Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women's National Team) started their domestic training camp on 23 February in preparation for the Algarve Cup in Portugal, which will be held from 4 March.

It was an early spring-like day and very warm. The 21 players, excluding five players, who play abroad, joined the camp. They started the practice session with repeated sprints followed by signals and the ‘yo-yo test’, which measured players’ stamina. KAWASUMI Nahomi (INAC Kobe) and AZAMI Rie (AS Elfen SAITAMA), who joined the camp as trainees, lasted until towards the end of the tough session. Two of the five trainees, who joined this training camp, will be chosen as registered players for the Algarve Cup. So they were full of spirit, not letting their chance go by.

Then the players moved on to the passing training and a four-on-four practice game to finish their practice session. The players, who gathered together for the first time after a long interval, kept smiling and stayed vocal during the practice session.

The team will move on to Portugal, where the championship will be held, after finishing the domestic camp on 26 February. They will play their first match against Denmark on 4 March. Then they will meet Portugal on 6 March, followed by the game on 9 March against France, which the head coach Sasaki believes to be ‘one of the most in-form teams at the moment’. The team has to not only top group C, but also has to be in the top-two among the winners of group A, B and C, in order to play in the final on 11 March. They will continue training, aiming to win the championship as part of their future success.

Head Coach and Players Comments

SASAKI Norio, Head Coach of Nadeshiko Japan(Japan Women's National Team)
As each player got herself into good shape, we started our practice session very well. During this domestic camp, I’d like the players to be able to play for the whole 90 minutes at the Algarve Cup. We’re aiming to win the championship. I’d like to try out the players in different positions and also to find our challenges and tasks, as well as seek good results. We’ll share our vision and direction during the camp before they go back to their respective club teams to improve themselves. Then we’ll get together again in May. We are required to improve even more for the coming World Cup, compared to the previous one or the Olympics in 2012. I’d like each player to have her own target to take back to her club team. The strength of the team is positivity and cooperation. We’ll continue practicing hard from tomorrow.

MF  8   MIYAMA Aya(Okayama Yunogo Belle)
Although the players, who are based overseas, haven’t joined us yet, I think Nadeshiko Japan is always a positive and self-motivated team in any circumstance. Today we had our first practice session for the World Cup and every player stayed very positive. We haven’t got a second to lose with our limited practice time, as we aim to win the World Cup.

We’d like to win the championship in the Algarve Cup as well. I’d like to find out our level and our style through real matches. I also want to learn with our teammates what needs to be done before the World Cup during the coming championship.

FW  11   OHNO Shinobu(INAC Kobe)
The ‘yo-yo test’ was very tough, as it was the first time in a while. The camp started and I felt tense in a good way. Since the final members of the team for the World Cup are yet to be chosen, I’d like to focus on the coming the Algarve Cup. I’m always very keen on improving my whole game. I’d like to contribute to the team’s victory. As a forward, I’d like to focus on scoring, as we need goals to win games. There was a good atmosphere around the team today. I’d like to contribute to the team to make it more united right up until the final whistle.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

Schedule

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