NEWSWORTHY
Akira Nishino reflects on Japan's wild World Cup ride
Former national team manager Akira Nishino admits he still has regrets about Japan's exit from this summer's World Cup in Russia, but he believes the team has a bright future under successor Hajime Moriyasu. "Moriyasu hasn't been a manager for a great deal of time ...
Hajime Moriyasu emerges as top coaching candidate for Japan national team
Hajime Moriyasu, who will coach Japan's men's team during the soccer competition at the 2020 Olympics, is the top candidate to manage the full national team, sources said Tuesday. The members of the Japan Football Association's technical committee, which is selecting the successor to Akira ...
Nishino to pass torch as manager
National team manager Akira Nishino predicted Thursday that Japan will improve on its 2018 World Cup performance by reaching the quarterfinals in 2022, but he will not be around to lead the charge after the Japan Football Association announced it would not extend his ...
Despite disappointing departure, Samurai Blue exceeded expectations at World Cup
Japan's exit from the World Cup on Monday was soccer at its cruelest, but once the dust has settled the team will be able to look back on its campaign with pride and satisfaction. Japan was denied a first-ever place in the quarterfinals after a ...
Japan manager Akira Nishino says team hasn't practiced penalty kicks
Japan manager Akira Nishino admitted on Sunday that he has not drilled his players for a penalty shootout ahead of their World Cup round-of-16 match against Belgium. Nishino said he sees no point in rehearsing a penalty shootout scenario because it is impossible to recreate ...
Nishino apologizes to players for tactics late in group-stage match against Poland
Japan head coach Akira Nishino revealed Saturday that he apologized to his players for making them hold onto the ball and avoid attacking late in their final World Cup group game against Poland, in a tactical move which saw them loudly jeered by spectators. In ...
Nishino made right call for Samurai Blue to advance
It was not pretty, but Japan did what was necessary to survive at the World Cup. If the Samurai Blue can make history by beating Belgium on Monday to reach the quarterfinals for the first time, the rather undignified end to Thursday's 1-0 loss ...
Kawashima's error raises questions for Samurai Blue
Japan manager Akira Nishino said he will analyze goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima's situation after the FC Metz custodian made an error that led to Senegal's first goal in the teams' 2-2 Group H draw on Sunday. Speaking at the post-match news conference at Ekaterinburg Arena, Nishino ...
Japan's conviction growing stronger with each step at World Cup
A World Cup campaign that threatened to be an ordeal for Japan is turning into one of steadily growing conviction. If the Samurai Blue can produce another performance like Sunday's 2-2 draw with Senegal, a place in the knockout round will be theirs for ...
Quiet achiever Yuya Osako urges Japan to go all-out for win against Senegal
While a draw against Senegal would take Japan a step closer to the World Cup round of 16, nothing less than a win will be good enough against the joint group leaders, the Samurai Blue's man of the moment Yuya Osako said Saturday. On the ...
