FIFA FOOTBALL WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 - NEWS BLOG - UPDATE 18

 EUROPEAN TOURS PLAYED CRUCIAL ROLE IN JAPAN'S PERFORMANCE AGAINST SPAIN

Japan national football team upset one after another, improving with European experience

In the first round of the World Cup Qatar on Sunday (2 days Japan hours), the Japan defeated Germany, who have been top four times in the past, and Spain was also eliminated. Japan, who had never beaten a country that had won the past six tournaments, shocked the world twice. What is behind this?

"We had played against Barcelona before, so we were of the opinion that it would be better to do this [in terms of formation].

After the win over Spain, KAMADA Daichi, who started the match, reflected on this. Last season, he won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in the German First Division. They defeated one of the world's strongest opponents, Barcelona in the Spanish First Division. Eight players were sent to the Spanish squad for this tournament, and four were named in the starting line-up for the Japan match. Based on his experience playing against Spain, Kamada conveyed his ideas on how to play against Spain.

Experience in Europe's top leagues is behind the tournament's breakthrough.

"Go Takuma" Asano's brothers advance to the final T and win the World Cup

Forward ASANO Takuma's older brother, Masaki (31), who came on as a substitute in the second half, cheered from a bar in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture, which he runs. When the final whistle blew, the restaurant became a festive commotion as they hugged and rejoiced with the patrons.

The heat reached its peak in the 25th minute of the second half. Asano ran up near the goal and fired a shot at a cross from the left. The customers leaned forward and cheered "Go" and "Takuma", but no points were scored. In the match against Germany, he scored a dramatic comeback, and Masaki seemed disappointed, saying, "I had a little expectation."

When they beat Spain, a strong team, to advance to the final tournament, the crowd was delighted, saying "seriously" and "like a dream". He and Masaki toasted with wine and were drunk on the beauty of victory.

Asano is from Komono Town, the same prefecture, and Masaki is the eldest of seven siblings. Immediately after the game, I had a video call with my parents, who were watching the game. To his parents, who were happy that they had won, Masaki responded with a smile, saying, "It was good."

He encouraged his younger brother, who played three consecutive matches, saying, "I think he contributed in defence as well, and I hope he will score in the next match."

TAKUMA ASANO - JAPAN'S NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM PLAYER

Football betting sales boom with odds of a 2-1 win against Spain 6 times

Japan came from behind to win the World Cup against Spain in Qatar. The lottery market has also become exciting, with sales of a single game of the sports betting "WINNER" reaching nearly 200 million yen.

WINNER is a lottery that began selling in September to the J.League soccer team and the B-League men's basketball team. This is the first time the World Cup has been covered. According to the Japan Sports Promotion Center (JSC), which operates the event, all 64 World Cup matches are sold for 200 yen per unit. The match against Spain Japan sold about 948,000 units, the second highest after the previous match against Costa Rica.

In the match against Spain Japan, more than half of the players expected Spain to win. About 30% of respondents predicted a Japan victory. The draw was about 20%. Japan's odds of a 2-1 win were 6.0 and the payout was 1,200 yen per unit. The most common prediction by score with 18 options was a 2-0 win for Spain, with odds of 4.6.

According to JSC, lottery sales have already exceeded 500 million yen in the three Japan matches so far. The person in charge says, "Sales are further increasing due to the success of the Japan representatives." On the 3rd, the lottery to predict the winning country will finally be sold. They Japan to beat the powerhouses Germany and Spain to gain momentum. Also keep an eye out for the odds of the "Japan Winner" lottery.

"Yosha!" cheers for victory of Japan soccer national team at Fukuoka PV venue

The Japan National Soccer Team came from behind to win the World Cup in Qatar on 2 September. After the final tournament was decided, supporters who watched from the wee hours of the morning were thrilled by Japan's historic victory.

"Nippon, Nippon". About 150 people gathered at the Grand Mirage sports bar in Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, to cheer for the 4 a.m. kick-off.

In the second half, which started with a one-goal lead, Ritsu Doan was followed by TANAKA Ao and scored the winning goal, and the voltage in the store reached its climax. When Takehiro Tomiyasu from his hometown of Fukuoka City was introduced as a substitute, the venue was filled with thunderous applause and "Tomiyasu" calls. The crowd watched as if praying for additional time, and cheered loudly at the moment of the come-from-behind victory.

Futaba Hamachi, a 20-year-old office worker from the same city who said he came to work from the morning without hesitation, tears up, saying, "I got the courage to work hard by playing cool, and it was really a great match." Tomonori Kamei (34), the manager of the store, said, "I thought they would play a good match, but I never thought they would give me such a gold star. I will do my best to support them next time."

God backs you up? Fans pray for a place in the last eight of the World Cup Japan at a shrine related to them

In the first round of the World Cup Qatar, Japan clinched a place in the final tournament after beating the mighty Spain 2-1 on the 2nd, and the archipelago was filled with joy in the early morning. Fans pray for a place in the final eight, and the shrine is crowded with new spiritual trials.

Despite the 4 a.m. kick-off, about 190 people packed the public viewing (PV) at the Umeda Burg 7 movie theater in Kita-ku, Osaka. Kento Okada (22) and Ryo Toriya (21), both university students from Osaka City, who came by the last train and spent time at the izakaya, were overjoyed, saying, "To be honest, I thought it would be tough. Ayane Fukumori, a 24-year-old office worker in Osaka City, said, "I was at work today, but it gave me the energy to work hard all day."

Mr. Takahiko Ichiki (41) = current Takatsuki City Tenth Junior High School teacher = who was an advisor to the soccer club to which Morita Hidemasa belonged when he was in junior high school watched the match at home and cheered, "I want you to take advantage of your strength to win the ball in a good position in the final tournament."

On the other hand, there are many shrines that are deeply related to football.

The Japan Football Association has three shrines called "Kumano Sanzan" in southern Wakayama Prefecture as its symbol mark the three-legged crow "Yatagarasu," which is a messenger of the gods, so in late October President TASHIMA Kohzo and others visited to pray for the victory. At Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine in Tanabe City, one of the three mountains, there is a must-win prayer festival on the 3rd attended by players of the local boys' soccer team. Kukiie Takamiyashi (66) hoped that "I hope that he will be guided by the Hakkaku crow in the final tournament and run towards the championship."

The symbol of the Yuzuruha Shrine in Higashinada Ward, Kobe City, which is famous as a sacred place for fans of professional skater Yuzuru Hanyu, is also the Hakkaku crow. It is said that the first soccer team Japan was built at the local Hyogo Prefecture Mikage Normal School, so it is also a sacred place for soccer fans. There is a granite soccer ball monument decorated with eight crows in the precincts, and round ema is also available. A 41-year-old man from Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, put his hands together, saying, "In the match against Spain, I felt like it was a long time after the comeback, and my heart hurt, but I was so happy that I cried when we won Japan.

Hattori Tenjingu Shrine in Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture, is said to cure foot diseases when you visit it. Since the start of the World Cup, they have been praying for victory before the Japan national team's matches, and on days when there are many red stamps depicting the Eight Crows, 50 cards are popular in one day. Yoshiya Kato (63) said, "MITOMA Kaoru's turnaround (which led to the comeback goal against Spain) was God's foot, and I pray that we will win the next match and get injured."