27/03/2025

SPORTS THURSDAY | MAR 27, 2025 29 Blue Samurai have belief Japan display talent and ambition to scale new heights at World Cup J APAN have never gone beyond the last 16 at a World Cup but they have set themselves the ambitious target of winning next year’s tournament after up with a 0-0 home draw with Saudi Arabia, giving them 20 points from eight games with 24 goals scored and two conceded in the third round of qualifiers. “That’s what we all keep saying. Our goal is to win the World Cup.” Japan have reached the last 16 four times since making their first World Cup appearance in 1998.

Son blames pitches after another draw

ALGERIA, Egypt and Morocco all moved closer to World Cup qualification with home success yesterday but South Africa face being docked points after fielding an ineligible player. South Africa opened up a five-point lead at the top of Group C of the African qualifiers after a 2-0 away win over Benin, while their closest rivals slipped up. But their victory came only hours after media revelations they could lose the points from last Friday’s home win over Lesotho because they CAPTAIN Son Heung-min believes poor pitches have contributed to South Korea’s stuttering World Cup qualifying campaign after the Taeguk Warriors were held to two home 1-1 draws in the March international window. South Korea still top Group B by three points after the draws with Oman in Goyang last Thursday and Jordan in Suwon yesterday but would have booked their ticket to the finals had they won either game. The matches were moved to regional cities because of poor pitch conditions at the Seoul World Cup Stadium but Son clearly did not find the surfaces in Goyang and Suwon much better. “I think there’s a reason why we’ve had better results in away matches,” the Tottenham Hotspur forward told Yonhap News Agency . “When we’re at home, we’re supposed to enjoy the best playing conditions possible, but things have not improved at all. “I know we can play better than this, but when conditions on our home soil get in the way, then I wonder where we should get our home field advantage. “I know this may sound like an excuse, but every small detail matters in football. It can make the difference of getting one point or getting three points. I hope people will pay closer attention to it.” South Korea will secure their place in the finals for the 11th successive World Cup if they avoid defeat when they play Iraq in Basra on June 5 before returning home for their final round-three qualifier against Kuwait on June 10. Son said the South Korean players should humbly accept the lessons of the Jordan draw but added that he would be urging his younger teammates to hold their heads high. “Despite this disappointment, we’re still leading our group and that’s a fact. We want to stay there until the end of the round,” he said. “For our young players, it can be an honour to play for the country but it can also put a lot of pressure on them. “I told them if we just keep working at it, we will finish in first place. I think the most important thing for these young guys is not to lose their confidence.” – Reuters

Japan are 15th in the Fifa rankings and Moriyasu and his players firmly believe they can become the first Asian team to lift the World Cup next year. “We’re aiming to win it,” said Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada, one of five English Premier League players in the squad.

dominating in Asian qualifying. Hajime Moriyasu’s side became the first team to punch their ticket to the 2026 competition in the United States, Canada and Mexico when they beat Bahrain 2-0 last week in Saitama. With their place sealed, they followed that

They stunned Germany and Spain to reach the knockout stage at the 2022 tournament in Qatar but lost on penalties to Croatia. “That showed us that we had a chance, which was a big thing for me,” said Moriyasu. “The Japan Football Association has been saying that we want to win the World Cup by 2050 and we are taking on the challenge to improve so that we can make it happen.” Moriyasu knows that his team are not there yet and said they have to “improve in every department” before heading to North America. He can call on more Europe-based players than ever, with 11 appearing in this season’s Champions League. Captain Wataru Endo has become an important part of Liverpool’s squad while Kaoru Mitoma has developed into one of the best wingers in the Premier League at Brighton. Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo is one of the best attackers in the Spanish league. Japan have more strength in depth than ever before but Endo says there is no friction between players competing for starting places. “We all have to think about what’s best for the team and everyone understands that,” he said. “I think that’s a particular strong point among Japanese people. I think Japan are the strongest when it comes to team unity.” Japan have often performed best at World Cups when expectations have been low. They narrowly lost to Belgium in the last 16 at the 2018 tournament in Russia just two months after firing their coach. They went to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil confident that they could make a splash but returned home early after a dismal display in the group stage. Defender Yuto Nagatomo, who has played at a record four World Cups, said: “We have improved but if you overestimate your own ability and are too pleased with yourself, that’s when it all starts to fall apart.” – AFP thrashed their closest rivals Mozambique 5-1 in a key Group G clash in Tizi Ouzou and opened up a three-point lead. Ahmed Zizo’s goal on the stroke of halftime gave Egypt a 1-0 home win over Sierra Leone in Cairo while Morocco kept up their 100% record in Group E by beating Tanzania 2-0 in Oudja. Dailon Livramento scored a double as the tiny Cape Verde Islands stunned Angola 2-1 away and took over at the top of Group D, one point ahead of Cameroon who won 3-1 at home over Libya. – AFP front when we started this window, and can we stay there at the end of the window?” Popovic said after yesterday’s win. “We did our part. We got six points. We extended our lead to three. So we’re in a good position. “It’s in our hands, but we have to get the job done. Wonderful two games coming up, first Japan in Perth, it will be a special match, and we’re looking forward to that.” Popovic said he was still looking for improvement but felt the character the Socceroos had shown in the wins over Indonesia and China would hold them in good stead for the run-in. “Now the challenge is a great one. You’ve got Japan and Saudi and can we improve once more in June against the best team in Asia?” – Reuters

