On April 9th, the candidates for the Japan National Football Team had a practice game with Ryutsu Keizai University, which was the last activity for the training camp that lasted for 3 days.

Zaccheroni, the Head Coach completely changed all the 23 players for both the first and the last half of the game. He closely observed the players who played in the match with the aim to be selected as a member of the Japan National Football Team. In the match, the team played in the 4-2-3-1 formation. The first half of the match started with Gonda Shuichi in GK(→Higashiguchi Masaaki), Imai Tomoki in DF, Shoji Gen, Yamashita Tatsuya, Yasuda Michihiro, Hasegawa Ariajasuru, Aoyama Toshihiro, Kudo Masato, Takahagi Yojiro, Saito Manabu and Toyoda Yohei in FW.

The players such as Saito and Kudo actively attacked with their techniques, but the team couldn’t score a goal and the first half of the game ended in 0-0.

The last half of the game started with Higashiguchi in GK(→Hayashi Akihiro), Shiotani Tsukasa in DF, Suzuki Daisuke, Mizumoto Hiroki, Makino Tomoaki, Takahashi Hideto in MF, Shibasaki Gaku, Ishihara Naoki, Haraguchi Genki, Minamino Takumi, and Kawamata Kengo in FW. Then later, Zaccheroni swapped Shiotani and Suzuki’s positions. Shiotani was placed in sideback and Suzuki was positioned in centre back. He also changed Minamino and Haraguchi’s positions. Minamino was placed in midfielder and Haraguchi was positioned in side midfielder. He then checked how they played in the positions.

The first goal was made after the changer of those positions. After 30 minutes in the last half of the game, Kawamata gave a volley kick to a cross coming from the right side, which resulted in a goal. After 5 minutes of this goal, Shibasaki’s ball hit the opponent then Minamino kicked the ball rebounded from the opponent, giving the second goal.
After the match, the players said that they wanted to continue to show their skills in their own teams and they left the site.

Comments from Head Coach and the players

Head Coach: Alberto ZACCHERONI
The biggest purpose of this training camp was to have a closer look at the abilities of the players I’ve been looking at from the stands so far. I wanted to check if the players could smoothly do their best with new combinations in a group they were not accustomed to. The important thing was not what they could do, but what they tried to do. I had them play in the positions which are different from the positions in their own clubs, but they gave me pretty positive reactions, which was good. They thought “Well, we could do well in those positions.” They did their best and showed me their techniques. I told them that I would keep watching them play and I hope they’ll stay healthy and keep their good conditions. For me, it was very meaningful 3 days. I’d like to think very carefully until the last moment to decide which players should be selected as the members of the Japan National Football Team. It would be difficult for me to decide because there are plenty of good players.

MINAMINO Takumi (Cerezo Osaka)
For me, it was a very great experience to have felt the atmosphere of the A national team. I’m sure I could make the most out of my strong points when I attacked. Still I need to make more effort…It’s the Head Coach who decided which players will be chosen, so I’d like to do my best in each match. I’d like to show the coach that I’ve been in a good condition and make good results in games so that he will find it hard to decide which players should play for the Japan National Football Team. Since I started to play soccer, the World Cup has been my dream. I’d love to play soccer there and I’m now close to my dream. My feeling for the World Cup has become even stronger so I want to do what I can do until the day.

SHOJI Gen (Kashima Antlers)
I watch Zaccheroni’s soccer, and I have this impression the when he builds up in the left side, then he defends in the right side, when he builds up in the right side, then he defends in the left side. In this match he emphasised about this, and also about building from the centre back and leading the ball. I feel that these 3 days have made me grown up more than enough. I’m not sure if a 21-year-old is young or not, but I’m glad that I could have the match of this level at this timing. I could also know more players. The coach told me “I’ll watch you play, so play with your style.”

SHIOTANI Tsukasa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
I could play and show my techniques well in both side back and centre back. When I was playing in side back, I could attack and give a cross and I think I could show my abilities when I attacked and gave a pass forward to feet. When I was playing in centre back, I think I did well to give a forward pass to feet, and there was no problem in defense because no opponent attacked. On the third day, I could attack better with other players because I got accustomed to the new team. I wish I could’ve done the challenge and cover a bit better…I’ll have the J league, and it’s the only chance for me to show my techniques so I’d like to play well.

KUDO Masato (Kashiwa Reysol)
Today I’m very disappointed because I wanted to make a good result, understanding the concept of the team. I couldn’t score a goal, but I think I could leave and impact. The World Cup will be held in Brazil, the country of soccer, and only 23 players will have the right to play there. I’m already excited and I really want to be one of the 23 players. What I will do first is to go back to Kashiwa Reysol and do my best for the team.