Latest news with #SamuraiBlue
Kyodo News
5 days ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Football: Japan's Moriyasu unstressed in pursuit of World Cup glory
KYODO NEWS - 6 hours ago - 22:00 | Sports, All Managing Japan's national football team comes with "pressure" but "no stress," Hajime Moriyasu said Monday, as he reiterated his ambition of winning the 2026 World Cup. The 56-year-old addressed the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo with less than a year to go until the tournament gets under way in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. "I want to prepare with the goal of being No. 1 in the world and challenge for the World Cup," Moriyasu said. Japan in March secured their fastest-ever World Cup qualification with three games still to play in their final Asian qualifying group. While the Samurai Blue have never progressed beyond the round of 16 at the tournament, Moriyasu is bullish about his team's prospects. "We can win if we make use of everyone's individual strengths while playing in harmony as a team," he said. Moriyasu has periodically come under heavy criticism from sections of the fanbase and media for his tactics and player selections, but the manager said he welcomed the scrutiny that comes with the job. "There's pressure, but no stress at all," he said. "I can take the criticism in a positive way. Indifference would be harder to take." Moriyasu likened one of the national team's biggest names, Real Sociedad attacker Takefusa Kubo, to "Captain Tsubasa," the eponymous central character of the smash-hit manga series. "I hope he grows into a player who can become Captain Tsubasa and take on the world," Moriyasu said. Related coverage: Football: Japan need striker to develop for World Cup success: boss
Kyodo News
5 days ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Football: Japan's Moriyasu unstressed in pursuit of World Cup glory
KYODO NEWS - 20 minutes ago - 22:00 | Sports, All Managing Japan's national football team comes with "pressure" but "no stress," Hajime Moriyasu said Monday, as he reiterated his ambition of winning the 2026 World Cup. The 56-year-old addressed the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo with less than a year to go until the tournament gets under way in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. "I want to prepare with the goal of being No. 1 in the world and challenge for the World Cup," Moriyasu said. Japan in March secured their fastest-ever World Cup qualification with three games still to play in their final Asian qualifying group. While the Samurai Blue have never progressed beyond the round of 16 at the tournament, Moriyasu is bullish about his team's prospects. "We can win if we make use of everyone's individual strengths while playing in harmony as a team," he said. Moriyasu has periodically come under heavy criticism from sections of the fanbase and media for his tactics and player selections, but the manager said he welcomed the scrutiny that comes with the job. "There's pressure, but no stress at all," he said. "I can take the criticism in a positive way. Indifference would be harder to take." Moriyasu likened one of the national team's biggest names, Real Sociedad attacker Takefusa Kubo, to "Captain Tsubasa," the eponymous central character of the smash-hit manga series. "I hope he grows into a player who can become Captain Tsubasa and take on the world," Moriyasu said. Related coverage: Football: Japan need striker to develop for World Cup success: boss
The Mainichi
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Football: Daichi Kamada, Takefusa Kubo spur Japan to big win over Indonesia
SUITA (Osaka) -- Daichi Kamada netted a brace, and match-day captain Takefusa Kubo was also among the scorers Tuesday as Japan concluded their Asian World Cup qualifiers with a 6-0 thrashing of Indonesia. The Samurai Blue, who booked their ticket to the 2026 World Cup with three matches to spare, finished on top of qualifying Group C with seven wins, two draws and one defeat. Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu continued to experiment with his lineup after starting an untested side in Thursday's 1-0 loss to Australia, handing the captain's armband to the 24-year-old Kubo. Crystal Palace midfielder Kamada opened the scoring at a rainy Panasonic Stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, when he headed in Shunsuke Mito's cross from the left in the 15th minute. Kubo doubled the margin with a stylish finish four minutes later, intercepting a deflected ball and chipping high into the net from close range. The Real Sociedad star set up Kamada to tap home his second in injury time, giving the Samurai Blue a 3-0 halftime lead. After starting on the right, winger Ryoya Morishita of Polish outfit Legia Warszawa found the net early in the second half for his first international goal, which was quickly followed by a Shuto Machino strike that made it 5-0. Mao Hosoya completed the scoring off the bench in the 80th minute. "The players' efforts led to this result," said Moriyasu, who has set the ambitious target of winning the World Cup, to be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States next summer. "There is still a lot we need to learn and improve, both the players and the team as a whole." Indonesia, coached by former Netherlands international Patrick Kluivert, finished fourth in the group with three wins, three draws and four losses.
