July 25, 2023

FIFA WWC 2023 ｜ Learn Real English

Learn Real English ｜ FIFA WWC 2023

FIFA WWC 2023 (Women’s World Cup) was one of this year’s hottest sporting events. What did sports commentators and fans think about the Japanese team performance this year?

Let’s take a look at some interviews and reactions to the games. Let’s see what was said, learn some of the key phrases, and how to use them.

FIFA WWC 2023（女子ワールドカップ）は今年注目されたスポーツイベントの一つでしたね。スポーツコメンテーターやファンは、今年の日本代表についてどのように考えているのでしょうか。

インタビューや試合のリアクションについて見ていきながら、そこより重要なフレーズとその使い方を学んでみよう。

FIFA WWC 2023 Japan vs Zambia (Highlights)

English Stripped Bare - B. Bearington & Naomi Culture & Sports; FIFA WWC 2023 Soccer Football — Japan’s 2023 Soccer Team on the Field

How do you think this team is gonna go in 2023?

Japan is always technically very, very good, as we know.

You know, they’re a country that is known for their technical ability on the pitch. And I think with Japan for this year, I think they’re in a bit of a rebuilding stage.

They’ve got a lot of younger players coming through. I don’t know if they’re at the peak of where they were, um, you know, in 2011. And I think it’s gonna be a tough World Cup for them this year.

They are managing to find the gaps and looking to exploit them again. And that’s a terrific effort!

Hasegawa (Yui Hasegawa) to Fujino (Aoba Fujino). Lovely play again and inviting. Crossover to finish! Miyazawa (Hinata Miyazawa) just scored for Japan.

Shimizu (Risa Shimizu) great vision again. Endo (Jun Endo) Tonaka (Mina Tanaka).

This looks like being the second.

And they got a third. And Miyazawa (Hinata Miyazawa) has got her second of the night.

A lot of space developing on the left here for Jun Endo. She could be it for number four! Beautifully dispatched. Japan are running away with this.

Ueki (Riko Ueki) strokes it in this time. Japan have five. A top class performance.

FIFA WWC 2023 Japan vs Costa Rica (Highlights)

Japan are leading the way in Group C thanks to their impressive five nil win over Zambia.

They’ll be out for another big result when they face Costa Rica in Dunedin. One more win would all but secure their place in the round of 16.

Now keep your eyes out for Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa. She bagged a double and she’s only just getting started.

Tanaka (Mina Tanaka). Naomoto (Hikaru Naomoto)! And the rebound. Oh, two players got each other’s way. Fujino (Aoba Fujino) and Shimizu (Risa Shimizu). Both were lining up the shot, but neither took control of the situation. That’s a mistake and pushed away by Yamashita (Ayaka Yamashita). Um, Chinchilla (Priscila Chinchilla) couldn’t get on the end of it.

Miyake (Shiori Miyake). Tanaka (Mina Tanaka). Oh, there’s a slip by the defender and Japan might be in behind here. And they get the opening goal. Hikaru Naomoto. It’s a fine finish despite the best efforts of the goalkeeper.

Fujino (Aoba Fujino). Bearing down on goal. It’s a tight angle but she makes the most of it. And Japan score twice in quick succession. Aoba Fujino makes it two-nil. And Costa Rica must be fearing the worst.

FIFA WWC 2023 Japan vs Spain (Preview)

Japan are one of just four nations to have lifted the World Cup and have every chance of beating Spain to top spot in the group.

The final group game sees the top two meet, meaning they’ll have to get the job done against Costa Rica and Zambia to put themselves in a position where a draw could be enough to hit top spot on goal difference.

Spain are the *top seeds in this group, with a world ranking of six and having lost just lost just one of their last 11 matches.

The Spanish had a turbulent time over their quarter-final exit at the Euros, with 15 players refusing call-ups to pressure the Spanish FA (football association) to sack coach Jorge Vilda.

It’s hard to look past the Spanish here. They may have had internal issues over the last 12 months, but if anything it’s made them stronger and they should have too much for a Japanese side in transition.

