|
Japan striker Keisuke Honda and captain captain Makoto Hasebe announced that Japan's 3-2 defeat against Belgium in their thrilling round-of-16 clash at the 2018 World Cup will be the last they play for their country. Honda, a 32-year-old who did not start a game in Russia, came on as a second-half substitute in Rostov as Japan let a 2-0 lead slip and conceded a third in the final seconds of stoppage time. Playing in his third World Cup, Honday was unable to help the Samurai Blue reach the quarterfinals for the first time in their history, and is stepping down just two games short of a century of international appearances. "I am concluding my career in the national team," the former AC Milan man said. "I am happy, because we have a lot of good young players, and now it is their turn to write the history of Japanese football." Honda has been encouraged by the showing of his compatriots in Russia, where he spent four years as a player for CSKA Moscow. "Maybe we gave the European crowds a message that they should bring more Japanese players, not even national players. I hope they will now take a lot of new talents." Honda also has a decision to make regarding his club career. After being released by Milan in the summer of 2017, he joined Mexican giants Pachuca, and according to reports in Japan prior to the World Cup, he will not extend his one year contract that expires later this month. Despite impressing in Mexico, he is considering offers from Europe as well as a return to Japan. The well-travelled Honda started his professional career with the J.League's Nagoya Grampus in 2004 before moving to the Netherlands and VVV-Venlo three years later. Hasebe, once heralded by former Japan head coach Alberto Zaccheroni as one of only two "true captains" he had ever managed along with Paolo Maldini, has also decided to step down from international duties. The midfielder, who plays in Germany for Eintracht Frankfurt, made 114 caps for Japan. "I would like to express my gratitude to my colleagues who fought together for about 12 and a half years since 2006, and to all the Japanese people who supported me so much," the captain said in a post on Instagram. "The time I walked with you is an important treasure for me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!," he added. "Last but not least, I am also a supporter of the national team. Let's dream about the Japanese national team together." Japan's squad was one of the oldest at Russia 2018, with an average age of over 28. With the majority of the squad set to be over 30 years old for the next World Cup in 2022, a new generation will need to pick up the mantle left by the likes of Honda and Hasebe.
|
