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 Hidemasa Morita answered the interview. Q: How do you feel now that the World Cup is over? Morita: I’m really disappointed that we didn’t get any results. Q: I think there were quite a few things that we were able to prove to the world. Morita: I think it’s wonderful that we were able to break through a group that was thought to be unbeatable in first place. I was able to participate in the second game after recovering from my injury, but my performance improved a little as the games went on, so I think I was far from my original performance, and I was able to contribute to the team. I’m sorry I didn’t. Q: Do you think you were able to express your ability to flexibly adapt to your opponent in yesterday’s match? I think I could have done the same for the 2019 match, but I was given one chance, so I was faced with the same thing as we have had those chances as a group. So, I think that the cruelty of soccer is that the match is decided by one single match, and I think it’s also attractive. I think. Q: When you think about the next four years, what do you want to do? Morita: This World Cup was my first tournament, but I really feel like I was helped by the support of the team and the fans. I want to be someone who can lead the team in the next World Cup, and this tournament made me want to be someone who can lead the team while shouldering a lot of things. , I hope you will pay attention to such things in the future. Q: What do you think worked well in this tournament, and what do you think you need to improve on in the future? I think that the diligence and seriousness of the Japanese have proven that they can put up a good fight even against powerful nations as long as they are united. I think that many players have come to Japan and are playing in a tough environment with friendly rivalry. There’s a reason for that, and I still don’t know what it is, but I think I have no choice but to think, think, and act. Q: What do you think the Japanese style should be like for the next tournament? Just as we were able to prove to the world that Japan is powerful in this tournament, from now on we will be playing soccer where Japan will take action on its own initiative, rather than just adapting to the opponent. I think it will be really necessary to present things and what kind of things we are going to do, and I think that we are a country that can do that, so we will build such a place in the next four years. I wish I could. Q: What are your goals and what do you have to show on the Asian stage? Morita: It’s not like we’re getting carried away or anything like that, but in order to compete against the powerhouses in the World Cup, Asia is really small compared to Asia, and we can’t naturally win. I don’t think it’s possible, and I think that all the Asian teams were eliminated in the round of 16 this time, but I think that we, Japan, have a stronger desire to lead Asia, and I really want you to look forward to it. So, in that sense, I want to win the Asian Cup and lead the team.
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