Japan at the AFC Asian Cup

Summary

Since the 1988 tournament, Japan has qualified for eight consecutive AFC Asian Cups from 1992 to 2019. Japan is also the most successful team in the tournament with 4 titles.

Despite being a current football powerhouse in Asia, Japan was not considered a continental football power until 1988. Outside the 1968 Summer Olympics shock, Japan had been regarded as a weak team in the continent. In fact, Japan had missed eight first editions before qualifying in 1988. Yet, in qualifying for the 1988 edition, combined with hosting the 1992 AFC Asian Cup, Japanese football grew rapidly and soon replaced traditional powerhouses like South Korea, Iran and Saudi Arabia as the emerging and eventually, a dominant football power in Asia, although recent rise of Australia has posed a challenge for Japan's dominant position.

Japan results in the Asian Cup edit

AFC Asian Cup Finals record AFC Asian Cup qualification
Year Result Position GP W D L GS GA GP W D L GS GA
  1956 Withdrew
  1960
  1964
  1968 Did not qualify 4 3 1 0 8 4
  1972 Withdrew
  1976 Did not qualify 5 2 1 2 4 4
  1980 Withdrew
  1984
  1988 Group Stage 10th 4 0 1 3 0 6 4 2 1 1 6 3
  1992 Champions 1st 5 3 2 0 6 3
  1996 Quarter-Finals 5th 4 3 0 1 7 3
  2000 Champions 1st 6 5 1 0 21 6 3 3 0 0 15 0
  2004 Champions 1st 6 4 2 0 13 6 - - - - - -
     2007 Fourth Place 4th 6 2 3 1 11 7 6 5 0 1 15 2
  2011 Champions 1st 6 4 2 0 14 6 6 5 0 1 17 4
  2015 Quarter-Finals 5th 4 3 1 0 8 1
  2019 Runners-up 2nd 7 6 0 1 12 6 8 7 1 0 27 0
  2023 Quarter-Finals 6th 5 3 0 2 12 8 8 8 0 0 46 2
  2027 To be determined 2 2 0 0 10 0
Total 4 Titles 10/18 53 33 12 8 104 52 44 35 4 5 138 19
Team Winners Runners-up Third-place Fourth-place Semi-finalists Total (Top Four)
  Japan 4 (1992*, 2000, 2004, 2011) 1 (2019) 1 (2007) 6
* hosts

1988 AFC Asian Cup edit

Japan made debut at 1988 Asian Cup and it was the historical achievement that would put milestone for Japan to envision and develop its football, which was then-limited in amateur football.[1] In the whole tournament however, Japan ended up finishing last, with just one draw and three defeats, scoring zero goal and conceded six goals.

Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
  South Korea 8 4 4 0 0 9 2 +7
  Iran 5 4 2 1 1 3 3 0
  Qatar 4 4 2 0 2 7 6 +1
  United Arab Emirates 2 4 1 0 3 2 4 −2
  Japan 1 4 0 1 3 0 6 −6
Japan  0–0  Iran
Report
Attendance: 4,000

South Korea  2–0  Japan
Hwang Sun-Hong   13'
Kim Joo-Sung   35'
Report
Referee: Salah Mohammed (Iraq)

United Arab Emirates  1–0  Japan
A.A. Mohamed   86' Report
Referee: Ahmad Bash (Jordan)

Japan  0–3  Qatar
Report Khamis   58', 82'
Muftah   90'
Referee: Yusuf Namoğlu (Turkey)

Although it was not a successful tournament, qualifying to the Asian Cup had been the source of Japan's football renaissance in the country, and subsequent tournaments later would have proven this.

1992 AFC Asian Cup edit

Japan was the host of the 1992 tournament, and placed together with North Korea, Iran and the UAE. Japan was expected to pass through semi-finals only, however Japan had done even better than that.

Japan opened their account with two draws against the UAE and North Korea, before winning the first ever match in the Asian Cup, 1–0, over Iran, effectively eliminated Iran and North Korea. Japan kept firing by a 3–2 thrilling victory over China, before defeating Saudi Arabia 1–0 in the final. With the win, Japan claimed their first Asian title, marked the begin of a new Asian football power that would have a huge consequence for the next years.[2]

Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
  Japan 5 3 1 2 0 2 1 +1
  United Arab Emirates 5 3 1 2 0 2 1 +1
  Iran 4 3 1 1 1 2 1 +1
  North Korea 1 3 0 1 2 2 5 −3
Japan  0–0  United Arab Emirates
Report
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Wei Jihong (China)

Japan  1–1  North Korea
Nakayama   80' Report Kim Gwang-Min   29' (pen.)
Attendance: 32,000
Referee: Rasheed Al-Jassas (Kuwait)

Japan  1–0  Iran
Miura   87' Report
Attendance: 37,000

Knockout stage edit

Semi-finals
Japan  3–2  China
Fukuda   48'
Kitazawa   57'
Nakayama   84'
Report Xie Yuxin   1'
Li Xiao   70'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Hossein Khoshkhan (Iran)
Final
Japan  1–0  Saudi Arabia
Takagi   36' Report
Attendance: 60,000

Ironically, in spite of the victory, Japan failed to qualify for 1994 World Cup, despite being Asian champion, and Hans Ooft, the manager who helped Japan win maiden Asian Cup, was fired later after the failure.

