Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sydney: Shinji Kagawa apologised to his team-mates after his miss in Japan’s penalty shootout loss to the United Arab Emirates effectively ended the Samurai Blue’s defence of the AFC Asian Cup title.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder, who struggled to hit his best form throughout the tournament, hit the post in the first round of sudden-death penalties, setting up Ismail Ahmed to win the quarter-final clash for the UAE.
Video highlights: Japan 1-1 UAE. aet (4-5 on penalties)
Read full match report
Japan’s defeat was their first in the last four of the continental championship since being knocked out by Kuwait at the same stage in 1996 – when they were also the defending champions.
“The result means everything,” said the former Manchester United man. “We couldn't score and I feel responsible. I'm just sorry.
“I didn't take chances in the game and I missed the penalty. We lost and this is a tough one to absorb. If I had scored we could have won. All I can say is I'm sorry.
“Everyone was calm, we created enough chances and believed we could come from behind to win it. One goal isn't enough; we kept wasting opportunities.”
Japan dominated the game despite seeing Ali Mabkhout put the UAE in the lead after just seven minutes, but Javier Aguirre’s side took until the 81st minute to level through Gaku Shibasaki, a goal that took the game into extra-time.
Thirty additional minutes could not separate the teams and Japan eventually lost out on penalties, the first time they have been defeated in a shootout at the AFC Asian Cup and their first defeat in such a manner since losing to Paraguay in the Round of 16 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
“I felt like I could score but I didn't - and that's the bold truth, the bottom line,” said Kagawa of his struggles in front of goal. “We didn't expect our tournament to end here.
“There's nothing we can do to erase this defeat. But I do think we can learn from this. We had the younger players scoring here and I thought we had a lot going for us. It's not like we can turn back time so we have to move on.”
Kagawa was struggling to come to terms with the reasons behind his penalty miss, which followed Keisuke Honda’s effort that sailed over the bar before Khamis Esmaeel missed for the Emirates.
“I miss the penalty and we lose; I have to make this count,” he said of what was going through his mind as he walked up to take the spot kick. “Maybe it's mental or some other reason. But I need to find out what went wrong.
“I feel sorry for the manager because I sense a lot of potential in the style he's brought. Wanted to get the semifinal, final but we couldn't get that far. I enjoyed what we've been doing so it's all the more disappointing.”
Photo: WSG