Musashi Suzuki bagged his first international goal to help lead Japan to a 2-1 win over China in the EAFF E-1 Football Championship on Tuesday. The Consadole Sapporo forward opened the scoring for Hajime Moriyasu's squad of J. League players in the first half, while ...
Longtime Japan defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka hangs up his boots
Marcus Tulio Tanaka, a critical part of Japan's defense, including a stint at one FIFA World Cup, announced his decision to retire on Sunday. "Today I'm ending a 19-year career," the 38-year-old Tanaka told a Tokyo news conference. "I'm overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude." Tanaka, primarily ...
Forward Salomon Rondon scored a hat trick before halftime as Venezuela humiliated Japan 4-1 in an international friendly on Tuesday night. Winger Yeferson Soteldo added the fourth for the South Americans before the break, while Hotaru Yamaguchi pulled a late goal back for the hosts ...
Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu named an experienced 23-man squad Wednesday for a "very tough battle" against Kyrgyzstan in the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. The Samurai Blue sit atop qualifying Group F with three wins from as many matches but ...
The Japan Football Association unveiled a new national team uniform on Wednesday, breaking from tradition with a patterned shirt incorporating five shades of blue representing different hues of the sky. The "Clear Sky Japan" kit was developed by Adidas Japan K.K. for representative sides including ...
Samurai Blue rout Mongolia 6-0 in 2022 World Cup qualifier
In the sumo ring, wrestlers from Mongolia rule the roost against their Japanese opponents. On the soccer pitch, Japan is clearly still king. Takumi Minamino scored in his third straight match, veteran defender Yuto Nagatomo netted his first international goal in 10 years and Junya Ito ...
Japan opens World Cup qualifying with 2-0 away win against Myanmar
Shoya Nakajima's and Takumi Minamino's first-half goals led Japan to a 2-0 win away over Myanmar as the Samurai Blue opened their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign with a victory. Japan picked apart the Myanmar defense early and often, slowed nearly as much by Thuwanna ...
Japan sets tone with two first-half goals in victory over Paraguay
Japan heads into its first game of World Cup qualifying next week on a high after knocking off Paraguay 2-0 Thursday in a friendly. Yuya Osako scored Japan's 23rd-minute opener and Takumi Minamino added the second seven minutes later as the hosts kept Paraguay on ...
Moriyasu relies heavily on overseas players
The Samurai Blue are coming from increasingly far away. Head coach Hajime Moriyasu's squad for Japan's Thursday friendly against Paraguay and next Tuesday's Asian joint qualifier at Myanmar in Yangon features 19 Europe-based players — the largest overseas contingent ever summoned for the side. The number ...
Japan to host Mongolia at Saitama Stadium when World Cup qualifying resumes
Japan will play its home opener in the second round of 2022 World Cup Asian qualifying against Mongolia at Saitama Stadium on Oct. 10, the Japan Football Association announced Monday. The Samurai Blue will start their Group F campaign against Myanmar in Yangon on Sept. ...
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 ...
Belgium-bound Samurai Blue goalkeeper Daniel Schmidt prepares to dive into deep end
When goalkeeper Daniel Schmidt lines up between the posts on Saturday night, he will be wearing Vegalta Sendai's crest for the last time. The 27-year-old's next stop will be Europe after agreeing on a full transfer to Belgium's Sint-Truiden earlier this month. While he's far from ...
