FIFA FOOTBALL WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 - NEWS BLOG - UPDATE 41

 JAPAN'S NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM RETURNS HOME AFTER ELIMINATON FROM WORLD CUP

Japan national team enters a new stage - "Hollowing out" is a past debate - Soccer World Cup

They defeated Germany and Spain in an upset and drew with Croatia (penalties are a way to determine which team will advance to the next round). At the World Cup in Qatar, the Japan national team has advanced to a new stage.

From now on, it will be thoroughly studied, and the opponent who scored the first goal will not be loosened. In other words, your opponents will be on the same page.

The reason why we have achieved good results is because the players have grown. Nine of the 11 players in the starting line-up for the match against Croatia are different from those in the last Russia 2018 first-round match against Belgium. Only two defenders, YOSHIDA Maya (Schalke) and NAGATOMO Yuto (FC Tokyo), started the two matches. This much has changed in four years.

Since childhood, he has aimed to become a professional soccer player, and when he was about to make his J.League debut, he saw the come-from-behind loss against Belgium last time. As a result of such players taking on challenges overseas, a new force emerged.

Yoshida, who has spent more than 10 years overseas, and Nagatomo, who became a regular player at Inter Milan in the Italian first division, are following the path of TOMIYASU Takehiro (Arsenal) and MITOMA Kaoru (Brighton).

"The soul was transmitted" Nagatomo's mentor on the phone after the match World Cup

The Japan National Team lost to Croatia in the first round of the final tournament of the World Cup Qatar on 6 December (Japan time). In Ehime Prefecture, the hometown of 36-year-old veteran defender NAGATOMO Yuto, he praised his dynamism on the big stage, which his teacher positioned as the "culmination."

In this tournament, which was his fourth consecutive appearance, he started all four matches along with Daichi Kamata, 26, who is also from Ehime Prefecture. The shouts of "Bravo" generated a lot of buzz and contributed to the atmosphere of the team. In the match against Croatia, he received Kamata's pass and came close to the goal.

Hiroshi Inoue (53), a teacher from Saijo Kitanaka, said from Nagatomo on the morning of the 6th December after the match, "Thank you for your support! I received a message on LINE. Inoue called immediately afterwards and told Nagatomo, who was concerned about the reaction of Inoue's students, who had taught him directly, that "Yuto's spirit is transmitted (to the children)."

In an interview, he said, "I was touched by the way he said on and off the pitch and off, 'I will carry the Japan on my back, I will lead the juniors,' and I was struck by the emotion."

"Like Takuma Asano" Local Komono boy inspired by comeback bullet

At the World Cup in Qatar, Japan missed out on reaching the last eight. However, the performance of forward ASANO Takuma (28, Bochum) from Komono Town, Mie Prefecture, who played in all four matches, gave courage to local soccer boys who admire Asano and train hard.

Every time Asano returns to his hometown, he shows up at the practice of Perna SC, the soccer club he belonged to when he was in elementary school. Sixth-grader Riku Kimura (12), who joined the club when he was in the first grade of elementary school, was overwhelmed by Asano's play, which is characterized by his good feet, and declared to his mother Tomomi (49) from the time he was in the lower grades, "I will become a soccer player like Asano."

Since I set Asano as my goal, I have stopped cutting corners in practice. The club, which participates six days a week, focuses on basic practice such as dribbling and passing, and sometimes ends after 9:30 p.m. He also works on core training on his arms and legs two days a week.

According to the club's coach, Yasuhiro Shimizu, 54, Asano was short in stature and not particularly fast when he was at the club. Therefore, in order to improve the technical aspect, he imposed a rule of "no clearing" and improved his dribbling and other techniques. Kimura is also working on his strengths by banning clearing, and now his goal is to get behind the opposing defenders.

In June of this year, a mini-game was played between the adult team led by Asano who was returning home and the children of the club, and Kimura was eager to show his good points in front of Asano, and scored the only goal against adults. He never misses the opportunity to free up in front of him, and when the ball was kicked with his right foot and hit the net on the left side, Asano ran up to him shouting "Nice!" and gave him a high five with a smile.

At that time, Asano signed the spikes he was wearing and gave them to Kimura. He still carefully displays them on the shelf in his living room, saying, "When I see these spikes, I feel energized even if I am tired from practice."

Kimura was looking forward to Asano's success, and watched the World Cup match on TV in real time, except for the match against Spain. I was particularly excited by Asano's comeback against Germany on 23 November. "I was surprised when I took a long pass with a trap and scored from that angle.

My dream for the future is to play for European teams like Asano. Looking back on the World Cup, he said, "I felt Asano's unyielding determination and high level of technical ability until he scored a goal, and I will do my best in training so that I can become such a player someday." 

TAKUMA ASANO - JAPANESE FOOTBALL PLAYER

The identity of the "Moriyasu Magic" that made great progress Soccer Japan National Team

"I can only say 'as expected', because I think it's the coach who drives everything, and great is not enough. It's ugly."

Asano Takuma (Bochum), who scored the winning goal in the first round match against Germany in the Japan of the World Cup Qatar, said this about coach MORIYASU Hajime during the tournament.

They came from behind to beat Spain in the third match, and twice made the impact of defeating a World Cup champion for the first time in the tournament. The rapid progress that topped Group E of the first league, which is full of strong teams, was born from the unity of the team led by Japan coaches.

