Japanese players celebrated qualifications for the finals of the World Cup for the eighth time in a row to exchange smiles and greetings, but the team immediately concerned his attention to become the first Asian team to win the most important football championship.
Japan won 2-0 in Bahrein at Saitama Stadium the day before yesterday, Thursday, to become the first country to book its place in the 2026 finals together with the countries of America, Canada and Mexico.
Despite its occurrence in a group that can be the most difficult among the three groups in the third phase of Asian qualifications, together with Saudi Arabia and Australia, Japan has easily overcome its games, has obtained six victories and linked once so far.
The level offered by the coach Hajimi Moriasu, who still has three games in qualifications, confirmed the progress of the current generation which includes professional players abroad more than the rest of the region.
Liverpool midfielder Wattaro Endo believes that only reaching the finals is no longer enough.
“As I said when I am appointed a new leader, our current goal is to win the World Cup,” said Endo after qualifying. The players are intrinsically trying to win the World Cup and believe that winning and qualify for the finals is just a start, and I am.
The arrival of South Korea in the semifinals on its land in 2002 remains the best result of the Asian national team in the World Cup, while Japan was unable to overcome the round of sixteen in four times when the floors have reached the roles.
The qualification of Japan in 1998 began to mark the first appearance in France, although he reached the finals with difficulty winning a separate game against Iran.
The launch of the Japanese League in 1993 brought professionalism in the country to the light of a sensation and decades with illustrious foreign players, as well as the seeds of success through a long -term development plan.
During the joint hosting of the 2002 World Cup with South Korea, the program seemed to be fruits, after reaching the 16 round for the first time, the result that Japan repeated in the years 2010, 2018 and 2022, but the expectations are now higher.
Japan has obtained great victories on Spain, 2010 and the German champion in the group stage three years ago in Qatar, but stumbled with a penalty against Croatia in the 16 round of 16 was very frustrated.
The expectations are now higher with a team that includes an increasing number of professional players in Europe.
In addition to Endo, Takivosa Cobo, Real Sociedad Player, Hiroki Eto’o, Bayern Munich and Pardon & Hof Albion Player, they all play in clubs among the best competitions in Europe, while the Japanese League is widely seen as one of the most important development systems of this sport.
There is no doubt that winning the World Cup is a difficult goal, but with the continuous prosperity of Japanese football, this is the next logical goal of the team known as “Blue Samurai”.
