FIFA FOOTBALL WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 - NEWS BLOG - UPDATE 38

 JAPAN ELIMINATED FROM WORLD CUP AT THE FINAL STAGE

Japan the top 16, the prize money is 1.781 billion yen, which is higher than the World Cup in Russia

Japan who were eliminated in the first round of the final tournament on the 5th at the soccer World Cup Qatar will receive a prize of 13 million dollars (about 1.781 billion yen). That's an increase of $1 million from the $12 million in the last World Cup in Russia, which was also in the round of 16. The $1.5 million entry fee remains unchanged.

The total prize money for this tournament is $440 million, and the winner is $42 million, $4 million more than the previous one. The runners-up will earn $30 million, the final eight will pay $17 million, and the team eliminated in the first round will receive $9 million.

Moriyasu Japan's achievements and challenges created by the guidance of two generations Japan national football team

On the 5th (Japan hours 6th) of the World Cup Qatar, Japan lost to Croatia on penalties in the first round of the final tournament, and was rebuffed from their fourth attempt to reach the last eight. Nevertheless, they defeated World Cup champions Germany and Spain in the first round, and their continued improvement paid off in this tournament.

MAEDA Daizen (Celtic) scored the opening goal against Croatia, DOAN Ritsu (Freiburg), who scored from Germany and Spain in the first round, TANAKA Ao (Dusseldorf), who scored the come-from-behind goal against Spain, and MITOMA Kaoru (Brighton) created repeated chances with his dribbling. The players who performed well in this tournament have something in common. All of them are representatives of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, which are organized by people aged 24 and under.

Coach MORIYASU Hajime of the Japan National Team was appointed as the head coach of the Tokyo Olympics generation in '17, but the Japan Football Association had decided at that time that he would also entrust the coach of the full national team with no age limit after the following 18 World Cup in Russia. Kohzo Tashima, president of the Japan Association, said, "As an association, we have never seen a national team coach for such a long time."

Takefusa Kubo eager to participate in Olympics "World Cup is incomplete, give us a chance"

KUBO Takefusa (Real Sociedad), a member of the Japan National Soccer Team, spoke to reporters at his base in Doha on 6 December, one day after his first-round match against Croatia in the World Cup Qatar, and expressed his desire to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

He developed a fever after the first round match against Spain on Sunday and watched the match against Croatia on TV from his lodgings. "If I get a chance at the next [Paris] Olympics because of the incomplete burn at the World Cup, I will consider it, and if it happens, I will do my best to fight for the Japan," he said.

The 21-year-old Kubo participated in the 21 Tokyo Olympics at the age of 20.

From the land of Saginuma, "Kaoru!" Aoi!" challenged the top eight of the World Cup, generous applause

In the early morning of the 6th in the FIFA World Cup Qatar, Japan faced Croatia in the first round of the final tournament and lost on penalties. At the shopping street of Saginuma (Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki City), the hometown of Kaoru Mitoma (25) and Aoi Tanaka (24), nicknamed the "Saginuma Brothers," a public viewing (PV) was held and about 50 citizens who rushed to cheer them on. Although they did not make it to the top eight as they had hoped for, the players gave them a generous round of applause.

The PV was planned in a hurry after the local shopping street "Saginuma Shotenkai" where the two were born and raised received the Japan representative's advance to the final tournament. In the lobby on the first floor of Sports Spa Asurier Saginuma near Saginuma Station on the Tokyu Denentoshi Line, a large screen and a TV were set up to set up the venue. Local tonkatsu shops offered "katsu sandwiches" to pray for victory, bowling alleys distributed cheering goods, and people involved in the shopping association and citizens cheered as one.

In the match, Mitoma came on as a substitute in the 19th minute of the second half when the match was 1-1, and Tanaka came on the pitch at the start of the second half of extra time. Every time the two appeared on the screen, the audience shouted "Kaoru!" and "Aoi!" And cheers flew. When the match ended in a penalty shootout, some people shed tears. Most of them stayed at the venue for a while after the game, and there was no end to the voices saying "I missed you" and "I'll see you again in four years".