1996 AFC Asian Cup edit

Having won the previous edition, Japan was expected to become a contender for the Asian title twice. That's said, however, Japan's performance turned to be a great disappointment. Japan won all three matches in the group stage against Syria, China and Uzbekistan and won the group with full nine points. Even though their group stage performances were impressive, the quarter-final match against Kuwait proved to be a disaster when they lost 0–2, eventually ended Japan's hope to defend the title.

Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
  Japan 9 3 3 0 0 7 1 +6
  China 3 3 1 0 2 3 3 0
  Syria 3 3 1 0 2 3 6 −3
  Uzbekistan 3 3 1 0 2 3 6 −3
Japan  2–1  Syria
Abbas   85' (o.g.)
Takagi   88'
Report Jokhadar   8'
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Mohd Nazri Abdullah (Malaysia)

Japan  4–0  Uzbekistan
Nanami   7'
Miura   37'
Maezono   86', 90'
Report
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Jalal Moradi (Iran)

Japan  1–0  China
Soma   90' Report

Knockout stage edit

Quarter-finals
Kuwait  2–0  Japan
Al-Huwaidi   17', 54' Report

Manager Shu Kamo was allowed to keep his job, but 1998 World Cup qualification under his tenure was not successful and he was replaced by Takeshi Okada, his assistant, for the remaining crucial matches. Japan would have qualified to the World Cup for the first time.

2000 AFC Asian Cup edit

Japan came to Lebanon 2000 with high hope to win the Asian Cup, having participated in their maiden World Cup in France. In there, Japan was placed with defending champions Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Uzbekistan. For Japan, the tournament was seen as perpetration for 2002 World Cup to be held in their home soil.

Japan proved to be so strong when they demolished defending champion Saudi Arabia 4–1 and Uzbekistan 8–1. After two matches, Japan drew Qatar 1–1. Qatar would go on to be the only team that didn't lose to Japan in the tournament. Japan kept on their impressive running by beating Iraq 4–1, China 3–2 before won the final against Saudi Arabia for the second times, 1–0. Japan claimed their second title and had officially established themselves as a new Asian football powerhouse.[3]

Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
  Japan 7 3 2 1 0 13 3 +10
  Saudi Arabia 4 3 1 1 1 6 4 +2
  Qatar 3 3 0 3 0 2 2 0
  Uzbekistan 1 3 0 1 2 2 14 −12
Saudi Arabia  1–4  Japan
Morioka   90' (o.g.) Report Yanagisawa   22'
Takahara   37'
Nanami   53'
Ono   88'

Japan  8–1  Uzbekistan
Morishima   7'
Nishizawa   14', 25', 49'
Takahara   18', 20', 57'
Kitajima   79'
Report Lushan   29'

Japan  1–1  Qatar
Nishizawa   61' Report Al-Obaidly   22'
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Nabil Ayad (Lebanon)

Knockout stage edit

Quarter-finals
Japan  4–1  Iraq
Nanami   8', 29'
Takahara   11'
Myojin   62'
Report A. Obeid   4'
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Tajaddin Fares (Syria)
Semi-finals
China  2–3  Japan
Qi Hong   30'
Yang Chen   48'
Report Fan Zhiyi   21' (o.g.)
Nishizawa   53'
Myojin   61'
Final
Japan  1–0  Saudi Arabia
Mochizuki   30' Report
Attendance: 47,400
Referee: Ali Bujsaim (UAE)

This impressive running in 2000 Asian Cup proved to be useful for Japan two years later, when Japan passed through the group stage for the first time, before losing to later third-place Turkey 0–1 in the round of sixteen.

2004 AFC Asian Cup edit

Japan, having established themselves as a football powerhouse in the continent, was placed in Group D with Iran, Thailand and debutant Oman. Japan, however, had a hard beginning with just a 1–0 win to Oman, before demolished Thailand 4–1 next. Japan, like 2000 edition, drew the last match with Iran 0–0 and qualified to the quarter-finals when they faced up another debutant, Jordan. Jordan however proved to be a tough team when they held on Japan for 120 minutes with a 1–1 draw, before Japan won on the penalty shootout. In the semi-finals, Japan also needed 120 minutes to defeat another Arab team, Bahrain, in a 4–3 thriller.

