DOHA: Japan’s Takumi Minamino said strong performance in the first match against Germany in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be the key to qualifying for the second round.
World Cup starts on November 20 .
Japan and Germany play in Group E, along with Spain and Costa Rica.
In an interview to FIFA, Minamino said his teammates should make a good appearance against Germany if they want the dream not to end after only three matches in the group stage.
“I remember it like it was yesterday when I discovered the World Cup,” he told FIFA. “I couldnt go to the stadiums, but I watched it on TV and remember how hard the Japanese team fought, particularly in the third group game against Tunisia.
“We won in the Nagai Stadium thanks to Hiroaki Morishima’s goal. I was so happy when Morishima scored because hes from my hometown of Osaka and played for Cerezo Osaka, who I was supporting at the time.
“Getting out of the group was hugely significant. Being one of the host nations, the atmosphere here was electric, so it was amazing to see Japan get to the knockout phase for the first time.”
The entire Japanese squad for that World Cup 24 years ago was from the J. League but now, the majority play for European clubs. Minamino would like to pass the torch on to the next generation in the same way pioneers like Hidetoshi Nakata and Shunsuke Nakamura paved the way overseas for players like him.
Like Morishima, his childhood hero, Minamino began his journey at Cerezo Osaka before heading to Salzburg and then Liverpool, before arriving at Ligue 1 side Monaco.
