NEWSWORTHY
Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu confident about future despite loss in Asian Cup final
Despite the disappointment of a surprise 3-1 loss against Qatar in the Asian Cup final on Friday, Japan saw encouraging performances from several of its emerging players in the United Arab Emirates. Manager Hajime Moriyasu, who took the reins following last summer's World Cup, overlooked ...
Japan defeats Vietnam in Asian Cup quarterfinals after VAR assists Ritsu Doan penalty
The video assistant referee made a decisive debut in the Asian Cup on Thursday, playing a role in Ritsu Doan's penalty goal in Japan's 1-0 quarterfinal victory over Vietnam. Groningen winger Doan gave Japan the lead 12 minutes after the break when he converted the ...
Japan fails to shift attack into gear
"Defense wins championships," as the old saying goes. The Samurai Blue certainly needed plenty of it on Monday after maintaining less than 24 percent possession over 90 minutes of their Asian Cup round of 16 win against Saudi Arabia under the baking sun at Sharjah ...
Yuya Osako scores twice as Japan rallies past Turkmenistan in Asian Cup opener
Yuya Osako scored a second-half brace before Ritsu Doan added a third as Japan battled from behind for a 3-2 win over Turkmenistan in Group F in its opening match of the AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. Coming into the ...
Following a turbulent year that brought joy and heartbreak, the Japan men's national team will head to the Asian Cup full of optimism, with a new core of emerging players. The Samurai Blue will kick off the Jan. 5 to Feb. 1 tournament in the ...
Dynamic trio of Takumi Minamino, Ritsu Doan and Shoya Nakajima named to Japan's Asian Cup squad
Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu on Wednesday named his 23-man squad for the Asian Cup, sticking with the core of players who have helped him stay unbeaten since taking the reins of the senior national side in late July. Having blossomed under Moriyasu's stewardship, the ...
Striker Takumi Minamino netted the winning goal in Salzburg's 1-0 victory over Rheindorf Altach at home on Sunday. Minamino scored his fourth league goal of the season in the 18th minute at Red Bull Arena off a pass from Andre Ramalho. Salzburg now sit on ...
New stars shine for Samurai Blue
A squad in transition following a surprisingly successful run in the World Cup. A new head coach establishing his vision. A South American opponent ranked fifth in the world. A sold-out Saitama Stadium. An impressive win that fans will look back on as having ...
Japan strikes early, holds off Uruguay in thrilling friendly
Takumi Minamino scored a brace, while Ritsu Doan netted his first international goal, as Japan's rising stars spearheaded a 4-3 win over Uruguay on Tuesday night. In their third outing under manager Hajime Moriyasu, the Samurai Blue displayed an impressive attacking game as they outplayed ...
Hajime Moriyasu recalls veterans for Panama, Uruguay friendlies
Hajime Moriyasu on Thursday named six veterans from last summer's World Cup in Russia to the Japan national team for a pair of upcoming friendlies, calling on the players for the first time since he took over as manager in July. Among the six, Moriyasu ...
Youngsters Ritsu Doan, Tatsuya Ito among call-ups for Japan's upcoming friendlies
Twenty-year-old Ritsu Doan and 21-year-old Tatsuya Ito were among the 23 players named Thursday by the Japan Football Association to the national squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Chile and Costa Rica. The two matches will be Japan's first following its round-of-16 exit from ...
Ritsu Doan to complete full transfer to Dutch side Groningen
Gamba Osaka confirmed Thursday that midfielder Ritsu Doan will complete a full transfer to Dutch first-division side Groningen in July, in a move revealed last month by the Eredivisie club. An attacking midfielder who can also play on either wing, the 19-year-old Japan youth international ...
