.jpg?w=2400&h=1350&q=80)
AFC Asian Cup
Suzuki endured a baptism of fire at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ when, as a raw 21-year-old, he made several costly mistakes on the way to the country’s quarter-final exit at the hands of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
But, having since established himself at both club and international level, the towering goalkeeper is keen to pay back Moriyasu as the Japan head coach prepares for his final tournament in charge of the national team.
But, having since established himself at both club and international level, the towering goalkeeper is keen to pay back Moriyasu as the Japan head coach prepares for his final tournament in charge of the national team.
“He's a great manager,” Suzuki, who recently joined English Premier League side Aston Villa, said of Moriyasu. “For him, we want to get a title in the Asian Cup.
“We know that the Asian Cup is not easy to win, and also the last time I played for the first time, I played very badly and I led the team to defeat."
“We know that the Asian Cup is not easy to win, and also the last time I played for the first time, I played very badly and I led the team to defeat."
“So this time I have experienced a lot of things and I played in the World Cup and I'm playing in the Premier League, so I have confidence and I want to help the team and we are confident of winning the Asian Cup.”
Japan have not won the AFC Asian Cup since securing a record fourth title in Qatar in 2011, with the country coming closest to a fifth crown in 2019 when Moriyasu’s team lost to the Qataris in Abu Dhabi.
The former Sanfrecce Hiroshima coach has confirmed he will leave his role with Japan following the conclusion of the AFC Asian Cup after more than eight years in charge, to be replaced by two-time AFC Coach of the Year Go Oiwa.
Japan have not won the AFC Asian Cup since securing a record fourth title in Qatar in 2011, with the country coming closest to a fifth crown in 2019 when Moriyasu’s team lost to the Qataris in Abu Dhabi.
The former Sanfrecce Hiroshima coach has confirmed he will leave his role with Japan following the conclusion of the AFC Asian Cup after more than eight years in charge, to be replaced by two-time AFC Coach of the Year Go Oiwa.
.jpg?w=2400&q=80)
Japan started their preparations for the AFC Asian Cup during the recent international window with wins over Uruguay, Venezuela, Ecuador and New Zealand and have only two matches left to fine tune their squad ahead of the kick-off in Saudi Arabia on January 7.
Despite the short period remaining to fine-tune the squad, Suzuki is confident the team will be ready.
“I don't think so,” he said when asked if there was anything the squad needed to work on in the upcoming window, when they will face Brazil in Singapore.
“(Brazil) will for sure be better than these four teams. And also after we lost against Brazil in the World Cup, so we are very looking forward to playing against them again. Individually now we are going back to the clubs, so I want to make a good performance at the club and we want to improve.”
Despite the short period remaining to fine-tune the squad, Suzuki is confident the team will be ready.
“I don't think so,” he said when asked if there was anything the squad needed to work on in the upcoming window, when they will face Brazil in Singapore.
“(Brazil) will for sure be better than these four teams. And also after we lost against Brazil in the World Cup, so we are very looking forward to playing against them again. Individually now we are going back to the clubs, so I want to make a good performance at the club and we want to improve.”
.jpg?w=2400&q=80)
Suzuki’s career has blossomed since his difficulties at the last AFC Asian Cup. He moved from Sint-Truiden in Belgium to Italian side Parma and from there switched during the summer to Aston Villa, where he has made a positive start to life in the Premier League.
“It's been great,” he said of the move to England. “Everyone helped me a lot and I've settled in. I like the environment. I like the way we play, the way the manager plays. I'm very comfortable playing."
“It's been great,” he said of the move to England. “Everyone helped me a lot and I've settled in. I like the environment. I like the way we play, the way the manager plays. I'm very comfortable playing."
.jpg?w=2400&q=80)
“(There’s) more intensity, and the speed is faster. So it's not easy to adapt. But I played, I don't know, four or five games now. And I found out that there's something that I have to include more. I want to improve more and more.
“I haven't changed many things but Aston Villa try to play from the goalkeeper, so I think my role is very important for the team. And also every teammate knows my strengths so I can play comfortably.”
Japan have been drawn in Group F of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 alongside defending champions Qatar, Thailand and Indonesia.
Photos: AFP, AFC
“I haven't changed many things but Aston Villa try to play from the goalkeeper, so I think my role is very important for the team. And also every teammate knows my strengths so I can play comfortably.”
Japan have been drawn in Group F of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 alongside defending champions Qatar, Thailand and Indonesia.
Photos: AFP, AFC
