The Japan short-listed squad held two-a-day practice sessions in the morning and afternoon in Chiba Prefecture and wrapped up their second and final day of their training camp on 13 May.

The morning session was closed to the media and the team worked on their tactical practice, taking for about an hour and a half. In the afternoon, they were divided into the offensive and defensive squads, and each worked on checking their collective plays deliberately.

In the afternoon session, the offensive squad practiced on collective buildups to start their attacks from the mid-field and end with shots, repeatedly working on their moves to get in the spaces behind the defenders with lateral passes.

Head coach Vahid Halilhodzic mainly watched the offensive team, instructing to the details such as how to use their bodies when they receive the ball.

In the end of the practice, all the members including the staff, assembled and became a circle in the centre field, and shouted encouragement to give them spirit, and to see that Halilhodzic showed a smile on his face.

“I was inspired to practice with the top players and gained some confidence as I was able to do things on par with them,” Vissel Kobe defender IWANAMI Takuya, who was called up for a provisional national team training camp for the first time this time, said of what he learned through the short camp.

Players’ Comments

GK　ROKUTAN Yuji（Vegalta Sendai)
We have some interesting tactics and firm disciplines on this national team, and it gave me the feeling that I want to come back here to learn. Coach is strict on coming in time and is peculiar about disciplines, but with the sense of being Japanese, it wasn’t so much of a surprise. In fact, we feel comfortable with him and I think it’s great.

This time, it was only me who represented Sendai, but that fact alone will give inspiration to my teammates. I understand that the national team staff members see so many different teams. Not just Sendai, but if players from other clubs that have not had players for the national team will be selected, it will give some energy to the J. League and then it will lead to raise the level of the national team, so I think that it gave a stimulation to them.

DF　NIWA Daiki（Gamba Osaka)
In the practical practice, I matched up against Usami and that was something we don’t do at the club, so it was fun, and I was also inspired that I could play and chat with other players. Coach told us in meetings, “Let’s play with the global standards. We still have a lot of room to grow and can get a lot better. Unless we are aware of that from our daily practices, we are not going to win in Russia.” He’s experienced FIFA World Cups, so it was convincing, and I felt that the level he’s looking at was different.

It was relieving that there weren’t a lot of gaps between what we do at Gamba and what we do here. I thought that I was able to adjust quicker. I want to absorb things as fast as I can and I think that I can capitalize on this experience for our games at Gamba. I believe that with small mind-setting change, my play will alter a lot. So it will be the best if I can turn this experience into my development when I go back to the club. I got to know that I would be called up again if I leave some results, so I want to come up with some positive outcomes at the club first.

MF　ENDO Yasushi（Kashima Antlers)
It was a training camp that I got to find my own issues and it gave me fresh feelings. Coach told me that I should play more explosively both offensively and defensively. Those were things I had lacked of, so I got good an advice. I think that my strength is in offense, and I was able to show that a little. I want to keep showcasing myself even when I go back to the club.

What I felt most during this training camp was that we need speed in our decision-making, plays, transitions and everything. When I go back in the J. League, I think that winning is the most important thing for the club so I want to contribute for that, and if I put up what coach told me during the training camp, I believe that I will be called up again, so I want to do the best I can.

FW　USAMI Takashi（Gamba Osaka)
I learned to dedicatedly move with the awareness of getting behind the defenders, and was inspired. At meetings, we had some first-timers, so we were able to have discussions to raise our awareness, and personally coach gave me some valuable advices to inspire my daily life, not just play-wise. The FIFA World Cup qualifying is drawing near, and I want to make the squad.