ARLINGTON. This felt strange. This felt special. After all, the result is okay when it comes down to it.
But I probably don’t want to experience this again.
I didn’t feel well when I woke up this morning. And it was neither due to lack of sleep nor any residual causes from last night.
It was simply because I actually felt nervous.
And then I usually don’t get so nervous about going and watching football matches.
But this wasn’t just any other football match.
This was something I had both hoped for and feared throughout my life.
A “Makoto derby”.
Dallas cattle statues, football adorned. They did not take sides with either law. Photo: Makoto Asahara
Hummed along to both national anthems
It must be said that I got to be part of it when Japan and Sweden’s national team on the women’s side squared off in the Olympic quarter-finals on Japanese soil in 2021. It was a pers in itself must be said.
But this still felt worse.
After all, for the majority of my life I have dreamed, agonized and been emotionally affected by what “Samurai Blue” gets to do in a World Cup. And then it must be said that it wasn’t a law that you get peace of mind from following. 2018 drama against Belgium. 2022’s total rollercoaster to the group stage. For example.
And in 2026, a final World Cup group stage match against Sweden.
The national team you, for obvious reasons, watched the most, grew up with and know best without any doubt.
Just the fact that they hummed along to both national anthems really says everything about how strange this was.
Doubts were dispelled
If there had been any doubts before about what I actually hoped for from the match’s outcome, I noticed that they were quickly dispelled.
Because there was no doubt which team’s offense it was I was hoping would bear fruit as I sat in the press box.
Dutch goals away from home felt frustrating to witness in hopes of a first place finish. The Tunisian reduction, met with a huge, hopeful cheer from the stands, made me want to cheer too.
Likewise, the perfect strike that led to Daizen Maeda’s 1-0.
Then I went into a “job trance”
A goal that felt like a start to the hunt for first place and to avoid a Brazil date in Houston. A rather delicate balancing act also based on the fact that Sweden’s World Cup fate could very well end up on goal difference if there were only three recorded group stage points and a Japanese victory.
But before I could even make that consideration in my head, Anthony Elanga had beautifully slotted in to make it 1-1.
Shortly afterwards came the orange 3–1 goal.
And then you more or less went into some kind of “usual” job trance.
At the level that it barely affected me or was barely noticed when Alexander Isak was close to completing a turn. Or barely when the final whistle went and it was 1-1 on the board.
In a way, it was nice to be in that particular working mode then and there.
Everyone felt satisfied
The mixed zone after the match starts. The Japanese players come first. The Swedish players are a bit late. Questions are asked. Quotes are recorded. Texts are written. It’s international match coverage.
It is a completely normal mixed zone. All players still seem quite content and satisfied with a 1-1 result. Almost in a way the journalists too, although the Japanese are a little surprised that Sweden still felt that a third place was okay in the context (something I explained why they actually were). I really feel like I should be pretty happy with the whole thing too.
Because I really am 50-50.
Happy and grateful that it happened
Japanese mother. Swedish father. Japanese name. Swedish place of birth and upbringing. Certainly, I also really have a mindset and personality that is pretty much 50-50 as well, although sometimes it feels like it leans more in one direction or the other depending on where I am and who I’m with.
1-1 in the match as well. An innocent result which really should have been a dream result for me with the above in mind.
Japan will face Brazil – and I will support them as wholeheartedly as I usually do.
Sweden, we’ll see who they have to face – but of course it would be fun if it goes well, regardless of whether it’s France or Norway who stand for the opposition.
Although this was unforgettable, special and emotional, I feel here and now, on my way back to my highway motel for a last night before new WC adventures, that after all this took a lot of strength.
I probably don’t want to experience this again.
Although I am extremely happy and grateful that the lottery let me do it.
