In this uncertain world of football, every major tournament is a double test of the team, the psychology and skill of each player. Not so long ago, we were cheering for Japan's victory over Germany and SpainBreak away from Asia and join EuropeThe dream seems to be within reach. However, things on the football field are unpredictableSaudi Arabia, which defeated Argentina, was eliminatedAfter that, the Japanese team followed the same path.
The 1 4 final against Iran may go down in the history of Japanese football. In the first four games, although the Japanese team performed cautiously, they still went all the way, giving us hope of winning the Asian Cup. However, the Japanese team in the second half seemed to lose themselvesFacing the high press of the Iranian teamWe are no longer the team that has the courage to move forward and the technology is fluent. The penalty in stoppage time made all expectations come to naught in an instant, and at that moment, I was extremely sad.
Think back to 13 months ago, Japan defeated soccer powerhouses Germany and Spain with low possession and efficient defensive counter-attacksPragmatic and efficientThe world was blown away. However, when the Japanese team was forced to dominate the game, we didn't seem to find a way to deal with it. For the Asian team, Iran's performance undoubtedly taught a lesson: toughness and hard work are the keys to defeating their opponents.
Facing the fear of physical confrontationThis is a problem that Japanese football never seems to be able to overcome. Even though we were already 17th in the FIFA rankings, we were still struggling against physically tough opponents. In particular, the ability to defend the ball in the air seems to be our weakness.
What is even more distressing is that the Japanese team, which has always been good at technology, is at a loss in the face of Iran's pressing. In the second half, that was almostThe most humiliating 45 minutes of Moriyasu's tenureThe players had problems with their psychology and technique, and the big foot clearance became the only way to get out of the ball, which is obviously not the Japanese team we are familiar with.
After the match, the Iranian team's celebration contrasted sharply with the Japanese team's loss. Our players, especially the young Itakura, experienced growing pains in this game. Lack of concentration, perhaps the biggest problem of the Japanese team in this Asian Cup. Since the 2018 World Cup, Japanese football has been emphasizing "focus", but this time, it seems that we have completely lost ourselves.
Mori's tactics and choices are also under tremendous pressure. As a manager, he needs to find out what went wrong after this defeat, readjust and prepare. Even in the face of huge criticism and skepticism, the support of the Japanese Football Association shows that he still has a chance to prove himself. But for the fans, we are more concerned about how Japanese football can learn from this defeat and once again show that admirable skill and spirit.
In this sad time, we also see hope. Football is round, and every defeat is a foreshadowing for the next success. Every player and every staff member of the Japanese team is working hard for the glory of the national team. Our dreams have not changed, and the road to leaving Asia and joining Europe is still full of challenges and hopes. For us fans, no matter what the result, the heart of supporting the Japanese team will never change.