20 June, Nadeshiko Japan had its training sessions in Vancouver for the first match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 Stage 2 against the Netherlands, which will kick-off in three days. 

Just the same as on the previous day, the training was open to media for the first 15 minutes and then they had another 90-minute closed-door session. They carefully checked combination and off-the-ball movement in some practical sessions, limiting the number of times touching the ball. Additionally, they had a session for penalty shoot out which will be applied from the Stage 2 should a game end in stalemate after Extra Time. 

The team has one week between their next match against the Netherlands on 23 June (24th in Japan) and their last match of the Group Stage which was held on 16 June (17th in Japan). The team’s Head Coach SASAKI Norio said that he has spent 2 days for checking the team’s basic movements carefully in their training sessions. 

SASAKI said, “The players have worked very positively. They also agree that they need to check it”, and continued, “their condition for the next match is pretty good. Now they have more variations to score from their flow of play.”

DF KUMAGAI Saki (Olympique Lyonnais/France) said, “The most important bit is just beginning now. How we defend together and how we play according to the time are what we have talked about as a team. We have to keep aiming at the opponent’s goal from the front.”

FW OHNO Shinobu (INAC Kobe) seems to expand her image of offense towards the up-coming match against the Netherlands; “ I want to consider very well what I’ll have to do at the final moment of going in to the penalty area”.

On this day, there were two of  first matches of the Stage 2 in other venues. In Ottawa, Germany who are top of Group B and the champion of past World Cup competitions in 2003 and 2007 beat Sweden who is in 3rd position of Group D 4-1.

In Edmonton, China who finished in 2nd position of Group A beat Cameroon who was 2nd in Group C 1-0. Germany and China got through to the last 8 by these matches. On 21 June, another 3 matches of Stage 2 will be held and one of them is between the host country Canada and Switzerland. 

Head Coach and Players' Comments

SASAKI Norio, Head Coach (Nadeshiko Japan /Japan Women’s National Team)
For these two days, we have checked our basic movement well and this was not particularly for the match against the Netherlands. The players worked very well for this type of training, agreeing with this had been what we needed.

As a result, they can produce more scoring varieties in their flow of play and their condition seems to be better. Both starting and substitute players play equally well so I just feel they have prepared very well as a team for Stage 2.

The players have already grasped ides about what types of players the Netherlands has by watching their recorded matches. We have heard that the Netherlands has such a humble but very strong challenging spirit as a first time competitor at this World Cup. We will face them with sense of risk management.

DF #4   KUMAGAI Saki (Olympique Lyonnais/France)
We could go through the Group Stage as a result of playing the matches as a team, but what is more important starts from here; I will do my best for the next match against the Netherlands. Defending the opponents consistently at the back was one of the good outcomes of our Group Stage matches and we could score at good times.

We want to keep making good plays that were found to be advantages after a lot of consideration. We consistently keep working on creating opportunities especially when we have the ball in the next match. 

DF #3   IWASHIMIZU Azusa (Nippon TV Beleza)
We have won the previous 3 matches experiencing a lot of things. Since I thought it would be ideal if we could keep winning finding out and adjusting issues as a team, we have made good results by doing that. It is advantageous for us that we have played twice in BC Plane, the next match venue. 

FW #11   OHNO Shinobu (INAC Kobe)
It is not easy to win hence the fact that we won the 3 previous matches in the Group Stage means a lot to us. It will be good if we can keep our level of play in any form after concentrating on the next match against the Netherlands, and it will be good if we can make a good result which will make people think “Japan is the world champion”. 

FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015

Second Stage Round of 16
Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women’s National Team)    vs.  Netherlands Women's National Team
Wed. 24 June - 11:00 (Japan time)

More information