Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Rostov-on-Don: Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa believes he can lead his country into their first-ever FIFA World Cup quarter-final with victory over Belgium in the Round of 16 at Russia 2018 on Monday.
“We’re confident at the moment,” Kagawa said following training on Sunday ahead of the clash against World No 3 Belgium at the Rostov Arena. “We’ve been making the finer adjustments as we’ve come along.
“We have a chance to accomplish what Japanese football has never done before. We’re trying to go where none of us have gone before and I really hope we can achieve what we set out to achieve.”
https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/japan_training_-_afp.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Rostov-on-Don: Belgium may be the favourites but Japan will be highly motivated going into their 2018 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 tie against the Europeans at the Rostov Arena on Monday.
At stake for Japan is a first-ever appearance in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals and having qualified for the Round of 16 by the finest of margins, the Samurai Blue will be on a mission to extend their Russia 2018 campaign.
Having achieved several highs - their 2-1 win over Colombia was the first ever by an Asian team over a South American opposition in the FIFA World Cup and Japan are the first team from the Continent to make the Knockout Stage three times - Akira Nishino's men will be aiming to make more history.
Nishino, 63, has done brilliantly to get the Samurai Blue into the Knockout Stage, having only stepped in for predecessor Vahid Halilhodzic in April.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: After two weeks of scintillating action, the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup ended on Thursday with Japan progressing to a last 16 clash against Belgium on Monday.
Many of the Samurai Blue shone in the first round while, although departed, a number of players from Asia’s four other representatives grabbed the world’s attention. The-AFC.com has chosen five for you to vote for your standout performer.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Volgograd: Keisuke Honda came to the defence of Japan head coach Akira Nishino after he chose substance over style to lead the Samurai Blue to the Knockout Stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia on Thursday.
Japan, who reached the second round for the third time in the nation’s history and will face Belgium on Monday in Rostov-on-Don, went through as Group H runners-up behind Colombia despite a 1-0 defeat at the hands of already-eliminated Poland in Volgograd.
Nishino’s men went into the Poland game as group leaders but scraped over the line, edging out Senegal by virtue of the fair play rule with fewer yellow cards than the African side. Colombia beat Senegal 1-0 in the other match to win the group.
With Colombia moving in front late in Samara, Nishino - who made six changes to his starting XI - ordered his team to run out the clock by holding on to possession as long as possible, knowing Japan were ahead of Senegal on the tiebreak.