Soccer J1 Kashiwa Reysol forward Masahiro Hosoya (22) will be playing in the final Asian qualifying round for the World Cup for the first time as a member of the Japanese national team. What are his thoughts ahead of the final qualifying round, which has seen many fierce battles in the past?
“(Having experienced the Olympics,) the only big stage left is really the World Cup. I need to use the experience I gained at the Olympics. I want to erase the disappointment I felt at the Olympics at the World Cup.”
He made the remarks while surrounded by a large group of reporters in Chiba City on the 2nd, when Japan’s national team activities began ahead of their first match of the final qualifying round against China (5th at Saitama Stadium).
From July to August, he played for the Japan U-23 (under 23) national team at the Paris Olympics, helping the team reach the quarterfinals. Although he didn’t achieve his goal of winning a medal, he was involved in several goals, including one goal he scored himself.
“I wanted to join the full national team through the Olympics. (The Olympics) was just a stepping stone, but I think it was a really good tournament.”
This is his first time on the full national team since the Asian Cup in January and February this year. Although his playing time was limited in that tournament, he has since overcome many stressful situations with the U-23 national team, including at the Paris Olympics.
“I have a wider range of play than I did at the Asian Cup, and I’m confident I can play well. I think I can show something different.”
At the press conference announcing the Japan national team roster on August 29, coach Moriyasu Hajime said of Hosoya, “I expect him to score goals. In terms of the process that leads to goals, the quality of his play, such as his sharp movements to get behind the defense, his powerful post play, and his ability to create chances from the front line, is improving. I expect him to contribute to the team defensively as well.”
When asked about a memorable match in the past Asian qualifying rounds for the World Cup, Hosoya mentioned the match against Saudi Arabia at Saitama Stadium in February 2022. Japan won 2-0, moving closer to qualifying for that year’s World Cup in Qatar.
“It was a tough, tense match. I don’t think there was much cheering either (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), so I was really impressed that they managed to win in such a tough situation.”
At that time, the Japanese national team won the next game away against Australia with a score of 2-0, securing their place in the World Cup. In that match, substitute player Kaoru Mitoma (27) of Brighton scored two goals.
Currently, the competition for the Japanese national team’s forward position is thought to be led by Ayase Ueda (26) of Feyenoord, who has scored 12 goals in national team matches since June last year. However, Hosoya, the youngest of the selected midfielders and forwards, had this to say:
“The final qualifying round is really important. I think we need players like Mitoma who can produce results even when they come on as a mid-team player. I hope he will keep that in mind and keep that in mind as he plays. I hope he can show his strengths that are different from the other players and steadily catch up from the bottom.”[Written by Takano Yuji]