Norway coach Hege Riise said Japan will be hard to beat at the Women's World Cup after the 2011 champions powered into the quarter-finals on Saturday with a 3-1 win.
Japan will face either defending champions the United States or Sweden in the last eight after outplaying Norway in Wellington.
An own goal by Ingrid Syrstad Engen gave Japan an early lead in the last-16 clash.
Norway hit back with a Guro Reiten header but Japan marched into the next round with second-half goals by Risa Shimizu and Hinata Miyazawa.
The 23-year-old Miyazawa bagged her fifth goal of the World Cup to become the tournament's top scorer.
Riise was full of praise for Japan's tiki-taka style -- using fast, short passes to open up the opposition.
"They are a great team with a lot of good players and tactics," said the Norway boss, whose side has never looked like repeating their 1995 title success.
"The combination of tiki-taka with direct play is hard to defend."
Even deploying five defenders, Riise said Norway struggled to cope.
The defence was "a little bit shaky in the first few minutes, after that we kind of settled, but Japan is a great side", she said.
"Credit to Japan -- how they played and how they broke us down," she added.
"Even with the plan we had, we were solid in defence at times, but not quite good enough."
Japan controlled possession for long stretches, forcing Norway's Barcelona star Caroline Graham Hansen to spend more time in defence than attack.
Norway played with two strikers for the final quarter when 2018 Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg, who has had a groin injury, came on to partner Sophie Roman Haug up front.
They had chances at the death, but when they belatedly threatened they found goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita impossible to beat a second time.
"I think they showed maybe why they have been the best team so far today," Graham Hansen told reporters.
"They're so disciplined and very structured in the way they play offence and defence."
Defeat ends a turbulent tournament for Norway.
They lost 1-0 to co-hosts New Zealand in the opening match and were then held by Switzerland, before progressing into the knockouts by thrashing the Philippines 6-0.
Hegerberg has never been fully fit and she pulled out moments before the Switzerland game.
There were also murmurs of discontent within the squad, with Graham Hansen hitting out publicly at Riise after being dropped.
© 2023 AFP
12 Comments
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Fighto!
Hege Riise is not wrong!
Nadeshiko Japan has now jumped to favoritism to hoist the Cup, IMO. The depth in the squad is astonishing, the attack-minded "total football" levels above any other team seen thus far. Not to mention the stingy defense - just goal conceded in 4 games.
There is a positive feeling about this campaign just like 2011. And if they do make that final, many more Japanese eyes will be watching than back then!
Rodney
It’s already decided. England will win. Japan just needs to beat USA for second place. Japanese goalkeeper is my fantasy.
Jimizo
Get your money down, sport. 8/1 being offered.
Then again, the beautiful game is often a funny old game of two halves, but Cinderella stories are possible and the Nadeshiko engine starts purring once they step over the white line.
Or something like that.
CuteUsagi
Hi Jimizo. Please further explain. Am curious
Speed
I've asked about ten people (all Japanese) if they're watching these games and I haven't had one yes answer yet. Guess the bandwagon hasn't gotten started yet. I'm glad I have. They're playing well.
Fighto!
I'm an unlucky man at betting so never bother - but at the start of the tournament they were 29/1! That looked tasty. Even 8/1 looks too long. Someone will step up and fancy those odds.
Larr Flint
Seriously is there anyone watching this? IF yes then could you guys recommend me the channel where it is convenient to see ?
William77
As a northern European I will support Norway.
Anyway in football the ball is round.
smithinjapan
A "nadeshiko" meaning "caressable child", but referring more to the nostalgia of a demur woman with idealized traits, perceived to be increasingly rare, like the "nadeshiko" who waited for their samurai masters to come home -- Samurai Japan, the men's team? The name should not be allowed, to be honest, as it is insulting.
But, they sure are playing well, as they have in the past. The one thing I love about the Women's World Cup more than the men's is how level the playing field is. Contrast that with the men's and you see what I mean... especially watching teams wait to see whom they are matched with in the first round and some screaming with joy while others cringe and curse. With the women... could be Japan wins again this year, could be someone else. It's almost never repeated.
carpslidy
I have a 1000 yen on at 34/1 to win
3 games to go
eug145
This is going to get very exciting..
Dr.Cajetan Coelho
On their day Nadeshiko Japan look capable of taming the very best who would stand in their way.