MOSCOW, July 5, 2018, (BSS/XINHUA) – Japan coach Akira Nishino became the
fourth coach who will not continue as the head of their national team in the
wake of the World Cup finals, he confirmed on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters as the Japanese side returned to Tokyo following
their 3-2 defeat to Belgium in the last 16, Nishino admitted that defeat,
which came after Japan had been leading 2-0 with goals in the 48th and 52nd
minute, would be his last in charge.
“My contract ends at the end of this month and I have been working on the
assumption that this job would last from the moment I was appointed to the
end of the World Cup,” he said.
Nishino was only named as Japan coach two months ahead of the World Cup
finals, following the surprise dismissal of Vahid Halihodzic. The Japanese
Football Association (JFA) has said they will name their new coach before the
end of July.
Other coaches who are not continuing after the World Cup are Egypt’s Hector
Cuper, Poland’s Adam Nawalka and Oscar Ramirez of Costa Rica, while Spain
sacked Julen Lopetegui two days before the World Cup started and his
replacement Fernando Hierro was only put in charge on a temporary basis.
Japan captain Makoto Hasebe also confirmed he was retiring from
international football after representing his country on 114 occasions.
“People didn’t expect much of us and we were able to turn things around and
I think everyone got interested in football again, so we did a good job,”
Hasebe told reporters.