With two wins and one loss, the Blue Knights managed to emerge from the seemingly hopeless Group of Death in the heated group stage, and even made a stunning comeback against Germany and Spain, who had dominated the world. Although there is an element of luck, this luck precisely reflects the depth of the team's strength. On the eve of the World Cup, Coach Sam Bowen made a bold statement about his ambition to make it to the top eight. Although many scoffed at this goal, believing that Japan would end their journey after the group stage, reality gave them a resounding slap in the face. Today, facing their arch rivals in the knockout rounds, the previous runners-up Croatia, we have the same reason to be confident that Japan will be able to achieve their pre-tournament goal of advancing to the last eight of the World Cup. Let's not forget that the Japanese women's soccer team won the World Cup back in 2011.
Who would have thought that when neighboring Japan was still a desert land, countless people could not believe that Japan would rise to be the leader of Asian soccer in the next few decades.In the 1990s, we walked hand in hand with Japan on the road of professional soccer.In 1993, Japan had already synchronized with our footsteps. However, why are we on a very different path today?
The key lies in youth training. From an early age, children in Japan are exposed to a soccer philosophy that is very different from ours. School soccer and professional leagues complement each other. While our kids are still worrying about exams, Japanese students may have already received olive branches from clubs, with Keisuke Honda emerging from the high school league. Next is the atmosphere. The number of spectators in the high school or university leagues is on par with the top European leagues, which are simulcast by TV stations during prime time. These young soccer players carry the fond memories of soccer for the post-80s. When the Milan Derby in the cartoon became a reality, the degree of shock is mind-boggling. 2014 November 24, Keisuke Honda on behalf of AC Milan and Yuto Nagatomo led Inter Milan in a fierce duel in the Apennine Peninsula to complete the legendary Milan Derby. In addition, Japanese soccer also focuses on the introduction of talents, with the addition of Brazilian star Zico and French manager Troisière bringing a qualitative leap to Japanese soccer. The technical flow style has become synonymous with Japanese soccer.
With the rapid development of world soccer, the only way for Japanese soccer to reach the heights it has reached today is to stay on the right path while keeping pace with the times. Recently, the Japanese Football Association (JFA) made a proposal to participate in the Europa League, and the news shook me to the core. To the JFA, the status of Asian teams does not seem to matter. In addition, the frequent commuting of domestic players on national team match days ultimately led to this decision. It is worth noting that the JFA also has its own office in Dusseldorf, Germany. This series of initiatives will undoubtedly help Japanese soccer continue on its determined path to becoming a soccer powerhouse.
