[Japan National Football Team/News]In the Qatar World Cup round of 16, Japan vs Croatia finished 1-1 at the end of the 120th minute. Maya Yoshida said after the match.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round 16, Japan vs Croatia was held on the 5th local time. After 120 minutes of fierce fighting, Japan finished 1-1 and lost in the penalty shootout 1-3, failing to advance to the quarterfinals.
After losing to Belgium in the previous tournament, Maya Yoshida led the team as captain with the goal of reaching the last eight. He fell short of that goal, but he squeezed out with a trembling voice, “I think you did well.” On the other hand, he said, “It’s frustrating.
This tournament was a tough group stage where they lived together with the successive champion teams of Germany and Spain. However, the pre-war expectations were rebounded brilliantly, and the team entered the Round of 16 at the top of the group, holding off the powerhouse nations.
In the past, it seemed to be the closest to the best 8, but the result was an elimination in the round of 16 even in the fourth attempt. Regarding the high wall that seems to be surmountable and cannot be overcome, he said, “I think the whole Japanese football will start a battle to think about how to overcome it in the next four years.”
Still, there are some parts that have grown more than the Russian tournament. Regarding the long tie-breaking time, “Four years ago, it felt like it would be tough if it lasted longer. I believed that it would come, and I thought that I would just have to endure and endure,” he recalled.
Regarding future representative activities, he commented, “I will think about it slowly.” In it, he said, “Football will change from now on. There is no doubt that the intensity will continue to rise.” I think that people like Itakura and Hiroki Ito will have to do it,” he said, entrusting his thoughts to his juniors.