Germany was eliminated, while Japan successfully qualified. It’s time to adopt a new viewpoint regarding the World Cup

The biggest constant in football is “change,” so people shouldn’t apply those stereotypes to the team’s coach. The strong won’t always be strong, and the weak won’t always be willing to fall behind. Would you have believed it if someone had told you a few weeks ago that Japan could defeat Germany and Spain at the World Cup?

There is no denying the progress Japan has made in recent years, but I’m afraid not even the Japanese team can confidently predict that they will advance to the qualification round and still win their group stage. This improbable dream has now materialized. Japan’s remarkable outcomes should not, of course, be discounted as a mere “miracle” or “coincidence”. It is proof that Japan is assuming a more central role on the international stage, whether it be because the majority of the team plays in Europe’s top leagues or because they have performed consistently over time. Even though it may be too soon to label Japan a “world power,” one thing is for certain: the world of football is changing.

Japan and Australia have qualified among the Asian teams. Even Iran and Saudi Arabia, who are both eliminated from the match, put on strong performances, with Iran defeating Wales and Saudi defeating Lionel Messi’s Argentina. Additionally, despite the unfavorable circumstances in the qualification process, the Korean National team demonstrated its strength by dominating opponents in the first two matches. The most “miserable” host nation, Qatar, actually lost because of their own inexperience, but based on their long-term strategy and performance in Asia, there is still hope for the future.

Germany, which has failed to advance past the group stage in two consecutive World Cups, and Spain didn’t have much of advantage over Japan. Not only that, but Belgium team last night appeared to be weak, forcing them to return home.The duration of Croatia team’s elimination is unknown, despite keeping the same team as the 2018 World Cup runners-up, they still appear weak and lack vitality.

On the other hand, we should pay attention to the underlying causes of the changes as well as scientific laws rather than just the changes, outcomes, and accidents that occur on the playing field. Son Heung-min, who draws attention from all over the world despite wearing a mask, is a good example. When Japan plays with smooth cooperation in front of the box, when the South Korean team applies full pressure to overwhelm the opponent, you know, this is the most common scenario in the five major European leagues.

What transpires, on the other hand, if you employ techniques and tactics that don’t suit your personality? The Germans were strong and bulky, but they failed to use those advantages against Japan and fell to a crushing defeat. The German team may now be considering whether their years of development were a mistake. Similar to how Spain dominated its match against Japan, this success cannot be attributed to “luck.” Does it also reflect the efficiency of the team if you only possess the ball but are unable to score the match’s most crucial goal?

In the end, there are so many different ways to play football that each team must choose the one that best suits them and play football in the way every day for the rest of the season. There is no need to be afraid of detours, just as Germany has had its share of low points and setbacks in history, but worked hard to bring home the trophy in 2014. It’s as if the Asian teams, who have served as the World Cup’s silent runners for years, have finally earned success after a quiet effort. Of course, this is not just applicable to football. From a different angle, we can see that the growth of football is a microcosm of everything that is happening in the world.