[ad_1]
ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia (AP) – Japan was so close to reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time, but that was not the case. and coach Akira Nishino did not mince his words to talk about what it's like to fail again. "I am devastated," he said.
Japan scored their last World Cup match against Belgium in Rostov-on-Don last Monday, but took the lead at the start of the second half. objectives taken. Then Belgium dug deep and made a memorable comeback, scoring its first goal with 21 minutes to go and the winner deep in added time for a 3-2 win and a place in the quarterfinals.
Japan reached the round of 16 World Cup because it had a better record than Senegal, after both teams finished the group stage with four points, the same difference in goals and the same number of goals scored
the round of 16 between Belgium and Japan at the 2018 p World Cup in the Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, Russia, the Monday, July 2, 2018. (Photo AP / Petr David Josek)
This was the third time that Japan has failed in the last eight World Cups and may be the closest to succeeding. The disappointment was obvious, some players falling to their knees in despair after the final whistle, while others were just crying.
Japanese players were so shocked by the defeat that they were not doing anything in the locker room after the final whistle. meet. "I told them to take a shower," said Nishino
"We started very well, but in the end, at the end, conceding a goal like that, it was not planned ", collected Nishino told reporters. "We were leading and we were going to win, but I was not expecting this reversal of the result: it was the World Cup, and we were facing the depth and the strength of Belgium. .
Nishino must have been surprised by the quality of his team until Belgium started his comeback, repelling the prolific Belgian attack in the first half and scoring two goals in the first half. beginning of the next. A day earlier, he was rhetorically asking how he would attack a team like Belgium, citing his third place in the FIFA World Ranking and Japan's 58 place on the list at 61.
Best of all could have hoped, he said Sunday, was for his players to play "in Japan" – challenge each ball, control the ball, play against defense and against lightning. They did all this, or at least a large part of it, but, as Nishino himself admitted, it did not correspond to what Belgium had in its repertoire.
"It could have been a very small difference, but I thought the players in this tournament were very positive, better than in the past, even against Belgium, they were confident … But this small difference must be filled in the future. "he said, offering an honest critique of his team.
"(At the end) I was wondering, if I had control of the game." We were 2-0, and the score was still reversed. "Maybe it's me who lost control of the game. When the goal of Belgium was conceded, I blamed myself and questioned my tactics. "
The Japanese Gen Shoji leaves the field at the end of the round of 16 between Belgium and France. Japan during the 2018 World Cup soccer tournament in Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, Monday, July 2, 2018. Belgium won 3-2. (Photo AP / Hbadan Ammar)
Japan's Gen Shoji, right, leaves the field at the end of the match between Belgium and Japan at the 2018 World Cup in Rostov Arena, Rostov-on- the gift. Russia, Monday, July 2, 2018. Belgium won 3-2. (Photo AP / Hbadan Ammar)
Japan's Gen Shoji, top right, leaves the field at the end of the round of 16 between Belgium and Japan at the 2018 World Cup in Rostov-sur- the gift. , Russia, Monday, July 2, 2018. Belgium won 3-2. (Photo AP / Hbadan Ammar)
The Japanese football team reacts to the defeat of Japan against Belgium in the World Cup football match on Tuesday, July 3, 2018. (AP Photo / Shuji Kajiyama)
Sorry, we do not accept any comments about this article.
[ad_2]
Source link
