One of the world’s top women’s soccer teams over the last few years will not be participating in the 2016 Olympics, as the Japanese Women’s National Team failed to qualify for this summer’s tournament in Rio de Janeiro.
Japan was officially eliminated from qualifying when China topped South Korea 1-0 on Monday, making it impossible for Japan to advance to the Olympics after suffering just one win, two defeats, and a draw in four qualification matches.
The absence of Japan in the women’s Olympic soccer tournament is very notable, given Japan’s recent performances on the international soccer stage. Japan finished as the runner-up in the 2012 Summer Olympics, losing to the United States. Japan also finished second to the United States in the World Cup in 2015 and defeated the US in the 2011 Women’s World Cup.
Japan’s women’s team not making it to the Olympics is a flat out stunner, but it figures to make the United States even more of a heavy favorite in Rio.
The manager of the team, Sasaki Norio, has stepped down from his role as manager of the team following their disappointing qualifying performance.
https://twitter.com/FullBloomGuide/status/706831699535990784
JFA president Kuniya Daini has confirmed 2011 WWC winner Norio Sasaki will resign as coach of Japan after 9 years pic.twitter.com/cEtDRjBPRE
— Ann Odong 🐨🇺🇬 (@AnnOdong) March 7, 2016
China and Australia will head to the Olympics out of the Asian qualifying rounds. Both squads were in the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada, bowing out in the quarterfinals to the United States and Japan, respectively. The draw for the Olympics will be held on April 14, giving us a first look at the groupings for this year’s women’s soccer Olympic tournament.
At least the Japanese Women’s National Team won’t have to worry about the growing list of health concerns surrounding the Olympics.
