Soccer World Cup Former Coach Nishino What I felt after the tournament [Details in QA]

We asked the former head coach of the national team, Akira Nishino, about Japan's defeat to Croatia in the first round of the final tournament of the World Cup Qatar tournament, and finishing in the round of 16 for the second consecutive tournament.

"It was a well fought game"

Q. What is your honest impression of Japan's match against Croatia?

A.I think Japan was very confident that they passed the first round of the first league, which included Germany and Spain.

I have challenged myself in the best 16 three times so far, and I couldn't beat it.

Entering the finals tournament, I think they fought full of confidence, and I think they took on a good challenge.

It's a pity that we didn't finish the win after challenging really toughly for 90 minutes plus 120 minutes plus 30 minutes because we were eliminated in a penalty shootout (penalty kick match), which is the way to decide the victory. I think, but I think it was a game that fought well.

“It was an unprecedented first half.”

Q.In the match against Croatia, you played three-back from the beginning. How was it?

A. In the first half of the first match against Germany, we were overwhelmingly dominated, and I think there was a feeling that it was not going to pass.

In that first half, I took the plunge and switched to a three-back.

That plan matched the strategy and the performance of the players.

I don't think there were any mistakes in the beginning or the system of this match.

High pressing from the start, quickly putting pressure on the opponents that Japan has built up so far, seizing the ball and using quickness to attack the ball. , managed to put a lot of pressure on Croatia from kick-off.

We were able to start the match with three-backs, the awareness of the players, and the way we played, so I think it was an unprecedented first half.

Preemptive scene "Tactics that have warmed up the command"

Q. How did you see the preemptive scene?

A. Neither in the Asian qualifiers nor in the first round of this tournament, it was difficult to score from the restart.

When I once talked to Director Moriyasu, he said, ``I'm doing a lot in practice.

I was listening to the story that I was doing a lot of preparations even though I didn't have time.

Even so, I felt that I was playing normally in the first league, but I think it was a score that brought about a change at this point.

It wasn't a tricky tactic, but I changed it against Croatia's height and instead of putting it in directly, I moved the ball around and delivered it in front of the goal to break it down.

I think it was a tactic that warmed up the command, saying, "Ah, I'm going to go out at such a time."

Croatia moved first

Q. And for the first time in this tournament, it has become a leading development.

A. I thought it was great that we were ahead of the game, but in this tournament, for the first time in four games, we were forced to plan the game in advance. I think it was important to match with.

In the last tournament, we were two goals ahead, and we couldn't figure out how to fight after that, so it ended up like that. I think I had the experience of the last time whether to make them fight in a unified way or to send a message.

Under such circumstances, I think Croatia was the first to move.

I felt that they put pressure on Japan while changing the tempo and rhythm a little from the first half.

The Japanese team has a lot of confidence in their defensive power, so they don't give space behind their own back line. I think there was a sense of unity to fight.

What scene was decided by the opponent?

Q. How did you see the scene decided by your opponent?

A. It wasn't a cross that cut too deep, it was put in early.

Taniguchi, Yoshida, and Tomiyasu could easily deal with crosses that enter the near side or the center, but they were a little more far, and Junya Ito was able to handle them at that time.

There are crossballs that players on both sides have to deal with, but I think that's Japan's weak point.

When Nagatomo and Junya Ito have to deal with crossballs, the opponents are also aiming for it.

If you add a little fur, both sides have to respond.

I think that Junya Ito was a little late for that, and it may have been the opponent's aim.

I felt that the opponent was also analyzing well.

What issues did you see?

Q. Japan's attacking team didn't really show their strengths.

A. There was a big chance in the extension, but it was quite difficult to deal with Mitoma, and even if it was a one-on-one match, one person would come in as support.

I thought that Croatia was also responding well, and Doan was not allowed to swing his left foot, and Asano and Maeda were wary of their speed, and they took predictable positioning. I analyzed it well and dealt with it, but I was not allowed to show its characteristics.

Still, in order to break through the group and demonstrate individual power, we need more support from the players around us and group tactics.

If we can do that, I think we can create a situation where even if we can't break down one-on-one, we can break down two-on-one, so we'll pursue that.

In such a situation, the individual shines even more.

I think I've seen that issue.

