Japan topped Group E by defeating Spain and Germany and can face Croatia in final 16 on Monday. AP
Doha: Japan will “struggle like samurai” in Monday’s World Cup last-16 conflict with Croatia as they battle to achieve the quarter-finals for the primary time, defender Yuto Nagatomo stated.
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Japan reached the knockout spherical after beautiful Germany and Spain to prime Group E however they aren’t glad with what they’ve achieved thus far in Qatar.
Veteran Nagatomo is showing at his fourth World Cup and urged his teammates to “present the samurai spirit to the world” towards Croatia.
“Earlier than battle, the samurai would polish their weapons and refine their method, but when they had been scared in battle, all that may depend for nothing,” the previous Inter Milan left-back stated Sunday.
“It’s the identical as soccer. After all techniques and method are necessary, but when we’re scared, it doesn’t matter how a lot we’ve educated over the previous 4 years as a result of our method can be no use.
“An important factor is to have braveness,” the 36-year-old added.
Japan have reached the final 16 at three earlier World Cups however they’ve but to make it so far as the quarter-finals.
They had been eradicated within the first knockout spherical 4 years in the past in Russia once they threw away a two-goal result in lose 3-2 to Belgium with the final kick of the sport.
Nagatomo stated the defeat had been on his thoughts for the previous 4 years and he is able to wipe away the reminiscence towards Croatia.
“The previous 4 years have been robust for me however I feel we have now all overcome that and improved as gamers,” he stated.
“I’ve been enjoying for Japan for nearly 15 years and so far as I can see, that is the strongest staff we’ve ever had on the World Cup.”
– 4 years of sacrifice –Japan needed to come from behind to beat each Germany and Spain, and had been pressured to defend for lengthy durations towards opponents who dominated possession.
Coach Hajime Moriyasu needs his gamers to have extra of the ball towards Croatia however urged them to indicate “resilience” regardless of the state of affairs.
“The gamers confirmed their means towards Germany and Spain, they had been united as a staff and dug in and fought till the top,” he stated.
“They’ve proved that once they play like that, it brings outcomes.
“After all it’s necessary to consider our opponents however to begin with I would like our gamers to indicate what they’ll do.”
Japan can be enjoying within the knockout section of the World Cup in successive tournaments for the primary time.
Captain Maya Yoshida stated the gamers have needed to “sacrifice loads over the previous 4 years” and urged them to make it well worth the effort.
“For Japanese soccer to maneuver up a stage, we have now to develop into the sort of staff that may persistently get by to the knockout rounds on the World Cup,” he stated.
“We are able to’t be glad with what we’ve achieved — we have now to put in writing a brand new chapter in our historical past.”
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