Japan's World Cup squad returns home; Nishino's time as coach over

The blues should give their coach an equal expose to internationalism as the other players gladly receive. Modern day samurais need that.

Nishino should stay. Not so for results but because Japan demonstrated modern football fast that is played at higher level in Champions league.

This is a total football strategy fast paced where you may win even with 6-0.

The only ational team I support is Japan. I cried at the last game.

In Qatar we will be stronger.

I don’t see this as a firing. The previous coach was sacked but Nishino was the interim until they could find a big name.

If he had gotten them into the elite eight then it would’ve been hard to replace him.

Thank you for the 46 days Nishino.

And they didn’t leave any trash.

a true fan is hard to find nowadays, most depends on performance. the japanese team totally deserve a heartfelt welcome. yoku yatta.

We welcome home our teams mainly because we are long used to losing.

zichiJuly 5 08:28 pm JSTSouth Korea returned home from the 2018 World Cup on Friday to a largely warm welcome at Incheon International Airport -- though two or three eggs were thrown at the surprised squad.

A few so-called fans just HAD to spoil the South Korean party, did they? Those egg-tossers are not fans of the team.

As for the Japanese team, they deserve a warm welcome themselves. They played well. Konwabe, (does that mean 'welcome'?), Samurai Blue Japan! You represented your country with style and grace, a good example for other teams - win or lose. Domo arigato.

It's great that there are common folks there to welcome the footballers back home. But some of us have a job and have to work.

Mainly because expectations for Japanese soccer is very low so even if they go 1 win 2 losses 1 tie it is still better than they expected..

Took the words right out of my mouth. Expectations were so low that even the unsportsman-like behaviour in the Poland-Japan match seems to have been forgotten. They should try it again next time!

I understand that a Japanese coach will be ideal to the national team mostly to avoid the barriers of language and culture gaps. The only problem will be how to find a higher level with a Japanese coach when other countries are going to upper level with foreign coaches, especially in Asia and Africa, North/Central America regions. Higher level won't be only with hope, luck or miracles because higher level countries also need those blessings in a big world event. For this World Cup 2018 Japan was excellent to show more than anybody expected and all the essences were there with them, to go where they could go. For this team 'til now: Godspeed Samurai Blue Japan!

Great for them, ignore the haters. Japan the only Asian team to make it that far.

When i saw that photo earlier I thought, wow those fans are really going for it all waving their hands like that.

Must feel good to be so warmly adored.

Then I saw it on the tv news and no they 're not waving - they're taking videos with their smart phones.

Is that the new congratulatory welcome these days - The Smartphone Salute. Geez.

How about enjoying the reality of the live flesh & blood moment and ditch the toys.

Must be getting old.

... it will not ask Akira Nishino to continue as national team coach ... I love Japanese passive firing techniques. So gentle :)

Final Four in 2022 Qatar.

Boycotts could mean there will be about 4 teams there.

Ganbatte!

This is one of the things I like about Japanese fans, whether it is their soccer, Olympic, baseball or any other team returning from an overseas contest. They welcome them whether they win or lose.

Mainly because expectations for Japanese soccer is very low so even if they go 1 win 2 losses 1 tie it is still better than they expected..

Final Four in 2022 Qatar.

I agree with econostats 100%!! Samurai Blue should be aiming for at least top 4 from now on.

Wecome home, Heroes!!

The South Korea team on their return had eggs thrown at them. 

Not eggs.

Egg.

Welcome Home!

Final Four in 2022 Qatar.

Soccer though not an American invention has the prime global following, as for commercialezed sports is only no2 to, well you know what that is.

The South Korea team on their return had eggs thrown at them. The Columbia team got death threats.

True sport fans always support their teams even when their teams go down fighting. Those are not true sport fans. Good on those 800 Japanese fans who turned up at the airport and cheered for their team.

This is one of the things I like about Japanese fans, whether it is their soccer, Olympic, baseball or any other team returning from an overseas contest. They welcome them whether they win or lose.

I wonder how many people turned up at the airport when the teams from Argentina, Germany, Colombia, Spain, Portugal, etc returned home. And we know what happened to the South Koreans.

Nishino should stay on as coach. He was just getting started. The Japanese players will always have trouble understanding mistranslations by interpreters trying to interpret nuances from French/German/English/Bosnian to Japanese.