"Unbelievable Quarterfinal Elimination" Japan Erupts with Calls for Moriyasu Coach Dismissal

Responsibility Debate Over Asian Cup Loss to Iran
JFA Denies Any Consideration of Dismissal

Japan, once considered a strong favorite to win the Asian Cup, has been eliminated in the quarterfinals, leaving the nation in shock. As the team showed unexpectedly poor performance by conceding goals in every match of the Asian Cup, calls for the dismissal of the coach, who has led the national team for six years, have begun to surface.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 5th, the online sports media HigashiSpoWeb reported that following Japan's failure to reach the semifinals, calls for the dismissal of national team coach Moriyasu Hajime have intensified. Immediately after the match against Iran, which confirmed their failure to advance to the semifinals, social media platforms saw real-time trending keywords such as "Moriyasu dismissal" and "coach dismissal," criticizing the coach.

Among netizens, the shock was particularly strong because the team lost despite having many excellent players who play in European leagues. Comments on news related to Coach Moriyasu ranged from "Isn't the coach the only position in the national team that can be strengthened? Players are reducing the global gap by playing in European leagues, but the coach seems to be the biggest difference" to "Isn't the Asian Cup just a World Cup test match? Even if players want to win the World Cup, the coach seems unable to keep up," reflecting ongoing criticism.

This reaction stemmed from the high expectations within Japan at the start of the Asian Cup, where winning was considered almost certain. Japan holds the highest FIFA ranking in Asia at 17th, and their impressive performance in the 2022 Qatar World Cup further boosted confidence. They even earned a reputation as a team that defeated football powerhouses Germany and Spain consecutively.

However, in the Asian Cup, Japan showed disappointing results, including a 1-2 loss to Iraq for the first time in 42 years, advancing from the group stage as the second-place team. Although they defeated Vietnam, Indonesia, and Bahrain, they conceded goals in all matches and failed to achieve a single clean sheet.

Moreover, after the match against Iran, midfielder Morita Hidemasa stated, "As a defensive midfielder and player, I must constantly think for the team, but the final decision-making authority does not necessarily have to be with me. More (instructions from the coach) are needed," which further fueled the calls for the coach's dismissal.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The national team returned to Tokyo Haneda Airport the previous night. Coach Moriyasu said, "I reflect on the results but do not regret them. I will accept all outcomes and evaluations." However, sharp questions from the press continued, such as "Why were no substitutions made despite being at a disadvantage in the second half?" When asked about the dismissal rumors, Moriyasu responded, "I want to take it seriously. I am prepared for voices calling for accountability to grow louder. I will continue to do my best for the team, the players, and Japan."

However, some believe it is still too early to call for his dismissal. Former national team player Kurihara Yuzo said, "There were voices demanding Moriyasu's replacement even before the 2022 Qatar World Cup. But hasn't Japan been on an upward trajectory since then? If we had changed the coach, we might not have achieved what we did. No team continues to win for four straight years. It's not a situation to cause a big uproar; we should wait and see."

The Japan Football Association (JFA) also made its stance on the coach's continuation clear. JFA President Koj? Dashima dismissed questions about Moriyasu's position immediately after the failure to reach the quarterfinals, saying, "We are not considering it at all." However, the voices calling for dismissal are expected to continue for some time following the "shocking defeat" that shook the nation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.