[World Cup]”No matter what anyone says, I believe in my life so far” Midori Tanaka FIFA World Cup Qatar (December 4, 2022)

The Japanese national team aims to advance to the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup 2022. The next opponent is Croatia, the runner-up of last year’s tournament. Midori Tanaka talked about her aspirations for the first time to advance to the best 8. Q: Looking back on the group stage matches Tanaka: I think it was a great result. , I think that’s a very good thing. Q: How did you change your mentality during halftime? Tanaka: Halftime is very important in every game, so even though we didn’t get a result against Costa Rica, the first half and the second half will be a slightly different game. I got it. It happens in every soccer game that the first half doesn’t go well in any game, so it’s the same for players who come out midway through the second half. That’s why I think it works. Q: Did you get impatient in the match against Spain? Tanaka: When I conceded one goal, I still wanted to advance with 0 goals, so I thought it was a bit early to concede, but I just conceded a second goal. I thought it was absolutely useless, and if we were to ask whether there were any other pinches, we didn’t have many, so in that sense we were held, but it felt like we were being hit so hard. I didn’t. Q: How did you feel about scoring in the World Cup? Tanaka: I think I was really happy, but the most important thing is that the team wins. I thought that it would be possible, so in that sense, winning is everything, and I think that being able to score a goal in that match is the greatest joy. Q: How did you see the cross from Mitoma when you scored? Tanaka: I wondered if I also made it. He made it… I had a feeling that I might make it, but I just believed in him and ran until the end. Q: Is it special that you scored a goal with a pass from Mitoma, who you’ve been playing with since childhood? Tanaka: I’m really happy, and it’s probably the original form for him to score a goal from my pass. I think so, but it was the other way around. However, we’ve been playing soccer together since we were little, so I’m very happy to be able to play together on a stage like this, and I’m very happy that we were able to score a goal. Q: Do you ever talk about your childhood with Mitoma? Tanaka: Of course, we talk about (Kawasaki) Frontale once in a while, and we talk about elementary school and junior high school, but not much (laughs). Q: What kind of childhood did you both have? Tanaka: I’ve been chasing you for a long time. In order to play soccer together, I had to go higher, so in that sense, I think he was a player who was on the stage I wanted to aim for, even though he was like an older brother. Q: I think there are scenes where you can feel the magnitude of the movement in each match. I think it’s very different from what you feel, and I think it’s because we betrayed the expectations of so many people in a good way that we’re so excited, so in that sense, there are good things. Of course, if you lose, you may be criticized. Having said that, I personally want to fight with various people, so even though every match is a tough battle, I want them to always push their backs. Q: Do you have any tips for staying calm in the special environment of the World Cup? I’m standing here, and I’ve put in tens or hundreds of times more effort than other people to come here, so in that sense, no matter what anyone says, I’ll do what I’ve grasped for myself. I just want to make the most of it myself. I wonder if I’m just believing in my life that I’ve lived until now. Q: Has the team already analyzed the Croatia match? I think there is. Q: What are your chances of winning? Tanaka: The three midfielders in particular have very unique characteristics, and I think they are world-famous players. I think it’s going to be a development that holds a big hand, and I think that the match there is the most important. Q: A word to the supporters Tanaka: We really feel that we are not the only ones who have come this far. That’s what I think, so I want to make a new history with the help of so many people in the next match, so please support me.
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