FIFA WWC 2023 Japan vs Spain (Highlights)

As Japan race through the middle for their first big chance of the night. And they take the chance as well through Hinata Miyazawa. That is an excellent finish by Miyazawa.

And here they come again, breaking right through the middle with Miyazawa who has the support of Ueki.

Riko Ueki has scored another one for Japan!

Needed a bit help on its way to beat Misa Rodríguez!

Ueki. Look at this! They are racing forward again. They’re hurting Spain every time they get in these areas.

Oh wow! What a finish from Miyazawa (Hinata Miyazawa). This is quite remarkable from Japan.

Here is Tanaka (Mina Tanaka) for Japan to rub salt into the wounds. What a finish. Typical of Japan’s night that Mina Tanaka’s done that.

It’s finished. Japan four, Spain nil.

FIFA WWC 2023 Japan vs Norway (Preview)

We now know who is advancing in Group A. It is going to be Norway and Switzerland. And Norway absolutely drubbed the Philippines; six-nil.

And the Philippines, that was going to be such an incredible story. It was looking like it was going to be, um, maybe one of the underdogs of this tournament. Sadly, their journey ends. But, lots to be proud of for them.

And you know, Norway comes in when they finally get all their, you know, they’re banging on all cylinders. It’s a beautiful thing.

And now they go up against Japan, who had another big win and this is going to be one of the matches of this tournament.

Yeah! Oh, there’s a perfect transition. Thank you.

So, in Group C we have Japan and Spain advancing. We knew that those were the two teams that were going to be getting out of the group. We just didn’t know who was going to come out on top, but, as Alexis so eloquently mentioned, um, they absolutely took it to Spain. A 4-nil win for them. They are looking scary good.

Basically, Netherlands and Spain play very… a similar style. Spain being better than Netherlands and you saw how much trouble the U.S. had.

Japan, for me, is… is very predictable in the way that they play. A super pragmatic. They get in their little blocks and they look to counter. In transition they’re super dangerous. Transition and counter attack is the only way they’re going to beat you. That is it.

It is what they’re best at.

FIFA WWC 2023 Japan vs Norway (Highlights)

Miyazawa (Hinata Miyazawa).

Oh, little deflection. It’s up and it’s in! It’s an own goal.

Mikalsen (Aurora Mikalsen) was desperately trying to stretch to get that.

There it goes to Greta Hansen for the first time. Really for the whole evening. Risa’s (Vilde Boe Risa) cross. Great. And one-one! Oh, that’s terrific. What a leap by Guro Reiten.

Graham Hansen (Caroline Graham Hansen), trying to make things happen. That’s a deep cross which has stayed in. And the goalkeeper has kept it out on field. It’s an absolutely brilliant segue by Yamashita (Ayaka Yamashita).

Endo (Jun Endo). Yui (Yui Hasagawa) passes it to a penalty area by Miyazawa (Hinata Miyazawa). Boe (Vilde Boe Risa) gives it away! Gives it away to Yui Hasagawa because Risa Shimizu was waiting to score.

Japan, straight forward. Terrific pass. Miyazawa (Hinata Miyazawa). Going to finish the game off. Calmness, composure, she had it all.

It has finished here. Japan three, Norway one.

FIFA WWC 2023 Japan vs Norway (Post Game)

I have all the confidence in the world that they’re winning this World Cup.

What are you guys thinking?

Physically, the French will dominate. Um, like, I just think their stature, how much more physical they are in the game. I think they’re up to par technically, as well, and their depth, I think, is different than Japan. So, that’s who I’m gonna rock with. I’m gonna go with some of my French friends.

I’m going with France because… I can’t speak French, but I… I think that this squad will have seen Japan play a few games… where they’ve going to tactically tweak some things. So, by the time they get to the final, they’re gonna have a lot of tape on how Japan plays against certain styles.

Japan would not be first time winners and we have Japan.

No, yeah, we… Obviously Japan have been contemporaries of the US in sort of their dominance in a way.

They have one Wolrd Cup under the belt.

