FIFA FOOTBALL WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 - NEWS BLOG - UPDATE 23

 HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MATCHES OF NETHERLANDS AND URUGUAY

Aoi Tanaka to reach the last eight for the first time at the Soccer World Cup

The Japan National Team, who advanced through the first round of the World Cup Qatar for the second consecutive time, will face defending champions Croatia in the first round of the final tournament on 5 December (6 Japan hours). TANAKA Ao (Dusseldorf), who scored the winning goal in the final match of the first round against Spain, sent a message on the 3rd, saying, "I want you to fight together with various people and push your back." The main comments are as follows.

Mitoma is like a big brother.

――Looking back on the first round.

We lost one of our three matches, but we couldn't have done better.

――You also scored on the stage of your dreams.

◆I was happy, but the most important thing is the team's victory. The win made my goal better.

――Kaoru Mitoma stretched his body and raised the ball.

I felt like I was going to get [the goal line], but I believed in him until the end and ran, which led to the goal.

――What about Mitoma you played with since elementary school?

◆I've been chasing it for a long time. He's like a big brother. His way of scoring from my pass is what he should be doing, but I'm happy to be able to play with him on a stage like this.

――Every game is met with praise and criticism.

◆The World Cup I have watched is completely different from the way I play. In a good way, I think we were able to get a lot of excitement because we disappointed a lot of people.

Sometimes it's good, and if you lose, you get criticized. However, I want to fight with different people. We have a tough battle ahead of us, but we want you to always push us back.

――How do you maintain a sense of normalcy in a special environment?

◆ In the end, you just do it yourself. No matter what anyone says, I'm standing here with what I've built up. I have come here tens or hundreds of times harder than others. I believe in my life.

Eliminated Uruguay, end of an era Suarez, Kabani scoreless World Cup

Uruguay reached the last four of the 2010 World Cup for the first time in 40 years, impressing the revival of the old team. The main players at the time were all in their mid-30s, and although they beat Ghana 2-0 in the final match of the first round, they were eliminated due to the difference in total goals. The 35-year-old aces, Suarez and Kabbani, who have been the backbone of the national team for many years, both went scoreless, marking the end of an era.

In the second leg against Portugal, both sides failed to convert on good opportunities. Suarez was involved in two goals against Ghana, but was replaced by Kabbani in the second half when his momentum dropped. Kabbani, who was entrusted with the extra goal, failed to take a shot. Godin, who is also a key player in the defence, is 36 years old, and there were many players who were looking forward to making a breakthrough this time as they got older.

Moriyasu considers continuing as coach - Football Association president: "Definitely one of the candidates"

Japan Football Association President TASHIMA Kohzo (65) spoke to reporters in Doha on 3 September, and mentioned that coach MORIYASU Hajime (54) of the Japan National Team may continue to play after the World Cup Qatar.

President Tashima praised Coach Moriyasu's ability to advance to the first round by defeating Germany and Spain, who have won the World Cup. "Definitely one of the candidates for the next coach," he said.

Regarding the appointment of coaches, President Tashima praised Coach Moriyasu's analytical skills and ability to respond to opponents and situations, after prefacing that the Technical Committee will discuss and recommend the appointments. "Winning comes first, and the players will follow you because there is no wavering, and they have shown that they can compete well with the world with the Japan players they have now," he said.

Netherlands leads by two goals in the second half of the final T against USA in the World Cup

The first round of the soccer World Cup (World Cup) will start on the 14th day (4th Japan hours) in Doha and other cities. In the match between the Netherlands (Group A 1st) and the United States (Group B 2nd), the Netherlands took a two-goal lead in the first half thanks to Depay's goal.

The Netherlands will be looking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in two tournaments since finishing third in Brazil 2014, while the United States will be looking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in five tournaments since Japan and Korea in 2012.

NETHERLANDS NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM IN WORLD CUP 2022

Croatia 'has a lot of surprises' ahead of Japan World Cup

The two players of the Croatia National Team, who will face Japan in the first round of the final tournament on 5 June (early morning of 6 Japan time), held a press conference in Doha on 3 December, and Mayer, who has played three matches as a substitute and scored one goal, expressed his enthusiasm, "There are a lot of surprises happening in this tournament, so we will prepare ourselves as well as possible."

Juranovic praised his colleague Maeda at his club Celtic for being "aggressive for 90 minutes" but said: "We have to keep the whole team in check, not just him."

Netherlands beat USA with three goals to top eight at Soccer World Cup

The first round of the soccer World Cup (World Cup) began on the 14th day of the tournament on 3 (4 Japan hours) in Doha. The Netherlands (No. 1 in Group A) defeated the U.S. (No. 2 in Group B) 3-1 to become the first team to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in two tournaments since finishing third in Brazil in 2014.

The Netherlands will face the winner of Argentina (1st place in Group C) and Australia (2nd place in Group D) in the quarterfinals.

The Netherlands took the lead with a goal from Depay, with Blind adding a goal just before the end of the first half. They gave up one goal in the second half, but Dumfrith added another goal.

Argentina opens with Messi's 'Maradona' goal at the Soccer World Cup

The first round of the soccer World Cup (World Cup) was held in Al Layan near Doha on 3 December (4 Japan hours), and Argentina (1st place in Group C) and Australia (2nd place in Group D) took the lead with a goal from Messi.

Messi's goal brought his tally to nine World Cup goals, surpassing the late Diego Maradona, a long-time Argentine international known as the "Son of God".

Argentina will be aiming to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since finishing runners-up in Brazil 2014.