FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015   Quarter-Final
2015-7-16 (Thu.)-17:00    12min. x 3 periods
Espinho Stadium (Espinho, Portugal)

Japan Beach Soccer National Team   2-3 (1-1, 0-1, 1-1)  Italy Beach Soccer National Team

Scores
0'20"     MOREIRA Ozu (Japan)
11'45"   Goal against (Italy)
21'48"   Goal against (Italy)
25'39"   GOTO Takasuke (Japan)
34'07"   Goal against (Italy)

Line-ups
GK: TERUKINA Shingo
FP: HARAGUCHI Shotaro, TABATA Teruki, MOREIRA Ozu, GOTO Takasuke

Substitutes
GK: GINOZA Tomoya
FP: AKAGUMA Takuya, ODA Hirofumi, MATSUO Naoya, OBA Takaki, YAMAUCHI Shusei

Match Report

For Japan’s national team, what was at stake at the quarter-final of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015 against Italy was their first semi-final appearance in ten years since the 2005 tournament in Rio de Janeiro. There was no change to their regular starters in the tournament, which consisted of TERUKINA Shingo, HARAGUCHI Shotaro, TABATA Teruki, MOREIRA Ozu and GOTO Takasuke. In the meeting before the match, coach Marcelo said to the squad “Be confident in yourselves, play calmly just like you always play and we will definitely win this match.” The five players on the pitch showed a focused look on their face at the kick-off.

Twenty seconds after the beginning of the first period, Moreira, captain of the team, scored his first goal in the tournament from mid-range to give boost for his side. Even after that Japan kept attacking fiercely toward the Italian goal, but the no goals were added yet. Although goalkeeper Terukina repeatedly denied Italian shots, moments before the end of the period, Italy scored the equaliser. The first period finished as the match being tied at one goal.

The second period saw more intensity on the ball from both sides, looking hard for a go-ahead goal. From the halfway of the period, Japan started increasing their ball possession. 10 minutes into the period, however, they let Italy attack just small gap of their focus from the centre of the pitch and ended up allowing a beautiful volley into the net and the lead of the match.

In the final period, Japan, resisting to lose just yet, had Goto receive a foul in the 2nd minute. Then Goto himself netted the free-kick to bring the scoring back to even once again. After exchanging attacks, two minutes before the end of the match, Italy went on another counter-attack to score the third goal. Although Japan, training again with only limited time remaining, attempted their last attacks, the final whistle was mercilessly blown to eliminate them at the quarter-final of two World Cups in a row.

Coach and Players' Comments

Marcelo MENDES, Coach
Finishing today’s match, I am very proud of being the coach for this team. The result was not something we had wanted, but all of our players fought very hard. The result of this match was decided just by a small mistake.

We were playing with good momentum from the first period, but less than a minute left in that period, we conceded a goal from our defensive mistake. In the second period, too, most of the time we were controlling the match in our favour. Even after we allowed the second goal to Italy, with us tying the score, I felt we could go on and win this match.

But at the very end of the final period, we allowed another goal. Since I took this coaching job, this national team became a team that can play against anybody without being scared. Actually in this tournament, we beat Argentina and Senegal and played a good match against Portugal.

With this roster including players who had no or little World Cup experience, this team have played very well. From now on, we are going to keep improving step by step and get a better result two years later in the Bahamas.

MOREIRA Ozu (TOKYO LEQUIOS BS)
Looking back at today’s match, first of all, it’s simply full of disappointment. I just want to apologize to the people who came all the way here to support us and supported us from Japan. Without forgetting this disappointment, after I go back to Japan, I want to keep working hard for the next World Cup.

This time we lost in the quarter-final, but my dream of winning the World Cup never ends now. With my teammates, we go back to square one again and start working hard for our goal every day.

TERUKINA Shingo (SOL MAR PRAIA)
Just like the last one, we lost at the quarter-final in this World Cup again. We lost here two World Cups in a row, and I realized again that it is very difficult to break through the wall of the quarter-final. After we advanced out of the group league, we went through our game plan both offensively and defensively against Italy for two days and we got ourselves ready for the match. In this match, we created our tempo early and we were successful in denying their strength.

But in the end, the difference of individual skill levels showed. This tournament turned out to be an opportunity to tell us what we’re missing to advance to the final four. For next World Cup two years later, now we want to start to improve what Italy had better than we did such as individual skills, experience and decision making.

MATSUO Naoya (Pracia YAMAGUCHI)
The second World Cup for me ended at the quarter-final again. We have worked hard up until now to be the world champions, so I am just full of disappointment. To come back to this tournament again two years later, I go back to Japan, start stepping up my game, and start my challenge again.

It has been a great experience for me to challenge the best tournament in the world of beach soccer. I will stay thankful to the many people who support me and put my very best into my training.

Schedule

*Local Time

Japan's Record for FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup

7 World Cup Appearances: 26 games played for 6-2-18 / 71 goals, 113 goals conceded