Updated 12:30 | Posted 12:07 p.m
AUCKLAND/STOCKHOLM. It wasn’t just thoughts of celebrating the victory after the final whistle.
Jonna Andersson hurried over to a crying Maika Hamano.
– I told her that she has many championships ahead of her, says Andersson.
After extra time in the ten-minute extra time, the Swedish players could throw themselves into each other’s arms and realize the same thing.
There will be a semi-final against Spain on Tuesday.
At the same time, the Japanese players collapsed on the lawn. The team that impressed so much on the way to the quarter-finals must go home after 1-2 against Sweden.
Hamano in tears
Tears ran down the cheeks of several players and one of the most heavily voted was the super talent Maika Hamano, 19.
previousfull screennextJonna Andersson comforts Hamano while the rest of the players cheer
1 / 2Photo: PONTUS ORRE
Hamano has been successful in Hammarby during the spring and was substituted when Japan were chasing an equaliser.
– It is of course incredibly terrible. She is a fantastic footballer and I hope to be able to talk to her afterwards, says Madelen Janogy after the match.
“She’s on fire”
Both Janogy and Jonna Andersson play with Hamano in Hammarby.
– I tried to find her immediately. I know she’s passionate about this and gets very, very emotional. Like everyone else when you go out in a quarter-final, says Andersson.
The left-back also tells what she said to try to give comfort.
full screen Photo: PONTUS ORRE
– I tried to go there and comfort her a little and told her that she has many championships ahead of her. So I hope she can enjoy being here and move on, says Andersson.
Hamano: “Stort”
Maika Hamano has been pulled with a shoulder injury earlier in the tournament and made her first minutes against Sweden.
Even in the mixed zone after the match, tears flowed.
– Before this match… I really wanted to show what I can do and help the team. Play my own game. It’s incredibly difficult that it didn’t go all the way, she says.
– I am incredibly proud to have been able to play with such a skilled team with so many good players.
The national team captain Futoshi Ikeda believes that the WC will be a useful experience for Hamano and other young teammates.
– It means a lot that young players get the chance to face the world here and get that challenge. I hope they take that experience forward with them for what lies ahead, says Ikeda.
2023-08-11 10:09:39
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