Japan national football team faces scrutiny over World Cup strategy and leadership

Following Japan's exit from the World Cup, discussions have emerged regarding the future direction of the national football team. There is ongoing debate concerning the transition from manager Hajime Moriyasu to the next leadership phase and whether the current evaluation processes are sufficient to achieve World Cup victory.

Former manager Takeshi Okada noted that while the current squad possesses high standards and experience, there are gaps in preparation. Meanwhile, Keisuke Honda emphasized that for Japan to win the World Cup, the focus must remain on the ultimate goal rather than setting lower benchmarks, suggesting a need for more players in Europe and improved development within the J League.

Reflecting on past management, Yuya Kubo discussed the 2018 dismissal of Vahid Halilhodžić, describing the players' actions not as a coup, but as a responsible effort to ensure the team was prepared to win the World Cup.