Japan can prove that their country’s football has grown by leaps and bounds by beating Paraguay in the second round today and move into the last eight. Blue Samurai boss Takeshi Okada is convinced that his players have improved over the years and that Japanese football can match the top footballing nations currently in the sport.
Okada had been under immense pressure before the tournament after setting a target of the semi finals for his side after they had qualified for the finals, but subsequently leading his team to a number of disappointing defeats in friendlies and regional tournaments. There were calls for the coach’s head and Okada even offered his resignation after seeing his side crash to a second defeat in a matter of months to South Korea.
But after emerging from the group stage in South Africa with merit and reaching the last 16 against all expectations, Okada insists that this may only just be the beginning of more success for football in the Land of the Rising Sun.
“I would say for the football community it will be wonderful and encouraging news,” said Okada. “What the Japanese football community is aiming at, which is to become one of the top teams, will be one step closer if we qualify for the final eight.
“But I have to say if you only pile bricks vertically they will eventually fall down, so we have to support from both sides. I personally don’t want to base everything on just one result or just one competition. We need to have a longer-term vision, to estimate and evaluate the level of Japanese football.
“We need to be aware of the journey and the path which is still ongoing.”
“This competition is a very good way to measure the level of a national team. This World Cup, for the fact we’ve been able to get this far, it is not only a credit for myself and my players, but also for the footballing community of Japan as a whole.
“I think objectively we can say with certainty that the overall level of the Japan players now is much higher than in the past. As for how far we can go, we keep challenging and keep going forward – that’s all.”
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