Soccer World Cup 2015 / Japan

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This article is about the Japanese national football team of the women in the soccer World Cup Women 2015 in Canada . Japan was the only Asian team to take part in the World Cup finals for the seventh time. The team also had to qualify again as defending champions. This was achieved by winning the Asian Cup in 2014 for the first time . At the World Cup, Japan reached the final like four years before and met the USA again, but lost the title with the highest defeat in the final.

qualification

Japan did not have to qualify for the Asian Cup, but - like Australia, China and South Korea - was seeded.

Group stage

Pl. country Sp. S. U N Gates Diff. Points
 1. JapanJapan Japan  3  2  1  0 013: 200 +11 07th
 2. AustraliaAustralia Australia  3  2  1  0 007: 300  +4 07th
 3. VietnamVietnam Vietnam  3  1  0  2 003: 700  −4 03
 4th JordanJordan Jordan  3  0  0  3 002:130 −11 00
May 14, 2014, Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City
Australia - Japan 2: 2 (1: 0)
May 16, 2014, Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam - Japan 0: 4 (0: 1)
May 18, 2014, Binh Duong Stadium in Binh Duong
Japan - Jordan 7: 0 (2: 0)

Japan qualified for the World Cup by taking first place in the group.

Semifinals

May 22, 2014 JapanJapan Japan - China People's RepublicPeople's Republic of China People's Republic of China 2: 1 a.d. (1: 1, 0: 0)

final

May 25, 2014 JapanJapan Japan - AustraliaAustralia Australia 1: 0 (1: 0)

Coach Norio Sasaki used a total of 25 players in the five games, sparing some regular players in the second and third group games against the weaker opponents. Only two players ( Megumi Takase and Rumi Utsugi ) were used in all five games, but only started four times. The best goal scorers were Azusa Iwashimizu , Emi Nakajima , Chinatsu Kira , Nahomi Kawasumi , Mizuho Sakaguchi and Yūki Ōgimi with two goals each.

preparation

After the Asian Cup, the Japanese played several test matches and also took part in the Asian Games. Only in the final were they defeated by the North Koreans who were not admitted to the World Cup and thus took second place:

  • September 13, 2014 in Tendo against Ghana: 5: 0 (5: 0)
  • September 15, 2014 at the Asian Games in Incheon against China: 0-0
  • September 18, 2014 at the Asian Games in Incheon against Jordan : 12: 0 (8: 0)
  • September 22nd, 2014 at the Asian Games in Incheon against the Republic of China : 3-0 (2-1)
  • September 26, 2014 quarter-finals at the Asian Games in Incheon against Hong Kong : 9: 0 (4: 0)
  • September 29, 2014 semi-finals at the Asian Games in Incheon against Vietnam: 3-0 (1-0)
  • October 1, 2014 Final at the Asian Games in Incheon against North Korea: 1: 3 (0: 1)
  • October 25, 2014 in Edmonton against World Cup hosts Canada : 3-0 (1-0)
  • October 28, 2014 in Vancouver against World Cup hosts Canada 3: 2 (1: 0)

In March 2015, the team again took part in the traditional Algarve Cup in Portugal and met Denmark (1: 2 on March 4), France (1: 3 on March 9) and hosts Portugal (3: 0 ) in the group stage on March 6th). As third group, Japan only reached the game for 9th place against Iceland on March 11th, which was won 2-0. The 9th place is the worst placement of a reigning world champion at the Algarve Cup so far. However, Germany only finished 8th in the 2007 Algarve Cup before successfully defending its World Cup title .

The team met New Zealand in Kagawa on May 24, 2015 and Italy in Nagano on May 28, winning both games 1-0.

The team

Contingent

On April 24, 2015, a preliminary roster with 40 players was named. The final squad of 23 players (including three goalkeepers), which had to be communicated to the FIFA general secretariat at least ten working days before the opening match, was announced on May 2nd.

