Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Hajime Moriyasu across Football, Soccer.
Germany opened with a dominant 7‑1 win over Curacao, yet defensive lapses surfaced, whereas the Netherlands let a two‑goal advantage slip against Japan, exposing midfield frailties.
After a 2‑2 draw with the Netherlands in Dallas, Japanese supporters swept the AT&T Stadium, continuing a tradition that began in Russia four years earlier and now spans the world’s biggest football stages.
Japan’s second‑half resurgence forced a 2‑2 stalemate with the Netherlands, a result that highlighted both teams’ strategic adjustments and the tournament’s growing competitiveness.
From Morocco’s pulsating draw with Brazil to Australia’s shock win over Turkey, the latest predictions weigh Germany’s confidence against Curacao, preview a tight Netherlands‑Japan clash, and highlight Ivory Coast’s defensive duel with Ecuador, while Sweden eyes a must‑win against Tunisia.
Japan's newly appointed skipper Ko Itakura plans a squad-wide meeting to calm nerves, stress defensive fundamentals and leverage his prior World Cup experience ahead of the tournament opener against the Netherlands.
Former captain Maya Yoshida will support Japan's squad during a pre‑tournament camp in Monterrey, bringing his North American experience to a team preparing for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Japan aims to break its knockout curse and make a deeper run at the upcoming World Cup, driven by coach Hajime Moriyasu’s work‑ethic philosophy and recent friendly successes
Japan secured a 1-0 victory over Iceland in a friendly ahead of their opening World Cup match against the Netherlands on June 14, with manager Hajime Moriyasu overseeing a high‑tempo send‑off.
Japan’s national team opened its 2024 World Cup preparations in Chiba, featuring Ayase Ueda, Ritsu Doan, Kaishu Sano, Maya Yoshida and other European-based stars ahead of a North American tour.
Japan will field Maya Yoshida in a Tokyo send‑off against Iceland on May 31, a final tune‑up before the global tournament, as midfielder Daichi Kamada eyes a European club final.
Takumi Minamino is set to rejoin Japan's World Cup squad after a knee injury, while Hidemasa Morita has announced his exit from Sporting CP, reflecting on his contributions to the club's recent titles.
Injured winger Kaoru Mitoma misses the roster, while captain Wataru Endo and veteran Yuto Nagatomo earn spots. Japan opens its tournament against the Netherlands on June 14, hoping to surpass the round of 16 for the first time.