Iran beats Japan 2-1 to reach Asian Cup semifinals

Hats off to the Lions of Persia. They were busier, better, and hungrier than Moriyasu-Japan. I believe the penalty was fully deserved, Itakura brought down the Iranian in the box with both legs. Iran is definitely in with a big shout now of lifting a 4th Cup.

The Samurai-Blue never really hit top gear at any point of the tournament. They need to look hard at why they perform so well in friendlies, with some great results, yet look disjointed in tournaments. Their attack simply wasnt good enough. Moriyasu may have managed his last Japan game.

When Japan or a Japan representative loses a big sporting event the media coverage here is usually on the winners. Check the subject in the headline.

Japan's Takumi Minamino reacts after their team lost the Asian Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Japan and Iran at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

Reacts? Looks like he's about to have a big cry!

Iran fully deserved the victory. The 2nd half in particular was a total domination for them. The Japanese midfielders in particular, were comprehensively out-muscled and out-jumped by the bigger Iranian players,

Japanese team were so bad, hard to watch, where are the shots from mid range ? Where are the side attacks ?Iran on the other hand, top game! Unlucky for too many times, but even without the penalty Iran would've won anyway.

 but even without the penalty Iran would've won anyway.

Is that why the game was tied?

Sport is a unifier.

Tell that to the war mongers.

Iran is a nation worthy of its long history and now, its soccer team

Japan were awful

Hopefully moriyasu will do the right thing and step down

Self confidence too high, lack of physical strength. And this team lacks a superstar player, a strong leader than can bring the level up, the agressivity and motivation up when things are not going well.

The previous generation until 2018 had more stamina.

If only politics could be settled this way…

That's it then forget soccer ,lets move on to baseball or rugby or whatever else we can be nationalistic about !

UK doesn't have a football team, Winnie.

Japan are such chokers

its just not their game. Stick to baseball lads

At least Endo/Mitoma et al can get back to the leagues they belong. I think they probably feel more at home there now anyway.

Japan's No.4 Itakura had a terrible game. Iran's No. 21 was running him ragged especially in the second half. The Japan manager should have made a change. Every Iran chance was coming from this mismatch. Watch the highlights and see.

That’s a big upset!

But congrats Iran!

Zannen desune!! I Feel sorry for the lads. It's hard to give it all when one member is suffering that's affects the morale of the entire team. Bringing up Ito san issue at the middle of a tournament was a bad idea and I guess setsubun beans didn't work either. Time we dust ourselves up and back to the drawing board with lessoned learned in mind. Losing to the Iranians is not the end of the world because mata ashita ga kuru.

Japan are such chokers

its just not their game. Stick to baseball lads

Imagine being a gatekeeper of what sport a country is allowed to play because of ONE game.

Time to change the coach. Those defenders were out of breath and even the mid, he should have subbed them. And he is right, the whole defence is not up to standard. The goalie is a clown can't save a ping pong ball, the defenders are headless chickens. Iran played their hearts out. They totally deserved it.

“Time to change the coach. Those defenders were out of breath and even the mid, he should have subbed them. And he is right, the whole defence is not up to standard. The goalie is a clown can't save a ping pong ball, the defenders are headless chickens. Iran played their hearts out. They totally deserved it.”

Do you change a coach based on a failure of a single tournament? This team is young with olympics in mind. The coach left behind veteran Samurai’s for other tournaments.

Congrats to Iran, sometimes just have admit when you're outplayed. In life we learn more from such setbacks, so all is not lost, more W's soon for Team Japan!

What a shock result. Hopefully all genders will be able to watch the next game in Iran. Or not.

“What a shock result. Hopefully all genders will be able to watch the next game in Iran. Or not.”

with all respects is their any blind gender can’t watch the game be it on the field or media?

I’m not a gatekeeper

they can play footy all they want, they’ll just never win.

Do you change a coach based on a failure of a single tournament? This team is young with olympics in mind.

Olympic soccer is more minor than a very minor thing. No serious soccer nation cares about it.

Maybe, Japan Football Association should give consideration to assigning AI to managing the team with a human nanny for players for moral support. This match gave me an impression that the Japanese management did not study the opponent enough, and consequently did not establish the appropriate strategies for the team. With AI, this kind of the management incompetence could be overcome. Or does anyone believe Japanese players are less capable than Iranians?

"Maybe, Japan Football Association should give consideration to assigning AI to managing the team with a human nanny for players for moral support. This match gave me an impression that the Japanese management did not study the opponent enough, and consequently did not establish the appropriate strategies for the team. With AI, this kind of the management incompetence could be overcome. Or does anyone believe Japanese players are less capable than Iranians?"

Many things can go wrong including the weather Iranians are used to the climate in Middle East. And I don't there was incompetence only that tactics didn't go as expected and the team never shifted to the second gear. Nonetheless I can't nothing from the Iranians their tactics were spot on. They managed the game very well without fear

Don’t think many of the comments of people here watched the game, the ref was shocking and definitely not a penalty. Iran player played the ball before he taken out . I agree the manager needs to go he has his favorites and his decisions not to use and take certain players to tournaments is criminal ( Furuhashi and his use of Kubo) ) there is many ex players or even a foreign manager that could do better.

Not surprising. Relying on non starter quality players like Doan, Kubo, Ueda, H. Ito, and Itakura. Where was the playing time for Minamino, Maeda, Nakamura, Taniguchi, Mitoma who are proven performers? For the amount of playing time Doan, Kubo, Ueda, H. Ito and Itakura receive overall, they produce very little in true scoring chances, opportunities, goals, and set pieces. Doan, Kubo, Ueda, H. Ito and Itakura are depth players and should come on as spot subs or play only exhibition matches--not knock out games? Compared to Korea, Japan's play has not evolved and the coach's tactics and player selections are sorely lacking. Not surprised with the result when the best players are not on the pitch... I don't think the coach can objectively evaluate his players after the games.

Japan has no cutting edge, they over pass the ball in midfield. Square balls everywhere and no one with any runs to open up the defence.....if only they had a player who makes runs in behind and scores....oh they do!! Furuhashi at Celtic, but somehow Moriyasu doesn't pick him. Says the Scottish league is too weak.....and then picks Maeda and Hatate. Japan was crying out for Furuhashi and his running game, dragging defenders out of position, creating space and crucially not afraid to shoot from around the box.