No. Playername birth
date 		debut society Country
games 		Country
goals 		World Cup games World Cup 2015
Sp. Gates yellow cards Yellow-red cards Red cards
goal
1 Miho Fukumoto (福 元 美 穂) 10/02/1983 2002 Okayama Yunogō Belle 79 0 03 (2007) 1 0 0 0 0
18th Ayumi Kaihori (海 堀 あ ゆ み) 09/04/1986 2008 INAC Kobe Leonessa 53 0 06 (2011) 5 0 0 0 0
21st Erina Yamane (山根 恵 里 奈) December 20, 1990 2013 JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies 16 0 1 0 0 0 0
Defense
19th Saori Ariyoshi (有 吉 佐 織) 11/01/1987 2008 NTV Beleza 40 1 6th 1 1 0 0
3 Azusa Iwashimizu (岩 清水 梓) 10/14/1986 2006 NTV Beleza 119 11 09 (2007, 2011) 6th 0 1 0 0
12 Megumi Kamionobe (上 尾 野 辺 め ぐ み) 03/15/1986 2009 Albirex Niigata Ladies 31 2 2 0 0 0 0
20th Yūri Kawamura (川村 優 理) 05/17/1989 2010 Vegalta Sendai Ladies 17th 2 2 0 0 0 0
2 Yukari Kinga (近 賀 ゆ か り) 05/02/1984 2005 INAC Kobe Leonessa 97 5 09 (2007, 2011) 1 0 0 0 0
23 Kana Kitahara (北 原 佳 奈) December 17, 1988 2013 Albirex Niigata Ladies 8th 0 1 0 0 0 0
4th Saki Kumagai (熊 谷 紗 希) 10/17/1990 2008 FranceFrance Olympique Lyon M, P 73 0 06 (2011) 6th 0 0 0 0
5 Aya Sameshima (鮫 島 彩) 06/16/1987 2008 INAC Kobe Leonessa 68 4th 06 (2011) 6th 1 0 0 0
midfield
7th Kozue Andō (安藤 梢) 07/09/1982 1999 GermanyGermany 1. FFC Frankfurt C 126 19th 09 (1999, 2007, 2011) 1 0 0 0 0
9 Nahomi Kawasumi (川 澄 奈 穂 美) 09/23/1985 2008 INAC Kobe Leonessa 78 19th 04 (2011) 6th 0 0 0 0
8th Aya Miyama (宮 間 あ や)(C)Captain of the crew 01/28/1985 2003 Okayama Yunogō Belle 156 37 10 (2003, 2007, 2011) 7th 2 0 0 0
22nd Asano Nagasato (永 里 亜 紗 乃) 01/24/1989 2008 GermanyGermany 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam 11 1 1 0 0 0 0
6th Mizuho Sakaguchi (阪 口 夢 穂) 10/15/1987 2006 NTV Beleza 96 27 06 ( 2007 , 2011) 6th 1 0 0 0
10 Homare Sawa (澤 穂 希) 09/06/1978 1993 INAC Kobe Leonessa 205 83 18 (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011) 6th 0 1 0 0
14th Asuna Tanaka (田中 明日 菜) 04/23/1988 2011 GermanyGermany 1. FFC Frankfurt C 34 3 1 0 0 0 0
13 Rumi Utsugi (宇津木 瑠 美) December 05, 1988 2005 FranceFrance Montpellier HSC 86 5 05 (2007, 2011) 6th 0 0 0 0
attack
16 Mana Iwabuchi (岩 渕 真 奈) 03/18/1993 2010 GermanyGermany Bayern Munich M 30th 4th 05 (2011) 5 1 1 0 0
17th Yūki Ōgimi (大 儀 見 優 季) 07/15/1987 2002 GermanyGermany VfL Wolfsburg P. 124 55 09 (2007, 2011) 7th 2 1 0 0
11 Shinobu Ōno (大野 忍) 01/23/1984 2003 INAC Kobe Leonessa 137 39 09 (2007, 2011) 7th 0 1 0 0
15th Yuika Sugasawa (菅 澤 優 衣 香) 05.10.1990 2010 JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies 34 10 4th 1 0 0 0
Coaching staff
Trainer Norio Sasaki 05/28/1958 2007 06th 7th 0 0 0
Remarks:
  1. ↑ Numbers according to the FIFA squad list (published on May 28, 2015)
  2. ↑ As of April 24, 2015 (C = Champions League winner, M = champion, P = cup winner of the 2014/15 season)
  3. ↑ a b Status: July 5th, 2015 (after the final against the USA)
  4. ↑ Status before the World Cup
  5. ↑ As a trainer in 2011

