Fred Varcoe

TOKYO: On Nov. 22, the Japan World Cup squad were on their bus heading for a training session ahead of their first match in Qatar against Germany. The players were watching Saudi Arabia’s match against Argentina and, amazingly, watching Saudi Arabia beat the tournament favorites 2-1. Little did the Saudi players know, they were lighting a fire under the Japan team.

“We were going for our training session and we watched it on the team bus,” winger KUBO Takefusa recalled. “We were happy for them and their victory inspired us.”

Brighton wing-back MITOMA Kaoru concurred: “We watched Saudi Arabia win against Argentina and we thought we could do well (against Germany). It inspired me and the team a lot.”

Of course, while Japan’s great Asian rivals Saudi Arabia were inspirational, not everything went well for Asia’s representatives in Qatar, notably with the hosts, who lost all three group games, and Iran, who were hammered 6-2 by England in their first game.

Captain YOSHIDA Maya said Japan were playing for the pride of Asia as well as their home country. “We’re representing Japan but, at the same time, we’re also representing Asia,” he told ESPN. “I hope and wish we’ll have many supporters coming from Asia.”

Yoshida, a veteran of the Japan team and the Premier League who now plays in Germany, provided Japan with a solid defensive core and a leader who knew the quality of his team’s opponents but who also believed that his team could challenge any opponent. “There’s no such game which exists that we are certain to lose,” he said. “In football, sometimes there are ‘must-win’ games, but there isn’t a ‘must-lose’ game, so we still believe we have a good chance.”

After stunning Germany in their first game, Japan had fans and pundits drooling in delight. Suddenly, manager MORIYASU Hajime, who was in danger of losing his job during the World Cup qualifiers, was a tactical genius. Trailing 1-0 at half-time, Moriyasu made tactical and personnel changes, and substitutes DOAN Ritsu and ASANO Takuma scored the goals that made the victory.

Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard summed up the mental requirements for a lower-ranked team going into the World Cup before facing an Argentina team unbeaten in 36 games: “There’s no point going to the World Cup if you don’t have ambition. We have to push ourselves to the limit, believe we have a chance and give everything we have.”

With Costa Rica considered the underdogs in Group E, Moriyasu figured he could be ambitious, make changes and Japan would still win their second match. He was wrong. Japan looked a shadow of themselves against the CONCACAF team and lost 1-0. Asia’s star dimmed a little, but it was to shine brightly again.

Australia pulled off a fine win against European hopefuls Denmark and South Korea stunned Portugal in their final group game, with both Asian teams heading into the knockout stages. Japan regrouped after the Costa Rica disaster, Moriyasu fiddled with his lineup again and made key changes during the match, and his team pulled off a sensational victory over Spain, earning Japan a Round of 16 clash with Croatia.

By this time, journalists and fans alike realized that Japan’s wins were no fluke. Japan defended well, had a solid defensive midfield and attacked with speed and confidence, while GONDA Shuichi pulled off some classy saves in goal.

BBC commentator Danny Murphy said Japan deserved to beat Croatia and could return home with their heads held high. This time the tears rolling down the faces of Japan’s players were not because they lost (on penalties), but because they knew they could have won.

Twenty-one members of Japan’s 26-man squad play in Europe or have played in Europe and most have done well at their clubs. In the past, many Japanese players tried their luck in Europe but returned home with their tails between their legs having failed to make an impact. The difference with the current squad is that the players have adjusted to the European game and know they can perform in the leagues their World Cup opponents play in. Japan has held on to its inferiority complex for too long. The big guns of football now know that Japan are no pushover.

Everyone expected Germany and Spain to beat Japan in the Group Stage. The Germany game can be seen as Japan’s graduation into the upper level of football. No one will underestimate them anymore.

But Japan and other Asian teams still need to get past the Round of 16 on a regular basis. What this World Cup has done is given these teams the belief that they really can do it. The next World Cup can’t come quickly enough.