FIFA FOOTBALL WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 - NEWS BLOG - UPDATE 21

 JAPANESE PLAYERS FROM TOWN CLUB CONTRIBUTED TO THE VICTORY OF JAPAN AGAINST SPAIN

Brazil finishes first place but ends unbeaten record in first round Soccer World Cup

Brazil, who have already qualified for the final tournament, lost 0-1 to Cameroon in Group G of the first round of the World Cup Qatar on 2 June (3rd Japan hours). With 2 wins and 1 loss, they advanced to the final tournament in first place in the group with 6 points.

Brazil's "myth of invincibility" has finally stopped. They conceded a goal in the closing minutes of the match, ending their unbeaten record in the first round since the first match of the 2002 Japan-Korea World Cup at 17. Despite finishing first on goal difference, the 39-year-old Alves was not even expressionic, saying: "It was a lesson that no opponent is weak.

We had already qualified for the playoffs and went into the tournament with plenty of time to spare. From the second match against Switzerland, they made nine changes to the starting line-up other than defender Militan and midfielder Frezi, and dominated Cameroon from the first half. Martinelli and others on the left flank repeatedly threatened the goal, and had a total of 21 shots. However, thanks to a good save by the opposing goalkeeper, time passed without scoring.

In the second half, when it looked like a draw, a pitfall awaited. He broke down the left flank and conceded a goal when a cross was headed in by Abubakal. The overwhelming dominance of the match was conceded by Kingdom, and the stadium was filled with roar.

While conserving their main strength for the final tournament, they licked the bitter cup. Alves said: "I think it's unfortunate to lose at this stage. We can't afford to lose, so we want to keep it in mind." It will be good medicine for winning the tournament for the first time in 20 years.

"Saginuma Brothers" do a big job "Town Club" behind Spain's defeat 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.

Contributing to Japan's dramatic victory were players from a "town club".

The final match of the first round of the World Cup Qatar against Spain. Japan In the sixth minute of the second half of the 1-1 tie, TANAKA Ao (Dusseldorf) pushed in the middle of the 1-1 second half when MITOMA Kaoru (Brighton) dived into the center to win the match. Mitoma's turnaround appeared to have broken the goal line, but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) conceded the goal.

The two are from the elementary school club team "Saginuma SC" based in Kawasaki City. At J1 Kawasaki Frontale, where they both stayed until the middle of the 2021 season, they were nicknamed "Saginuma Brothers". In addition, goalkeeper GONDA Shuichi (Shimizu S-Pulse) and ITAKURA Kou (Borussia MG) are also Saginuma alumni, counting four of the 26 members of the World Cup Japan squad.

Saginuma SC was founded in 1979. The schoolyard of Kawasaki Municipal Saginuma Elementary School is a practice field, and more than 100 men and women are enrolled. On Saturdays and Sundays when the schoolyard can be used, teams for each grade take turns working. Since the schoolyard is shared with the baseball team, practice is short, about one and a half hours each. Shuji Sawada, 64, who has been representing the club for about 20 years, said, "It's important to show your strength in the same 90 minutes as in the match, and that may lead to your performance."

KAORU MITOMA - JAPANESE FOOTBALL PLAYER

Gonda spent 6 years in elementary school until Saginu, and Itakura, Mitoma and Tanaka were in the lower grades and spent 1~2 years each to learn the basics of football. Gonda joined FC Tokyo and the other three joined Kawasaki Frontale, a development organization for the J.League's top clubs.

Seeing the four players who performed energetically on the world's highest stage and helped Japan advance through the first round, Sawada excitedly said, "I had imagined that I would be selected as one of the 26 players, but I couldn't be happier that four of them were selected and played a big role."

In particular, Tanaka, who scored the winning goal against Spain, had a memorable episode. Before entering elementary school, Tanaka participated in the Saginuma SC experience session and "cried so much." When Sawada asked why he cried with Tanaka on his lap, he said, "This kind of practice is boring, and I want to have a more difficult practice."

For this reason, Mr. Sawada says, the only child who cries is "blue after and ahead." Seeing the goal against Spain, he remembered Tanaka from the past, and was impressed, saying, "It was a play that really showed my desire to score goals."

In response to the performance of the four players at the World Cup, the players currently at the club have said that they want to be like Itakura and goalkeepers like Gonda, and they are working hard in training. Mr. Sawada said, "We are practicing hard to become like that if we work hard, and we are very proud of the four of us for working hard. We aim to reach the last eight or higher, and I want them to give 120% in the next match against Croatia."

TANAKA AO - JAPANESE FOOTBALL PLAYER

Three Asian teams advance to the final T, first time in history Korea Republic and Switzerland reach the last 16 of the World Cup

The final match of the first round of the Soccer World Cup (World Cup) was held in Doha on the 13th day of the 13th (3rd Japan hours), and Korea Republic of Group H and Switzerland of Group G qualified for the final tournament. All 48 matches of the first round were completed, and the top 16 teams including Japan and Australia were played. For the first time in history, three Asian teams won.

Four years ago, 11 yellows Switzerland calmly won the grudge showdown and advanced to the final T

The final match of the first round of the Soccer World Cup (World Cup) was held in Doha on the 13th day (3rd of Japan hours), and Switzerland qualified for the final tournament in Group G.

Four years ago, there was a skirmish involving even the substitutes, and both teams received a total of 11 yellow cards. Switzerland's coach Jakin, who clinched a place in the last 16 with the victory, was calmly pleased, saying, "It's normal to get emotional because it's football, and we were able to dominate the game."

Shaqiri opened the scoring with his left foot in the 20th minute of the first half, but Serbia gave up two goals. Even though they would have been eliminated if they continued as they were, the coach watched the match closely, saying, "At times like this, we have no choice but to trust the team."

In the 44th minute of the first half, Embolo broke down the opponent's sweet defence and scored the equaliser, and the highlight came in the third minute of the second half. Shaqiri's floated pass from the right was met by Vargas, who dropped it behind and Freuler kicked it in from the front of the goal. The winning goal came from a brilliant combination, and Embolo proudly said, "Not only the strength but also the quality was high."