On the morning of the 6th (Korean time) at the 974 Stadium in Doha, Qatar, the Round of 16 match of the 2022 Qatar World Cup between Korea and Brazil took place. After losing 1-4 and failing to advance to the quarterfinals, Korea's Son Heung-min received consolation from Brazil's goalkeeper Alisson Becker and responded by giving a thumbs-up. The 'World Cup Imjinrok'?the anticipated World Cup quarterfinal match between South Korea and Japan?has been indefinitely postponed.
On the 6th (Korean time), South Korea lost 1-4 to Brazil in the Round of 16 of the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup held at the 974 Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
In another Round of 16 match that started four hours earlier than the Korea-Brazil game, Japan and Croatia ended regular and extra time (120 minutes) tied at 1-1, but Japan lost 1-3 in the penalty shootout.
The Qatar World Cup quarterfinal will be contested between Brazil and Croatia, not a Korea-Japan match.
◆Japanese Media: "Despite Korea's Fantastic Long-Range Shot, the Outcome Could Not Be Changed"
Japan's Nikkan Sports reflected, "All three Asian countries that advanced to the Round of 16 (South Korea, Japan, Australia) failed to reach the quarterfinals," adding, "Ace Neymar returned, and Brazil demonstrated the destructive power of their star-studded team with a goal rush in the first half. Korea scored a consolation goal with Baek Seung-ho's fantastic long-range shot in the 31st minute of the second half, but it was not enough to change the result."
Japan, which had defeated traditional powerhouses, also showed great disappointment at failing to advance to the quarterfinals.
According to Kyodo News, at a sports bar in Shibuya (澁谷), a bustling district in Tokyo, about 120 seats were filled with citizens cheering "Nippon," and cheers erupted when Japan scored the opening goal.
However, after conceding the equalizer and losing in the penalty shootout following extra time, sighs were heard, followed by applause praising the team's efforts. Japan reached the Round of 16 for the fourth time in this tournament, following 2002, 2010, and 2018, but has never crossed the threshold into the quarterfinals.
Moriya Hajime (54), head coach of the Japanese national team, said at the post-match press conference, "The players fought bravely. Although the result is disappointing, we will accept it."
On the 2nd (local time) in Tokyo, Japan, citizens are cheering as their national soccer team secured a victory against Spain and advanced to the Round of 16 in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
◆Japanese Fans Also Support Korea: "Let's Win Together and Meet in the Quarterfinals"
Following their own national team's consecutive 'miracles' and watching South Korea's strong performance, Japan expressed anticipation for a 'Korea-Japan quarterfinal' match.
On the 3rd, Japan's Sports Hochi reported that South Korea achieved a 2-1 comeback victory against Portugal in the third group stage match of Group H at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, stating, "If Japan wins against Croatia in the Round of 16 and Korea also advances, a Korea-Japan match will take place on the World Cup main stage in the quarterfinals. Korea's Round of 16 opponent is likely to be Brazil, the winner of Group G, so Korea's advancement is not easy, but if it happens, it will attract great attention."
Mainichi Shimbun highlighted the connection between the Korean and Japanese teams by noting, "Kim Young-gwon (Ulsan Hyundai), who played for Japan's professional J-League club Gamba Osaka, scored the equalizing goal."
Japanese football fans generally congratulated the Korean team on reaching the Round of 16 and wished for the success of the two Asian football powerhouses in the Round of 16.
One Japanese fan commented, "Korea showed another great performance following their match against Germany in the 2018 Russia World Cup. I hope Korea and Japan both win and definitely meet in the quarterfinals."
The players also showed a spirit of friendly competition.
Lee Kang-in (21, Mallorca), the youngest member of the Korean national team, told reporters right after the Portugal match, "My Japanese friend Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad) said, 'Let's see each other in the quarterfinals,'" sharing the related anecdote.
Lee Kang-in and Kubo, both considered the future of Korean and Japanese football respectively, are also friends who play together at Mallorca.
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