At the FIFA World Cup 2022, the Japan national team lost to Croatia after a penalty shootout, finishing the tournament in the last 16. Japan representative Midori Tanaka answered the interview. Q: Looking back on the tournament Tanaka: I think it’s very frustrating now, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. Q: Looking back on the Croatia match, what kind of feelings do you have? Tanaka: It was like everything was packed, the frustration I have now, the joy and fun when I started playing soccer, and the win as a team. Or the joy I felt when I scored a goal. Q: What was the World Cup like? Tanaka: It’s a much bigger tournament than I imagined, and I think it’s a tournament that teaches us a lot of things. Q: Do you feel that from the size of the response? Tanaka: It’s the same with one frustration, one with happiness, and it’s the same with the team, and it’s the same as an individual. I felt it strongly, and I think it’s something that can only be experienced at this tournament. Q: Where do you feel frustrated? Tanaka: I feel frustrated that the team lost, and I personally feel frustrated that I have to do more and more, and I wonder if it will end here with this wonderful player. There is also, and I think that it is frustrating for the individual and the team and everything. Q: Part where I felt a response Tanaka: Of course there will be a lot of things I can’t do, but I think there are a lot of things I can do. I would like to show it in Q: Fight against serious Spain and Germany Tanaka: Only the World Cup is the only place where you can represent your country and compete against such a strong country in a serious place, so in that sense it was a wonderful experience, and at the same time. I think it’s not a normal thing to show your strength in such a special stage like the World Cup, so frankly I want to be a player with quality who can play an active role here. Q: What do you need to do to be successful on the big stage? Tanaka: I don’t know, but with this experience, I will continue to search for it over the next four years, continue to grow, and show myself here again. I want to show it, and when I can show it, I think I’ve grown up again. I think I’ve been thinking about how to win for four years, and because I had this experience, I think I have to think about how to win for four years as an individual, and I keep thinking about it. I want to come back to the next competition. Q: Best 8 Kabe Tanaka: I felt that it was not easy. I think we can win if we have more power, and it’s not anyone’s fault at all, and if we can grow as individuals and let Japan win, I wonder if the wall there will get closer. I think that I want to do what I can do myself. Q: How do you want to challenge yourself in 4 years? Tanaka: I think that I have to become a more dominant presence in the Japanese national team over the next 4 years. I won’t forget it, and although I experienced a lot of frustration in this tournament, there was also a part of me that enjoyed it. think. Q: Looking forward to the next Tanaka: I think that I have to do what I can do every day while thinking about what I will be able to do here in 4 years. I don’t know how I’ll feel or how I’ll spend my time, because I haven’t had many goals in my life. I think it’s okay if I do.
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