Karina Maruyama, a former member of Japan’s women’s soccer team “Nadeshiko Japan,” posted on Twitter that the Japan men’s team “will win” at the currently ongoing FIFA World Cup tournament in Qatar. Hence, voices were heard criticizing Maruyama for being an “amateur”.
“But am I not an amateur?”
It started with Maruyama’s tweet on December 3, 2022. On the previous day, the Japanese national team defeated mighty Spain and advanced to the final tournament in 1st place with 2 wins and 1 loss in the group stage. Mr. Maruyama said, “Somehow, it’s just a feeling, but I feel Samurai Blue will win.”
However, some Twitter users responded to this tweet: “It’s free if it’s just an amateur with no football knowledge.” During her playing days, Maruyama participated in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup and achieved victory, and Nadeshiko Japan received the People’s Honor Award. In this post, Tsukkomi went on to say, “It’s so embarrassing” and “You have exposed your ignorance.” Mr. Maruyama also retorted, “I’m not an amateur.” The poster deleted the tweet and the account.
Afterwards, Maruyama updated his Twitter account again, saying, “If I grumble about winning the championship, there will be people who will say something like, ‘I won’t win.’ Grieving the answer crushes hope.” But if I win I’m sure they will make a big mess. All players are aiming for the Scudetto! There is no player who does not aim for the Scudetto,” he continued.
Additionally, he alluded to winning the World Cup, saying, “We were told there was no way to win, so we were able to win. Whether we win or lose, the feeling of aiming is important and the feeling to believe is important.” Negative people I have never met or interacted with.
“Even if no one thought they were going to win, all the players were aiming for the championship, right?”
Later, on December 4, Maruyama also updated his Instagram, saying, “When I tweeted on Twitter that I felt I was going to win, I got a lot of different opinions. Is it okay if I mutter my feelings and sensations?”
“Even in our time, we’ve never won against Germany or the United States, and we’ve been told that it looks like both kids and adults are playing, and everyone around us doesn’t think we can win. All the players were betting at the championship, right? It doesn’t matter if they’re boys or girls, all the players fight with that passion. If you think you can’t do it, you lose, you lose, don’t. It’s better, I think the national team is like that.” More than when I was in 2010, I feel more now that I’m on the side of the fan, so I think that feeling will reach the players!”
In response to the series of posts, Mr. Maruyama received comments like, “These words are just because he fought Japan on his back,” and “The words of members who actually won the World Cup have a different weight. ”
