On 14 November, SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) started their practice at the National Olympics Stadium in Phnom Penh for taking on Cambodia as the sixth fixture of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Asian Qualifiers Round 2.

Flying two hours from the cloudy sky and squall being regular in Singapore, the sky was beautifully blue and the sunshine was just like the one in summer time. The thermometer showed 35 degrees Celsius after five in the afternoon.

As the day was in a weekend, there was a big audience there to watch Japanese internationals practice. Included were about 70 children who study at a local Japanese school and their families, who took a group photo with the players on the pitch before the practice and received an autographed pennant as a gift.

Following what was done on the previous day, the squad got separated in three groups; the Singapore match starters, the rest of the field players and three goalkeepers. Midfielder KIYOTAKE Hiroshi (Hannover 96) and forward KANAZAKI Mu (Kashima Antlers), who worked out separately the day before due to their blister and bruise respectively, joined the starter group to make sure their conditioning with running and stretching.

The players, who were not on the starting line-up in the Singapore match, went through their attacking build-up in 5-on-6 drills, where coach Vahid HALILHODZIC coached how to feed the ball, where to go after receiving the ball and players’ movements off the ball in detail. Later midfielder YAMAGUCHI Hotaru (Cerezo Osaka), forward USAMI Takashi (Gamba Osaka) and the rest of the substitute players worked hard in shooting drills involving assisting passes.

As the match on 17 against Cambodia will be held on an artificial pitch, which is rarely used in Japan, the squad worked out on this day at the match venue to get used to the turf. As well as the pitch, the match ball will also be changed for the upcoming match to Dong Luc ball made in Vietnam.

After the practice, midfielder ENDO Wataru (Shonan Bellmare) said of his adjustment "It may take time to get used to it, but I could get some feel of it. I have to pay attention to the first touches I make. Forward HONDA Keisuke added "I played on one of those pitches before making it to pro, so I particularly don’t have any negative feeling. But the hardness and touches of the ball are different. I care about the ball more."

When the players were leaving the pitch, the children and other spectators got close to them to wish good luck. Defender NAGATOMO Yuto (FC Internazionale Milano), Honda and others waved back their hand as they left.

The match against Cambodia kicks off at 7:14 p.m. (9:14 p.m. Japan Time) on 17 November.

Players' Comments

MF  HONDA Keisuke (AC Milan)
In the first half of the Singapore match, we could show improvement we made upon the way we played at home (in June). We could score the opening goal by using both the middle and the sides effectively. Personally, I hadn’t been able to score a goal myself recently, so it was good for me to score a goal in that tensed atmosphere. But our plays still weren’t organised at all including combination between players.

Of course we will try to win the Cambodia match. We try to start off the match in a better way than we did in the Singapore match, create many chances, and score many goals. Scoring the first goal early will make it easier for the rest of the way. The ball on an artificial pitch bounces totally differently and it takes long for us to get used to it. But I personally played on one of those pitches for six years before making it to pro, so I particularly don’t have any negative feeling. But the ball is different now, and so are hardness and touches of it. It may be difficult in that regard.

MF  ENDO Wataru (Shonan Bellmare)
It was important for this team to be able to win the Singapore match with a different line-up. I will work hard in practices, targeting at getting playing time on the pitch, and get prepared to deepen this squad if I get playing time. I was watching the match as I paid attention to how I could start going up as a second line of attack and how we could score more goals.

Our defensive midfielder position is very deep, and it’s hard for me to get on the pitch unless I can perform both offensively and defensively. I want to remain confident in my 1-on-1 ability and improve myself to get involved in scoring goals more by for example sending good cross balls.

MF  YAMAGUCHI Hotaru (Cerezo Osaka)
On an artificial pitch, the ball doesn’t run as much and bounces more than we think. What we don’t like most is making mistakes in connecting passes because of that, and it ends up in counter attacks by our opponents. We should also expect the accuracy goes down in our passes leading to shots. All we have to do is to get used to it in practice.

SHIMODA Masahiro, JFA National Technical Director
Our coach and other coaching staff were so surprised with the news of the terrorist attack in Paris, but they immediately contacted their families and confirmed their safety. Considering our coach has his family in Paris, it may be impossible for us to understand his feeling enough. But as nothing has happened to his family, we would like to focus on the upcoming match.

Since there was also an incident around Stade de France, it might affect our business also. But we believe that we just have to focus what is in front of us now. It is so unfortunate that there were many people who were killed or affected in this series of incidents. We would like to extend our deepest prayers and condolences to those who were affected and their families.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

Schedule

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Asian Qualifiers Round 2 AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Preliminary Joint Qualification

11-17 (Tue.) - kick off at 21:14＜Japan Time＞ (subject to change) 
Cambodia/National Olympic Stadium
Cambodia National Team vs SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team)
More information