From heaven to hell to another level of paradise.
I really have no idea how that happened.
Above all, I have no idea how long it could last.
Four years ago, a World Cup group lead on yellow cards was thought to be more unlikely than anything we’ve ever seen. Japan became the first, and so far only, team to do so. Then he goes out in the most sloppy way of all after serving in a corner kick against Belgium.
In short, an emotional roller coaster like no other.
WC 2022 responded with a notice: “Keep your beer alcohol-free”
Because who could have predicted this?
Who could have predicted such a hilarious whirl of highs and lows that not even a manga writer with an abundance of creativity could pull together.
How did this happen in the peace of the whole empire?
Japan’s first unexpected paradise and biggest scalp ever in the World Cup finals when they turned around and beat Germany itself. From that pillar straight to the abyss, an improbably naive team selection led to a loss against Costa Rica who capitalized on their only shot on goal – in the entire tournament.
So before the end of the group stage, against the mighty big Spain, it was secondary again. Just like before the tournament when the lottery gave an impossible paper path to progression.
90+7 smashed the floor, after unlikely minutes Japan won their World Cup group ahead of Spain and Germany. They have won a match with the lowest average ball possession (17.7 percent) the winning team has been in a World Cup match. Or yes, the lowest possession percentage of any team in a World Cup match.
How did this happen in the peace of the whole empire?
you know what? I have absolutely no idea.
No idea about anything
I have no idea if that ball was actually still in play when Kaoru Mitoma (the uncrowned champion of end puck specialists) scored Ao Tanaka’s 2-1 goal (of course Desotobeme a player called “blue” does it for Samurai Blue).
I have no idea if Spain really had a sincere intent in the dying minutes to get the equaliser, or were just happy with the way it was, with potential rivals Germany on their way out.
I have no idea what national team captain Hajime Moriyasu is thinking when he eliminates his teams, and I have absolutely no idea what he plans to eliminate in a new eleven in the round of 16 that is now approaching.
I hardly have any idea how good this Japanese version actually is. After all, they have rarely played with their best players on the field.
And above all, I have no idea how far this can go.
Focus on themselves
The declared goal of the Japanese national team before the tournament was the quarter-finals. A goal you can easily laugh at when you know which group you’re already drawn to. But it is also a target that symbolizes how Japan thinks. It symbolizes how each match in this tournament is handled.
With respect for every opposition, whatever its status.
Confidently against any opposition whatever the status.
With their own effort and goals in the first place – regardless of opposition.
Three rounds of 16 passes out of three possible in WC history? Of course, the quarter-finals should be the goal then, no matter what the road there is like. Of course, you then have to adjust your team selection for the Costa Rica game because you really think you can beat Spain.
New World now
And yes, here we stand. In what he calls captain-elect Hajime Moriyasu “A New World of Japanese Football”.
– What we called a ‘new world’ was reaching the top eight, but I think we really showed a new world when we show that we can compete with the best in the world, Moriyasu said in his post-match press conference.
Of course, this is a new world. Of course, this is something completely different than crawling over yellow cards after losing to Poland.
2-1 against Germany. 2-1 against Spain. Next round of 16. as a group.
It’s like I wouldn’t be surprised if I went 2-1 all the way to WC gold now.