The battle against Croatia, aiming for the first-ever “best eight” in the final tournament of the World Cup, will kick off tonight and tomorrow morning (December 6, 2022) at midnight. There was also a Japanese supporter who left last night on a bullet tour of “3 days and 0 nights” to support them. TIME predicted the fate of the battle.
Coach Moriyasu said in a press conference the day before the game, “We want to fight with the combined strength of the team.” Yuto Nagatomo (36) said, “We will carve a golden page in the history of Japanese football. I definitely want to beat Croatia and see a new scene together. I want to shout ‘Bravo’ in a loud voice.” .
“Sometimes in life…”
The day before yesterday, there were supporters heading to Qatar at Narita Airport, hoping to see the historic moment of “the first best eight if they win.” A woman dressed in a blue kimono with the Japanese team emblem said, “I went to (Qatar) to watch a match, and then flew over on an airplane. It’s a bullet.” A man in his 30s who was standing in line at the airport said, “After we won yesterday’s game (against Spain), I rushed to look for (tickets).
Supporters of countries that did not advance to the final tournament may sell tickets. Believing in Japan’s advance to the finals, there was also a supporter who said, “I bought two tickets in advance so that I don’t care if I’m 1st or 2nd. It’s great. Shinpei Yamashita (31) arrived at the airport in Qatar on the 4th local time.
Croatia finished second in the previous tournament. Last year’s tournament MVP, L., will lead the team. Modric (37). In 2018, he won the Ballon d’Or, which is given to the best player in the world. He has worn the number 10 shirt for Real Madrid in Spain. Croatia is a country facing the Adriatic Sea near Italy, known for its blue sea and orange roofs, with a population of about 4 million.
Four matches were played in the finals tournament in the early hours of the 5th in Japan time, and the Netherlands (8th in the FIFA rankings) beat the USA (16th) 3-1 to advance to the top 8 first. France (4th) defeated Poland (26th) 3-1, and Argentina (35th) led by Messi (35), who is said to be his last tournament, defeated Australia (38th) 2-1. They will face the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. England (5th) and Senegal (18th) will face France after England’s 3-0 win.
MC Shinichiro Azumi introduced that he could see the “self-study space” in a building with a cram school and preparatory school nearby, and said, “Students in their teens who are at their desks until after 8 or 9 o’clock at night. I can see the figure.Be careful of corona and flu, I’m sure you haven’t watched the World Cup.I think that such a period is necessary in life.I hope everyone can do their best. As someone who has experienced a single wave, I hope.”
(Sakae)