"Cynics may say it is no coincidence the J.League has introduced penalty shootouts to replace draws just before the World Cup. Japan have identified the quarter-finals as the target this summer after failing to progress past the last 16 on three of the past four occasions, with two of those disappointments coming after failures from the spot. The 2022 tournament was the worst, with the Samurai Blue, who should have seen off Croatia during normal time, losing the shootout 3-1 in dismal fashion."
"You just can't win if you don't practise regularly. Even in the last World Cup, it was all mistakes right from the start. I felt like telling them to be a bit more inventive. Well, this season feels inventive and players are getting plenty of practice from the spot. Last season, fewer than a quarter of games ended all square. In the first two rounds of this one, half of the 20 were tied,"
J.League introduced penalty shootouts to replace draws in the J1 100 Year Vision League season to increase penalty practice ahead of the World Cup. The season began on 6 February and matches finishing level proceed straight to shootouts, with shootout winners awarded two points and losers one. Japan have targeted the World Cup quarter-finals after several last-16 exits, including defeat to Croatia in 2022 via a 3-1 shootout loss. League leadership emphasized that regular practice is necessary to avoid repeated mistakes. Early rounds produced many draws; the Osaka derby finished 0-0 with Gamba dominating and winning the shootout, while a week later Gamba lost their shootout to Nagoya.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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