´My performance was a disaster´ – Tomiyasu slams own display in Japan´s defeat to Croatia

Takehiro Tomiyasu described his own performance as a “disaster” as Japan were knocked out of the World Cup by Croatia on Monday.

Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Maya Yoshida all missed their spot-kicks in a shoot-out following a 1-1 draw at Al Janoub Stadium, with Croatia advancing to a quarter-final against Brazil.

It meant Japan have been eliminated from all four of their round-of-16 appearances at the World Cup, while they have lost both of their penalty shoot-outs in the competition (also versus Paraguay in 2010).

Tomiyasu registered the worst pass completion rate of any outfield player to play the full 120 minutes (67.7 per cent), while he lost possession a game-high 27 times.

2 – Croatia have won both of their previous World Cup penalty shootouts (vs Denmark and Russia in 2018), while Japan have lost their only previous shootout in the competition (vs Paraguay in 2010). Nerves. pic.twitter.com/37FxulrCLp

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 5, 2022

The Arsenal defender, who also failed to make a single tackle or interception, was disappointed with his display and said Japan need to be “much, much better” in future.

“Of course, we are so disappointed with the result,” he said.

“My performance was a disaster so I am sorry for the team. I just need to be much, much better to help the team.

“It was not enough and also for the team, we did not deserve to win. We were so close to achieving our aim. They were better than us.

“I can’t be proud. I am not satisfied about what happened. This is football and we need to be much, much better to win against a stronger team.”

Tomiyasu will return to club duty with Arsenal now and will hope to feature in the Premier League leaders’ first match after the World Cup against West Ham on December 26.