Former Star Backs Moriyasu Despite Japan's World Cup Elimination
Former Japanese defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka has urged the Japan Football Association to keep manager Hajime Moriyasu despite the team's group-stage exit from the 2026 World Cup, citing his strong leadership despite the early elimination.
Marcus Tulio Tanaka, a former Japanese national team defender of Brazilian descent, has expressed hope that the Japan Football Association will retain manager Hajime Moriyasu, despite Japan's recent group-stage elimination from the 2026 World Cup. Tanaka, a candid commentator known for frequently criticizing the Japanese national team, told NHK BS that despite Japan suffering five consecutive early eliminations in 2002, 2010, 2018, 2022, and 2026, Moriyasu's overall performance warrants extending his third contract. "The eight-year struggle has been extraordinary," Tanaka said. "Even today, if we had made better substitutions from the bench, we might have won. But I still think Moriyasu should continue. He's an outstanding person, and that's why everyone is willing to follow him."
