Coach Moriyasu Hajime of the Japan national team, who lost to Croatia in the first round of the World Cup Qatar soccer tournament, responded to the interview and looked back on their achievements and future challenges.
[My apologies as a director]
“When I woke up in the morning, I searched for the reason why we lost, and wondered what I could have done better before and during the match. They fought until the very end to show their best performance. As a coach, I am truly sorry that we were not able to live up to their expectations after losing.”
After that, he said, "I've been really preparing for the details in order to win the match, but I've got a wider and deeper understanding of various information, including the final penalty shootout, and I've improved my ability to respond and outperform my opponent. It's important,' he said.
[Best 16 Walls You Can Always Overcome]
On the other hand, it is said that he felt a response.
"I don't think I'm strong enough to be a yokozuna sumo wrestler yet, but I'm confident that I can compete evenly with the world's top countries and countries that have won the World Cup, and that we can win." The players showed us that we can win in the league," he said.
"The more you challenge the best 16 wall, the more you can feel the thickness and height, but the performance shown by the players this time will continue to hope that we will overcome the wall, supporters and people If everyone continues to support and believe in me, I believe that I will be able to overcome it someday, and I believe that I have the strength to naturally overcome it.”
[“Individual power” and “unity” are the keys to future growth]
Of the 26 players in this tournament, 19 were new to the World Cup, but it is said that they were able to leave behind results by demonstrating the strengths they have cultivated in the harsh world.
“Normally, inexperienced players would be overwhelmed by this pressure, crushed and unable to demonstrate their strength, and would say let’s try again next time, but they are the world’s best. He showed us that we can win on this stage if we naturally demonstrate what we usually do in the midst of being faced with a tough stage. I think we can get results," he said.
After returning to their clubs, the players were asked to hone their "individual strengths" with the aim of becoming a team that can play at a higher level.
He also expressed his hopes for the organization's strengths, which he sees as "Japan's strengths."
“The sense of unity and unity that the players showed this time was amazing. The veteran players lead the team, they lead the young players, and they support them from behind, creating an environment where the young players can play boldly. I hope that this sense of unity will continue to be a good thing about Japan.”
[Further strengthening of “good defense to good attack”]
Coach Moriyasu said that throughout this tournament, it is necessary to further strengthen ``from good defense to good offense''.
“Football starts with scramble for the ball, and it is necessary to have the ability to steal the ball after defending and then attacking. I think it's still a difficult position to dominate and win.Even while being attacked by the opponent, I will be able to defend well and launch a quick attack or hold the ball. That means I didn't make a mistake in fighting this tournament."