short on goal difference and remained in third place. Spain's 7-0 victory over Costa Rica in their first match came to life.

Trailing 2-1 over Spain, Japan retained their lead, but it was a matter of paper until the end. If they were to catch up with Spain, they would have relinquished the top spot and slipped to third place, falling behind Germany, who are level on points, on goal difference. They withstood the Spanish attack with tenacious defense and were delighted.

"Maya and coach are proud of Nagasaki" Joy at historic victory Soccer World Cup

On 2 December (Japan hours), the Japan National Team defeated Spain, a powerhouse of the World Cup champions, in the first round of the World Cup Qatar to advance to the final tournament for the second consecutive time. In Nagasaki City, where Maya Yoshida (34), the captain of the Japan National Team, gathered at a Western-style restaurant that also serves as the secretariat of the local support association to watch the early morning Daiichi (江一日). The historic victory filled the store with jubilation.

"It's like a dream." Shinichi Matsushima, 56, owner of the Western-style restaurant "Rekkel" and secretary general of Yoshida's supporters' association, felt his voice tremble. "Beating Germany and Spain to reach the playoffs was unthinkable in the old Japan national team. Both Maya and coach (Hajime Moriyasu, who grew up in Nagasaki City) are proud of Nagasaki."

Yoshida has been active in the Nagasaki City boys' soccer team since he was in elementary school. From junior high school, I left my parents and joined the youth of Nagoya Grampus. About 15 years ago, Matsushima and his colleagues formed a support association to support from the local community. When he started his current Western-style restaurant in 2010, he asked Yoshida, who was on the Dutch team, to name the restaurant. "Am I okay?" The name of the restaurant that they gave me was "Rökkel," which means "delicious" in Dutch.

The store is lined with jerseys of the Japan national team, and a postcard from Yoshida is displayed next to the cash register. "Dreams are big, aspirations are high." Ahead of the World Cup, he said, "I will do my best to fulfill the heavy responsibility of captaincy." When I returned home in June, I accepted autographs one by one at the store. "Unlike the serious expressions on their faces during matches, they are 'teasing characters' who often laugh in Nagasaki," says Matsushima.

When the store first opened, it was not yet established as a Japan representative when it put up a sign of "Yoshida Maya Nagasaki Supporters' Association", and people passing by asked "Election office?" and "'Maya' is Nadeshiko Japan (of the women's national Japan soccer team)?" I was sometimes asked, but now I am the mainstay of the Japan representative. "Nagasaki and Japan have become the 'Maya' that they are proud of." Matsushima is proud.

In the first round of the final tournament starting at 0:00 a.m. on the 6th, Yoshida and the other Japan national teams will face the defending champions Croatia for their first World Cup last eight. "I want them to win and make new history, and I want to cheer them on more than ever to reach Qatar. I believe in it."

When Yoshida visits the store, he always orders Nagasaki's famous "Turkish rice". "Next time I come, I want to serve special Turkish rice using Wagyu beef steak from Nagasaki Prefecture." Mr. Matsushima believes in Maya's return to her hometown after seeing "scenery that has not yet been seen."

NAGASAKI - THE HOMETOWN OF JAPAN'S NATIONAL  FOOTBALL TEAM'S CAPTAIN AND COACH

Humiliation of Spain after one year against related opponent Japan national football team

In the FIFA World Cup Qatar, Japan defeated Spain 2-1 in the final match of Group E of the first round on 2 December (2 days Japan hours). They finished first and qualified for the playoffs for the second consecutive time.

They Japan snatched a historic victory from Spain as well as Germany. The driving force behind the Tokyo Olympics team, which experienced frustration one year ago.

In the semi-finals of last year's Tokyo Olympics, when coach Hajime Moriyasu was in charge of the full national team, the Japan faced Spain. They endured the struggle of keeping possession of the ball, but conceded a goal just before the end of the second half of extra time and lost the match 1-0. The road to the gold medal was cut off.

Of the 26 Japan representatives in this tournament, 12, including overage, have experienced the Tokyo Olympics. Although the categories are different, Spain also included many Olympic players such as Asensio, who scored the winning goal in the Japan match, and Pedri, who is a key midfielder. The Japan player was burned by a "rematch" with a related opponent.

As with the Olympics, the tide of the defensive battle changed immediately after the start of the second half. The players up front pressed in tandem, and Ritsu Doan on the right flank stole the ball. Doan dribbled forward and stabbed the goal with his left foot. He scored just three minutes into the second half to break the frustration of the Olympics, where he started the game and went scoreless.

Three minutes later, Kaoru Mitoma caught up with the ball that almost broke the line to the left of the goal. Aoi Tanaka, who was stuffed in front of the goal, pushed the ball with his body. At one point, it was ruled to have crossed the goal line, but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) confirmed that there was only a small amount of ball left and the goal was conceded.

I also reflected on the Olympics when I conceded a goal in the closing minutes. Tanaka said, "I was conscious of not letting the ball hit no matter how much I was able to put the ball in," and Itakura Kou said of Asensio's introduction in the middle of the second half, "When I was held with my left foot, it reminded me (of conceding a goal at the Olympics), and I defended desperately." Unlike the Olympics, which collapsed at the last minute, they defended tenaciously and escaped.

Itakura said, "The members who played at the Olympics have not forgotten the frustration, and I think they had a very strong desire to repay the debt, and I am happy that we were able to do it at the World Cup." It was a bitter experience that led to results on the best stage.