Goseika, a mother of two children of the same age who lives near the venue, said, "I'm proud that such a star is born from Saginuma, and I was moved by their success." Kazuo Sugawara, 64, president of the Shotenkai who decided to hold the PV, said, "It's unfortunate, but I hope we can aim for the top eight again at the next World Cup."

Naoko Komatsu (59), a physical education teacher at Kawasaki Municipal Arima Junior High School who taught the two, watched the game on her home TV. Looking back on the two of them in junior high school, he said, "Tanaka was always smiling and having fun with everyone, and Mitoma was a quiet but kind-hearted kid who assisted his classmates' goals in soccer class."

Seeing the two of them standing on the same pitch at the World Cup stage was deeply moving, saying, "As a teacher, I am most happy that my students have realized their dreams." Despite the defeat, he praised the two players, saying, "These tears will surely be an asset," and expressed his hopes for their success in the next World Cup, saying, "Both of them will be the ones who will lead the team."

Yuto Nagatomo also "wants to think slowly" on future involvement with Japan representatives

Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), a 36-year-old defender of the Japan national team who made four consecutive appearances in the World Cup Qatar, declined to say after the match against Croatia on 5 May that he wanted to "think slowly" about his future involvement with the national team. On the other hand, he said, "I think the juniors will make use of this disappointment in their future Japan football."

34-year-old defender YOSHIDA Maya (Schalke), who captained the team in three consecutive World Cups, also said, "I will think slowly" about the future.

YUTO NAGATOMO - JAPANESE FOOTBALL PLAYER

Coach MORIYASU Hajime is positive about the next pitch "I want to contribute to Japan football"

Coach MORIYASU Hajime of the Japan National Soccer Team spoke to reporters in Doha on 6 December, one day after their first-round match against Croatia in the World Cup Qatar. Coach Moriyasu stated that "we have not had any realistic discussions with the Japan Association," but expressed a positive attitude toward the next match, saying, "I want to grow even more and contribute to Japan football."

Coach Moriyasu's tenure ends at this tournament, but Japan Football Association President TASHIMA Kohzo has hinted at his succession, saying, "He is definitely one of the candidates for the next coach."

Japan missed out on their goal of reaching the last eight for the first time in this tournament, but they beat Germany and Spain, who have won the championship in the first round. Coach Moriyasu reflected on the tournament, saying, "I'm sorry we couldn't let them win at the end," and summed up the tournament, saying, "I have no regrets, and the players showed us a wonderful view that we can compete with the world's top countries and win the match."

Shogo Taniguchi's mentors cheer "Looking forward to the next new scenery" Soccer World Cup

The Japan National Team faced Croatia on 6 December in the first round of the final tournament of the World Cup Qatar, aiming for the first time in the last eight. After the World Cup in Japan, which surprised the world by defeating the powerhouses Germany and Spain in Group E of the first league, which was called the "Group of Death", the players' mentors and people related to them gave generous applause.

In Kumamoto Prefecture, where defender TANIGUCHI Shogo (31) was in Furusato, Kazunori Hiraoka (57) = current general manager = the coach of the football team at Otsu High School (Otsu Town, the same prefecture) watched over the daiichi (Otsu Town, the same prefecture). Taniguchi, who plays for J.League club Kawasaki Frontale, broke his nose in a league match in November. He rebounded from such an accident and supported the Japan's defence with his physical play.

"My students are active on the world stage, and they are all about being leaders," says Hiraoka. After the match, I sent a message saying, "I played well, thank you for all the excitement and shock," and he said, "Thanks to my teacher. Thank you." "I've always practiced steadily and had the talent to never give up, so I think I'll do my best to aim for the next 'new landscape'. I would like to continue to support you as the most understanding person and supporter."

Tomohiro Yamashiro (33), a second-year senior of Taniguchi and currently the coach of the Otsu High School soccer team, praised his efforts, saying, "I am happy that the juniors are participating in an important match where a 'new scenery' that the Japan national team has never seen before.

In high school, Taniguchi did not make a weak sound even in rigorous practice, encouraging his classmates. "He has always been considerate and loved by everyone, and when I see him running to the player who scored the goal, I think it's Shogo. I would like to express my gratitude for carrying Japan on my back."