Category: Sports

Tags: Japan Football World Cup Tickets, Japan Vs Spain Tickets, Germany Vs Japan Tickets, Football World Cup Tickets

One of only five Japanese to have played in the top tier of Germany and Spain, Hiroshi Kiyotake is delighted to see his country join the former World Cup winners in Qatar World Cup Group E this year. The 32-year-old, who currently captains old club Cerezo Osaka in the J-League A, said his emotions weren't necessarily just nostalgia for his time in Europe, but that it's more coming from Japan to meet two titles favourites on the biggest stage. An agile striker with vision and delicate touch with his feet, Kiyotake was a key part of Japan's fourth place finish at the 2012 London Olympics, beating Spain 1-0 in their opener at Hampden Park. His only Football World Cup appearance was in Brazil in 2014, but he stayed on the bench when Japan lost 2-1 to Ivory Coast in a 0-0 draw with 10-man Greece. He came on with five minutes to go in the final group game against Colombia, in which the Blue Warriors lost 4-1. "From my time in the Olympics and the World Cup, I really felt the importance of the first game," he said. "Getting the momentum depends on that game."