Historic Win for Japan: Coach Moriyasu Hails Team's Confidence Boost
Japan's national soccer team makes history with a 3-2 win over Brazil in a friendly match, with coach Hajime Moriyasu praising the team's confidence boost ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
“We want to fight on the same level, challenge ourselves to see what we can do now and what we lack...”
Ayase Ueda believes Japan can make a significant impact at the upcoming World Cup in North America. The striker's sentiments come after he led his team to a historic 3-2 win over Brazil, scoring the decisive header in the 71st minute.
Ueda's goal was the culmination of Japan's remarkable comeback, which saw them overcome a 2-0 deficit. Takumi Minamino and Keito Nakamura scored the other two goals, with Minamino capitalizing on a Brazilian defensive error and Nakamura netting via a deflection off Bruno's attempted block.
“Winning the World Cup is my goal, just like it is for our team,” Ueda said, expressing his ambitions for the tournament. Japan's coach, Hajime Moriyasu, echoed Ueda's sentiments, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement and learning in the lead-up to the World Cup.
“We couldn't create many chances in the first half, but I sensed there was a chance with (Junya) Ito sending in good crosses. (The goal) feels special,” Feyenoord's Ueda told reporters after the win.
“Winning the World Cup is my goal, just like it is for our team. I can't promise it, but we're all developing with that as the target, and I think we're in a position where we can aim for it.”
After facing the five-time World Cup winners, Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu lauded his team's effort and encouraged them to focus on improvement and learning as they prepare for the upcoming tournament.
“We want to fight on the same level, challenge ourselves to see what we can do now and what we lack, and use that to grow. Everyone's hard work led to the result of beating Brazil,” Moriyasu said.
“(At half-time) I told my players to put the ball holders under pressure and up their intensity. Winning the World Cup isn't going to be easy, Brazil will up their level at the finals. We'll keep going, taking one step at a time.”
Japan's impressive World Cup history includes reaching the round of 16 in three of the last four editions. Their most recent appearance in Qatar showcased their potential, where they won against Germany and Spain in the group stage.
Despite their promising start, Japan fell short against Croatia in the knockout stage, losing on penalties. This setback hasn't deterred them from making a strong comeback in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, where they became the first team to secure a spot.
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