The Japan Beach Soccer National Team, who got through the group stage with two victories and a loss in FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015, had a one-day break due to the tight schedule so far with consecutive matches and practice sessions. The players focused on recovering before they restarted their training. Then they held an open practice session at the stadium, feeling refreshed, prior to tomorrow’s game.

The players started their one-hour session as usual with some basic warm-up exercises, followed by mainly checking defensive tactics in preparation for the match against Italy, who topped group B with three wins. After concentrating on the practice session, they were all relaxed off the pitch, showing the team’s good condition and atmosphere.

In the evening meeting, the team watched videos of the Italy Beach Soccer National Team’s group stage games prior to the coming match.

It is the fourth time in total and in the second consecutive time that Japan have become quarterfinalists in the Beach Soccer World Cup. If Japan book a place in the semi-final by beating Italy tomorrow, it will have been 10 years since they last reached the penultimate stage in the first Beach Soccer World Cup in Rio de Janeiro in 2005.

Players' Comments

MAKINO Shinji (LEON FUKUOKA)
Although we lost to Portugal in the first match, our performance wasn’t bad, which led us to the next game. So we played well after that against Argentina and Senegal. I believe if we keep our spirits up and concentrate on our game, we can get a good result against Italy as well. Also, unlike the previous World Cup in Tahiti, we didn’t overreact and stayed calm when we got through the group stage, so that all the players could refresh their mind and get themselves ready for the coming matches. We’ll win tomorrow’s game, and become the semi-finalists, which we haven’t achieved since the first World Cup.

YAMAUCHI Shusei (G.C. Nerine)
We’ve been having a really good couple of days after the group stage prior to tomorrow’s game against Italy. As we also got to the quarterfinals in the previous championship, I feel like we can finally start our challenge now. I’d like to win tomorrow’s match and book a place in the final, let alone in the semi-final, so that we can contribute to Japan’s beach soccer. I know we can’t have this kind of opportunities so often. So I’d like to score for the team in tomorrow’s match and get a good result for our supporters.

ODA Hirofumi (TOKYO LEQUIOS BS)
The team’s condition has been getting better through each match since the championship started. In tomorrow’s match, I’ll try not to think that the opponent is Italy and will just concentrate on winning the game to push through what has previously been our ceiling - the final 8. I’d like to provide good news for Japan to contribute to Japan’s beach soccer.

Schedule

*Local Time

Japan's Record for FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup

7 World Cup Appearances: 26 games played for 6-2-18 / 71 goals, 113 goals conceded

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015

Thu. 9 July - Sun. 19 July 2015
Quarter-Final
Fri. 17 July - 1:00 (Japan Time)
 Japan Beach Soccer National Team  vs. Italy Beach Soccer National Team

More information