One of the top soccer teams over the past six years will not be competing at the Olympics.

Japan, winners of the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, as well as the silver medalists in the 2012 Olympics and runners up at the 2015 Women’s World Cup, failed to make it through Olympic qualifying and will not be making the trip to Rio.

Japan was eliminated from the Asian qualifying tournament after going 0-2-1 in their first three contests. Nadeshiko got off to a rough start with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Australia. They only managed a draw against South Korea, a team they were heavily favored to beat, and a 2-1 loss at the hands of China all but sealed their fate. Victories by China and Australia in the fourth game sent them to the Olympics, and sent Japan home disappointed.

Questions about whether or not the team is focused have come from both inside and outside the team. Striker Yuki Ogimi mentioned prior to the team’s match against Vietnam that the players may not understand the situation they were in. Many took that as a personal attack against the the young players on the team, and tensions began to build within the locker room.

“It’s not really any one individual’s fault. We all need to be on top of things,” Nadeshiko’s striker Mana Iwabuchi said on Sunday, prior to being eliminated. “Me personally — and I don’t mean this to be a criticism of (Ogimi) — but I’m not sure if it was the right time or place to be saying what she said. She certainly hasn’t said any of that to our faces and I think if you have something important to say, there’s a way of saying it. If you read the stories that have come out since, it doesn’t look good. We’re in a situation where we all have to be on the same page and we don’t have the time.”

The greatest criticism of the team, however, came from former captain and 2011 FIFA Player Of The Year, Homare Sawa. Sawa, who retired last year, senses desire issues. “I know this sounds harsh but watching from the outside, I really wonder how many of the players are out on the pitch dying to win, giving it their all for the team,” Sawa said before Japan’s last match Friday, according to Kyodo News. “I don’t sense enough desire, to be truthful.”

Japan will be missing the Olympics for the first time since 1996.

What’s Next For Norio Sasaki?

(source: Japan Times)

Rumblings that Japan has been looking to make a change with the head coaching position took place prior to the qualifying tournament, but they amped up immediately after Japan was eliminated from contention. Head coach Norio Sasaki has been the coach since 2007 and lead Japan to their World Cup victory, but even he felt the pressure following their elimination.

"I thought we did a good job in the way we approached the game, but at the end of the day, we couldn't take all three points," Sasaki said following Japan's loss to Australia. "The players worked hard. I've got some self-reflecting to do."

Japan Football Association President Kuniya Daini said the women’s committee will do a full review of the tournament and make a decision regarding Sasaki, and mentioned that they would like to make a decision sooner rather than later.

"This team finished runner-up at the World Cup not that long ago, and his contribution to the women's game is immense," Daini said of Sasaki. "The women's committee will decide who is fit to coach the team. We have the next World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics to prepare for. It's better to act sooner rather than later."

Asako Takakura, four time Asian woman’s coach of the year and coach of Japan’s U-17 women’s team is on the short list of coaches to replace Sasaki, should they decide to make a change.