[World Cup]”I have to carry the Japanese national team on my back” Kaoru Mitoma FIFA World Cup Qatar (December 7, 2022)

At the FIFA World Cup 2022, the Japan national team lost to Croatia after a penalty shootout, finishing the tournament in the last 16. One day after the match, Kaoru Mitoma, a representative of Japan, answered the interview. Q: What kind of tournament was it? I think I have to make the most of this. Q: Looking back on the Croatia match, Mitoma: It would have been nice to have managed to keep the score at 1-0 and win, but it was not going to be easy, and I was also aiming to score. I went to , but I felt that I still had a lot to do when I couldn’t decide. There are many things to think about for PK, but I think I could have done more before that. Q: Will being able to finish the offense be a challenge for you in the future? was about to feel this competition. Q: Regarding the opponent when you are defending Mitoma: I was able to use my experience as a wingback, and there were many parts that I was good at interpersonally, but there were many parts that I wasn’t, so I was still strong. I thought that I had to raise my quality as a player, whether it was the part of the team or the total strength. Q: Specifically, which play do you think worked? We still have to improve, and I think we still need to go forward and score shots. Q: The best play of this tournament is Mitoma: Is it the best play? I don’t know what the best play is…I can’t think of one yet. Q: On the other hand, the scene that I felt was a problem was Mitoma: In the match against Croatia, I received the ball from (Sakai) Hiroki-kun, and I couldn’t make a move there. However, I wasn’t able to do that when I was expected to make a move and score points, so I think that’s what I’m talking about. Q: What do you want to do after this tournament? Mitoma: I think I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing so far, so of course I know the challenges, and I want to get out of the starting line-up and help the team win. If I don’t keep it up, I won’t be able to accept it even halfway through, and I think I can pull the team even further by standing on the pitch with 11 people. increase. Q: Specifically, what kind of things do you want to build up? Mitoma: Especially the physical part. I also feel that the size is still lacking. I always feel that I have to become a threat throughout the 90 minutes, and I want to pursue that. Q: Are you satisfied with your performance against Croatia? I can’t believe that at all. Q: What are you thinking about in order to continue to appear in the starting lineup? Mitoma: I think that by continuing to play in the starting lineup in a club team, and by continuing to be challenged at a high intensity, I can naturally become stronger, and I think I can do it now in the Premier League. I think that continuing to show high performance will lead to my growth. Q: What kind of player do you want to be 4 years from now? In terms of age, I am 29 years old, so there is a possibility that I will be the last player as a forward-looking player, so I think I have to face this frustration, and I think that I have to play so that I can lead to the best 8. I will. Q: What kind of team do you want to play in 4 years from now? Mitoma: When we played against Spain and Germany, we were able to win by defending and holding back and fighting patiently, but in terms of probability, we are a team that is difficult to win. I think that Japanese football will not become strong unless we play football in which we can take the initiative. I think that the national team has to play football where they hold the ball, apply pressure, and always take the initiative. , I would like to do it first so that I can become that part. Q: What would you say to the Japanese soccer boys who admire Mitoma? If we could have played against Brazil, we would have had a different view, so I will have to play with a sense of responsibility for that. However, I think it’s important to keep believing in them as long as possible, because I think we’ve shown that we won’t give up and that if we keep trying, we’ll win against the powerhouses in this tournament. Q: Four years later, can we expect it? Mitoma: Yes. Please look forward to it. I will do my best.
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