Japan misplaced to Croatia. AP
Doha: Ahead Ritsu Doan mentioned Japan’s historic World Cup wins over Germany and Spain counted for nothing after the Blue Samurai had been eradicated by Croatia within the final 16 on Monday.
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Japan missed out on a first-ever place within the quarter-finals after a 3-1 penalty shootout defeat to the Croatians, following a gruelling encounter that completed 1-1 after extra-time.
Japan beat each Germany and Spain within the goup stage in Qatar however Doan took no comfort from his crew’s achievements.
“I anticipated somebody to say that if we misplaced, however to be trustworthy it doesn’t imply something,” he mentioned.
“Regardless of how properly we fought at present, we didn’t change historical past.”
Daizen Maeda gave Japan the lead late within the first half earlier than Ivan Perisic levelled for Croatia 10 minutes after the break.
Japan struggled to create extra probabilities however held for penalties, just for Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic to avoid wasting their first two spot kicks.
Croatia’s Marko Livaja hit the put up to offer Japan a reprieve however Livakovic saved Maya Yoshida’s kick to offer Mario Pasalic match level for the Europeans.
Pasalic buried his penalty to ship Croatia via, leaving Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu to lament his gamers’ failure to transform their spot-kicks.
“Penalties are a mixture of luck and coaching,” he mentioned.
“Their goalkeeper was wonderful however the Japanese gamers ought to have executed higher and that’s one thing we have to work on sooner or later.”
Japan had been aiming to achieve the quarter-finals for the primary time, having misplaced within the final 16 at three earlier World Cups.
The crew arrived in Qatar with 19 Europe-based gamers of their squad and midfielder Wataru Endo mentioned they would want extra abroad expertise to take the subsequent step.
“We have to have extra gamers enjoying with European golf equipment — we want 20 or 30,” he mentioned.
“We are able to enhance our high quality and change into a greater crew. We’re bettering however we weren’t ok to get to the quarter-finals.”
Moriyasu can be assured that Japan will return stronger.
“This outcome doesn’t cancel out every part the gamers have executed right here,” he mentioned.
“They’ve proven they’ve the arrogance to play on the world stage and have proven how good they are often.
“Japanese soccer can proceed to develop.”
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