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☆ Sweden hold off Japan fightback to reach Women's World Cup semis
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

It got very exciting, Japan are one of the best teams in the tournament ..."Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda said Sweden had done a fine job stifling his midfield but he thought his players should hold their heads high. SWEDEN STRIKEFor a team whose most potent attacking threat came from set pieces, it was no surprise that Sweden took the lead via a free kick. It was only the second goal Japan had conceded in New Zealand and the first time they had been behind but they were unable to break the stranglehold the Swedes had on them. Sweden captain Kosovare Asllani almost doubled the lead just before the break but was denied by a combination of the fingertips of Japan goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita and the post. Japan looked a pale imitation of the side that had romped in the quarter-finals and got their first attempt on goal in the 63rd minute.

Persons: Amanda Ilestedt, Hannah Mckay AUCKLAND, Riko Ueki, Honoka, Peter Gerhardsson, Futoshi Ikeda, dethroning, Kosovare Asllani, Ayaka Yamashita, Yamashita, Johanna Kaneryd, Fuka Nagano, Angeldal, Ueki, Madelen Janogy, Aoba, Zecira Musovic's, Hayashi, Nick Mulvenney, Ken Ferris Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Eden, Spain, Japan, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Japan, Sweden, Eden, Auckland , New Zealand, United States, SWEDEN, Swedish, Sydney

☆ High-flying Japan's title credentials to be tested against Sweden
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Twelve years ago, 'Nadeshiko' made history by becoming the first, and so far only, Asian country to win the Women's World Cup at the 2011 tournament in Germany. "Instead of focusing on one player on this Japanese team, I think it's important to look at their whole team. The third-ranked Swedes, who have kept three straight clean sheets, have reached the last eight of the World Cup on seven occasions and eliminated pre-tournament favourites United States in the round of 16. It will be a lot more technical and fast-paced," Sweden boss Peter Gerhardsson told reporters. However, Spain are playing in their first-ever World Cup quarter-finals, and despite his team's poor recent record against them, Dutch coach Andries Jonker struck a confident note.

Persons: Hinata, Molly Darlington AUCKLAND, Futoshi, Hinata Miyazawa, Magdalena Eriksson, Peter Gerhardsson, Andries Jonker, Jonker, It'll, Aadi Nair, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, North Harbour, United, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Japan, Auckland , New Zealand, Sweden, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, United States, USA, Bengaluru

Women’s World Cup 2023: Live scores, fixtures, results, tables and top scorersCNN —Four months before the 2011 Women’s World Cup final, Japan was devastated by the largest earthquake ever recorded in the country’s history. Japan players celebrate at the end of the team's dominant group stage victory over Spain at the Women's World Cup. We have a lot of responsibilities, and I want to focus on the results.”Japan celebrates after defeating the US in the 2011 Women's World Cup final. Kevin C. Cox/FIFA/Getty ImagesFollowing the 2011 World Cup triumph, Japanese women’s soccer had mixed success in building on that achievement. “In 2011, the whole nation was so excited about winning the World Cup, so there is a sense of, ‘Why aren’t we popular?’” Takata said ahead of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Persons: Aya Miyama, “, John Cowpland, England’s Lauren James, Michelle Alozie, Moeka Minami, ’, David Rowland, Yui Hasegawa, ”, Kevin C, Cox, Japan’s, Haruna Takata, ” Takata, –, Jose Breton, Hinata Miyazawa –, Mina Tanaka, Jun Endō, Risa Shimizu, Japan’s relentlessness, Hege Riise, ” “ I’ve, ” Riise, taka …, Futoshi Ikeda –, ” Hasegawa Organizations: CNN, FIFA, Japan, American, READ, Japan Football Association, ” WE, Nadeshiko Japan, Zambia, Costa Rica –, Norway, Sweden Locations: Japan, Fukishima, Germany, Spain, Norway, Zambia, ” Japan, Colombia, Costa Rica

☆ Women's World Cup heats up as former champions Norway and Japan square up
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

While Japan came through their group unscathed, Norway lost to co-hosts New Zealand in the tournament opener while a public spat threatened to derail their campaign before they eventually qualified. "You can see the level of the World Cup is rising, so the women's game is growing fast," Norway coach Hege Riise told reporters. "Now, they have developed quite fast and become a strong team." Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda praised the teamwork that saw them keep three clean sheets in three wins to advance. "Spain has very strong players... We look at them as a compact and strong team."

Persons: Martin Luckie, Hege Riise, Amanda Perobelli AUCKLAND, Riise, Futoshi Ikeda, They're, Inka Grings, Grings, Rohith Nair, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Martin, Norway, Germany, New Zealand, Philippines, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Norway, , New Zealand, Japan, Canada, Brazil, China, Morocco, Jamaica, Switzerland, Spain, Bengaluru

☆ Japan down Costa Rica to put one foot in last 16
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Playing through Mina Tanaka in an advanced midfield role rather than playmaker Yui Hasegawa as they had against Zambia, Japan were already well in the ascendant before the double blow that knocked the stuffing out of the Central Americans. Costa Rica, who were beaten 3-0 by Spain in their opener, were barely able to land a blow on their opponents and it looked from then on only a matter of many goals Japan would rack up. Despite having 25 attempts on goal, however, Japan were unable to add to their tally - a shortcoming that might concern coach Futoshi Ikeda with tougher challenges lying ahead. Japan face Spain in Wellington on Monday in a match that will almost certainly decide which of the two sides top the group, while Costa Rica will play Zambia in Hamilton at the same time as both sides continue to seek their first World Cup win. Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney; editing by John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aoba Fujino, Yui Hasegawa, Molly Darlington, Mina Tanaka, Hikaru Naomoto, Maria Paula Coto, Daniela Solera, Solera, Futoshi Ikeda, Nick Mulvenney, John Stonestreet Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Costa Rica, Forsyth Barr, Costa, Dunedin, Central Americans, Zambia, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Japan, Costa, Dunedin , New Zealand, Molly Darlington DUNEDIN , New Zealand, Costa Rica, Zambia, Spain, Wednesday's, Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Sydney

☆ All about the three points for former champions Japan
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 21 (Reuters) - Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda said it was vital for the Nadeshiko to win their opening match against Zambia in Hamilton on Saturday if they are to make their mark at the Women's World Cup. Champions at the 2011 World Cup and runners-up four years later, Japan exited in the round of 16 at the last edition of the showpiece of women's football. So we have to be very careful, but dynamic, and we're going to get those points," Ikeda told reporters at Waikato Stadium on Friday. Debutants Zambia may be ranked 77th in the world to Japan's 11th but they proved their quality by beating twice world champions Germany in a friendly earlier this month. After the disappointment of Japan being knocked out of their home Olympics in the quarter-finals in 2021, the hard-working right back moved to England with West Ham United.

Persons: Futoshi Ikeda, Ikeda, Risa Shimizu, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Zambia, Waikato, Germany, West Ham United, Olympics, Costa Rica, FIFA, NHK, Thomson Locations: Japan, Hamilton, Zambia, France, England, Costa, Spain, Sydney

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