Nadeshiko Japan head coach SASAKI Norio noted: “we have prepared ourselves well for the next stage” on 22 June, prior to the first knockout stage match (Round 16) against Netherlands (on 24 June Japan Time) of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada.

The head coach attended the practice session in Vancouver in the morning, and moved to the centre of the city to appear at a press conference in the BC Place Stadium, where the match will be held.

After topping Group C, the team has been focusing on combination plays in the four days before the game against the Netherlands. He commented: “we’ve improved ourselves at our own good tempo.”

When asked about the three group-stage games against countries, that were newcomers to the championship, SASAKI replied: “all of them played with a spirit of challenge. After winning tough three matches with just one goal difference, we have improved ourselves.” He also noted: “we reviewed each and every single game. The players know tomorrow’s game won’t be easy. I think we’re ready in terms of mentality, physical skills, and teamwork, in order to get a good result to advance to the next stage.”

The team held a closed session apart from the first 15 minutes on that day, and practiced both attack and defence.

The Netherlands Women's National Team, who are making their debut at the FIFA Women's World Cup, came third in Group A. They won against New Zealand 1-0, lost to China PR 1-0, and tied with Canada, the host country, 1-1. Their record in the European qualifying round was 11 wins, 1 loss and 2 draws, and they beat Italy and Scotland in the play-offs to earn a place at the championship.

Three forward players, namely No. 11 Lieke Martens and No. 7 Manon Melis, who play for a club team in Sweden, and No. 9 Vivianne Miedema, who plays for FC Bayern Munich in Germany, tend to initiate attacks with speed.

Japan have played against Netherlands twice and won twice. The last match against them was in the Cyprus Cup in 2008, when they won the game 2-1.

The defender, IWASHIMIZU Azusa (Nippon TV Beleza), mentioned that the past was the past. She also noted, pointing out their experience in the group stage: “we’ve prepared to play against a new team. We have some experience for that.” She said she would like to get a good result.

Japan head coach SASAKI commented: “The knockout stage used to have three matches until the previous championship, but has four games in this championship. There will be ups and downs through those four games. I’d like to make them better ones.”

Two matches of the knockout stage were held in the other site. America, who won second place in the previous championship and topped Group D this time, won the match against Colombia 2-0, who came in third in Group F. On the other hand, England, who finished second in Group F, turned the game around to beat Norway 2-1, who came in second in Group B, and advanced to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, America will meet China PR and England will play against the host country, Canada.

Head Coach and Players' Comments

SASAKI Norio, Head Coach of Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women's National Team) 
We have improved ourselves in passing the ball around and the combinations with a better tempo after reviewing our games from the group stage. I believe we became better through winning tough matches in the group stage by just one goal difference. The players understand well that tomorrow’s match won’t be easy. Although Netherlands are newcomers in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, their game can be enough of threat to us. We’re ready mentally, technically, and in terms of teamwork, so that we’ll win the match tomorrow to get through to the next stage.

MF #6   SAKAGUCHI Mizuho (Nippon TV Beleza)
One of our goals in the group stage was to come back to Vancouver. So I very much look forward to tomorrow’s match in Vancouver again. As Netherlands have got speed and can move lengthways very swiftly, I’d like to keep my eyes on their counter-attacks. You feel differently on the artificial turfs compared to the natural ones, and the quality is different between the pitch and the practice ground, which makes us struggle a little. Having said that, every other team has the same conditions. So I can’t complain about it. I try to acclimatise to any environment quickly.

Roger Reijners, Head Coach of Netherlands Women's National Team
It will be a tough game against Japan, the previous champions, but we’ve been waiting for this kind of opportunity. We’re so excited, as the coming match will be one of the biggest ever for us. Japan is an excellent team, with especially high quality, and always makes the crowd excited. We’ve been improving our attacking skills in these couple of years after our experience in the UEFA European Football Championship in 2013. Our forward players are ready for tomorrow’s match, staying ambitious for goals whenever they have an opportunity. Of course, I hope we’ll get a good result.

FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015

Second Stage Round of 16
Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women’s National Team)    vs.  Netherlands Women's National Team
Wed. 24 June - 11:00 (Japan time)

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