FIFA FOOTBALL WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 - NEWS BLOG - UPDATE 31

 HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MATCH: JAPAN VS. CROATIA

In the first half of extra time, Croatia was replaced by Modric at the World Cup

The soccer World Cup Qatar took place on 5 December (6 Japan hours), where Japan (1st place in Group E of the 1st League), who are aiming to reach the last 8 for the first time, faced Croatia (2nd place in Group F) in the first round of the final tournament.

Croatia dropped to the bench in the first half of extra time when Modric, the runners-up 2018 World Cup MVP in Russia, was substituted.

In the second half of extra time, Japan introduced TANAKA Ao in the Soccer World Cup against Croatia

In the FIFA World Cup Qatar, Japan faced defending champions Croatia in the first round of the final tournament on 5 December (early morning of Japan time 6 December).

Japan started in the second half of the 1-1 extra time and introduced TANAKA Ao (Dusseldorf), who was the fifth substitute. Hidemasa Morita (Sporting) dropped to the bench.

Japan-Croatia match goes to penalty shootout, unable to settle in extra time at Soccer World Cup

In the FIFA World Cup Qatar, Japan faced defending champions Croatia in the first round of the final tournament on 5 December (early morning of Japan time 6 December).

Japan took the lead just before the end of the first half, but they equalized in the second half to go into overtime for the first time in the tournament with a 1-1 lead. The match could not be settled in the 15-minute overtime of the first half, and the match went into a penalty shootout.

It was the first time Japan had played a penalty shoot-out at a World Cup since the first round of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa against Paraguay. On this occasion, Japan were eliminated on penalties.

Japan lost to Croatia on penalties for the first time in the last eight of the Soccer World Cup

The first round of the final tournament was held in Qatar on 5 December (6 Japan hours), and Japan lost to the defending champions Croatia on penalties and did not advance to the last eight. We were unable to overcome the "wall" that had been repelled three times, in the 2002 Japan-Korea Games, the 10th World Cup in South Africa, and the 18th World Cup in Russia, all of which were the top 16.

JAPAN LOST TO CROATIA IN WORLD CUP 2022

The eight-strong wall that could not be broken down Japan the evolution shown to the world Soccer World Cup

At the World Cup Qatar, the Japan National Team lost to Croatia in the first round of the final tournament held at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah on 5 December (6 Japan hours), failing to reach the last eight for the first time. The 1-1 extra-time match was unsettled and they lost on penalties.

For the fourth time, the eight-strong wall was once again repelled. They succumbed to defending champions Croatia in the first round of the playoffs. The long-awaited achievement was again deposited, but in the first round, they defeated Germany and Spain, who had already won the championship. It was a tournament that strongly marked the growth from the "tragedy" that occurred in Rostov-on-Don, Russia four and a half years ago.

2 July 2018. In the first round of the World Cup in Russia, Japan faced Belgium, who were ranked third in the FIFA rankings at the time. They took a two-goal lead in the second half and came close to winning, but their defence collapsed with about 20 minutes remaining. After conceding back-to-back goals, the players collapsed on the spot when they conceded the winning goal on a high-speed counter of about 14 seconds from the opposing side just before the end of the second half. After the match, coach NISHINO Akira, who led the team, left the following words for his players.

"Don't forget the feeling of the grass on your back after the game, the color of the sky when you look up, the players sitting on the bench will never forget the feeling under that uncomfortable buttock.”

Daizen Maeda: "It's really disappointing that we couldn't advance to the next stage" World Cup

At the World Cup Qatar soccer tournament, Japan faced the defending champions Croatia in the first round of the final tournament on 5 December (early morning of Japan time 6), and lost after a penalty shootout and did not advance to the last eight. MAEDA Daizen (Celtic), who scored the opening goal, said, "It's really disappointing that we can't advance to the next stage." Here are his main post-match comments:

It was a tournament to return the favor

――We were one step closer to a new history.

◆There was a lot of support on this stage, and I stood here. I want to thank all kinds of people.

――There was also the opening goal. What kind of World Cup was it?

◆It was a tournament to give back to the people who supported us. I'm really sorry that we couldn't move on to the next stage.

――Many people were cheering for you during the Japan.

◆ Japan was in the middle of the night, but I think a lot of people cheered for us. We didn't get to see the winning game, but I'm really grateful for that.

Brazil's ace Neymar starts against Korea Republic at the Soccer World Cup

The starting line-up for the first round match between Brazil and Korea Republic at the World Cup Qatar was announced on the 5th (Japan hours 6th), and Brazil's ace Neymar was named in the starting line-up.

Neymar injured his right ankle in the first leg match against Serbia and has been absent since.

Coach MORIYASU Hajime: "The players showed us a new era" - Failed to reach the top eight of the World Cup

The World Cup Qatar was held on 5 December (6 Japan hours), and the team aiming to reach the last eight for the first time in the first round of the final tournament (Japan 1st place in Group E of the 1st League) lost to Croatia (2nd place in Group F) after a penalty shootout. Coach MORIYASU Hajime said, "I think the players showed us a new era." The main comments are as follows.

This barrier can always be overcome

――How do you feel about being one step closer to reaching the last eight?

◆The players did a really good job. We couldn't overcome or break the barrier of the last 16 this time, but I think the players showed us a new era. I strongly believe that if we continue to hope for the best scenery in Japan football in the future, we will definitely be able to overcome this barrier.

――Expectations for Japan football will grow even greater in the future.

◆The players can think about competing against the world from the same perspective. Japan showed us the future of football and a new era. It wasn't a last-16 match, but the new scenery is that we were able to beat Germany, Spain, and the World Cup champions, and if we can be confident in that and think about "overtaking" rather than "catching up", I think the future will definitely change.

Conceded by penalty kicks, Japan 3 out of 4 players failed; Croatian goalkeeper makes a series of good saves

The first round of the final tournament was held in Qatar on 5 December (6 Japan hours), and Japan were eliminated by defending champions Croatia on penalties, failing to advance to the last eight for the first time. After going 1-1 in extra time, they were unable to settle and succumbed to a 3-1 score on penalties.

In the penalty shootout, three Japan of the first kick failed. Croatia had three of their four players succeeded, thanks to a good save from goalkeeper Rybakovic.

< the first person>

Japan×

Takumi Minamino kicks in to the right, but the opposing goalkeeper saves

Croatia ○

Bradic succeeds with a kick to the left

The second person <>

Japan×

Kaoru Mitoma kicks to the left, but the goalkeeper saves

Croatia ○

Brozovic kicks to the middle and succeeds

< third person>

Japan○

Takuma Asano calmly poured it to the right and succeeded

× Croatia

Ribaya kicks to the left and hits the goalposts to get off the mark.

< the first person>

Japan×

Maya Yoshida kicks to the left and the goalkeeper blocks

Croatia ○

Pašalić calmly kicks to the left and succeeds