Kubo Takefusa can’t be called up! Four Concerns” Standing in the Way of Japan’s Soccer Team’s Participation in the Paris Olympics

In the 28 years since the “Miracle in Miami” at the ’96 Atlanta Olympics, which marked a historic victory over Brazil, Japan has qualified for seven consecutive Olympics. In London ’12 and Tokyo ’21, the team finished in fourth place and came within one step of a medal.

However, this glorious history may come to an end this year. Japan’s U-23 national team is currently competing in the final Asian qualifying round (AFC U23 Asian Cup), which opens on April 15, for this summer’s Paris Olympics in 2012 . But as Masakuni Yamamoto, 66, director of the JFA National Team, said, “To be honest, there is nothing but a sense of urgency.

Tsuyoshi Oiwa, 51, is a renowned coach who won the AFC Champions League (ACL) in 2006 when he led Kashima Antlers to the title. He is highly regarded for his skill, but in soccer, it is difficult to do anything with the power of the coach alone. The Paris Olympics generation since their birth in 2001 has been criticized for its lack of talent, and it has been difficult to find players who can make it to the A team led by Hajime Moriyasu (55).

Only two members of the U-23 national team have become mainstays of the A team: Kubo Takefusa (22, Real Sociedad), a forward, and Ayane Suzuki (21, Sint-Troiden), a goalkeeper. There are five players who have been called up to the A team for the final qualifying round for the Olympics, but neither FW Masahiro Hosoya (22, Kashiwa), who participated in the Asian Cup in Qatar in January and February, nor goalkeeper Taishi Brandon Nozawa (21, FC Tokyo) have yet to make it to the A team.

Kubo and Suzuki were not called up for the final qualifying round, nor were Tadato Suzuki (22, Bromby, Denmark), who has been making his mark in Europe, Mitsuki Saito (22) and Shunsuke Mito (21), both from Sparta Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and Yutaro Oda (22, Hearts, Scotland). This is because the final qualifying round is not held on International Match Day (IMD).

The IMD is a priority system for national soccer associations, and clubs are obliged to send their own players, so Japan was able to field mainstays such as Wataru Endo (31, Liverpool) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (25, Arsenal) on the days the Asian Cup was held in January and February.

However, this has not been possible in the Olympic qualifiers. It is now the end of the season in Europe. The JFA was well aware of this situation and repeatedly asked for cooperation from the clubs. Oiwa also flew to Europe to ask for help, but was only able to bring in a few players, including Rihito Yamamoto (22) and Chima Fujita (22) of Sint-Troideen, which is owned by the Japanese company DMM.com. Sint-Troiden also declined to comment on Suzuki, saying, “We sent him to the Asian Cup, so we can’t send him out this time. The heavy reality that “we could not assemble the best members of the Paris Olympics generation” is troubling the coach.

In the past, the JFA has had to call up European players for the final qualifying rounds, such as Yuki Otsu (34) for the London 2012 Olympics and Takumi Minamino (29, Monaco) and Yuya Kubo (30, Cincinnati) for the Rio de Janeiro 2004 Olympics. However, the JFA managed to call them in, and they became the trump card to secure a ticket to the Olympics. However, the clubs have become more influential, and they no longer readily agree to the request to send their players to the Olympics.

Moreover, Qatar in April has a maximum temperature of 35°C and a minimum of 25°C, the same as in mid-summer in Japan. Although the stadiums are air-conditioned, the teams are forced to practice and make adjustments in the extreme heat. In this case, the Middle Eastern teams have the advantage. The matches are usually played on two days. For Japan, which does not have the best lineup, this will be an uphill battle.

The extreme lack of international experience of the Paris Olympics generation will also be a bottleneck. The 23 members of this year’s team were born between 2001 and 2004, but this generation spent their late teens and early 20s in the COVID-19 crisis, which limited their overseas tours. Furthermore, the 2009 U-20 World Cup (World Cup in Indonesia), which was to have been mainly played by players born between 2001 and 2002, was cancelled, and the final Asian qualifying round was also cancelled. The team lacks the experience of the “shuraba” (rough patch).

Stars of the past, including Shunsuke Nakamura (45, coach of Yokohama FC), Shinji Ono (44, J-League director), Keisuke Honda (37), and Shinji Kagawa (35), all participated in the U-20 World Cup, and all said they “learned their place in the world. The downside of not being able to participate in such a valuable stage was very significant.

Two players born in 2003 and 2004, Kusei Matsuki (20, FC Tokyo) and Kota Takai (20, Kawasaki), barely made it to the 2011 U-20 World Cup in Argentina, where Japan was eliminated from the group phase. This can only be seen as a negative factor.

ND Yamamoto explained, “When I said ‘I have only a sense of crisis,’ I was referring in large part to the lack of U-20 World Cup experience among this generation. I can’t shake off my concern.

The group league matchups are also tough. Starting with a match against China on the 16th, Japan will face UAE on the 19th, and South Korea on the 22nd. In particular, the rivalry between China and South Korea is tremendous, and they are sure to challenge Japan with their eyes changing color, saying, “We can’t lose only to Japan.

Even if they get through their group, Qatar or Australia will be waiting for them in the quarterfinals. Qatar is a strong nation that has won the Asian Cup in consecutive years and has home field advantage. Australia excels in physical aspects such as height and strength, and they are confident in aerial duels and long balls, which are Japan’s weak points. There is no doubt that they are a difficult opponent.

If they overcome the obstacles and advance to the semifinals, they are likely to face Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and other Middle Eastern nations. For the Saudis, neighboring Qatar is like a home, and Iraq is also an opponent with whom the full national team suffered a bitter defeat at the Asian Cup. It is not expected to be an easy win for the Saudis.

If they lose here, they will play for third place, and if they finish fourth, they will face a playoff against African teams. For the Japanese soccer world, the playoffs are an unknown battle, as they have no experience in this kind of competition. The pressure is on, but the pressure will be on.

There is a lot of pressure, but only by overcoming that pressure will we be able to move on to the next stage and phase. I think the players are working with this in mind, but in order to become a strong nation, we have to follow that path.

If Japan misses the Olympics, it will be a major blow to the Japanese soccer world at the World Cup in North and Central America in 2014 and beyond. I hope that coach Oiwa and his players will give it their all. In particular, the ace Hosoya and Fujita, who has experience with the A team, are expected to do a great job of leading the team strongly.

Oiwa Japan does not have big stars like Shunsuke Nakamura, Ono, or Honda, whose names are well known throughout Japan. However, if they make a strong showing here, the public’s view of them will change. I wonder how many people will come forward with the gleam of “I’m going to overturn the low evaluation. I hope that the ambition and energy of the young people will now be fully demonstrated.