Early morning reports on Dec. 6, Japan and South Korea lost overnight and all of the AFC teams are out of the tournament.
Unlike South Korea, who lost to Brazil, Japan lost on penalties after 120 minutes of a 1-1 draw with Croatia. Six teams are participating in the World Cup in Qatar. Unfortunately. Unfortunately, it ended up surviving in the top 16. Australia played Argentina in the 1/8 final. Arguably had a slight chance, but it still failed completely. Facing Brazil, South Korea had no ability to fight back. When they met these two former world champions, they went home speechless.
Of course, Japan is the most regrettable. They lasted 120 minutes. When they had a chance to win the game, they lost on penalties to Croatia, who were runners-up in the World Cup. This is the reality that Japan must accept. Maybe Japan was too confident and didn't expect to practice penalties? Many Japanese fans were not satisfied. Some fans said: Japan dares to play penalty kicks at this level? Why don't they practice penalty kicks? They thought Nanno was a softie and lost the penalty on the first penalty kick. They think the Japanese players' facial expressions and penalty kicks are very tense and inappropriate. Of course, maybe Japan didn't even think about playing penalty kicks. Japan's biggest advantage is the thickness of their lineup. Croatia's biggest disadvantage was its age and physicality, but its mental strength and resistance to pressure ultimately proved to be more resilient having experienced the pressure of many World Cups. Some fans still think Moroho is incompetent. Japan could finish in the top eight.
After the game, Japan's expectations for this team remain high, judging by the various reactions from Japanese fans. This also has to do with Japan's history of World Cup participation. Even though Japan made it to the 1/8 finals of the World Cup once again and missed out on the top 8 of the World Cup once again, looking at their 20+ years of World Cup experience still puts the national soccer team to shame.Japan made their first appearance in the World Cup in 1998, advancing to the group stage four times.They finished in the top 16 four times, advancing to the group stage in 2002, 2010, 2018, and 2022. This time, they actually lost on penalties to Croatia. They were one step away from the top eight. In fact, Japan's goal at the World Cup is to finish in the top eight, and once they break through the top eight curse, Japan's goal will be to immediately become World Cup champions! What is the goal of the national soccer team?
Moriho bowed deeply to the Japanese fans after the game, and Japan had to apologize when they played like this? Yes, because he said he wanted to take Japan to the top eight, which was Japan's goal for the World Cup. After the match, he was interviewed and said that the Japanese players fought bravely for 120 minutes and that the result of the penalty shootout was full of regrets, but would accept the result. In the end, Morihoichi said, "We will stand up to the world's strongest teams, overcome their pride, and move on to the next goal. The world looks at the players with equal eyes and shows everyone a new era. Despite failing to reach the last eight in terms of results, we beat former World Cup winners like Germany and Spain in the process. If we have confidence, we will not only catch up with them, we will surpass them and change the world." This shows that although Japan did not make a historical breakthrough in this World Cup, they have gained the most important thing, which is confidence. And Mori Boichi's speech, is no longer empty rhetoric, they are indeed only one step away from the World Cup eight, and our national soccer team now do not know how to go.
The World Cup continues, but the mission of the Asian teams is over, and the flow to Asia and Chinese soccer are not the same problem. The future of the national soccer team is a real concern, judging by the obvious improvement of the Asian teams in this World Cup! The style of play in West Asia is becoming tougher and tougher. People's skills have proven to be far superior to ours. It seems we still have a physical advantage. However, for once, look at the styles of Saudi Arabia and Iran, not only is Iran as strong as ever, but Saudi Arabia is playing very strong. It really is the absolute best in Asia. Needless to say, even though South Korea lost to Brazil, it has been able to fight against second-rate European teams. Japan has made even more progress. The group even g Spain and Germany did not say they could draw with Croatia for 120 minutes in the knockout rounds. This is definitely the first-class level of Asia now! But Japan's coaches and players are still not satisfied! Still blaming themselves! That's because they've raised their goals again. They think they can compete for the World Cup!
Although the Japanese failed again before finishing in the top eight of the World Cup, step by step they gained the all-important confidence, but what about Chinese soccer? Is all we have to do is look forward to World Cup expansion? Is that our only way out?
