Samurai Blue received at Nissan Stadium ahead of Japan’s Kirin Challenge Cup game against Colombia
On Friday 22nd March, Ruy Ramos and the Japanese beach soccer squad did something that doesn’t come naturally to them and put on shoes to step out onto a grass football pitch.
Having conquered the continent just days before, the beach soccer stars walked out to raucous applause to the packed Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, to parade their newly-claimed trophy.
The beach soccer heroes were welcomed ahead of Japan’s Kirin Challenge Cup game against Colombia, held at Nissan Stadium on Friday, after winning the AFC Championship for the first time in eight years!
In winning the AFC Beach Soccer Championships in Thailand, the Samurai Blue sealed a spot in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2019, to be held in Paraguay later this year.
UAE, who finished the tournament in second, also qualify, as well as Oman who beat a plucky Palestine in the third-place play-off.
Ruy Ramos took the opportunity to address the crowd…
“We’ve conquered Asia for the first time in eight years! I believe that it is thanks to all of you that we have achieved this. Please continue to support the world of Japanese football.”
Watch the full video on the Japanese Football Association Facebook page right here – Goosebumps alert!
