SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) had two-a-day training in the morning and afternoon on this day, the second day of the preparation camp ahead of the KIRIN CUP SOCCER 2016 to be held in June.

In the morning, the squad worked out in groups according to each player's physical condition, which was tested the day before. Under physical coach Cyril MOINE, the players were concentrating his training plan.

Just after getting back to Japan from Germany, HARAGUCHI Genki joined the team in the afternoon. He finished his session only with running and stretching, but the players who began the training on the previous day went through technical training with the ball under coach HALILHODZIC.

The squad for the KIRIN CUP SOCCER will be announced tomorrow and reported here.

Players' Comments

HARAGUCHI Genki (Hertha BSC Berlin/Germany)
My team competed for top places until the halfway point but failed to add up wins at the end, finishing at 7th place. Disappointment is bigger than any other feelings. I've got a lot of positive things as an individual, but that's still not fulfilling. Training is mostly focusing on the physical side until the 30th day of this month. I want to build up my body.

We can play against high-level teams in the KIRIN CUP, and it's going to be a good opportunity to test ourselves and measure the real quality of Japan. We will work hard on the two matches we have this time and try to improve the team for the World Cup final qualifiers.

KAWASHIMA Eiji (Dundee United Football Club/Scotland)
It started in a similar way last year. I worked on several running drills. That was tough for me as a goalkeeper, but we have that kind of training this year as well. It's not what I'm good at. But even so, challenging on such a thing should bring me something positive.

We had a lot of matches against Asian countries including the World Cup qualifiers. And this time we can play against opponents at a high level after a while. It's about two years since this team launched. It's going to be a good opportunity to think about things like where we are heading, and we will try to be prepared to try it out. The World Cup final qualifiers are different, and unless we go out with a good level of tension, they are going to be hard. And the competition landscape is changing compared to the past. We won't go out in the same way but with a better preparation.

KIRIN CUP SOCCER 2016

Held in knockout system among SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team), Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Denmark.

2016-6-3 (Fri.) Aichi/Toyota Stadium
16:00 kick-off (subject to change)  Bosnia Herzegovina National Team vs Denmark National Team
19:40 kick-off (subject to change)  SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) vs Bulgaria National Team

2016-6-7 (Tue,) Osaka/Suita City Football Stadium
16:00 kick-off (subject to change)  Bosnia Herzegovina National Team or Denmark National Team vs Bulgaria National Team
19:30 kick-off (subject to change)  SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) vs Bosnia Herzegovina National Team or Denmark National Team

More information

KIRIN CUP MUSEUM

Japan against the world, KIRIN CUP MUSEUM tracing the history is now open!