No, I think their style of play is so interesting. And you mentioned that, you know, they’re gonna be watching tape on Japan and be able to break through. I don’t think so.

I find that the Japanese’s style of play works against everyone. The way that they can keep the ball is so impressive but they also don’t need the ball.

FIFA WWC 2023 Japan vs Sweden (Preview)

Quarterfinal time from Auckalnd. Japan, everyone’s second favorite team with the football they’re playing in this tournament. They’re taking on Sweden. They’ve met seven times before. Sweden have only won once. Is that gonna be more of the same here? Japan look very good.

Japan look very good, but so does the Sweden team. These are the… This is the team that people sort of don’t always predict is going to win it because they’re not very… they don’t have a lot of flair. They don’t have that, you know, tiki-taka style of football, but they just seem to win games.

This is gonna be a good game because Ja… Japan… the Japanese team is looking very good.

You know, Hasegawa (Yui Hasegawa) in the middle, Miyazawa (Hinata Miyazawa) up top, and shored up by Saki Kumagai, who I’ve loved for so many years. She has so much experience with the center back position. So, this is a very, very good, slick Japanese team. So, this might be the game to watch for the whole tournament now.

What’s your prediction for this match?

I’m gonna actually go with a, pooooo… I’m gonna go with 2-1 Sweden.

Yeah? Regular time?

I think so.

Ninety minutes, 2-1Sweden; that would be a huge result and it would hurt, because I love this Japanese team.

I know.

They’re just pure vibes, aren’t they?

I don’t want to see them go out.

I don’t like this game, actually.

No, this is where it starts to be not fun.

FIFA WWC 2023 Japan vs Sweden (Highlights)

Asllani (Kosovare Asllani) delivers towards the back post. Pushed it away. Back in by Nathalie Björn. It’s gonna get a second bite. And it jets towards Magdalena Eriksson. Still there… Sweden!

And in by Amanda Ilestedt, who incredibly as a defender has her fourth goal at this World Cup. And Sweden leads.

Jonna Andersson with the corner (kick). Set pieces, always a danger for Japan.

Angeldahl (Filippa Angeldahl) no mistake. Sweden are too clear.

A goal now for Japan would make it really interesting. Janogy (Madelen Janogy) for tripping. Esther Staubli says ‘yes.’

Ueki (Riko Ueki)! Off the crossbar. And it stayed out.

Fujino (Aoba Fujino). Somehow it stayed out. Mušović (Zećira Mušović) got a touch. The woodwork played a part.

Fujino (Aoba Fujino) thought that was in and so did everyone else.

Here’s Endo (Jun Endo). Japan come again.

Into the net… (unclear). Thrust in by Hayashi (Honoka Hayashi), the substitute.

Japan one, Sweden two.

FIFA WWC 2023 Japan vs Sweden (Post Game)

You were convinced. You were convinced. Japan is the best. Japan can’t be touched.

Japan did not have a shot until the 68^th minute of this game.

But that goes credit to Sweden.

Japan was not on it.

But Japan gave up one goal all competition before this. They were beasts. I get why… I had them going, um, winning in this game.

I’m more surprised that they struggled to score throughout the entire game because they went, they out there, they implemented what they wanted to do. They kept possession. They were playing very nice football, but then when they got towards the Swedish goal they couldn’t shoot. Japan…

That’s called tactics. Why are you surprised?! It’s called tactics!

Japan, at times throughout this tournament, has taken advantage of opposition mistakes and Sweden, on the day, just didn’t make any.

The game plan works great for Japan when you’re patient. It’s still zero-zero, you can work the ball, but when you’re trailing it’s a whole different beast. And, and, and..

There was no space in behind…

Yeah, yeah…

And it was Eriksson (Magdalena Eriksson) and Ilestedt (Amanda Ilestedt) as centers, with Mušović (Zećira Mušović) in goal. It’s just super tough to break them down. And, and they had said; we’re gonna not give you any space in behind. Let’s see what you can do. And we’re gonna close you down right away when you get around 25 yards from our goal. And it worked to perfection until… Then in the end Japan started to come alive. It was too late.