Players not considered for the World Cup

Playername birth
date		 debut society Country
games		 Country
goals		 World Cup games
goal
Rei Takenaka (武 仲 麗 依) 05/18/1992 - Vegalta Sendai Ladies 0 0
Ayaka Yamashita (山下 杏 也 加) 09/29/1995 - NTV Beleza 0 0
Defense
Tomoko Muramatsu (村 松 智子) October 23, 1994 - NTV Beleza 0 0
Ruka Norimatsu (乗 松 瑠 華) 01/30/1996 2014 Urawa Reds ladies 2 0
midfield
Yumi Uetsuji (上 辻 佑 実) 11/30/1987 2012 NTV Beleza 3 0
Ami Sugita (杉 田 亜 未) 03/14/1992 2014 Iga FC Kunoichi 1 0
attack
Karina Maruyama (丸山 桂 里 奈) 03/26/1983 2002 Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki 79 14th 05 (2003, 2011)
Michi Gotō (後 藤 三 知) 07/27/1990 2013 Urawa Reds ladies 7th 2
Megumi Takase (高 瀬 愛 実) 11/10/1990 2002 INAC Kobe Leonessa 56 9 01 (2011)
Kumi Yokoyama (横山 久 美) 08/13/1993 2015 AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies 1 1
Mai Kyōkawa (京 川 舞) 12/28/1993 2014 INAC Kobe Leonessa 2 0
Mina Tanaka (田中 美 南) 04/28/1994 2013 NTV Beleza 4th 1
Remarks:
  1. ↑ As of April 24, 2015 (C = Champions League winner, M = champion, P = cup winner of the 2014/15 season)
  2. ↑ a b Status: March 11, 2015
  3. ↑ Status before the World Cup

Games at the World Cup

Football Women's World Cup 2015 / Japan (Canada)
Vancouver (VR / AF)
Vancouver (VR / AF)
Winnipeg (VR)
Winnipeg (VR)
Edmonton (VF / HF)
Edmonton (VF / HF)
Venues

When the groups were drawn, Japan was seeded and was designated as the group head of group C. The Japanese were drawn to the three newcomers to the World Cup, Switzerland, Cameroon and Ecuador, who have not yet been played against.

According to their positions in the FIFA world rankings before the World Cup, this was the weakest group: Japan was in 4th place, Switzerland was in 19th place, Ecuador in 48th and Cameroon in 53rd; Group average = 31. In addition, it was the only group with three newcomers, which had never existed before.

Japan won their first game against Switzerland when team captain Aya Miyama converted a penalty in the 29th minute. In the punished foul, Kozue Andō broke his left ankle, causing the World Cup to end prematurely for her. After the goal, the Japanese lost their playful superiority, but were able to bring the 1-0 over time.

In the second game against Cameroon they quickly took the lead with two goals and were then only concerned with defending the result, which they also succeeded in against the stormy attacking Africans at the end. Japan was the first team to reach the round of 16 after just two games.

In the last group game against Ecuador, coach Sasaki used a different goalkeeper for the third time and also spared some regular players. Nevertheless, they took the lead a little earlier and were content with the 1-0 again. With the win, Japan was able to win all three group games for the first time - which only Brazil succeeded in 2015 .

In the last round of 16 of the World Cup, the team met third in Group A, the Netherlands . Japan previously played three games against the "Oranje Leeuwinnen", all of which were won - most recently in 2008 at the first edition of the Cyprus Cup . Once again, Japan prevailed and won the game, with defender Saori Ariyoshi scoring her first international goal.