In the final round of the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup, Japan played with almost a fixed squad. In addition to being unable to play most of the training matches due to the spread of the new coronavirus, the background was that they lost in the early stages and had to rely on their main team. Although there was criticism for his leadership, such as "not moving" and "being too cautious," coach Moriyasu turned around in this tournament and took a series of aggressive measures.

In the match against Germany, the basic back four was changed to a three-back at the start of the second half. While erasing Germany's growing strengths, they also revitalized their attacks with early substitutions to pull off a come-from-behind victory. After coming from behind against Spain, they introduced the defensive Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal) on the right flank, who was trying to strengthen their attack, to nip the counterattack in the bud.

World Cup Japan national soccer team return to Japan: supporters "impressed" and "bravo"

The Japan National Team, who reached the last 16 of the World Cup in Qatar, flew back to Narita Airport on 7 December. About 650 supporters wearing replica jerseys gathered in the arrival lobby to praise the players for their hard work, saying "Thank you for the excitement" and "Bravo".

At around 6:20 p.m., coach MORIYASU Hajime and captain YOSHIDA Maya (Schalke) appeared in the arrival lobby, and loud cheers went up. Coach Moriyasu greeted the players with a smile as they responded to the cheers of the supporters.

Kenta Asano (7), a first-year elementary school student who is a member of the Narita Soccer Sports Boys' Club near the airport, said, "I want to become a soccer player and participate in the World Cup in the future." Nana Suzuki, 18, a third-year high school student from Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, also said excitedly, "I will be cheering for you for the next four years, and I want to see everyone make it to the last eight and win the World Cup."

The Japan, who are making their seventh appearance in seven consecutive tournaments, defeated World Cup champions Germany and Spain in the first round for the first time and reached the playoffs for the fourth time in two consecutive tournaments. In the first round to advance to the last eight for the first time, they lost to the defending runners-up Croatia on penalties, but they showed their ability to not give up a single step against strong opponents.

Coach Moriyasu: "I was delighted" World Cup Japan national team return press conference

Coach MORIYASU Hajime of the Japan National Team, who advanced to the round of 16 for the second consecutive World Cup in Qatar, and his players returned to Japan on 7 December.

At a press conference in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture, coach Moriyasu said, "The players showed us that we can compete on the world stage with our individual goodness and unity." Although he spoke softly, there were many relieved smiles.

Based on his experience of missing out on the final Asian qualifier for the 1993 World Cup in the United States in Doha and the victories over Germany and Spain in the first round of this tournament, he said, "It was a wonderful experience to beat a country that had already won the championship, and I was delighted by 'Doha Tragedy.'"

Captain YOSHIDA Maya (Schalke), who was also in attendance, expressed a sense of satisfaction in this tournament, which was his third World Cup, and his goal was to reach the last eight or higher, saying, "We didn't get where we wanted to be, but it was the shortest World Cup we have ever won and we had the most fun."

The 26 members of the Japan squad were disbanded on site, while some players left for Europe. Most of the players, including DOAN Ritsu (Freiburg), who scored two goals, returned to Japan by plane arriving at Narita Airport. According to the Japan Football Association, a total of 18 players, 11 from overseas clubs and seven from domestic clubs, have returned to Japan.

Japan reached the playoffs for the fourth time in their seventh World Cup appearance, but lost in the first round to defending champions Croatia on penalties.

HAJIME MORIYASU - JAPAN'S NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM COACH

Moriyasu J is a "mirror" of society Flat organizations create a virtuous cycle Soccer World Cup

The pleasant relationship between the coach and the players created a virtuous cycle. The Japan national football team defeated Spain and Germany at the World Cup Qatar to reach the last 16. How did coach MORIYASU Hajime's team building, which listens to the voices of those around him and is close to the players, appear in the eyes of experts?

"We live in an age where it is difficult to run an organization based on mental theories as in the past, and people prefer to create an organization where people compromise with each other, respect each other's individuality, and develop each other regardless of position. The same trend was observed in the national football Japan this time." Professor Yasuhiro Matsuzaki of the Faculty of Representation at Taisho University (Media Industry Theory) analyzes the characteristics of Moriyasu's teaching method as follows.

Professor Matsuzaki pointed out that "flat organizations" with no barriers between ages and positions have permeated not only the Japan team sports scene but also companies. In the presence of strong hierarchical relationships, the attitude of acting independently cannot develop, but in an environment where opinions can be expressed without hesitation, autonomy and the ability to think are fostered, and a virtuous cycle is easily created as an organization.

Japan national football team pays courtesy call on prime minister "Uniting the team with cheers from Japan"

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida received a courtesy call on the players of the Japan National Team who reached the last 16 of the World Cup Qatar at the Prime Minister's Office on December 8.

Eighteen players who returned to Japan, including captain YOSHIDA Maya (Schalke), coach MORIYASU Hajime, and Japan Football Association President TASHIMA Kohzo visited the Prime Minister's Office. The Prime Minister received a soccer ball from NAGATOMO Yuto (FC Tokyo), took a commemorative photo with the players, and then held a meeting.

Coach Moriyasu said, "Thanks to the encouragement from the Japan of the Japanese people, we were able to fight with courage, and the players also fought tenaciously until the end. Thank you for your support." Captain Yoshida said, "Japan from all over the world gave us energy, and although we were close to reaching the last eight, the important thing is to lead to the next one. I want to do my best for the next four years without stopping."

The Prime Minister praised his performance, saying, "We beat Spain and Germany, who have won the championship, and we surprised the whole world by competing against Croatia," adding, "Many fans of Japan gave us courage and energy. It gave me great courage."