社説：なでしこ世界一 大輪咲かせた感謝の心

(Mainichi Japan) July 19, 2011
Japan's World Cup triumph an inspiration for now and the future
社説：なでしこ世界一　大輪咲かせた感謝の心

The morning of July 18 was a happy one in Japan, energizing the entire country.
　１８日は日本中が元気になる、素晴らしい朝になった。

The Japanese people, faced with so much sorrow over recent months, were able to rejoice at the news that the national women's soccer team had defeated the top-ranked United States in the Women's Soccer World Cup final, bringing the championship to Japan for the first time.
　ドイツで開かれていたサッカーの女子ワールドカップ（Ｗ杯）で、初めて決勝に進んだ日本代表「なでしこジャパン」がＰＫ戦の末、世界ランキング１位の米国を降し、初めて世界一のタイトルを獲得した。

The match, held in Germany, started at 3:45 a.m. Japan time, when most people are still in bed. However, for such a great event, there were many here that gave up sleep to stake out a place in front of the TV and cheer Japan's ladies on.
　米国との決勝戦は日本時間午前３時４５分開始という早朝の試合だったが、テレビの前で声援を送った人は少なくなかっただろう。

The odds were not in Japan's favor. The U.S. had won 21 of the two teams' 24 previous contests, with the remaining three matches ending in draws.
　米国とは過去２４度対戦し、２１敗３分け。まだ一度も勝ったことのない相手だった。

In the World Cup final, too, Japan gave the lead to the U.S. not once but twice, fighting back to tie the score both times with tenacity and steadfast determination, finally forcing the game into a penalty shootout.
この試合も２度先行を許す苦しい展開だったが、粘り強く食い下がり、

At this do-or-die moment, Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori proved her mettle with a truly spectacular save, giving her side the chance to seal a worthy victory against a team called the best in the world.
後はＰＫ戦でＧＫ海堀あゆみ選手がスーパーセーブを連発、最高の舞台で最強の相手から価値ある初勝利をもぎ取った。

Team captain and Japan nucleus Homare Sawa had her own starring role in the evening's drama, using the precious last minutes of overtime to knot the score at 2-2. Sawa also took home MVP honors for her astounding five goals over the course of the tournament.
　主将としてチームを引っ張る澤穂希選手は延長後半の貴重な同点ゴールを決め、今大会５得点で得点王とＭＶＰ（最優秀選手）を獲得、優勝に花を添えた。

Watching Sawa's many triumphs -- including that amazing overtime goal -- one is always moved seeing her joyful reactions, no matter how many times they are replayed.
澤選手の技ありゴールを含め、歓喜のシーンは何度見ても感動は薄れない。

This tremendous victory will certainly work as a great encouragement for Japan as it struggles to recover from the March 11 disasters and ongoing nuclear crisis.
東日本大震災からの復興を目指す日本にとって何よりの励ましとなる優勝だった。

However, it was not only the on-field heroics that have proven inspiring.
　感動したのは試合内容だけではなかった。

After every match including the final, the Japan team unrolled a banner reading "To Our Friends Around the World, Thank You for Your Support" and carried it around the edge of the pitch to great roars of appreciation from the crowd.
決勝戦を含め、出場したすべての試合後、なでしこたちは「世界中の友人たちへ　支援に感謝します」と英文で書かれた横断幕を手に場内を回り、スタンドの観衆の声援に応えた。

With people from all over the globe stepping up to help Japan in its moment of crisis, one could not help but feel a swell of emotion as the players spoke for their country to say a heartfelt thank you to the world.
今回の東日本大震災に際し、世界中から送られた支援に、なでしこたちが日本を代表して感謝の意を表してくれているようで、胸が熱くなった。

Japan, after defeating second seed Germany and then the mighty United States, is now the team to beat. 　「２強」といわれたドイツ、米国を破って一躍世界の頂点に立ち、これからは「追われる立場」となったなでしこジャパン。

However, except for a handful of players in foreign professional leagues, it is hard to say the Japanese women live in prosperous circumstances.
だが、海外のプロリーグに所属する一部の選手を除けば、選手たちを取り巻く環境は恵まれているとは言い難い。

Many company teams across Japan have been put on ice or axed outright, making it hard for players on the national team to both hold down jobs and get necessary playing time.
所属する企業チームの休廃部が相次ぎ、「仕事」と「サッカー」の両立に苦戦を続けている。

In the past, women selected to the national team had to pay half their own expenses for international tournaments.
　かつては国際大会の代表に選ばれても遠征費用の半分は自己負担だったという。

This championship team's predecessors had to deal with the pain of playing in so-called "minor events," and their sacrifice has finally borne fruit in the form of this World Cup victory.
「マイナー競技の悲哀」を味わい続けた先輩たちの犠牲の上に今回、大輪の花が開いた。

なでしこたちが「感謝の心」を忘れないのはそんな背景があるのだろう。

Increasing the number of players will be a key to the future of women's soccer in Japan.
　競技人口の拡大が今後のカギを握る。

Inter-high school sports events will include girls' soccer in a national sports meet for the first time at next year's Kita Shinetsu tournament.
全国高等学校体育連盟が主催する高校総合体育大会（インターハイ）で女子サッカーが実施されるのは来年の北信越大会から。

However, using the team's stunning World Cup triumph to provide young Japanese girls with global dreams with the structure to make them reality is now an urgent task for the nation.
今回のなでしこの活躍にあこがれ、サッカーを始めたいと思う少女たちの夢をかなえるための環境整備が急務だ。

All said, to all members of the Japan team, congratulations from our heart!
　ともあれ、なでしこジャパンの皆さん、本当におめでとう。

毎日新聞　2011年7月19日　2時31分