Moriyasu: Japan closing in on elite nations despite World Cup exit

Hajime Moriyasu believes Japan are getting closer to being one of the elite international teams despite their dramatic exit to Brazil at the World Cup. 

Japan were beaten 2-1 by Brazil at Houston Stadium, with Gabriel Martinelli coming off the bench to score a last-gasp winner and seal a spot in the last 16. 

Kaishu Sano's first international goal had given Japan a 29th-minute lead, but Carlo Ancelotti's side piled on the pressure after the break and got themselves level. 

Having seen an earlier header cleared off the line by Takehiro Tomiyasu, Casemiro nodded Brazil level in the 56th minute as the match appeared set to go to extra time. 

But after Ao Tanaka was robbed of possession on the edge of the box, Bruno Guimaraes slipped in Martinelli, who swept beyond Zion Suzuki to snatch the victory. 

Japan are still yet to progress from a knockout stage game at the World Cup, with this their fifth attempt, though Moriyasu is confident about the future of his team. 

"The gap between us is closing now," Moriyasu told ​reporters. "Of course, Brazil is a top-tier team and we are definitely approaching that level.

"As a result, we were devastated. Of course, there is that kind of difference in our level, and we have to up our ​game. To compete at the top is a goal we all have."

Japan had gone unbeaten in their Group F campaign, with a 4-0 thrashing of Tunisia coming between draws against the Netherlands and Sweden. 

And they more than held their own against the five-time champions. Brazil failed to have a first half shot on target from inside the box for the first time in a World Cup match since their quarter-final defeat to Belgium in 2018. 

But they were hit with a late blow. Martinelli's winner, timed at 95:00, is the latest winning goal in normal time of the knockout stages of the World Cup on record (since 1996). 

"I'm disappointed that we have to leave the tournament at this stage, but the players gave their all today, as they did throughout the journey to reach this point," Moriyasu added.

"The coaching staff also worked tirelessly to support the players.

"Right now I'm devastated after giving everything we had, but I want to accept this result and use it to become an even stronger team."

Moriyasu cited Japan's inexperience at this stage of the World Cup as something the nation need to improve on if they are to have success in the coming years.

"This is one of ⁠the strong points of the team," Moriyasu said. "Having more players gain such experience will contribute to the growth of football in Japan."