Japan's World Cup exit fuels search for answers

Japan's World Cup exit fuels search for answers follows Japan’s 2-1 elimination by Brazil in the last 32, prompting midfielder Daichi Kamada to argue that football must become Japan’s top national sport for the team to win. Kamada, speaking after Asia’s leading side arrived in North America as an outside favorite, said Japan lacked quality and that progress depends on elevating the domestic game. Japan scored first against Brazil, but conceded the equalizer 11 minutes after the break, and Gabriel Martinelli scored in the 95th minute to send Brazil through. Defender Shogo Taniguchi said the broader World Cup process over the prior three and a half years was not negative despite the result. Japan reached the tournament via Asian qualifiers and then finished Group F runner-up after drawing with the Netherlands and Sweden and beating Tunisia. Their next event is the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in January.