Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda said his team could take pride in their run at the Women's World Cup despite being knocked out in the quarter-finals in a 2-1 defeat by Sweden on Friday.
The Nadeshiko had been touted as candidates to go all the way after cruising through the group stage with three wins out of three, including a 4-0 demolition of Spain, before seeing off Norway in the last 16.
A win over Sweden in Auckland would have set up another meeting with Spain, but Ikeda's side fell short at Eden Park, going two goals down early in the second half before attempting a late comeback.
"We got this far and the players have grown during this World Cup. They've shown what they can do on the world stage," Ikeda said.
"We lost, but we have to assess positively what the players did. I am proud that we got here."
Japan fell behind for the first time at the tournament when Amanda Ilestedt gave Sweden the lead just after the half-hour mark.
It appeared to be game over when Filippa Angeldal converted a 52nd-minute penalty to double Sweden's advantage, but Japan did rally.
Substitute Riko Ueki missed a penalty and Aoba Fujino saw a free-kick hit the bar, strike Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic on the back and rebound onto the post.
They did then pull a goal back through Honoka Hayashi to spark a late rally into 10 minutes of added time, but they could not force an equaliser.
The Japanese players were distraught at full time and many were in tears as they passed reporters on their way back to the dressing room.
However, Ikeda sought to remain positive in defeat.
"The players fought really hard in all the games up to today. They gave everything," he said.
"We had a lot of people supporting us today. The players should keep their chins up and be proud of what they did here."
Several members of Ikeda's squad were appearing at their first World Cup, including the 19-year-old Fujino and the 23-year-old Hinata Miyazawa.
The latter, who has scored five goals at this tournament, was one of several members of Japan's squad who featured in the team that won the Under-20 World Cup in 2018.
"We want these young players to make the Nadeshiko stronger, but we also need the other players to become leaders on the pitch," said the coach.
It remains to be seen how much longer captain Saki Kumagai, the sole survivor from the 2011 final, remains part of the team. She will turn 33 later this year.
Japan, who were also knocked out of the Tokyo Olympics in the quarter-finals by Sweden, will now turn their thoughts to securing a place at next year's Games in Paris.
"It is hard to talk now about the future, but these young players now have experience of the world stage and of how tough these games are," Ikeda added.
"They have to use this experience going into the Olympics."
© 2023 AFP
31 Comments
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mtuffizi
japan did a great job, good luck moving forward. sweden not to my liking the way they played the game.
BigP
Hats off to Japan. Played well.
Asiaman7
I was so surprised how uncompetitive Japan appeared in much of the game (especially the first 60 minutes) against Sweden, particularly compared to the U.S.
In its 2-1 loss to Sweden, Japan possessed the ball 51% of the time and had 11 total shots, 3 on target. In its 0-0 draw to Sweden lost 5-4 on penalty shots, the U.S. possessed the ball 58% of the time and had 21 total shots, 11 on target.
Hats off to Sweden!
Japan is a paradox
Oh? In what way?!
Japantime
Unfortunately it looks like Sweden were the stronger team, which means they usually win the game. Japan can try their best in the Olympics.
KazukoHarmony
Why would that be “unfortunate.”
In fact, Sweden was the stronger team. Indeed, Sweden was the stronger team.
Mark
Of Course BE PROUD, Congrats on being there and taking part in the event, good luck next time.
falseflagsteve
As long as you give your best effort, that’s the main thing isn’t it.
Yubaru
The samurai women have nothing to be ashamed of, they did the country proud! Well done!
kintsugi
The Japanese team reached the quarter-finals. Well done.
Bob Kunihiro
They played much better than the lack-listened US team.
Fighto!
Nadeshiko Japan absolutely should be proud of how they played on the world stage with such a young team!
Almost no one gave them a hope before the Cup began - but the way they played on the break, their defense was outstanding, and they looked a threat in all games - and had them as many neutrals favorite team to watch.
The first 70 minutes against a superb Sweden team they were well contained and second best - but there is plenty to be hopeful about heading into Paris '24 and the '27 World Cup!
sunfunbun
As the World Cup shows, football results can turn on a dime. A different day, and Japan wins. Who scores first is a big deal. There are so many factors leading to a team winning or losing and sometimes a team that wins a game, perhaps they were outplayed, goes on thru to a championship.
Sweden looked the weaker wide vs. the USA, but won in a shoot out, certainly the Americans had the upper hand and looked very much in control of a win. Things can turn quickly, and the USA was out. Sweden in, and on this day, they played a stronger game than Japan, which was touted as the best team in the WC based on group play and a first round knockout stage win.
Ultimately, it was not a surprised Japan lost. They showed up, played well and were the darlings of the WC. Great for the team and Japan. Sweden goes on. They were good, but anyone who watched the USA game knows how they were not in possession of the ball, and fortunate the USA could not finish. So goes football. Any team left can raise the WC.
Bill Lewis
Nadeshiko-Japan. O-tsukaresama deshita. You'll get 'em next time.
Lindsay
They did really well. They did much better than the men’s Japanese team have ever done.
sunfunbun
No such thing as woke, it's a creation to call all awareness a label. A name call by the Trump types.
They were all upset by Rapinoe's stand against Trump and his followers who have a great deal of bias against her and the US women's team, made up of people who are caring and strong individuals, who refused to go to the White House in his administration because of poor human rights policies.
