After Japan defeated New Zealand in the Kirin Cup final, Japanese international Takefusa Doan was interviewed by Japanese media.

"I kept thinking I had to score. I always said it was my strength to aim for a goal in every match, but I couldn't score, which made me anxious. However, I believe I did what I could while considering what the team wanted to do alongside my own strengths. I was assigned to play on the wing, so I understood the intention and completed the requested task."

"If I were a wing-back, I wouldn't be able to get into such deep positions. It would be ideal to get in there, of course, but against World Cup opponents like Gakpo from the Netherlands or Vini Jr. from Brazil, I haven't recently had the intensity to get into such deep positions in those matchups. It was only because I was a winger that I could score that goal."

"I never doubted my own abilities, so there was always a belief in my heart: 'If I'm used in the front line, I can do it.' I'm also motivated by playing wing-back, so this is by no means dissatisfaction, but I've always told myself, 'If you let me work up front, I can do it.'"

"Although it was just one game, I don't think I'll be rated that highly, but I want to produce results like this regularly and also understand the meaning of this number, No. 10. So the contradiction will only grow, but precisely because of that, I tell myself I must deliver results. I don't plan to make excuses for it, nor do I plan to run away."

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com