Ｗ杯日本敗退 選手の奮闘に元気をもらった

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 2, 2010)
Samurai Blue lost, but they gave so much
Ｗ杯日本敗退　選手の奮闘に元気をもらった（7月1日付・読売社説）

Japan has missed out on making the quarterfinals at the soccer World Cup in South Africa. Takeshi Okada's side fell one hurdle short of the last eight--a stage Japan has never reached at a World Cup. Despite this, the Samurai Blue displayed their skill and never-say-die attitude on soccer's grandest stage. We applaud the players' brave efforts.
　日本のサッカー史上、初めてとなるベスト８には、またしても手が届かなかった。しかし、日本代表の選手たちは、最高峰の舞台で、力を存分に発揮した。健闘をたたえたい。

In the first round of the knockout stage, Paraguay defeated Japan in a penalty shootout. Japan's campaign ended at the same stage as it did in the 2002 World Cup, when Japan and South Korea cohosted the event.
　サッカーのワールドカップ（Ｗ杯）南アフリカ大会の決勝トーナメント１回戦で、日本はＰＫ戦の末、パラグアイに敗れた。２００２年の日韓大会と同じ成績で、日本のＷ杯挑戦は終わった。

The Japanese players played with a steely determination. Japan did not give an inch to Paraguay, a team known for strong defense and rapid counterattacks. Defenders such as Yuji Nakazawa and Yuichi Komano were outstanding at keeping the Paraguayans at bay.
　堅守速攻が身上のパラグアイに対し、日本は、中沢佑二選手、駒野友一選手ら守備陣の体を張った守りでわたりあった。

It was a down-to-the-wire defeat in a game that ended in a goalless draw after 120 minutes, including 30 minutes of extra time. Komano, who missed his penalty kick in the shootout, must feel extremely disappointed, but we hope he comes back to Japan with his head held high.
　延長戦を含め１２０分を戦った末の紙一重の敗戦だ。ＰＫを外した駒野選手は悔しいだろうが、胸を張って帰国してほしい。

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Confidence after each game

The Samurai Blue seemed to grow in confidence with each of the four matches they played in South Africa. Their teamwork and willingness to work for one another helped them knock over some of soccer's leading nations, and gave off an aura of reliability.
　Ｗ杯の計４戦、日本代表は１戦ごとに自信を得て、強くなった。チーム一丸となって強豪国に挑む姿には、頼もしさを感じた。

Okada's tactics successfully squeezed every drop of ability from his players.
選手の持ち味を引き出した岡田武史監督の采配(さいはい)も奏功した。

We think the team made Japan's presence felt in the soccer world.
　日本の存在感を、世界に向かって十分に示したといえる。

However, Japan's valiant efforts were still not quite enough. Okada said after the loss to Paraguay, "I think this tells you it's still not easy to advance further [at the World Cup]."
　だが、世界の壁は、やはり高かった。岡田監督は、「まだまだ、そんな簡単じゃないよと言われているんだと思う」と語った。

Japan's defensive organization proved effective at the World Cup, but the team's evident inability to score was their undoing. The players could not convert the few chances that came their way. A cure for this lack of killer instinct in front of goal will need to be found before the next World Cup rolls around in four years.
　日本の守備力は、Ｗ杯でも通用したが、明らかに足りないのは得点力だ。少ないチャンスをものにすることができなかった。４年後の次回大会までの宿題である。

The entire nation was swept up in a wave of excitement whenever Japan played. The viewer rating peaked at 64.9 percent during the Japan-Paraguay game.
　日本代表の試合の度に、列島は大いに盛り上がった。パラグアイ戦のテレビ中継の瞬間最高視聴率は６４・９％に達した。

Many people must have enjoyed the sense of unity that comes from cheering for the national team with others, and been energized by the players. We felt once again the great power that sports can provide.
　みんなで日本代表を応援する一体感を味わい、選手たちから元気をもらった人も多いのでないか。スポーツが持つ力の大きさを改めて実感する。

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Hard work finally pays off

In the four years since being bundled out at the group stage in Germany in 2006, the Japan team failed to reach any great heights. Many people lost interest in a team they thought lacked "star" players. Vacant seats stood out at stadiums during international friendlies.
　前回のドイツ大会で惨敗して以降、日本代表の戦績は上がらず、スター不在の代表チームへの関心も薄れがちだった。海外チームとの親善試合でも、スタンドには空席が目立った。

But as the Samurai Blue started to play well, the public began to get behind the team. Some players such as Keisuke Honda will now be known in soccer circles around the world after their sparkling World Cup performances.
　しかし、代表チームが強ければ、注目度も高くなる。本田圭佑選手らの名は、Ｗ杯を通して一気に知れ渡ったはずだ。

Japan is bidding to host the World Cup in 2022. Japan's efforts in South Africa could boost sentiment in favor of this bid.
　日本は２２年のＷ杯招致に名乗りを上げているが、今回のＷ杯は、機運を高めるきっかけになるかもしれない。

We hope the players will use their experiences in the World Cup to further hone their skills in the J.League and overseas to raise the overall level of Japanese soccer.
　選手たちは、この経験を糧に、Ｊリーグや海外のチームでさらに技を磨き、日本サッカーのレベルアップにつなげてほしい。

Let us set aside the dream of making the last eight in the World Cup--or even the semifinals as Okada had targeted this time--for four years.
　Ｗ杯でのベスト８、さらに、今回の目標だったベスト４の夢は、４年後までとっておこう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 1, 2010)
（2010年7月1日02時09分 読売新聞）