The U-19 Japan National Team short-listed squad held training sessions in the morning and in the afternoon of the second day of the training camp on Tuesday 12 April.

In the morning, the players started with a 5-on-5 game with a goalkeeper on a 36x40m pitch, and moved onto 10-a-side with a goalkeeper on a 68x70m pitch, focusing on receiving the ball on the move and the timing of the initial movement after receiving a forward pass.

In the afternoon, they gradually increased the size of the pitch – from 5-on-5, 6-on-5, 6-on-6, 8-on-7, to 10-a-side each with a goalkeeper. The players practiced intercepting the ball through combinations in defence with or without a numerical disadvantage.

There was a good atmosphere around the team both in the morning and in the afternoon. The players kept practicing hard, thinking of the coming matches. During dinner that day, the team celebrated the players and staff who were born in April. The hotel served a birthday cake on the house for the celebration.

Players' Comments

HATANO Go (F.C. Tokyo U-18)
It’s been a while since I joined the national team. The training camp has been very productive, as I found out what I could do and what I needed to improve on by playing with high-level players from my generation. As for the areas that require work, I need to improve my pace in getting back into position and concentration on each play. Having said that, I could display my strengths - saving shots, dealing well with high balls, and instructing my teammates from the back. I’d like to improve on these even more. As we’ve got one more day, I’d like to do my best to stay in the team.

HASEGAWA Takumi (Albirex Niigata U-18)
We held training sessions in the morning and in the afternoon. As it was the second day of the training camp, I could communicate well with unfamiliar players and there was a good atmosphere around. We shared the team’s concept through practice games in both sessions. Tomorrow we’ll play a practice match. I’ll aim to perform well and get a good result, and show my strengths. 

ICHIMARU Mizuki (Gamba Osaka)
I’m glad I was selected for the national team for the first time in a while. We’ve been practicing for two days and I understood the team’s tactics and concept to a certain extent. I’d like to look in detail at the combinations while improving my quality as an individual, so that I can stay in the national team. We’ll play against my club team, Gamba Osaka, tomorrow. So I’d like to show off my skills to both the national team and my club team.

Schedule

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