Japan grouped with Myanmar, Mongolia for 2022 World Cup qualifiers
Japan will face Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Myanmar and Mongolia in the second round of 2022 World Cup Asian qualifying after being drawn in Group F on Wednesday. The draw at the Asian Football Confederation's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur saw the 34 top-ranked sides in Asia, along ...
Former Japan manager Akira Nishino named head coach of Thailand's national, U-23 teams
Akira Nishino, who guided Japan to the last 16 at the 2018 World Cup, was officially named head coach Wednesday of the Thailand national and under-23 men's teams. The 64-year-old will lead the War Elephants in the upcoming 2022 World Cup Asian qualifiers, as well ...
Ex-Japan boss Akira Nishino appointed coach of Thailand national, under-23 squads
Former Japan manager Akira Nishino is the new coach of the Thailand senior and under-23 teams. Nishino agreed to take the job on Monday after a four-hour meeting with Football Association of Thailand chief Somyot Poompamoung in Bangkok. He will coach Thailand in the 2022 World ...
Akira Nishino attends match in Thailand amid reports of coaching job
Former Japan national team manager Akira Nishino attended a Thai League 1 soccer match on Saturday amid reports he will accept a job as head coach of Thailand's national soccer team in the coming days. Nishino attended the True Bangkok United-Sukhothai Football Club match at ...
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 ...
