Nadeshiko Japan showed spirit and fightback against a bigger and stronger opponent.
But neither was enough on Friday night as Asako Takakura’s side crashed out of the Tokyo 2020 women’s soccer tournament with a 3-1 defeat to reigning Sweden, ending the host nation’s hope of a medal to inspire interest ahead of the start of its new professional league.
“If you look at the goals we gave up in the penalty area, and what we couldn’t do in front of the Sweden goal, that’s both the physical aspect as well as needing just a little more quality,” Japan head coach Asako Takakura said. “We need to play more decisively to score those goals.”