On 2 May, the head coach Norio Sasaki of Nadeshiko Japan, Japan Women’s National Team, announced the roster for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2014, which includes MF Sawa Homare and MF Miyama Aya from the FIFA World Cup 2011 championship team as well as four first-time selections. The AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2014 takes place in Vietnam from 14 May and also serves as a qualifier for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015.

Although they won the World Cup three years ago, Nadeshiko Japan have never won the Asian Cup before, ending up at the second place in 1986, 1991 and 1995 and third place in 2008 and 2010. Head Coach Sasaki enthusiastically says “I will prepare with these players for winning the Asian Cup and clinching the spot in the World Cup.”

Expectations of Youngsters

Since winning the silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics, Sasaki has tried to improve the team overall and its depth.
In March this year, while Nadeshiko Japan competed in the Algarve Cup in Portugal, U-23 Japan Women’s National Team participated in the La Manga Women Tournament in Spain to raise the level of second tier players and recruit good players out of them. In addition, matches of this season’s Nadeshiko League and its players have been closely analysed for good talents. As a result of those searching efforts, the newly-announced roster includes MF Naramoto Hikaru from the league-leading Urawa Reds Ladies and three other up-and-coming players.

Since this Asian Cup is not listed on the FIFA Women’s International Match Calendar, the JFA has petitioned the FIFA and AFC to consider it as official matches so that the team can invite players in the leagues outside of Japan. Although the rating hasn’t been changed, four such players are now on the roster thanks to the goodwill by the clubs they play for.
FW Ogimi Yuki is scheduled to play only in the group stage matches. Considering the team being short-handed, Sasaki expects young players to step up, saying “I have extremely high expectations for the players I have selected. I want them to be confident and get even better.”

Increased World-Cup Spots for Asia

Since this Asian Cup is not listed on the FIFA Women’s International Match Calendar, the JFA has petitioned the FIFA and AFC to consider it as official matches so that the team can invite players in the leagues outside of Japan. Although the rating hasn’t been changed, four such players are now on the roster thanks to the goodwill by the clubs they play for.
FW Ogimi Yuki is scheduled to play only in the group stage matches. Considering the team being short-handed, Sasaki expects young players to step up, saying “I have extremely high expectations for the players I have selected. I want them to be confident and get even better.”

In the group stage of the Asian Cup, Japan will take on the defending champion Australia on 14, the host country Vietnam on 16 and Jordan on 18.
The top five teams out of the eight teams competing in the Asian Cup will get spots in the World Cup. Therefore becoming one of the four semi-finalists by being the top two teams in the group will automatically secure the ticket to the World Cup along with the winner of the fifth-place match.
Sasaki is not overly optimistic because he thinks those increased spots have given other teams extra motivation.
“Teams have put so much effort for improvement to get that fifth spot. We can’t really evaluate them only by watching films. We have to be mentally strong and match their will to win.”

Nadeshiko Japan will start their preparation camp in Japan from 5 May, and have a match, titled as Nadeshiko Japan World Match, against New Zealand at Kincho Stadium in Osaka on 8 May.
“New Zealand is similar to Australia, our first opponent in the Asian Cup, in terms of playing style and abilities of each player. So it’s good for us to play against them. They have improved their basic skills, ball movement and team defence, so it will not be easy for us. But we want to win the match and get good momentum going for the match against Australia.” says Sasaki.

Please keep an eye on Nadeshiko Japan and its new players.

Comment From Head Coach

SASAKI Norio, Head Coach, Japan Women’s National Team
Given the various circumstances, this is the best roster I picked. There is no reason for me to say this team isn’t good enough to win the Asian Cup. There are some players who have never played on the national team before, but my conclusion is we will be good enough by getting ready during this preparation period and growing teamwork on and off the pitch with Miyama leading the way. They have been playing very well lately, so I expect them to keep playing that way in this tournament. In the Asian Cup, high temperature, high humidity and tight schedule which has only one day between matches will be tough for us, but it will tough for our opponents as well. The first match against Australia will be the key in our group. We will get out of the group stage, get the World Cup spot and then play the knock-out stage. Winning the championship is our clear goal.

Schedule

※From 13 May  The time shows local time.