Nadeshiko Japan had the final tune-up session in Osaka on Sunday 6 March ahead of their fourth match at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics Asian Qualifiers Final Round against Vietnam.

With the first 20 minute of the session closed to media, the squad had practical training with an eye toward the matches against Vietnam on Monday 7 and DPR Korea on Wednesday 9. With two days after the third match, they have been preparing for the remaining two matches physically and mentally as well as removing fatigue.

Last year, Vietnam Women's National Team trained under Japanese coach NORIMATSU Takashi and got through the Asian Qualifiers second round (Currently Duc Chung MAI is taking up the position). While Vietnam have not earned any point in the final qualifying round matches against China PR, Australia and DPR Korea, the team troubled DPR Korea, where they lost 1-0, as they kept them scoreless until the closing minutes of the match.

Nadeshiko Japan coach SASAKI Norio says, "they are tenacious on defence. They don't allow us to score easily. And they are also a team who can play on counterattacks well. We will take proper risk management and go for a goal, keeping in mind of our attacking options and a hungry spirit.

The players are also focusing on the upcoming Vietnam match – "Each one of players needs to have mindset that we are the team” (Forward IWABUCHI Mana) and "We will go all out for a win and get a result.” (Defender KUMAGAI Saki)

The Nadeshiko Japan's match against Vietnam Women's National Team is scheduled to kick off at 19:35 at Kincho Stadium. Meanwhile, China PR meet Korea Republic at 16:35 at Yanmar Stadium Nagai.

If China doesn’t get one or more points, Japan's possibility to qualify the Olympics will remain alive. DPR Korea play against Australia at the same stadium at 19:35.

Players' Comments

MF #8  MIYAMA Aya (OKAYAMA YUNOGO BELLE)
We had prep workouts for the Vietnam match with a shared understanding to keep battling out as long as the hope is there. Like last year's World Cup, lots of opponents play differently against Japan. It's important to not only check their way of playing with video footage but also look carefully at the opponents during a match, attack with the ball moving and defend together. We have shown pitiful games to the people who've been supporting us. We will show a performance that can make them think like "those players are going to make it happen again."

DF ＃4  KUMAGAI Saki (Olympique Lyonnais/France)
We are going through and discussing defence among the players for our remaining two matches. Although we came here to keep a clean sheet in all the matches, we have kept allowing goals. We are going to hold on, commit ourselves and battle it out and try to challenge on the ball. We can't turn back the clock and chance what happened, and have no choice but to look forward. It's a difficult situation to qualify on our own. But as long as there is a possibility, we will go all out for a win and get a result in our remaining ones.

Schedule

*The schedule and venues are subject to change.

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