May 28, 2021
Chiba – The Samurai Blue secured their spot in the next round of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup on Friday, with Werder Bremen striker Yuya Osako scoring four goals in a decisive 10-0 win over outmatched Myanmar in Chiba.
The result against FIFA’s 139th-ranked side ensured Japan of a first-place finish in Group F which also includes Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia with two games to spare.
“We’ve reached the next round thanks to the players working hard in each match to get results and improve themselves,” Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said. “Even after the result was more or less decided we stayed aggressive and kept going for another goal.
Daily Times
May 28, 2021
Japan thrashed Myanmar 10-0 on Friday to cruise into the third round of Asian World Cup qualifying, after protesters had raised anti-junta three-fingered salutes on and off the pitch.
Around 70 protesters gathered before kick-off outside the stadium in Chiba, near Tokyo, carrying pictures of detained Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and waving flags from the country’s 1988 uprising. And TV pictures showed a lone Myanmar player raising the Hunger Games-inspired three-fingered salute, commonly used by protesters. “This team doesn’t represent the Myanmar people,” a protester who gave her name only as A told AFP outside the stadium before the game. “This isn’t a protest against the players. We just want them to stop cooperating with the military junta.”
Yuya Osako's five-goal haul helped Japan to a 10-0 rout of Myanmar on Friday that sealed the Samurai Blues' place in the next phase of Asia's qualifying tournament for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Anti-coup protesters flash the three-finger salute during a demonstration in Yangon, Myanmar, on May 14. (AP Photo)
Missing up to 10 players who are boycotting the World Cup qualifier against Japan on Friday has ratcheted up the degree of difficulty for Myanmar against Asia’s top-ranked team.
Experienced stars such as defender Zaw Min Tun, striker Kyaw Ko Ko and goalkeeper Kyaw Zin Htet are among the players who are refusing to participate in international matches for Myanmar in protest at February’s military coup.
The struggle to assemble a team to face Japan, then Kyrgyzstan on June 11 and Tajikistan on June 15, meant that the national squad had to delay its departure to Tokyo from May 14 to 21.
Kyaw Zin Htet, who opted out of the games in Japan to take a stand against the coup, said his teammates should make a statement while the world is watching.