Second division soccer team Fortuna Düsseldorf is proud of its Japanese national player Ao Tanaka, who eliminated the German national team with his 2-1 winning goal against Spain at the World Cup.
“Of course it’s a shame for Germany, but we’re happy for our player and hope he stays in the tournament for a long time. That’s of course good for his increase in value,” said Fortuna’s sporting director Christian Weber on Friday.
Tanaka, who has a contract with the Rhinelanders until June 30, 2025, said from Qatar via the club: “After the win against Germany and the defeat against Costa Rica, there was a lot of talk from the outside about the fact that we won’t progress. But we believed in us and showed the qualities we have in the second half against Spain,” said the 24-year-old.
He always imagined a goal at the World Cup. “It’s amazing that I actually made it,” said Tanaka.