After playing a major part in Brighton's run to the FA Cup semifinals, Kaoru Mitoma believes Japan's World Cup hopes can be improved by having more players with experience going deep into knockout competitions with their European clubs.
The winger scored a memorable late winner against holders Liverpool in the fourth round before Brighton's eventual exit in a penalty shootout loss to Manchester United following a goalless semifinal at Wembley.
"Sometimes you cannot try out things in one-off cup games that you can in league matches. The tension is that much higher," Mitoma said recently. "You lose and you're out, and the fear and joy that comes with that is what football is all about."
The 26-year-old was appointed this year's official ambassador of Japan's Emperor's Cup, modeled after the FA Cup, and spoke proudly of reaching the last four of the sport's oldest competition, which began in 1871 in England.
"As expected, there was a difference in being watched not just by the supporters of your own team, but the whole country," he said. "They'd be watching you as semifinalists once you get to that stage, and it was something you seldom get a taste of."
"The supporters in England are really passionate and keenly aware of the FA Cup. I could sense it more as we progressed."
Going far in a knockout competition is something Mitoma is eager to replicate with the Samurai Blue, who have failed to win any of their four round-of-16 matches at the World Cup -- in 2002, 2010, 2018 and 2022.
"There's the tense feeling you only get to taste by being there," said Mitoma, who had his penalty saved during a shootout loss to Croatia at the World Cup in Qatar late last year.
"(Matches in the knockout stage) are where you can't bring out a play that you normally can. Whether as a team or an individual, there'll be a different part of your game required to play well and make the team win. Your mentality will also be tested."
Brighton's sixth-place finish in the English Premier League means Mitoma is set for his first taste of European continental club competition next season in the Europa League.
Mitoma, selected for Japan's upcoming home friendlies against El Salvador and Peru, hopes more of his Samurai Blue teammates get to test themselves in high-pressure situations in Europe and take the experience to future World Cups.
"For example, players who have played in the Champions League final might not be fazed at all by a World Cup quarterfinal," he said. "But we get a bit restless and nervous because we don't have that experience."
"Being able to stick closely to your usual game is important. Not doing that is likely to result in more mistakes."