Penalty shootout What I felt 4 years ago

Q. How did you feel about not being able to win the penalty shootout?

A. I think it's unavoidable in the final tournament, but I think this is a cruel way.

Both teams fought so hard and worked hard.

This time too, it's not about who scored and who missed, but honestly, I think I have to praise the Croatian goalkeeper for that penalty shootout.

I think it all boils down to the fact that I was given a super play while I was so nervous.

I don't think there is any need to blame Japanese players for their failures.

However, I think that there is still something missing in this penalty shootout and when we overturned the two-goal deficit four years ago.

I felt it four years ago.

"I have to raise my individual power"

Q. How should I fill in the missing parts?

A.Many of the players are currently in the Europa League.

In order to survive, I am trained by wanting to feel my own growth, and I think I feel the sharpened power in my daily life.

And I think there is a style in Japanese football where I can shine when I am called up to the national team.

I think I felt it this time.

However, unfortunately, I think that we are still lacking in terms of stably producing performances at the top level of the world even in individual areas.

I think that it is because of this kind of competition that the players have to improve their individual strengths.

I think that such accumulation is still necessary in the future, and I think that the coaches who unite it and fight with comprehensive strength also feel that the standard must be changed through this kind of tournament.

"The lacking part has shrunk"

Q. How would you sum up the team in this tournament?

A. We lost in the penalty shootout again this time, but I think it was a different scene in the best 16 stage.

Up until now, there have been teams that managed to reach the top, but this time the team was clearly focused on the top 8, and I felt that they were on their way to the top 16.

This is partly because we won against Germany and Spain, and partly because the coach has been building the team for four and a half years, and partly because of the development process of the players, and because of the competitiveness that has changed.

Four years ago, I thought that something was missing, but this time, I feel that the missing part has been reduced.

The players who really implemented the team's strategy and plan, I think that's all there is to it, so I think that individual growth will be required even more, but I think that Japan's strengths have been steadily accumulated over the past four and a half years.

“Will the growth curve rise?”

Q.What do you think about the meaning of this tournament for Japanese football?

A. We can be proud of our come-from-behind wins against Germany and Spain, and I think we should be very confident.

I think it was a game where the ball was controlled, but the game was not controlled.

However, if we were to say that we were able to show all of Japan's football, we have to accept that it wasn't that kind of game, and we will have to think about it in the future after thoroughly examining the content.

This time, I have a clear understanding of what I can do and what I can't do, so I expect that the growth curve will rise again.

Origins that should not be forgotten

Q.Were you able to change your impression of the “Doha tragedy” through this tournament held in Qatar?

A. Director Moriyasu also thinks that the tragic Iraq war in Doha passed through the final stage of the Spain match, and I myself was at the scene and went through it.

It had such a strong impact.

I think that the starting point for Japan today is that pitch, and there was something that I couldn't get rid of.

We made it through the match against Spain, but I think we should never forget that starting point.

I think it was a tournament that made me think that I had to overcome various challenges, and because it was Doha, I felt that it was a place where I could start afresh.

"We have to raise the level of reinforcement"

Q.What do you think of the current position of Japanese football, with the goal of reaching the top 4 in the World Cup in 2030 and winning the championship in 2050?

A. If we are to reach the top 4 in 2030, we will at least be in the top 8 at the Russia and Qatar Games.

We are getting close to that stage.

Naturally, the first league will break through stably.

While making such a roadmap, I was in the association, and I was able to coach the A team, so I felt it.

I think the past four and a half years has been a stage where one director has been steadily building, and this top 16 has been brought to a situation that is as close as possible to the top 8.

I don't think we will revise our goal of making the best four in 2030, and we must aim for it.

However, I don't think this will be possible if the Japanese national team and the domestic league just keep growing.

The categories under the Olympic generation, under-20, and under-17 generations must also be at the top of the world. I think it's four years that I have to go through.

"I want you to start a new step"

Q. Four years from now, what do you think is necessary for the future development of Japanese football?

A.I was able to see a truly strong and robust Japanese national team that has grown again from the world I was involved in four years ago.

I think it was another round of 16 with a different landscape, and if I continue to grow in the same way, I am convinced that four years from now, I will be able to show the world of the best 8, which is my long-cherished wish.

I would like to expect that growth, and I would like the players to start a new step again.