Latest news with #JapanFootball
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Hirakawa makes Japan debut and Ohashi first start
Bristol City forward Yu Hirakawa made his international debut for Japan on Thursday during their 1-0 World Cup qualifying loss against 24-year-old earned his first senior call-up in May and was put straight into the starting line-up for his country, who have already qualified for the 2026 game also marked a first Japan start for Blackburn Rovers forward Yuki led the side up top while Hirakawa was utilised in midfield, but Australia's Aziz Behich scored a 90th-minute winner to hand Japan their first qualifying defeat.
Japan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
Moriyasu mourns end of unbeaten run after loss to Australia
Hajime Moriyasu has already led Japan to qualification for next year's World Cup finals but there was no disguising his frustration at his understrength side losing 1-0 to Australia in Perth on Thursday. Aziz Behich's 90th-minute strike consigned Samurai Blue to a first loss to Australia in 16 years and a first defeat in all matches since February last year. "It ended up being an extremely frustrating and disappointing result," Moriyasu told reporters. "Many inexperienced players were in action, but they were enthusiastic in practice, showed their best and were prepared to fight like Japan as a team." Moriyasu has ambitions to win the World Cup next year, not so foolhardy a goal when it is remembered that he led Japan to victories over Germany and Spain at the last edition in 2022. Keen to expand his squad depth, Moriyasu rested his top players on Thursday and put out a team featuring nine players starting for the first time, three of them debutants. Japan still dominated the match with its neat possession football for all but the last couple of minutes and would have won had they produced a better end-product in front of goal. "I don't think we were technically and physically second best. Maybe, a lack of experience cost us," Moriyasu said "I wanted to see what (inexperienced) players could do in a high-pressure environment. We have to improve and expand our squad." Japan rounds out its qualifying campaign against Indonesia in Suita on Tuesday and Moriyasu said his team would be aiming to get back to winning ways. "We wanted to continue our unbeaten run, but it's too late for that now," Moriyasu said. "We'll ready ourselves the best we can to round things off with a win."
CNA
5 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Japan's Moriyasu mourns end of unbeaten run after loss to Australia
Hajime Moriyasu has already led Japan to qualification for next year's World Cup finals but there was no disguising his frustration at his understrength side losing 1-0 to Australia in Perth on Thursday. Aziz Behich's 90th minute strike consigned the Samurai Blue to a first loss to Australia in 16 years and a first defeat in all matches since February last year. "It ended up being an extremely frustrating and disappointing result," Moriyasu told reporters. "Many inexperienced players were in action, but they were enthusiastic in practice, showed their best, and were prepared to fight like Japan as a team." Moriyasu has ambitions to win the World Cup next year, not so foolhardy a goal when it is remembered that he led Japan to victories over Germany and Spain at the last edition in 2022. Keen to expand his squad depth, Moriyasu rested his top players on Thursday and put out a team featuring nine players starting for the first time, three of them debutants. They still dominated the match with their neat possession football for all but the last couple of minutes and would have won had they produced a better end-product in front of goal. "I don't think we were technically and physically second best. Maybe, a lack of experience cost us," Moriyasu said "I wanted to see what (inexperienced) players could do in a high-pressure environment. We have to improve and expand our squad." Japan round out their qualifying campaign against Indonesia in Suita on Tuesday and Moriyasu said his team would be aiming to get back to winning ways. "We wanted to continue our unbeaten run, but it's too late for that now," Moriyasu said. "We'll ready ourselves the best we can to round things off with a win."
Reuters
5 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Japan's Moriyasu mourns end of unbeaten run after loss to Australia
June 6 (Reuters) - Hajime Moriyasu has already led Japan to qualification for next year's World Cup finals but there was no disguising his frustration at his understrength side losing 1-0 to Australia in Perth on Thursday. Aziz Behich's 90th minute strike consigned the Samurai Blue to a first loss to Australia in 16 years and a first defeat in all matches since February last year. "It ended up being an extremely frustrating and disappointing result," Moriyasu told reporters. "Many inexperienced players were in action, but they were enthusiastic in practice, showed their best, and were prepared to fight like Japan as a team." Moriyasu has ambitions to win the World Cup next year, not so foolhardy a goal when it is remembered that he led Japan to victories over Germany and Spain at the last edition in 2022. Keen to expand his squad depth, Moriyasu rested his top players on Thursday and put out a team featuring nine players starting for the first time, three of them debutants. They still dominated the match with their neat possession football for all but the last couple of minutes and would have won had they produced a better end-product in front of goal. "I don't think we were technically and physically second best. Maybe, a lack of experience cost us," Moriyasu said "I wanted to see what (inexperienced) players could do in a high-pressure environment. We have to improve and expand our squad." Japan round out their qualifying campaign against Indonesia in Suita on Tuesday and Moriyasu said his team would be aiming to get back to winning ways. "We wanted to continue our unbeaten run, but it's too late for that now," Moriyasu said. "We'll ready ourselves the best we can to round things off with a win."