In the final, Japan faced host China, and despite being thought to be even much harder than with Jordan and Bahrain since China was the host, Japan surprisingly defeated China 3–1 in just 90 minutes, including a hand goal from Koji Nakata, which was controversial aftermath. Thus, Japan for the second times won the title, continued to be the dominant force in Asia.

Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
  Japan 7 3 2 1 0 5 1 +4
  Iran 5 3 1 2 0 5 2 +3
  Oman 4 3 1 1 1 4 3 +1
  Thailand 0 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8
Japan  1–0  Oman
Nakamura   33' Report

Thailand  1–4  Japan
Suksomkit   12' Report Nakamura   21'
Nakazawa   57', 87'
Fukunishi   68'

Japan  0–0  Iran
Report

Knockout stage edit

Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Bahrain  3–4 (a.e.t.)  Japan
A. Hubail   7', 71'
Naser   85'
Report Nakata   48'
Tamada   55', 93'
Nakazawa   90'
Final
China  1–3  Japan
Li Ming   31' Report Fukunishi   22'
Nakata   65'
Tamada   90+1'
Attendance: 62,000

2007 AFC Asian Cup edit

In the next editions, Japan seemed to be placed in a much easier group than three years ago, when Japan was drawn with host Vietnam, Qatar and the UAE. Qatar and the UAE had also won 2006 Asian Games and 18th Arabian Gulf Cup, effectively putting Japan on board with two other champions outside host Vietnam.

However, Japan opened their accounts unimpressive with just a 1–1 draw to Qatar, which made Ivica Osim to label his players as "amateur". Japan went on to beat the UAE 3–1 and Vietnam 4–1, the latter would join Japan into the quarter-finals. Japan later took vengeance on Australia by defeating the Socceroos 4–3 in the penalty shootout in Hanoi. However, within the same stuff, Japan lost to eventual runners-up Saudi Arabia 2–3 and had to play the third-place match, when they lost on penalty shootout this time, 5–6, to rival South Korea.

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Japan 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 7
  Vietnam 3 1 1 1 4 5 −1 4
  United Arab Emirates 3 1 0 2 3 6 −3 3
  Qatar 3 0 2 1 3 4 −1 2
Japan  1–1  Qatar
Takahara   61' Report Soria   88'

United Arab Emirates  1–3  Japan
Al-Kass   66' Report Takahara   22', 27'
S. Nakamura   42' (pen.)
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Satop Tongkhan (Thailand)

Vietnam  1–4  Japan
Suzuki   8' (o.g.) Report Maki   12', 59'
Endō   31'
S. Nakamura   53'
Attendance: 40,000

Knockout stage edit

Quarter-finals
Japan  1–1 (a.e.t.)  Australia
Takahara   72' Report Aloisi   70'
Penalties
Nakamura  
Endō  
Komano  
Takahara  
Nakazawa  
4–3   Kewell
  Neill
  Cahill
  Carle
  Carney
Semi-finals
Japan  2–3  Saudi Arabia
Nakazawa   37'
Abe   53'
Report Y. Al-Qahtani   35'
Mouath   47', 57'
Attendance: 10,000
Third-place match

2011 AFC Asian Cup edit

After just won 4th place four years before, Japan had to take part on the qualification round, where they won first to qualify for the tournament. Once again, Japan was placed with Saudi Arabia, alongside Jordan and Syria, both had not participated four years ago.

However, Japan was stunned by Jordan after just a 1–1 draw, drew criticisms from the fans and coach Alberto Zaccheroni had to change tactics to suit the situation. The match with Syria had also drawn criticisms later due to poor performance of Japanese players, despite winning 2–1. Nonetheless, these criticisms vanished when Japan destroyed Saudi Arabia 5–0 to march into the quarter-finals facing host Qatar.

In the quarter-final match, Japan suffered even a red card and two goals-lead by Qatar, but in the end Japan fought back and won 3–2, eliminated host Qatar from the tournament. Japan would make up meeting with old rival South Korea, where they drew 2–2 after 120 minutes before winning 3–0 on penalty shootout and went into the final.

In the final, Japan met Asia's no.1 ranking team, Australia. Nonetheless, despite heavy pressures from the Socceroos, Japan withstood and at the extra time, Tadanari Lee scored the only goal in the match, helping Japan to claim the title for the fourth times, became the most successful team in the tournament's history.[4]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Japan 3 2 1 0 8 2 +6 7
  Jordan 3 2 1 0 4 2 +2 7
  Syria 3 1 0 2 4 5 −1 3
  Saudi Arabia 3 0 0 3 1 8 −7 0
9 January 2011
Japan   1–1   Jordan
13 January 2011
Syria   1–2   Japan
17 January 2011
Saudi Arabia   0–5   Japan

Knockout stage edit

Quarter-finals
Japan  3–2  Qatar
Kagawa   29', 71'
Inoha   89'
Report Soria   13'
Fábio César   63'
Semi-finals
Japan  2–2 (a.e.t.)  South Korea
Maeda   36'
Hosogai   97'
Report Ki Sung-Yueng   23' (pen.)
Hwang Jae-Won   120'
Penalties
K. Honda  
Okazaki  
Nagatomo  
Konno  
3–0   Koo Ja-Cheol
  Lee Yong-Rae
  Hong Jeong-Ho
Final
Australia  0–1 (a.e.t.)  Japan
Report Lee   109'

Keisuke Honda was awarded as the most valuable player in the tournament.