Trump picks on Rapinoe, but in truth, he dislikes all of Tobin Heath, Cristine Presse, Carli Lloyd, Rose Lavelle, etc. The sad right polarizes against anything fair in human rights issues and shows their pettiness everyday. Megan Kelly, get a life. Wow, what a sorry individual.
Spitfire
While the ladies should all be proud for being such a great team the Japanese media and broadcasters should be extremely ashamed for not airing or covering the team’s matches on terrestrial TV because they weren’t expected to do well.
It was exactly the same as 12 years ago,the earlier games were virtually ignored because Japan wasn’t”t reckoned to have a chance,however the media jumped on the bandwagon when the team got to the final and won it.
eric_japan
Japan was a quality respectful team. Sad to see them ousted. Unlike the most of the U.S. women’s team who were and have been disrespectful, unappreciative for the opportunities that living in the US has given them. They could easily could have stood on a platform of “ look how great America is and we’ve been given this great opportunity to reach this potential because America is so tolerant and gives equal rights to women straight or other. There are so many countries that women are afforded such luxuries and we must unite to help them reach their potential” there are some countries you can be jailed, murdered for being gay, etc. But NO they chose the easy route of yelling racist, misogyny, etc. Thus started the people saying, hey just play the game and let us support your effort like we did in the past. NOPE they doubled down and therefore lost half of the base fans. They also complained/lied about money wages that aren’t fair. Well, news for you is you don’t bring in the same amount of revenue. Just like the WNBA they would have been defunct years ago if not for the NBA giving them money to exist. They have constantly operated in the red since inception. Us sports fans just want to escape in our team’s performance and leave politics behind. So as long as the players want to hurl their opinions and politics at us, when we want to escape real life for a few hours and enjoy, they will have to endure not being loved by all as it used to be in yesteryears
Rodney
My partner cried. She usually doesn’t do that.
eric_japan
Correction
“There are so many countries that women AREN’T afforded …….“
Yubaru
Here! Here! As with so many other sporting events here in Japan this happens far too often, and seeing as how some of the "so-called" networks do not have stations in all prefectures, this happens far too often.
Not to mention NHK, the supposed NATIONAL broadcaster, only had matches on their BS (Quite literally the perfectly "named" Bull Snit) channel, not everyone could watch!
therougou
Took way too long for Japan to wake up, which is a shame because the Swedish defenders and keeper looked pretty shaky when they did. The coach not starting Endo makes me wonder if he was playing for 120 minutes from the start. It seemed to backfire because Japan got pinned back on their left side with Sweden putting in dangerous crosses. You know the saying "the best defense is a good offense", and that seemed to apply to Japan in this match.
Sweden's second goal is questionable, as the rules say there is no PK if the ball deflects off a teammate and then hits a hand, but FIFA keep going back and forth on that.. Either way, it seemed inevitable Sweden would score a 2nd goal.
Paustovsky
It seems that American men who don't like football, don't like American women who do like football. Especially the American women who are very good at football.
What is the source of their ire ? Is it because they are American women who are good at football ? Or is it just because the American women who do like football have achieved far more than the American men who don't like football ?
Jimizo
You often find the types who were glad the US lost are the same types who tell us nobody watches or cares about the women’s game.
Anyway, decent tournament from Japan although I’m sure the manager would have given them a kick up the arse at half-time v Sweden.
Still, a young side. Definitely room for optimism.
kintsugi
Women's football brings inspiration to millions of girls across the globe.
therougou
Well I was visiting home when the USA lost, and my father's reason was quite simple: They didn't sing the national anthem. Rapinoe smiling after she missed a decisive penalty didn't help, either.
Japan is a paradox
The US is far from the utopia you paint it as and in some respect is well behind other developed nations (e.g. crime rates, violence, human rights etc.) and they are protesting this.
Besides, America and many Western nations would not be where they are today without protest. It's an essential element of a healthy democracy so quite trying to stifle criticism of the government.
tokyo_m
Absolutely. It was shameful the way NHK only decided to show the games just days before the World Cup started. And even then, all they showed was the opening game (Japanese ref) and the Japan games. They're going to show the final, but that's it. Very different to the UK, where every single match of the tournament can be watched for free on TV.
And how many WE-League games can you watch on NHK? None, they are all on Dazn where you have to pay 3,000 yen a month! If the national broadcaster won't support women's football at home in the local leagues, how can you expect the national team to do well?
And how many guides to the World Cup were published in Japan? None. How many free pull-out supplements in newspapers? In the UK every national newspaper produced World Cup guides and wallcharts etc. The media as a whole were and are behind the players. Such a different and sad story here in Japan.
William77
Glad that Sweden made it but Japan played a honourable tournament.
Dr.Cajetan Coelho
Tremendous impact for the liberation, emancipation, and empowerment of the girl child. Parents and grandparents in Asia are entertaining positive dreams for their girls. Nadeshiko Japan footballers are inspiring the girl child across Asia to aim high.
Peter14
In other news the other Asian confederation team still in the world cup is now through to the semi finals after Australia defeated France on penalties!!!!
Go Aussies!!!
I am shaking after that tense shootout, it was an awesome game ending 0-0 after chances on both sides but in the end Australia came out of the penalties after 10 penalties each, victorious!
The Matilda's could go all the way.
England or Colombia are next up in a semi final.
For Japan, it can be very proud of their girls who played with determination and confidence throughout the tournament, making a example for the next generation of Japanese women players to follow. A great team who are always welcome in Australia and New Zealand for friendlies or any other game. It has been a pleasure to watch their professional skill's and demeanor.