The Guardian
03-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Mighty Japan stand in Socceroos way – but it has never been a better time to face them
The road to North America lies through Western Australia, and the hope for the Socceroos is that it doesn't all go south against their rivals from East Asia. A win against Japan in Perth on Thursday would almost certainly be enough for coach Tony Popovic's side to take the second automatic spot in their 2026 World Cup qualifier group. The good news is that there has never been a better time to face a Samurai Blue side that has already qualified and is in experimental mode. The bad news is … well, that is for Saudi Arabia to deal with. Having dominated Group C – being the first to book a berth in the newly-expanded 48-team tournament and boasting a goal difference of plus-46 in 14 qualifiers so far – Japan have earned the right to bring a squad containing just seven players with more than 10 international caps to Australia. They have also cemented their reputation as a genuine global force. After clinching their spot against Bahrain in March, captain Wataru Endo – one of the few established stars to make this trip – said that it was time to think about winning the World Cup. In 2005, the Japan Football Association pledged to do so by 2050. People laughed at the time, but to wait that long now would be a little disappointing. That was around the time when Australia joined the AFC and now, the situation with the two teams is all but reversed. Japan are full of stars playing in the big leagues. Endo has just won the Premier League title with Liverpool, Kaoru Mitoma is reportedly wanted by Arsenal and Bayern Munich and is set to take the title of Asia's biggest star from Son Heung-min. Ao Tanaka of newly-promoted Leeds United was, for many, the best player in the this season's Championship. Fans in Perth would usually love the rare chance to see such European-based talent but both Mitoma and Tanaka are absent. Indeed, many of Japan's European stars have been allowed by coach Hajime Moriyasu to go on holiday – including the likes of Ritsu Doan of SC Freiburg, Monaco's Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita of Sporting, Borussia Monchengladbach's Ko Itakura. In total, just 13 of the 27 players who made March's squad will be in Perth. 'I have always tried to make changes,' said Moriyasu, who has been in charge since 2018. 'In my opinion, it is not so much that we are selecting them, but rather that they have been proving themselves with performances that are worthy of selection.' Ryunosuke Sato, for example, is just 18 years old but has impressed as wing-back on loan at Fagiano Okayama. Junnosuke Suzuki, a 21-year-old converted centre-back also looks to have a bright future. Shunsuke Mito is another newbie, as is fellow Netherlands-based star Kodai Sano who joins his brother and FC Mainz player Kaishu. It is testament to the coach's leadership that while Japan are a settled and stable side with a firm identity, he has also selected over 60 players since the 2022 World Cup. Given what is at stake for the hosts, few in Australia will care if their opponents are not at their strongest. There are, however, concerns in Saudi Arabia, who are three points behind the Socceroos with a much inferior goal difference, and in need of a favour. There was an assumption in Riyadh that Japan would get at least a draw in Perth to ensure that Hervé Renard's side would hold the top-two destiny in their own hands, with the shortest of trips to Bahrain followed by a home game against a travel-weary Socceroos five days later. After Moriyasu named his squad, confidence in Riyadh has taken a dent. The Chinese media have also discussed Moriyasu's choices as they are counting on the Blues to beat Indonesia, rivals for the top four, at home on Tuesday. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion While Japan may still play Moriyasu's favoured 3-4-2-1 formation, given all the changes, it is hard to know who starts and who does not. Moriyasu said that the rookies need some veterans around them. Endo should be in the middle, perhaps behind the more creative talents of Takefusa Kubo, who had a good season with Real Sociedad and Daichi Kamada who helped Crystal Palace win the FA Cup. Left-back Yūto Nagatomo, provider of the decisive cross for the 2011 Asian Cup's winning goal, may inch closer to his 150th cap, not much fewer than the other 26 have between them. There may be some issues for the Australian coaching staff to try and prepare for a game against a potentially unfamiliar foe but this has to be better than facing the strongest version of Japan desperate for points. That there is still plenty of talent does not need to be said, the same with warnings against complacency – the new players have a chance to play themselves into contention for the World Cup – but there is no doubt that Japan are in Perth with more than one eye on the next northern summer.