2015 AFC Asian Cup edit

Having won four titles, Japan was considered as the contender for the next title in the 2015 Asian Cup, where they were drawn with debutant Palestine, 2011 rival Jordan and former champion Iraq. With experiences, Japan was not hard to dominate the group stage.[5] Japan defeated Palestine 4–0, Iraq 1–0 and Jordan 2–0 to win the group with full nine points and no goal conceded.[6] This led to popular belief that Japan would have won the tournament again. However, the quarter-final encounter over the UAE was a shocking humiliation, when they just earned a 1–1 draw to the Gulf side after 120 minutes before losing 4–5 on the penalty shootout.[7] The UAE would go on to win bronze medal in the tournament. It was Japan's worst finish ever since 1996.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Japan 3 3 0 0 7 0 +7 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   Iraq 3 2 0 1 3 1 +2 6
3   Jordan 3 1 0 2 5 4 +1 3
4   Palestine 3 0 0 3 1 11 −10 0
Source: Asian Cup Australia 2015
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
12 January 2015
Japan   4–0   Palestine Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle
16 January 2015
Iraq   0–1   Japan Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
20 January 2015
Japan   2–0   Jordan AAMI Park, Melbourne

Knockout stage edit

Quarter-finals
Japan  1–1 (a.e.t.)  United Arab Emirates
Shibasaki   81' Report Mabkhout   7'
Penalties
Honda  
Hasebe  
Shibasaki  
Toyoda  
Morishige  
Kagawa  
4–5   O. Abdulrahman
  Mabkhout
  Esmaeel
  Hassan
  Fardan
  I. Ahmed
Attendance: 19,094

2019 AFC Asian Cup edit

Japan made their ninth appearance in the Asian Cup after they were drawn with Uzbekistan, Oman and Turkmenistan. As usual, Japan was regarded as one of the favourite teams to win the tournament.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Japan 3 3 0 0 6 3 +3 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   Uzbekistan 3 2 0 1 7 3 +4 6
3   Oman 3 1 0 2 4 4 0 3
4   Turkmenistan 3 0 0 3 3 10 −7 0
Source: AFC
Japan  3–2  Turkmenistan
Report
Attendance: 5,725

Oman  0–1  Japan
Report

Japan  2–1  Uzbekistan
Report

Knockout stage edit

Round of 16
Japan  1–0  Saudi Arabia
Report

Quarter-finals
Vietnam  0–1  Japan
Report

Semi-finals
Iran  0–3  Japan
Report

Final
Japan  1–3  Qatar
Report


2023 AFC Asian Cup edit

Group D edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Iraq 3 3 0 0 8 4 +4 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   Japan 3 2 0 1 8 5 +3 6
3   Indonesia 3 1 0 2 3 6 −3 3
4   Vietnam 3 0 0 3 4 8 −4 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Japan  4–2  Vietnam
Report
Attendance: 17,385

Iraq  2–1  Japan
Report
Attendance: 38,663
Referee: Khalid Al-Turais (Saudi Arabia)

Japan  3–1  Indonesia
Report Walsh   90+1'
Attendance: 26,453

Knockout stage edit

Round of 16 edit

Bahrain  1–3  Japan
Report
Attendance: 31,832
Referee: Ahmad Al-Ali (Kuwait)

Quarter-finals edit

Iran  2–1  Japan
Report
Attendance: 35,640
Referee: Ma Ning (China)

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Japan National Team » Squad Asian Cup 1988 Qatar". worldfootball.net. World Football. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Asian Cup: Know Your History - Part Two (1992-2007)". goal.com. Goal. 7 January 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  3. ^ "A tournament like no other". the-afc.com. The Asian Football Confederation. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  4. ^ "Asian Cup: Japan Is on the Up". The New York Times. 2 February 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  5. ^ "2015 Asian Cup team profile: Japan - Asian Cup 2015". abc.net.au. ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 4 December 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Asian Cup 2015: Japan and Iraq progress to quarter-finals with wins | Football". theguardian.com. The Guardian. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  7. ^ "United Arab Emirates shock Japan to set up Asian Cup semi-final with Socceroos". smh.com.au. The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  8. ^ "AFC Asian Cup, match report: Japan 1–3 Qatar". The-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.