Straits Times
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Australia seal World Cup spot with win over Saudi as Oman deny Palestine
HONG KONG - Australia sealed qualification for the World Cup on Tuesday when Tony Popovic's side secured a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah while Oman kept their hopes of a place at the finals alive with a last-gasp 1-1 draw with Palestine in Jordan. The Socceroos had to avoid a five-goal defeat to confirm their appearance at a sixth consecutive finals, and goals from Connor Metcalfe and Mitch Duke earned the Australians a come-from-behind win to brush aside the Saudis. Abdulrahman Al-Obud had given the home side a glimmer of hope when he netted from close range in the 19th minute but Metcalfe equalised with three minutes left in the half to extinguish Saudi dreams. Duke then put the visitors in front in the 48th minute when he glanced Martin Boyle's free kick past Nawaf Al-Aqidi before Maty Ryan, making his 100th appearance for the Socceroos, made a late penalty save to deny Salem Al-Dawsari an equaliser. The win confirms the Australians as second-place finisher in Group C behind Japan, who secured their spot at the finals in March. Saudi Arabia took third place in Group C and will feature in a fourth phase of qualifiers in October alongside Indonesia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Oman. The Omanis kept their hopes alive at the expense of Palestine as Issam Al-Sabhi's penalty deep into stoppage time earned the Gulf side a draw that kept them in fourth place in Group B. A header by Oday Kharoub gave Palestine a 49th-minute lead and a second yellow card for Oman's Harib Al-Saadi had put Ihab Abu Jazar's side in control until the dying minutes, when Muhsen Al-Ghassani was brought down in the area. Al-Sabhi stepped up to send goalkeeper Rami Hamada the wrong way to seal fourth place in the group for Oman and eliminate the heartbroken Palestinians. Earlier in the evening, Japan crushed Indonesia 6-0 with Daichi Kamada scoring twice in the first half in Osaka as the Samurai Blue won Group C while Wang Yudong's late penalty had China finish their campaign with a 1-0 win over Bahrain. Iran confirmed themselves as Group A winners with a 3-0 win over North Korea that came after Kye Tam was sent off for the visitors with 24 minutes remaining in Tehran. Mehdi Mohebi, Mehdi Taremi and Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh were all on target in the last 16 minutes to guarantee first place for the Iranians, who had secured their berth in March. Already-qualified Uzbekistan took second spot with a 3-0 win against Qatar in Tashkent while the United Arab Emirates claimed third ahead of the Qataris despite conceding a late goal to draw 1-1 with Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek. South Korea completed their commitments in Group B with a 4-0 thrashing of Kuwait to ensure Hong Myung-bo's World Cup-bound outfit topped the standings with an unbeaten record. Jordan, who qualified for their first World Cup on Thursday, finished second in Group B despite losing 1-0 to Graham Arnold's Iraq in Amman. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Reuters
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Australia seal World Cup spot with win over Saudi as Oman deny Palestine
HONG KONG, June 10 (Reuters) - Australia sealed qualification for the World Cup on Tuesday when Tony Popovic's side secured a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah while Oman kept their hopes of a place at the finals alive with a last-gasp 1-1 draw with Palestine in Jordan. The Socceroos had to avoid a five-goal defeat to confirm their appearance at a sixth consecutive finals, and goals from Connor Metcalfe and Mitch Duke earned the Australians a come-from-behind win to brush aside the Saudis. Abdulrahman Al-Obud had given the home side a glimmer of hope when he netted from close range in the 19th minute but Metcalfe equalised with three minutes left in the half to extinguish Saudi dreams. Duke then put the visitors in front in the 48th minute when he glanced Martin Boyle's free kick past Nawaf Al-Aqidi before Maty Ryan, making his 100th appearance for the Socceroos, made a late penalty save to deny Salem Al-Dawsari an equaliser. The win confirms the Australians as second-place finisher in Group C behind Japan, who secured their spot at the finals in March. Saudi Arabia took third place in Group C and will feature in a fourth phase of qualifiers in October alongside Indonesia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Oman. The Omanis kept their hopes alive at the expense of Palestine as Issam Al-Sabhi's penalty deep into stoppage time earned the Gulf side a draw that kept them in fourth place in Group B. A header by Oday Kharoub gave Palestine a 49th-minute lead and a second yellow card for Oman's Harib Al-Saadi had put Ihab Abu Jazar's side in control until the dying minutes, when Muhsen Al-Ghassani was brought down in the area. Al-Sabhi stepped up to send goalkeeper Rami Hamada the wrong way to seal fourth place in the group for Oman and eliminate the heartbroken Palestinians. Earlier in the evening, Japan crushed Indonesia 6-0 with Daichi Kamada scoring twice in the first half in Osaka as the Samurai Blue won Group C while Wang Yudong's late penalty had China finish their campaign with a 1-0 win over Bahrain. Iran confirmed themselves as Group A winners with a 3-0 win over North Korea that came after Kye Tam was sent off for the visitors with 24 minutes remaining in Tehran. Mehdi Mohebi, Mehdi Taremi and Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh were all on target in the last 16 minutes to guarantee first place for the Iranians, who had secured their berth in March. Already-qualified Uzbekistan took second spot with a 3-0 win against Qatar in Tashkent while the United Arab Emirates claimed third ahead of the Qataris despite conceding a late goal to draw 1-1 with Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek. South Korea completed their commitments in Group B with a 4-0 thrashing of Kuwait to ensure Hong Myung-bo's World Cup-bound outfit topped the standings with an unbeaten record. Jordan, who qualified for their first World Cup on Thursday, finished second in Group B despite losing 1-0 to Graham Arnold's Iraq in Amman.
