The shortlisted squad of U-15 Japan National Team, eyeing for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017, had team’s inaugural practice matches. 

Practice Match 1: against Gamba Osaka Youth

In the morning, Japan took on Gamba Osaka Youth. In the 3rd minute, Mikuni Kennedy Ebusu opened the scoring, but the first half ended at 2-2. After the score remained tied, in the 86th minute, Yoshioka Minto snatched a decisive goal to give his side the first-ever win.

Practice match at February’s domestic training camp (West Japan)
Sun. 22 February 2015, Kickoff:10:00, Playing time:90 min(45-min halves)
J-GREEN Sakai (Sakai, Osaka)

U-15 Japan shortlisted squad  3-2 (1st 2-2, 2nd 1-0)   Gamba Osaka Youth

Scores
3min     MIKUNI Kennedy Ebusu(U-15 Japan shortlisted squad)
6min     OG(Gamba Osaka Youth)
33min   OG(Gamba Osaka Youth)
44min   SUGAWARA Yukinari(U-15 Japan shortlisted squad)
86min   YOSHIOKA Minto(U-15 Japan shortlisted squad)

1st Half Squad
GK: OGATA Shohei, FUJIMOTO Mizuki
DF: TOKUNAGA Haruto, SAKUTA Ryutaro, KAWAI Tetta, KENMOTSU Takumu
MF: KAWAHARA Atsushi, SUZUKI Toichi, KUDO Aoi, SUGAWARA Yukinari, FUNAKOSHI Hiromu
FW: MIKUNI Kennedy Ebusu, KATSURA Rikuto, ISHII Kaisei

2nd Half Squad
GK: NAGAE Yuma, FUJIMOTO Mizuki
DF: FUKUSHIMA Yukito, SHINODA Kensei, WATANABE Souta, ISHIKAWA Masato
MF: AWANO Kento, KIDA Hinata, DEGUCHI Taiyo, YOSHIOKA Minto, NARUSE Shunpei
FW: SHINONAGA Yudai, HIDAKA Tomoya, HATTORI Kohei

Head Coach and Players Comments

MORIYAMA Yoshiro, Head Coach
That was the first match for the newly-launched Japan National U-15, but I think the players played better than I expected. In particular, they actually showed aggressive challenges and never-ending running efforts until the end, which they learned in the practice. There are still some things to improve such as positioning, timing when to receive the ball and good vision when looking forward. But we still have a match with a good team Cerezo Osaka U-18 in the afternoon, so I will look forward to seeing how the same players play against a different opposition.

YOSHIOKA Minto(Sorriso Kumamoto/JFA Academy Kumamoto Uki)
As I knew we don’t have as strong physical strength as opponents, I tried to step forward in front of the opponents. There are still not many situations where I was able to play as I wanted, so I will practice repeatedly to build it up.

DEGUCHI Taiyo(Shimizu S-Pulse Junior Youth)
What I tried to do in today’s match was to receive the ball facing forward. In tomorrow’s training, I will work on having broad vision and always trying to get a goal just like my coach told me.

ISHIKAWA Masato(Ehime FC Niihama Junior Youth)
It was good that I was able to show my strength, aggressive plays. But I still need to improve timing to receive the ball and quality of cross balls, so I will try to improve again in tomorrow’s practice. I will take up the training with some kind of agenda like overlapping with an intention for a goal even when playing full-back position.

Practice Match 2: against Cerezo Osaka U-18

In the afternoon, the squad played a practice match against Cerezo Osaka U-18. They had a tough time as they conceded three goals. Yet in the 90th minute, Katsura Rikuto gave his team a consolation goal. The score remained at 3-1 until the end. Tomorrow on the last day, the team will have the final practice of the camp before breaking up.

Practice match at February’s domestic training camp (West Japan)
Sun. 22 February 2015, Kickoff 15:30, Playing time: 90 min(45-min halves)
J-GREEN Sakai (Sakai, Osaka)

U-15 Japan shortlisted squad   1-3 (1st 0-2, 2nd 1-1)   Cerezo Osaka U-18

Scores
19min  goal against(Cerezo Osaka U-18)
24min  goal against(Cerezo Osaka U-18)
85min  goal against(Cerezo Osaka U-18)
90min  KATSURA Rikuto(U-15 Japan shortlisted squad)

1st Half Squad
GK:  FUJIMOTO Mizuki, NAGAE Yuma
DF:  FUKUSHIMA Yukito, AWANO Kento, WATANABE Souta, ISHIKAWA Masato, SHINODA Kensei
MF:  KIDA Hinata, DEGUCHI Taiyo, YOSHIOKA Minto, NARUSE Shunpei
FW: SHINONAGA Yudai, HATTORI Kohei, HIDAKA Tomoya

2nd Half Squad
GK: OGATA Shohei, NAGAE Yuma
DF: TOKUNAGA Haruto, SAKUTA Ryutaro, KAWAI Tetta, KENMOTSU Takumu, FUNAKOSHI Hiromu
MF: KAWAHARA Atsushi, SUZUKI Toichi, KUDO Aoi, SUGAWARA Yukinari
FW: MIKUNI Kennedy Ebusu, KATSURA Rikuto

Head Coach and Players Comments

MORIYAMA Yoshiro, Head Coach
We had training matches against two teams that have a different style of football in the morning and afternoon. I divided the team into two groups, morning and afternoon squads, to let all the players play. Unlike the first match, we tended to get overwhelmed by opponents’ physical strength in the second one, but I can give the players credit as they kept playing with tenacious defence and scored in the added time with never-give-up mind-set. There are still some to improve like passing accuracy and how to have a broader vision. Tomorrow will be the final day of the camp, so I will tell them all I should tell and wrap it up. I appreciate Gamba Osaka Youth and Cerezo Osaka U-18 for accepting our offer to have a training match.

KAWAHARA Atsushi (Nissho Gakuen Junior High School)
As opposing pressure was high, I wasn’t able to show my strengths. But the facing-forward moves and the speed of them that we learned in the training were coming through. I will show more of them and showcase myself from tomorrow’s practice.

KUDO Aoi (Vegalta Sendai Junior Youth)
Because the opposing pressure was intense, we gave too much space to them. Not having enough communication with my teammates is another thing to improve. But I got a lot of confidence as I was successful in intercepting the ball after keeping an appropriate distance between an opponent and myself in some situations, which I learned in the practice.

SHINONAGA Yudai (FUT6)
My strength, speedy dribble worked fine against the opponents. I will further practice moves to get to the right position in the training sessions from tomorrow.

Schedule

※The schedule is subject to change due to condition of the team, the weather, etc.