ID :
130901
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 00:01
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/130901
The shortlink copeid
Soccer: Japan`s World Cup team gets hero`s welcome+
OSAKA, July 1 Kyodo -
Japan coach Takeshi Okada and his World Cup squad received a hero's welcome at
Kansai International Airport on Thursday after their campaign in South Africa
exceeded most people's expectations.
Japan's hopes of reaching the quarterfinals of soccer's showcase event for the
first time ended Tuesday when Paraguay prevailed 5-3 in a penalty shootout
after 120 minutes of scoreless action.
But few predicted that Japan would even win a single game, let alone advance
from a tough Group E that featured European heavyweights the Netherlands,
Cameroon and Denmark after a dismal run of results in the build-up to the
tournament.
''I've coached a lot of teams, but this World Cup team was definitely one of
the best,'' Okada told a press conference in an Osaka hotel. ''Everyone worked
hard for the team and played with national pride. I'm proud of these players.
It was so good to work with these players and the team staff.''
But the 53-year-old reiterated his intention to step down.
''I don't think I'll work with these players again. I just wish them all the
best in their careers,'' Okada said. ''It's a shame our World Cup campaign
ended earlier than we had hoped for. I just wanted to play one more game with
this excellent team.''
Well before the World Cup finals, Okada had set a bold target of reaching the
semifinals.
Japan stunned Cameroon 1-0, narrowly lost 1-0 to the Netherlands and brushed
aside Denmark 3-1 to advance to the round of 16 for the first time on foreign
soil.
''The team learned a lot from pre-tournament friendlies against strong
opponents such as England and the Ivory Coast, and the players found what they
had to do in South Africa. And then the team got better with every game,''
Okada said.
Asked what is needed for Japan to do even better at the World Cup in the
future, Okada said, ''Environment! There is no doubt that these players will
get better if they can play five or six matches a year against serious,
competitive opponents.''
Meanwhile, Keisuke Honda, who scored two of Japan's four goals at the World
Cup, kept his sunglasses on while walking through the airport.
''I wanted to play more with this team, so I feel more disappointed than a
sense of achievement,'' the CSKA Moscow midfielder said.
''I didn't have a hard time playing as the lone striker. Every player behind me
was defending well, so I could just stay in front without getting worried.''
==Kyodo
Japan coach Takeshi Okada and his World Cup squad received a hero's welcome at
Kansai International Airport on Thursday after their campaign in South Africa
exceeded most people's expectations.
Japan's hopes of reaching the quarterfinals of soccer's showcase event for the
first time ended Tuesday when Paraguay prevailed 5-3 in a penalty shootout
after 120 minutes of scoreless action.
But few predicted that Japan would even win a single game, let alone advance
from a tough Group E that featured European heavyweights the Netherlands,
Cameroon and Denmark after a dismal run of results in the build-up to the
tournament.
''I've coached a lot of teams, but this World Cup team was definitely one of
the best,'' Okada told a press conference in an Osaka hotel. ''Everyone worked
hard for the team and played with national pride. I'm proud of these players.
It was so good to work with these players and the team staff.''
But the 53-year-old reiterated his intention to step down.
''I don't think I'll work with these players again. I just wish them all the
best in their careers,'' Okada said. ''It's a shame our World Cup campaign
ended earlier than we had hoped for. I just wanted to play one more game with
this excellent team.''
Well before the World Cup finals, Okada had set a bold target of reaching the
semifinals.
Japan stunned Cameroon 1-0, narrowly lost 1-0 to the Netherlands and brushed
aside Denmark 3-1 to advance to the round of 16 for the first time on foreign
soil.
''The team learned a lot from pre-tournament friendlies against strong
opponents such as England and the Ivory Coast, and the players found what they
had to do in South Africa. And then the team got better with every game,''
Okada said.
Asked what is needed for Japan to do even better at the World Cup in the
future, Okada said, ''Environment! There is no doubt that these players will
get better if they can play five or six matches a year against serious,
competitive opponents.''
Meanwhile, Keisuke Honda, who scored two of Japan's four goals at the World
Cup, kept his sunglasses on while walking through the airport.
''I wanted to play more with this team, so I feel more disappointed than a
sense of achievement,'' the CSKA Moscow midfielder said.
''I didn't have a hard time playing as the lone striker. Every player behind me
was defending well, so I could just stay in front without getting worried.''
==Kyodo
