アジア杯優勝 日本サッカーの進化を見た

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Feb. 1, 2011)
Asian Cup win reflects evolution in Japan soccer
アジア杯優勝　日本サッカーの進化を見た（1月31日付・読売社説）

Japan has recaptured Asia's top position in soccer through a team effort. Players beamed with delight as they hoisted the championship cup.
　アジアのチャンピオンの座をチーム一丸となって奪回した。優勝カップを高く掲げる選手たちの笑顔は輝いていた。

Alberto Zaccheroni's side beat Australia 1-0 in the final as Japan clinched the Asian Cup for the first time in two championships in Qatar Saturday night to win a record fourth title.
　サッカーのアジア杯決勝で、日本はオーストラリアを１―０で下し、２大会ぶり４度目の優勝を果たした。

The victory came as an exhilarating achievement amid a recent series of grim news events. We want to applaud the players for their strenuous efforts and the encouragement they gave us.
　暗い話題が多い中、久しぶりに胸がすくニュースである。私たちに元気を与えてくれた代表選手たちの奮闘をたたえたい。

The final was a thrilling seesaw struggle as the two teams fought scorelessly into extra time. Japan repeatedly fought off Australia's offensive, which took advantage of their aerial superiority, through the laborious efforts of goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima and other players.
　決勝は一進一退の息詰まる展開だった。日本は豪州の高さを生かした攻撃に苦しんだが、ＧＫの川島永嗣選手らが、再三のピンチを体を張って防いだ。

Tadanari Lee's volley strike in the second half of extra time, which scored the decisive point, was marvellous. We were amazed to see the stamina of Yuto Nagatomo, who cut through the opponent's defense on the left side and kicked a left-wing cross to set the stage for Lee's game-winning goal.
　延長後半、勝負を決めた李忠成選手のボレーシュートは見事だった。左サイドを突破して李選手のゴールを演出した長友佑都選手のスタミナにも驚かされた。

Zaccheroni praised his team, saying: "We're a great team. I want the Japanese people to be proud of this national team." Everyone must have felt reassured as they saw the players fight on unflinchingly in the face of offense by sturdy opponents.
　ザッケローニ監督は「最高のチーム。日本の皆さんもこの代表チームを誇りに思ってほしい」と語った。屈強な相手にひるまず立ち向かった選手たちを、誰もが頼もしく思ったに違いない。

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World Cup experience counts

In last year's soccer World Cup, Japan advanced to the final 16. Samurai Blue members at the time included Keisuke Honda and Makoto Hasebe, in addition to Nagatomo and Kawashima. All of them were core players this time.
　昨年のワールドカップ（Ｗ杯）で、日本はベスト１６入りを果たした。今回の代表チームの核になったのも、長友、川島選手のほか、本田圭佑、長谷部誠選手らＷ杯のメンバーだった。

Their experience of having achieved more than expected at the world's supreme soccer competition must have given them great confidence. They demonstrated skills and fighting spirit whereby they fought back without becoming upset, even when the team was in a disadvantageous position.
　世界最高の舞台で、期待以上の成績を残した経験が、大きな自信になったのだろう。彼らは、劣勢になっても浮足立たずに挽回する勝負強さを身に着けていた。

This was most clearly displayed in a quarterfinal match with Asian Cup host nation Qatar. Japan was forced to fight an uphill battle with most of the spectators cheering for the home team, and even had one player ejected with a second yellow card while the team was trailing 2-1. But Japan came out victorious as it managed to score two more goals in the remaining time.
　その最たる試合が、準々決勝のカタール戦だった。開催国相手の独特の雰囲気の中、警告による退場で１人少ない日本は、１点を追う苦しい展開となった。それでも２点を奪って逆転した。

In a semifinal match with South Korea, Japan lost its 2-1 lead as the second half of extra time neared its end, sending the game into a penalty shootout. Kawashima did an excellent job as he stopped the first two penalty kicks.
　準決勝の韓国戦も延長終了間際に追いつかれ、ＰＫ戦となったが、川島選手が立て続けに相手のＰＫを止めた。

That Japan narrowly won the game with its long-standing Asian rival helped bolster the team's solidarity. This could represent what the coach and players referred to as "growth."
際どい勝負を制することで、チームの結束が一段と強まった。それが、監督や選手たちが口にした「成長」であろう。

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Further efforts needed

Due to time zone differences, Japan's knockout tournament games were televised in the late night or early morning hours, but they chalked up high TV viewer ratings nonetheless.
　決勝トーナメントのテレビ中継は、時差の関係から深夜、未明だったにもかかわらず、高い視聴率を記録した。

Japan's national team became stronger with each group and tournament round game. Many Japanese people were wide awake, frantically rooting for the team when the final was televised here in the predawn hours on Sunday.
　試合のたびに強くなる日本チームに、昨日未明も大勢の国民が必死の声援を送ったことだろう。

Winning the Asian Cup boosts our hopes for Japan's performance in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The regional preliminary round for that championship will start this autumn. Other Asian countries most likely will step up their study of Japan with the aim of beating the reigning Asian champion.
　アジア杯を制したことで、２０１４年Ｗ杯への期待も膨らむ。その予選は今秋から始まる。アジアの各国は「打倒日本」を目指し、研究を重ねてくるはずだ。

We want Japan's national team players to further hone their skills and show their improved strength as Asian champions.
　日本代表選手たちも一層、技を磨き、進化したアジア王者の力を見せつけてほしい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 31, 2011)
（2011年1月31日00時57分 読売新聞）