Women's World Cup 2023: Japan in 'unstoppable' form before Sweden quarter-final

"I was watching it connected tv astatine home," Japan brag Futoshi Ikeda recalls erstwhile asked astir memories of his nation's 2011 Women's World Cup triumph.

Japan's momentous triumph successful Germany 12 years agone was arsenic affectional arsenic it was unexpected.

Three months earlier the tournament, a devastating earthquake and tsunami on the country's north-east seashore killed much than 18,000 people, displaced tens of thousands and generated a tsunami which caused a atomic meltdown astatine the Fukushima powerfulness plant.

The J-Village, Japan's nationalist shot centre, was successful Fukushima and became a spot of refuge successful the aftermath of the tsunami.

Japan defender Aya Sameshima was moving astatine the atomic works astatine the clip of the catastrophe and was recovering from the unspeakable events on with the remainder of the squad which flew to Germany, including Saki Kumagai.

Aged 20 astatine the time, Kumagai struck the winning footwear against the USA aft the last had gone to a nail-biting punishment shootout astatine Frankfurt's Waldstadion arsenic the "Nadeshiko" - named aft a delicate pinkish carnation - embodied the unbreakable tone of a federation agreed successful its conflict to retrieve from disaster.

Twelve years on, Kumagai, 32, is Japan's skipper astatine the World Cup successful Australia and New Zealand.

The Nadeshiko look Sweden, the federation they defeated successful the semi-finals successful 2011, successful Auckland connected Friday (08:30 BST kick-off) for a spot successful the past four.

"After we won the World Cup, a batch of girls started playing football," Kumagai, who has played for her state since 2008 and is appearing astatine her 4th World Cup, said.

"Now the athletics is little fashionable again and that's not good. Our nationalist squad hasn't won a batch precocious and the Japanese radical are little funny successful the athletics again."

With Japan 2 wins from a 3rd World Cup last successful 4 attempts, volition the people of 2023 spell each the mode and seizure the hearts of the federation erstwhile again?

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Japan's players unfurled a banner pursuing their 2011 World Cup triumph - a fewer months aft the devastating earthquake and tsunami - which read: "To our friends astir the satellite - convey you for your support"

'Japan look unstoppable'

Japan person slipped from 4th to 11th successful Fifa's rankings since they past appeared astatine a World Cup last successful 2015, erstwhile the USA avenged their 2011 decision by winning 5-2 successful Vancouver, Canada.

But they are playing with a state and a tone that has near immoderate tipping them to assistance the World Cup successful Sydney connected 20 August.

"They look unstoppable," Eniola Aluko, the erstwhile England forward, said connected ITV1 pursuing Japan's 3-1 triumph implicit Norway successful the past 16.

"These players are astatine the tallness of their assurance - the chemistry, the flow, the timing. They are truly looking similar an unbeatable team. How bash you halt Japan now?"

In a World Cup that has been unpredictable, Ikeda's squad person remained coagulated - and exciting.

They person scored 14 times successful 4 matches - their astir successful a azygous variation of the tourney - to expanse speech Zambia (5-0), Costa Rica (2-0), Spain (4-0) and Norway (3-1).

While erstwhile winners the USA, Germany and Norway person made aboriginal exits, Japan person marched on.

In Hinata Miyazawa, they person the tournament's starring scorer. Despite registering lone six attempts connected target, Miyazawa has 5 goals.

Forward Mina Tanaka has 3 assists to adhd to her 2 goals, goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita has conceded erstwhile successful 4 games, portion lone Spain's Teresa Abelleira (17) has created much chances than 19-year-old Aoba Fujino (11).

Japan has nurtured procreation aft procreation of talented players successful the women's game. Ikeda's existent harvest are showing they person the imaginable to astonishment aft indifferent signifier starring up to the tournament, including decision to Denmark.

"This squad has changed minds [at this World Cup]," Midori Masujima, a salient Japanese sportswriter, told the BBC World Football podcast. "We person a assurance which is good."

'I felt Japan smile'

More than a decennary on, immoderate 31,000 radical remained displaced arsenic a effect of the earthquake and tsunami.

"I felt the full of Japan smile," the tearful parent of Japan skipper Homare Sawa told Fuji Television aft the win successful 2011.

Meanwhile, United States goalkeeper Hope Solo said of Japan's victory: "I genuinely judge that thing bigger was pulling for this team."

Tearful Japan manager Norio Sasaki revealed helium had utilized images of the catastrophe to assistance motivate his players during the tournament.

Sasaki, who near successful 2016, is successful New Zealand, wherever the Nadeshiko person played each 4 of their games, arsenic portion of Japan's World Cup delegation.

On Thursday, existent Japan brag Ikeda said enactment from backmost location was helping animate his players astatine the World Cup.

"The radical successful Japan watching america connected TV, this enactment is thing we truly feel," added Ikeda, who was successful complaint of Japan erstwhile they won the Under-20 Women's World Cup successful 2018.

The Great East Japan Earthquake and resulting tsunami killed thousands of radical and destroyed the lives of thousands more

On 11 March 2011, Japan was struck by 1 of the astir almighty earthquakes connected record

Top of the satellite again?

Ikeda has afloat utilised his 23-player squad by starting 17 antithetic players successful Australia and New Zealand.

Only 4 person started each the games truthful acold - including West Ham defender Risa Shimizu, who scored against Norway successful the past 16.

A further 3 Women's Super League-based players person appeared successful Japan's midfield astatine this tourney including Liverpool's Fuka Nagano, Shimizu's West Ham team-mate Honoka Hayashi and Manchester City's Yui Hasegawa.

As a young teenager, Nagano was inspired by the 2011 World Cup triumph and, speaking successful Auckland, said she and her team-mates afloat believed that this year's Nadeshiko volition beryllium capable to lucifer the feat.

"I was 13 years aged oregon so," Nagano, 24, recalled connected Thursday. "Back then, I saw however the Nadeshiko played and that truly empowered me, that's what I retrieve astir it.

"The Nadeshiko won the World Cup and we privation to amusement Japan's spot again astatine this tournament. We each judge that we tin bash it, and I deliberation that's what has brought america to wherever we are now."

Liverpool and Japan midfielder Fuka Nagano astatine a quality league astatine Eden Park, Auckland, connected Thursday

Asked what interaction the 2011 World Cup triumph had connected her increasing up arsenic a 14-year-old, Hasegawa said: "It was tremendous.

"It was thing that had an unbelievably immense interaction connected Japan aft the disaster. It [winning the World Cup] made maine much determined to bash the aforesaid happening 1 day."

Will Hasegawa execute her imagination aboriginal this month?

"We privation to combat hard each lucifer and purpose to scope the apical of the satellite again," added Ikeda.