The Japanese team greets their fans after beating Australia in the quarter-finals

Australia were the next opponent in the quarterfinals. Both met 21 times before with nine wins for Japan - most recently in the final of the Asian Cup in 2014 - making Japan Asian champions for the first time. Eight times the two separated without a winner - most recently in the preliminary round of the 2014 Asian Cup, five times Japan lost - most recently in the semi-finals of the 2010 Asian Cup. This time, too, Japan reached a single goal in the first clash between two AFC teams in a World Cup game, but that only fell in the closing stages to win the game. Japan is the only team to have five wins in their first five games, but they all won by just one goal difference.

In the World Cup semi-finals, England , against whom the last World Cup game was lost, was the last stumbling block on the way to the final. England had previously opposed the Japanese three times. In addition to the 0: 2 four years ago, there was also a 2: 2 at the 2007 World Cup - also in the preliminary round - and a 1: 1 in a friendly game in 2013 in England. The “Three Lionesses” also reached the semi-finals minimalistically with four 2-1 wins in a row. In a long, even game, Japan reached the final against the USA after an own goal by England's Laura Bassett in stoppage time, which resulted in the final victory of the last World Cup. After the 2011 final, there had been four games between the two, with one win for Japan, one draw and two wins for the US, including a 2-1 win in the 2012 Olympics final . Both had scored nine goals on the way to the final - only Sweden reached the final in 2003 with only nine goals. Japan lost the game in the first quarter of an hour, as the US girls scored the four fastest final goals in history. Then Japan - even after tactical changes and substitutions, including the record national player Homare Sawa - got better into the game and were able to achieve the 1: 4 before the break. When after the break, with the help of the US defense, the 2: 4 succeeded, hope germinated again, but two minutes later the US girls set the old gap again. The subsequent attack efforts failed again and again due to the physically superior defense of the USA, which then brought the 5: 2 over time and became world champion for the third time.

Group games

Pl. country Sp. S. U N Gates Diff. Points
 1. JapanJapan Japan  3  3  0  0 004: 100  +3 09
 2. CameroonCameroon Cameroon  3  2  0  1 009: 300  +6 06th
 3. SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland  3  1  0  2 011: 400  +7 03
 4th EcuadorEcuador Ecuador  3  0  0  3 001:170 −16 00
Mon, June 8, 2015, in Vancouver
Japan - Switzerland 1: 0 (1: 0)
Fri. June 12, 2015, in Vancouver
Japan - Cameroon 2: 1 (2: 0)
Tue. June 16, 2015, in Winnipeg
Ecuador - Japan 0: 1 (0: 1)

Knockout round

Round of 16, Tue., June 23, 2015, in Vancouver
Japan - Netherlands 2: 1 (1: 0)
Quarterfinals, Sat June 27, 2015 in Edmonton
Australia - Japan 0: 1 (0: 0)
Semifinals, Wed July 1, 2015 in Edmonton
Japan - England 2: 1 (1: 1)
Finale, Sun. July 5, 2015, in Vancouver
United States - Japan 5: 2 (4: 1)

Awards

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ dfb.de: "DFB women at the Algarve Cup against Brazil, China and Sweden"
  2. ↑ nzfootball.co: "Ferns lock in Spain, Japan" ( Memento of the original from February 5, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.nzfootball.co.nz
  3. ↑ jfa.jp: "Nadeshiko Japan to face New Zealand and Italy in May"
  4. ↑ jfa.jp: "Nadeshiko Japan preliminary members for FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015"
  5. ↑ Preliminary roster (Japanese)
  6. ↑ fifa.com: "Regulations FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 ™"
  7. ↑ jfa.jp: "Nadeshiko Japan announce roster for FIFA Women's World Cup, aiming to keep their style for back-to-back title"
  8. ↑ framba.de: "Women's World Cup 2015: group draw degenerates into a farce" ( Memento of the original from December 9, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / framba.de

Web links