Skip to main content

Kagawa blasts Japan’s ‘pathetic’ World Cup exit

Image
By

(AFP) – Japan playmaker Shinji Kagawa slammed the team’s World Cup elimination as “pathetic” after Tuesday’s 4-1 thrashing by Colombia in their final group game.
“It hurts to go out like this,” the Manchester United player told Japanese television broadcast on Wednesday. “I don’t have any other words. I feel responsible and deeply sorry. It’s pathetic.”
A three-goal blitz by Colombia in the second half ended Japan’s slender hopes of reaching the knockout stage in Brazil after a 2-1 defeat by Ivory Coast and a 0-0 draw with Greece.
Japan’s talismanic midfielder Keisuke Honda, who had declared defiantly that the Asian champions could win the World Cup, cut a forlorn figure after the match.
“It’s embarrassing,” he said, pain etched across his face and fighting back tears.
“After I’d said Japan would win the tournament, in the end it finished with just empty talk,” added Honda, who dismissed talk of international retirement.
“I said from the start that I intended on going to the next (tournament). We simply weren’t good enough at this World Cup. We’ve still got a lot to learn. I’m extremely sorry.”
Japan, who reached the last 16 four years ago, flew to Brazil confident of progressing from Group C. They had been set a target of reaching the quarter-finals by the country’s FA boss Kuniya Daini.
However, the Blue Samurai unravelled against Ivory Coast and 10-man Greece, who advanced behind group winners Colombia.
“We still have a long way to go,” said right-back Atsuto Uchida, hinting that he might not play again for the national side.
“I’ve thought about (retiring) but I just hadn’t told people about it,” added the 26-year-old defender, one of the few Japan players to emerge with credit from a chastening World Cup campaign.
“I hope we see new heroes play for Japan in the future, kids who are at primary school now.”
Striker Yoshito Okubo, a surprise World Cup pick by Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni, apologised after another wasteful display.
“We knew we had to show some fight,” said Okubo, who squandered point-blank chances against Ivory Coast and Colombia. “I just feel numb right now.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ART– AN EYE INTO ANOTHER WORLD

By
For some reason, I have always been a fan of the arts. The ability to create something from nothing, the ability to bring to life what was once but only a figment of one’s imagination to me, is to dare to rival the gods, if you believe in them. I consider the artist to be a gift to man to constantly remind him that he is possible of anything! This piece is more of a show than tell as I am certain that it would not be proper to write an article on art and tell more words than I show works. I have therefore had to steal from a friend, a classmate and most of all, a talented artist as I, myself, am not so gifted as to put up my works for display but still, I shall humour you eventually with my rendition of a popular cartoon that you may recognise if you grew up watching ‘Looney Tones’. Nevertheless, gift is not a necessity to appreciate beauty and the plethora of magna opera (The many great works). Mr Joshua Zirigbe (9β) is a Nigerian from Delta State and he has given us the opportunit...
Post a Comment
Read more

THE FIRE ON 23 ROAD – FESTAC, LAGOS

By
A fire outbreak occured on 23 Road in Festac on Saturday the 14th, February, 2015 which is the popular Valentine's day. Jouleconcept's correspondent, Mr Juwah Awele covered the story and gave a report in form of an article about the occurrence. This can be read below: “There is fire in house 2! There were children locked inside the house…” those were the words of my elderly neighbour, Mrs A, returning from the scene of some ongoing tragedy. Immediately, my mother went for all our official documents she always keeps in a ready to go bag while, my father, brother and I set off in the direction of the blaze. On getting to the front of the close, T Close, we observed the residents of the first few houses on the left hastily withdrawing their belongings from their homes; stuffing generators, plasma TVs, gas cylinders and the works into the back seat of their cars. Some had already driven their cars away! Immediately, we realised the fire was coming from the next cl...
2 comments
Read more

Voucher Charity (2)

By
Over the months, we've had a lot of discouragements here and there; but we stood by our vision. After the end of the 2nd month of the blogging, we have been able to acquire over 10,000 views: Thanks to you! Because of this, Jouleconcepts and its crew are pleased to inform the start of a voucher charity for its viewers. We have only had supports in the U.S.A for sharing free air time online. Thanks to Mr GbadamosiOluphisayor Temitope ( lives in the United State) for his kind support in making this blog touch not just its local country, but the citizen of the United States of America.. We can not forget the presence of the well wishers of the Jouleconcepts and particularly, GINA LONDON for her impact on the vision also. Jouleconcepts says thanks, God bless the blog, the viewers and the World at large..   Nigerian Airtime  Glo   235 873 233 158 434 Etisalat 91108 15796 74652 curtsey Jouleconcepts Please to show that this cards are valid from ...
5 comments
Read more