The bushido spirit is fighting, unyielding, to the end. With this spirit, the Japanese team will face Croatia. However, please remember, along with Luka Modric, Croatia is known as a very creative offensive team.
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AFP/INA FASSBENDER
Japan's defender Maya Yoshida and Japan's defender Yuto Nagatomo take part in a training session at the Al Sadd SC training grounds in Doha on December 4, 2022, on the eve of the Qatar 2022 World Cup football match between Japan and Croatia.
Doha miracle! Japan did not only make it only once, but even twice. In the same stadium, Khalifa Al Rayyan, on the outskirts of Doha, Japan beat the two giants of world football, Germany and Spain. Miraculously too, with the victory over Spain, Japan contributed to sending back Germany, which won over Costa Rica.
Japan has now changed into a scary team. Spain coach Luis Enrique admitted that his team lost control, even panicked, when Ritsu Doan equalized, 1-1, then Ao Tanaka broke into Unai Simon's goal. The score changed to 2-1 for Japan.
“They made two goals against us. I'm sure, if they need to make two more goals, they will make them too," said Enrique.
Spain's panic was under control after Japan relaxed its game a bit and built up their defense at the back. Japan is not to be underestimated. Jose Mourinho said, do not be surprised if Japan could beat a team as big as Germany. Many Japanese players play in Europe. They are developing quickly and understand how to play at a high level. While diligently exploring the European mentality, they continue to hone their own mentality, which focuses on their team. This is different from the mentality of playing football in Europe, which focuses more on the individual and ego.
Walter Sabatini, sporting director of Italian clubs, namely Lazio, AS Roma, Bologna and now Salernitana, expressed the same appreciation. He observed that the advantage of Japanese players, for example, is in Takehiro Tomiyasu, who played in Bologna before moving to Arsenal.
"Since observing Tomiyasu play, I thought I would sign four or five Japanese players," Sabatini told Sky Sport Italia.
He said Japanese players had an extraordinary mentality. Likewise other Asian players, such as Kim Min-jae (South Korea) at Napoli. "The Asian players have the talent to stay focused and be able to practice on the field the coach's instructions," he added.
We will show the Japanese spirit and make it proud. We will face opponents and fight with them.
In the group stage, Japan's game was really difficult to predict. They played like acrobatics with a roller coaster. Initially, they were at the top when they beat Germany. Then, they crashed down when defeated by Costa Rica. Then, they soared again when they overthrew Spain. When playing against Spain in the first half, it was as if they were about to fall. However, in the second half, they transformed, making Spain panic. Luis Enrique said Japan was like a plane that flew, going through them.
"We will show the Japanese spirit and make it proud. We will face opponents and fight with them. I hope the players will play in such a way that they inspire the Japanese people as well as other people," said coach Hajime Moriyasu ahead of the game against Spain.
AFP/PHILIP FONG
Japanese supporters celebrated their favorite team's victory over Germany in the 2022 World Cup Group E preliminary match at the Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar, Wednesday (11/23/2022) night WIB. Japan beat Germany, 2-1, in that match.
As soon as people hear of the Japanese spirit, they immediately think of bushido spirit. The warrior path, bushido, is the code of conduct and morals for the samurai. For centuries, especially since the Meiji restoration, Japanese people have lived bushido and made it the foundation of culture.
Bushido influences the actions of the Japanese in various areas of society. According to observers, their politics, business and sports in modern times are also heavily colored by the bushido spirit. The nickname "Blue Samurai" for the Japanese team presumably refers to this spirit.
Moriyasu knew that against Spain, his players would experience great pressure. Pressure can be faced if the players have confidence. Confidence is one of the virtues of bushido. Inazo Nitobe, a writer who has researched bushido, explained that with confidence, comes respect. Thus, he does not feel inferior. Thus, he has a strong motive to defend himself.
A samurai warrior must have respect for his opponent, both before and after a fight.
Tomiyasu also advised his players to be "determined to reduce the gap to the big teams in their matches". Its method is to learn from their opponents so they can overcome their opponents.
Learning from the opponents with respect for the opponents is also a form of bushido spirit that is practiced by the samurai. Nitobe said, a samurai warrior must have respect for his opponent, both before and after a fight. Even if he could kill his opponent, he must still have respect for his corpse. So, Japanese players do not seem to lack respect for their opponent, be it Germany, Costa Rica or Spain.
Doan said, more than just rewriting history, their victory is the success of breaking through the giant wall. In bushido teachings, the wall does not have an opponent, but a wall of themselves. They win because they can overcome the wall of their worries.
According to bushido teachings, by breaking down that wall of worry, one becomes a silent brave man. He is not carried away by surprise; nothing can shake his composure. Even in the heat of battle, he remains level-headed. In the midst of disaster, he still maintains his balance. He can even laugh in the middle of a storm that befalls him. Doan and his friends have proven how to put that spirit of courage into practice during the group stage of the Qatar World Cup.
The bushido spirit is fighting, unyielding, to the end. With this spirit, the Japanese team will face Croatia. However, please remember, along with Luka Modric, Croatia is known as a very creative offensive team.
Modric is the soul, brain and genius of the Croatian team. At the age of 37 years, he has achieved everything. “I'm getting old. However, my passion, love and motivation are still the same as they were when I first defended the Croatian national team,” said Modric.
He has indeed become a symbol of immortality for Croatia. Against Japan, of course they will also extend his immortality. It is not easy for Japan to repeat its miracle, as happened in Doha, by breaking that immortality.
