Japan’s Disappointing World Cup Ends

T. James

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Japan crashed out of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup after suffering a 2 – 1 loss to the Netherlands in a close game. This marks Japan’s earliest exit from the World Cup since their group stage exit 12 years ago in China. This year’s showing is a stark deviation from Japan’s performance in each the last two editions of the tournament where Japan made it to the final game, both against the United States women, winning it all in 2011.

In France this year, Japan managed only one win, which was recorded in their second game against debutants, Scotland. In their opening game of the tournament, Japan were held to a goalless draw by Argentina. The point earned by Argentina in that game was their first ever at a FIFA Women’s World Cup.

In their final group game, Japan suffered a 2 – 0 loss to England, before being knocked out of the competition in the Round of 16 after their latest loss to the Netherlands.

Japan fell behind to trail the Netherlands in the 17th minute when Lieke Martens cleverly flicked in a corner kick, through the legs of Yuika Sugasawa, taking a slight deflection in the process past the stranded Japanese goalkeeper, Ayaka Yamashita.

Yui Hasegawa drew Japan level in the 43rd minute with a well-worked goal, which came from their first shot on target. Sugasawa laid the ball off for Mana Iwabuchi at the top of the Netherland’s box. Iwabuchi hesitated briefly before expertly freeing Yui Hasegawa, who timed her run to perfection. One-on-one with the goalkeeper, Hasegawa calmly placed the ball high past Netherlands’ goalkeeper, Sari Van Veenendaal.

Japan were unlucky to not have taken the lead in the 79th minute when Hina Sugita broke free on the right, cut back to her left once in the box, before unleashing a left-footed shot. Van Veenendaal was well-beaten, but the crossbar came to the Netherlands’ rescue. Only a minute later, Van Veenendaal produced an excellent save to keep Japan from taking scoring.

The game remained tied until late when Japan conceded a penalty in the 88th minute after captain, Saki Kumagai, handled Vivianne Miedema’s shot in the box. Martens stepped up and calmly converted the penalty for her second goal of the game, sending Yamashita the wrong way and effectively securing the win and a quarter-final spot for her side.

Japan’s showing at this World Cup was particularly disappointing considering how exceptional they had been over the last two World Cups. At those two events combined, Japan won an impressive 11 games and lost only 2 games, one of which was a final game loss to the powerful United States. The 2019 World Cup was also the first time since the 2003 edition that Japan has lost two games in a single World Cup tournament.

With the World Cup over for Japan, the team will now set their sights on the 2020 Olympic games, which they will be participating in as hosts.

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