Zlatan Ibrahimović on Japan's dominant 4-0 victory over Tunisia at the World Cup:
🗣️ “People need to stop calling Japan a surprise package. At some point, when you keep producing performances like this, you're no longer a surprise you're a serious contender.”
“A 4-0 win at the World Cup is not normal. You don't destroy teams by accident. You do it because you have quality, organization, confidence, and players who know exactly what they're doing.”
“What impresses me most is the way they play. There is no fear, no hesitation, no respect for reputations. They attack with intensity, defend as a unit, and make life miserable for every opponent.”
“Before the tournament started, everyone was talking about the traditional favourites. But match after match, Japan are quietly forcing their way into that conversation.”
“If I'm one of the big nations watching this performance, I'm worried. Very worried. Because Japan look like a team that is improving with every game they play.”
“The scary thing is that they don't look satisfied. Even at 3-0, even at 4-0, they keep pressing, keep running, and keep searching for more. That's the mentality of a team that believes it can achieve something special.”
“You can have all the star players in the world, but if you come up against a team playing with this level of discipline and confidence, you're going to suffer.”
“Right now, Japan are slowly becoming one of the favourites to win this World Cup. Some people won't like hearing that, but football doesn't care about reputations it cares about performances.”
“And trust me, any team that gets drawn against Japan in the next round won't be celebrating. They'll be wondering how they're supposed to stop them.”
Mohamed Salah on Japan players displaying Wataru Endō's shirt after the 2-2 draw with the Netherlands national football team:
🗣️ “That was one of the most beautiful moments of this World Cup so far. I think every football fan who saw it felt something.
When those players held up Endō's shirt after the match, they weren't thinking about the cameras or the headlines. They were thinking about a teammate who should have been standing next to them.
People talk a lot about loyalty in football, but moments like this are where you truly see it. Endō gave everything for Japan for years, and his teammates made sure the world remembered that.
I know how much pain he must be carrying right now. To miss a World Cup through injury and retire from international football before kicking a ball in the tournament is something that would break any player.
That's why the gesture meant so much. It was their way of telling him, 'You may not be here physically, but you're still part of this team.'
The thing that touched me most was how genuine it looked. There were no celebrations, no acting, just pure respect and emotion.
Football can be ruthless sometimes, but it can also produce moments that remind you why players become so close to each other.
And honestly, when I saw Endō's shirt raised in front of the world, I didn't see an absent player. I saw a captain, a leader, and a teammate being carried by the hearts of an entire nation.”
「森保デスノート」が海外で話題に 🤣
オランダ戦。1-2の劣勢。森保監督がおもむろにノートを取り出した。
その瞬間、世界のサッカーファンが察した。
「やばい。書かれた」
2022年カタール大会から続く伝説。
監督がノートを開く→相手チームが4ぬ。
海外ファンが即座に反応した。「またやりやがった!」
オランダ、2-2で引き分け。ノートに何が書かれたのか。リュークがやったのかは誰も知らない。
“The video was generated using AI”
🚨 Zlatan Ibrahimovic reacting to Netherlands 2-2 draw with Japan.
🗣️ Japan is never the team to underestimate in the world cup. I've seen them beat team like Spain in this competition. It was a great performance by Vigil Van Dijk, Summerville and Ryan Gravenberch.
Van Dijk scored and Nakamura got the equaliser after seven minutes. Summerville regained the lead for them. At that point we all thought they were getting the three points.
Ronald Koeman made five changes which I would say was tactically wrong. Japanese coach Hajime Moriyasu was smart enough to find out. They continued to knock until Netherlands open up for the equaliser.
It's crazy because after Kubo,Kamada and Nakamura you can hardly name the rest but they managed to get a pint from this star studded Netherland team.
Football is crazy and that's why it's the best sport in the world.
🚨Jamie Carragher on the Netherlands’ 2-2 draw with Japan in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener:
🗣️ “I don’t want to hear people saying this was an unlucky result for the Netherlands.
Let’s be honest, Japan deserved enormous credit for what they did tonight.
Before the game, most people expected the Dutch to control the match and take all three points.
Instead, Japan showed exactly why they’re one of the most dangerous teams in international football.
They were organised, aggressive and brave in possession.
What disappointed me was the Netherlands’ mentality after taking the lead.
At times they looked comfortable and assumed the game would take care of itself.
Japan punished them for that.
You can forgive mistakes.
You can forgive conceding goals.
But you cannot switch off at a World Cup.
Japan never stopped believing.
They kept pressing, kept running and kept asking questions.
That’s why they got their reward.
The Netherlands have quality players all over the pitch, but quality alone doesn’t win World Cups.
The best teams combine talent with discipline, concentration and hunger.
Tonight Japan looked hungrier.
The Dutch will look at the result and think they dropped two points.
I look at the performance and think they were fortunate not to lose all three.
Japan arrived believing they could compete with anyone.
The Netherlands arrived expecting to win.
There’s a big difference between those two mindsets.
And that’s why we’re talking about a 2-2 draw instead of a Dutch victory.”
{@SkyNews }