Japan U23 Coach: Though Halted at Olympics, Progress Noted—Aiming for World Cup Glory Requires Fear-Inducing Football

After being halted in the quarterfinals of the Olympic men’s football tournament, Japan U23 head coach Go Oiwa has returned to Japan. In an interview with reporters, Oiwa noted that although the team failed to reach the semifinals, he observed progress from the players. Additionally, if Japanese football aims for World Cup glory, it must play attacking football against non-Asian teams that instills fear in opponents.

The Paris Olympics saw the Japan U23 team as the only squad without any overage players. Oiwa revealed that this was to avoid disrupting the summer preparations of Japanese players who have established themselves in European clubs.

Regarding the team’s exit in the quarterfinals, Oiwa stated that while the result was not ideal, he witnessed advancements in Japanese football. “I’ve lived with these players for two and a half years, from ages 20 to 23, and I’ve seen their growth. During the Olympic tournament, we played according to our own rhythm, never retreating, and consistently playing attacking football.”

Japanese football has long aimed for World Cup victory, and Oiwa emphasized, “Japanese football has earned respect in Asia, but to become world champions, we must face strong teams from Europe and America. We need to play attacking football that instills fear in our opponents. Although we lost 0-3 to Spain, we kept playing our style of football, leveraging our strengths. Regardless of the opponent, we must maintain strong confidence.”

Both Oiwa and the entire Japan U23 contingent are unsatisfied with the quarterfinal result. Oiwa hopes that this will serve as a turning point for the players’ careers, propelling them onto bigger stages. “They will soon become full internationals, and I hope they can move to Europe to play as soon as possible and achieve our goals sooner rather than later.”