Latest news with #HajimeMoriyasu
The Hindu
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Japan vs Hong Kong, EAFF E-1 Football Championship: Who is Japan's goalkeeper Alex Pisano with roots in Italy?
Japan started its title defence at the EAFF E-1 Football Championship against Hong Kong, at the Yongin Mireu-Stadion in South Korea on Tuesday. Hajime Moriyasu has gone with a full domestic squad, with the tournament out of the FIFA international window. One of the names in that starting 11 against Hong Kong is Alexandre Pisano, earning his first senior cap. Pisano, born in Kasugai to a Japanese mother and Italian-Canadian father, developed at the Ote Elementary School and FC Fervor Aichi, before moving to Nagoya Grampus in 2021. ALSO READ: Where to watch Japan vs Hong Kong in EAFF E-1 Football Championship? He signed his professional contract with Nagoya three years later and plays for the same side currently. The 19-year-old has started every J1 match since May and has kept four clean sheets. At the international level, he has represented Japan at the U-17 and U-20 levels, playing in the U-117 World Cup 2023, where Japan reached the round of 16. Pisano has replaced Zio Suzuki, another goalkeeper who has roots outside Japan — Suzuki's father is from Ghana, and his mother is from Japan – but the latter is expected to get back between the sticks for FIFA's official international fixtures.
Daily Record
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kyogo nears Rennes transfer hell end game as Celtic hero enters talks over UK return
The Japanese has endured a nightmare spell in France and is now nearing a switch to Birmingham City Kyogo is close to ending his nightmare Rennes spell with a move back to the UK. The striker left Celtic in January for £10million in a bid to boost his World Cup hopes with Japan after repeated snubs from Samuarai Blue manager Hajime Moriyasu, who made it clear that he wanted Kyogo playing at a higher level despite regular call ups for teammate Daizen Maeda. A £10million switch to Ligue 1 looked to have solved the problem, but the move backfired spectacularly as the 30-year-old found himself watching on from the bench for the vast majority of his time at Roahzon Park. Jorge Sampaoli's sacking and Habib Beye's arrival as manager did little to change Kyogo 's fortunes and the French outfit are prepared to cut their losses. Now talks have opened with ambitious Birmingham City as they look to add firepower after returning to the English Championship. Former Hops assistant Chris Davies eased to the League One title with the St Andrew's Club and backed by NFL legend Tom Brady, they nave their sights set on the English Premier League. A switch to Blues would see Kyogo reunited with old Celtic pal and compatriot Tomoki Iwata. The midfielder joined Birmingham last summer and immediately caught the eye with some spectacular strikes. City have also developed a habit of signing former Rangers players. A permanent return for Ben Davies is still a possibility after last season's loan spell with Kieran Dowell in a similar situation. Scott Wright was sold to the club last summer, while Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes and former Hearts left back Alex Ciochrane are also important members of Davies' squad. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Kyodo News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Football: Japan need striker to develop for World Cup success: boss
KYODO NEWS - 6 hours ago - 22:07 | Sports, All FIFA World Cup-bound Japan need someone to step up as an out-and-out striker, their manager Hajime Moriyasu said Wednesday. Wednesday marked one year until the start of the World Cup, to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Japan scored 30 goals in 10 matches in the final round of Asian qualifying, but no one player dominated the scoring. "I want a real striker to emerge, and then we want to make the most of that player," Moriyasu said in Kyoto. The manager also hinted at trying a back-four formation again and said, "We also need a quality side back who can be a driving force on the team." The world No. 15 Samurai Blue, who will make their eighth successive World Cup appearance, topped Group C of the Asian qualifiers with seven wins, two draws and one defeat. Related coverage: Football: Kamada, Kubo spur Japan to big win over Indonesia Football: Makeshift Japan fall late to Australia for 1st q'fiers loss Football: Nadeshiko Japan suffer back-to-back defeats against Brazil
Kyodo News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Football: Japan need striker to develop for World Cup success: boss
KYODO NEWS - 1 hour ago - 22:07 | Sports, All FIFA World Cup-bound Japan need someone to step up as an out-and-out striker, their manager Hajime Moriyasu said Wednesday. Wednesday marked one year until the start of the World Cup, to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Japan scored 30 goals in 10 matches in the final round of Asian qualifying, but no one player dominated the scoring. "I want a real striker to emerge, and then we want to make the most of that player," Moriyasu said in Kyoto. The manager also hinted at trying a back-four formation again and said, "We also need a quality side back who can be a driving force on the team." The world No. 15 Samurai Blue, who will make their eighth successive World Cup appearance, topped Group C of the Asian qualifiers with seven wins, two draws and one defeat. Related coverage: Football: Kamada, Kubo spur Japan to big win over Indonesia Football: Makeshift Japan fall late to Australia for 1st q'fiers loss Football: Nadeshiko Japan suffer back-to-back defeats against Brazil
Al Jazeera
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
Japan score six in World Cup qualifier to match record against Indonesia
Daichi Kamada has scored twice as Japan has rounded off their successful World Cup qualifying campaign with a 6-0 thrashing of Patrick Kluivert's Indonesia in Osaka. Kamada, an FA Cup winner with Crystal Palace in England this season, struck twice in Tuesday's first half as already qualified Japan finished their campaign as Group C winners, scoring 30 goals in their 10 matches. Takefusa Kubo, Ryoya Morishita, Shuto Machino and substitute Mao Hosoya were also on target against Indonesia, who finished fourth in the group. Kluivert's side, who were backed by a large number of supporters who had travelled to Japan, advance to a further round with five other teams to decide two more Asian qualifiers for next year's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Japan lost their unbeaten qualifying record in a 1-0 defeat away to Australia last week with coach Hajime Moriyasu fielding an experimental lineup with qualification already in the bag. He started with two more debutants against Indonesia, handing first caps to defender Junnosuke Suzuki and winger Shunsuke Mito. Kamada opened the scoring in the 15th minute, heading home from a Mito cross. The Palace forward turned provider for his team's second, combining with Kubo before the Real Sociedad man fired past Indonesia goalkeeper Emil Audero. Indonesia lost defender Kevin Diks to injury midway through the first half, and his replacement Yakob Sayuri lasted only 15 minutes before he also had to go off after a clash of heads. Kamada scored Japan's third on the stroke of half-time, waltzing through the Indonesia defence before tucking the ball over Audero. Morishita volleyed home at the back post in the 55th minute for his first international goal. Machino and Hosoya also got on the scoresheet as Japan continued to squeeze Indonesia until the final whistle.
