Nadeshiko Japan could not get through to the next stage, losing the last game of the group stage against France in the Algarve Cup. Japan will play a consolation match against the Iceland women's national team, against whom they have never played, to decide ninth and tenth places on Wednesday 11 March. Iceland rank 20th in the latest FIFA World Ranking, and drew with America in the last match of Group B.

On Tuesday 10 March, the team held their final practice session at the Algarve Cup in preparation for their last match. The players, who were on the pitch the day before, did some stretching and the ice break in order to recover, and the others, who were on the bench, practiced thoroughly from build-ups to shots.

After the Algarve Cup, the team’s next activity will be the last-minute camp just before the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada. So this coming match will be the final international friendly before the players for the World Cup are selected. The match is also essential for the team to identify problems while focusing on playing well. Miyama commented on their three-week communal life and training: ‘even though we can’t see the result yet, we’ve been practicing in order to hone each pass and play. We are better than three weeks ago, and I’m sure we’ll be ready for the World Cup.’

The last match of the Algarve Cup will kick-off 12:15 (21:15 Japan Time) on Wednesday 11 March.

Head Coach and Players' Comments

SASAKI Norio, Head Coach
In the meeting this morning, we shared our vision which was that we will learn from our mistakes in this championship in order to play better in the World Cup. What we’re trying to do can be quite tricky against an opponent with speed, power, and swift movement, if we lose our control in passing even in a little bit. Then we’ll lose our attacking opportunity. We know we have to improve the quality of our attack. As the players are talented enough, the staff’s job is to use them better.

In tomorrow’s match, we’ll bear in mind the tasks that need to be fixed, and finish the championship in a better way. We’ll intercept the ball as a team, while each individual will show her ambition.

DF 3   IWASHIMIZU Azusa (Nippon TV Beleza)
As there are many supporters encouraging us, I’d like to get a good result, hoping that will help developing women’s football. We’ll stay vocal, honing the defensive line or the distance between the defenders and the defensive midfielders, so that we can keep a clean sheet. I’d like to focus on reacting to speed and power, which we can’t experience easily in Japan. As international football is getting more and more organised, there are more teams using blocks. I’d like to see how to get through those teams, by us all share a collective vision. When I heard the match would be held on 11 March, it reminded me of ‘the day’. Of course, I have never forgotten about it, and I believe no one else has. I’ll play well, so that I can bring good news to Tohoku with a big smile.

Schedule

*Local Time