Saudi Arabia’s Ali Lajami (left) in action with Japan’s Daizen Maeda during their World Cup AFC qualifiers match. –REUTERSPIC

Algeria, Egypt, Morocco edge closer but Bafana Bafana in trouble

have some wiggle room at the head of their group. Nigeria led through Victor Osimhen’s 74th minute diving header in Uyo but English-born substitute Tawanda Chirewa dribbled through the home defence to score a stoppage-time goal that gave plucky Zimbabwe a 1-1 draw. Nigeria trail South Africa by six points with four matches to play with Benin and Rwanda five behind the leaders. Rwanda were held 1-1 at home by Lesotho yesterday. Mohamed Amoura scored a hattrick as Algeria

fielded Teboho Mokoena when he should have been suspended after collecting two cautions in earlier qualifying matches. Midfielder Mokoena was withdrawn from the South Africa side for yesterday’s victory over Benin in Abidjan amid a stony silence from officials. “I’m not commenting on the matter, it is something that will be sorted over the next week,” said Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos. But with Nigeria giving up a last-gasp equaliser at home to Zimbabwe on Tuesday, South Africa

China’s dream on life support after Aussie loss COACH Branko Ivankovic insisted China’s World Cup qualifying campaign was still alive despite back-to-back losses to Saudi Arabia and Australia over the last six days leaving them bottom of Asian qualifying Group C. Bahrain was clear. “The next two matches are the key,” the Croatian said. “We must fight for victories.”

‘Socceroos need more improvement’ AUSTRALIA proved they could deal with pressure after beating China 2-0 in front of 80,000 hostile fans yesterday but will need to go up another level in their next World Cup qualifier against Japan, coach Tony Popovic said.

China face Indonesia, who are three points ahead of them in fourth place in the group, in Jakarta on June 5 before hosting Bahrain, who are level on points with Ivankovic’s team, in their final third-round qualifier five days later. Ivankovic gave a debut off the bench to naturalised Brazilian attacking midfielder Serginho yesterday but, despite plenty of pressure, China were unable to find the net for the second successive game. “It’s not a result we want to see,” Ivankovic said. “Australia performed better in the first half and scored two goals, while we were the better side in the second half. It’s a shame we didn’t convert any of our opportunities.” – Reuters

The expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams for the 2026 edition ignited Chinese hopes of a return to the finals for the first time since their sole appearance in 2002. China came into the March international window a point behind second-placed Australia but the 1-0 loss to the Saudis in Riyadh last week and yesterday’s 2-0 reverse at the hands of the Socceroos in Hangzhou put paid to hopes of direct qualification. Third and fourth spot in the group offer a chance of a ticket to the finals via another phase of qualifying and Ivankovic said China’s mission in their June matches against Indonesia and

The win in Hangzhou, combined with last Thursday’s 5-1 victory over Indonesia in Sydney, put the Socceroos in the driving seat in the race for second place in Group C and the automatic spot at the 2026 finals that goes with it. They hold a three-point buffer over third placed Saudi Arabia going into their penultimate qualifier in Perth on June 5 against Japan, who have already locked up top spot in the group and booked their ticket to North America. “I think the main point for us was we were in