Heading into the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ in a group containing two of the three previous champions, few gave Japan any hope of progressing ahead of Germany and Spain. But after an unforgettable fortnight not only did they advance but they did so as group winners, having downed both of their illustrious opponents by the same 2-1 scoreline.
Central to those surprise results were the goals of Ritsu Doan, with the forward coming off the bench in both matches to pull his nation level. Now based in Germany, where he plays with Eintracht Frankfurt, the 27-year-old had little hesitation when naming which of the strikes is his favourite.
“I think it has to be the one against Germany,” he told FIFA. “It was my first ever World Cup goal, and it was a moment that really roused the team, so it has a lot of significance for me. It felt almost like it happened in slow motion. The ball fell to me, and I took the shot on and scored. It’s an image that’s been imprinted in my mind ever since.”
Although Japan would fall on penalties against Croatia in the Round of 16, those results against global royalty have both steeled the nation’s self-belief and made others view them as a serious player on the sport’s grandest stage.
With Hajime Moriyasu once again at the helm, Japan strolled through the AFC qualifiers becoming the first non-host nation to secure passage to North America. Central to this growth has been the experience of a multitude of players that now feature in some of Europe’s biggest leagues, including Doan who is in his ninth year abroad following a move from Gamba Osaka.
As one of the longest-serving Japanese stars in Europe, he’s keenly aware of the benefits that playing in a cut-throat environment at club level can bring to the national team.
“You have some players in good form, some in less good form, but what matters much more than that is having players who have tested themselves and who have the determination that comes from that. Having so many players like that in the same place is a big asset for us,” he said.
“The fact that a lot of our players are now playing in Europe is something that brings the standard of the team up to a global level. A lot of us are playing in the Champions League and the Europa League, and that marks a big step forward for Japanese football.”
Doan himself has embarked on a new challenge this season with Frankfurt, having made an off-season move from fellow German side SC Freiburg. As he explains to FIFA, it’s another step in a journey of self-discovery where he is learning to embrace and adapt to a footballing culture that is very different from the one he grew up with in Japan.
“It has helped me to appreciate not only the need for cooperation and the strength of unity we have with Japan, but also the individual skill that is required at [clubs like] Frankfurt. I’m grateful for the experience of playing with different teams. It’s given me the chance to compare them and see them from a different perspective.”
With the next edition of the FIFA World Cup™ now just four months away, Doan has gone from being a precocious talent to one of his nation’s brightest stars. Far from shying away from that status, it’s something he’s looking to embrace as Japan gears up for a group containing the Netherlands, Tunisia and a yet-to-be-determined European qualifier.
“No matter how old you are, there’s trust from the coach and from the rest of the team. I feel like I’ll be able to constantly improve, and come into the World Cup with a level of passion that I didn’t have last time around.
“I do have the sense that people are depending on me, so of course my own performance is important. I want to be the kind of player who makes his team a winning team,” Doan explains.
“I think we need the kind of players where the coach and the team can feel like ‘I know that I can count on Ritsu when he’s around’, or ‘Ritsu can help us settle down even when things get tricky’, or ‘if he’s standing strong, we stay solid as well’, that sort of thing. The best teams always have players like that.
“Obviously, I’m also keen to impress the fans and even our opponents, and I’d love to score winning goals if I can. Much more than that though I’m focused on how well the team does. Maybe that’s something that’s changed for me.”
Japan’s initial challenge in North America is a Dallas date with a Dutch side that Doan knows well, having spent five seasons in the Eredivisie with Groningen and PSV. He also knows the importance of making a wining start, as the nation did against another more fancied opponent four years ago.
“They [Netherlands] have got some outstanding individual talent. They’re a European side, but I also feel like a lot of their players have a bit of African or South American influence as well. They have plenty of guys who can push themselves to the next level, so it’s important for us to match them in terms of individual ability.
“Of course, we have to go all out with a focus on winning, since it would be a real boost to get off to a winning start.”
The remaining four months loom as a critical moment for both the national team and for Doan himself. Although Frankfurt have been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League they are still in the upper half of the Bundesliga and now under the guidance of recently appointed head coach Albert Riera.
For Japan, March sees banner international matches against fellow World Cup qualifiers England and Scotland where Doan can be expected to be heavily involved.
“Those matches are an opportunity to challenge ourselves in a number of ways and it’s vital to have opponents who mean business. There are a lot of things we want to try out,” explained Doan.
“I’m working on a number of different things here [at Frankfurt], and there’s going to be a lot happening with the new coach coming in, but I’m not going to lose sight of myself, and I’ll be preparing carefully with one eye on the World Cup. The best way to be ready is to approach matches in a positive mindset, and that’s what I intend to do.”
