FIFA FOOTBALL WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 - NEWS BLOG - UPDATE 32

 JAPAN ELIMINATED FROM THE FOOTBALL WORLD CUP FINAL

Captain YOSHIDA Maya: "Children who watched this match broke through the wall" Soccer World Cup

The World Cup Qatar was held on 5 December (6 Japan hours), and 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 of the 1st League) and were eliminated after a penalty shootout. Captain Maya Yoshida said, "It's frustrating that we didn't get the result at the end." The main comments are as follows.

I'm disappointed that I didn't get the result at the end.

――As captain, you have always carried something enormous. How have the last four years been?

◆In order to break this barrier every day, I have been trying to incorporate various things for four years, but it is frustrating that I did not get the result at the end.

――After beating Germany and Spain, football in Japan has changed.

◆I hope that many children will watch this match, dream of football, be excited, and want to become soccer players, and that they will eventually play in the World Cup and break this barrier. I would be happy if I could have played a part in the growth of Japan. I think this will continue in the future, so I would like to contribute in any way.

Shuichi Gonda: "Four years from now, I want to be a goalkeeper to reach the last eight of the World Cup"

At the World Cup Qatar, Japan lost to Croatia on penalties in the first round of the final tournament on 5 December (6 Japan hours). Goalkeeper GONDA Shuichi (Shimizu S-Pulse), who played in all four matches, said, "I have to improve so that I can become a goalkeeper to reach the last eight and the last four in four years." The main comments are as follows.

I think I've done everything I can...

It's a big frustration. We were aiming for the last eight and to do that, I had to do one more thing. I think that's the difference. I can't speak very well, but I am determined to raise the level of Japan goalkeepers not only for me but for the whole team.

I've been doing everything I can for the last four years [for the next World Cup], but the reality is that it wasn't enough. From tomorrow, I have to take care of every day and improve myself so that I can become a goalkeeper to reach the last eight and the last four in four years.

Ritsu Doan's regret: "We couldn't score in 120 minutes" World Cup match against Croatia

The World Cup Qatar was held on 5 December (6 Japan hours), and 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 of the 1st League) and were eliminated after a penalty shootout. Doan Ritsu (Freiburg), who started the match, said, "It's a matter of the content of the match that we couldn't score." The main comments are as follows.

No one can blame PK

――What are your feelings now?

◆That's right... It's difficult, isn't it? It's hard to find the words right now, but I personally think we could have created more chances in the middle of the second half, and I don't think anyone can blame us for the penalty, so I think it's a matter of the way we didn't score in the 120 minutes.

――To Japan supporters.

◆I am truly sorry. We had a lot of support, so we were determined to live up to their expectations. All the players gave everything to prepare, so I'm really sorry.

――How will you relieve this frustration in the future?

◆ I can't think about it at a glance right now, but it's a reality that I have to accept. I want to take it seriously and move forward.

JAPAN ELIMINATED FROM WORLD CUP FINAL AFTER LOSING A MATCH WITH CROATIA

Wataru Endo: "The reason for the defeat was that it turned into a penalty shootout" World Cup match against Croatia

At the World Cup Qatar, Japan lost to defending champions Croatia on penalties in the first round of the final tournament on 5 December (6 Japan hours). ENDO Wataru (Stuttgart) was disappointed, saying, "We were hit by one cross, which leaves us disappointed." Here are his main post-match comments:

I was hit by one cross

◆ The first half was a perfect flow. In the second half, it was difficult to deal with the areas where we were caught up. We went according to the game plan to keep going, but the penalty kick was no longer worth it. You can't blame the players for kicking it. I think the reason we lost the match was that we went to penalties as a team.

――This is the first time in this tournament that you have scored the opener. As for the game plan.

◆In the first half, we were able to share the fact that we were able to close the game 1-0. In the second half, of course, we tried to score the second goal, and we never conceded a goal, but we were able to get away with one cross. It was a bit of a disappointing match.

- What about PK?

◆It was like kicking from the person who wanted to kick.

――To the fans.

◆I'm really sorry that we lost like this, despite the expectations we received. We will prepare for the next World Cup from tomorrow, so it will be difficult to make the switch, but I will go back to my club first.

Junya Ito: "They were tenacious and a really good team" Soccer World Cup

At the World Cup Qatar, Japan lost to Croatia on penalties in the first round of the final tournament on 5 December (6 Japan hours). ITO Junya (Stade Reims), who played the full game, said, "They were a really good team." The main comments are as follows.

I wanted to score before extra time, before penalties.

It's really frustrating. I think we were more involved in the attack as it is now. I think we were tough and tenacious, and I think we were a really good team [Japan]. We have to win against these opponents [to break the 16-strong barrier], and we wanted to score well before extra time and penalties.

I'm sorry we couldn't show [the supporters] a new view.

Maya Yoshida says his future activities as a Japan representative "will be thought slowly"

Defender YOSHIDA Maya (34) =Schalke=, captain of the Japan National Soccer Team, spoke to the media after losing to Croatia on penalties in the first round of the World Cup Qatar on 5 December (6 Japan hours) and did not state that he would "think slowly" about playing for the Japan national team in the future.

Yoshida, who made his debut for the Japan national team in January 2010 against Yemen, has been included in the squad for three consecutive World Cups since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He took over the captaincy from HASEBE Makoto (Eintracht Frankfurt), who announced his retirement from the national team after the '18 World Cup in Russia. He also participated in three Olympic Games: Beijing '08, London '12, and Tokyo last summer.

Kaoru Mitoma: "We have to do our best to win the next World Cup" Choking tears

At the World Cup Qatar, Japan lost to defending champions Croatia on penalties in the first round of the final tournament on 5 December (early morning of Japan hours and 6 December). MITOMA Kaoru (Brighton) choked up and shed tears, saying, "We have to do our best to win the next World Cup." Here are his main post-match comments:

It wasn't all enough

Throughout the game, I think we lacked everything. (There are four years until the next World Cup.) We have to improve ourselves so that we can win the next World Cup.

"Fun will be in four years" 450 people cheered in the packed PV in the early morning of the World Cup

We are one step away from a "new landscape." In the FIFA World Cup Qatar on the 5th December (early morning of Japan time), Japan lost to Croatia on penalties and failed to reach the last eight for the first time. However, football fans watched the heated match in the wee hours of the morning, and the players who gave their all were cheered on.

At the public viewing (PV) held at the Starrise Tower studio (Minato-ku, Tokyo) in the Tokyo Tower Media Center, a capacity of 450 people was fully booked, and just before the start of the game at 0:00 a.m. on the 6th, a loud call of "Nippon, Nippon" erupted.

In the 43rd minute of the first half, when MAEDA Daizen scored the opening goal, the crowd stood up in unison and pumped their fists. Atsushi Onoda, a 47-year-old cram school instructor in Tsu City, wearing a hachimaki with the words "Must Win" written on his forehead, was deeply moved, saying, "They did it, and they showed us a new scenery." He also watched the match against Belgium at the last World Cup in Russia. "Since then, I want to move when it has stopped," he said, jumping on the bullet train after work.

However, when they equalized in the second half, the match went to a penalty shoot-out after extra time. The audience put their hands together and stared at the screen as if praying, but they couldn't reach it. Nevertheless, after the game, the venue was filled with loud applause.

Akira Kanda, a 63-year-old office worker from Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, who visited with three of his colleagues, said, "Four years ago, we lost in stoppage time, but this time we were able to win the penalty. I'll save the fun for four years," he narrowed his eyes.