On Monday 24 October, the Japan Football Federation (JFA) held a press conference at the JFA House and announced the U-20 Japan Women’s National Team squad members for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Papua New Guinea 2016 commencing Sunday 13 November.

At presser, the national team coach, TAKAKURA Asako, and the squad members, NORIMATSU Ruka and MOMIKI Yuka, expressed their high hopes and expectations of the tournament.

Under coach Takakura, the U-19 women’s team captured the title for the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship in 2015 and booked the place to compete in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2016, after missing the chance to participate in the previous world competition. As Asian champions, they will be entering the tournament for the fifth time and aiming to become the top national team in the world.

In attaining their goal to become the world champions for the first time in their history, coach Takakura commented on the 21 selected players as follows: ‘they have the necessary technical skills to play Japanese style football’, ‘they have the mental strength and determination to capture the World Cup title’, and ‘they have the ability to play for the team and the pride to compete for the national team’.

Coach Takakura has been observing significant improvements in her team during the training camps. She believes as the players committed themselves to working hard and becoming re-selected as a national team member, they also have improved greatly back in their respective clubs. She noted ‘their speed at making decisions and executing subsequent plays has improved greatly’. Furthermore, she expressed her confidence in the team by adding ‘two equally potent teams can be formed out of these players’. 

Norimatsu, who mostly played as a center back in the past national-team appearances, stated ‘I want to contribute to the team by not only defending tenaciously, but also creating scoring chances by feeding long passes behind the opponents’ defenders. As I believe one of my strengths is kicking power, I would like to find opportunities to drive the ball from one side to the other and advance the ball’.

Momiki, on the attacking side of the national squad, commented on her playing style as ‘breaking down the opponents by making unanticipated moves and constructing offensive plays’. She also expressed her desire to create scoring chances with her individual skills.

Japan will be competing their first group stage match against the runner-up of the previous tournament, Nigeria, on Sunday 13 November. Regarding the opening match, coach Takakura stated ‘the first match is crucial. The Nigerian squad have players with strong individual skills, while we compete together as a team and our team effort will be a key in determining the result of the match. I am confident that we are a better team and have the ability to cope with their individual skills’.

The Japanese women’s squad will be meet Spain, whose younger players have shown significant improvements lately, and Canada on Wednesday 16 and Sunday 20 November, respectively.

Coach's and Players' Comments

TAKAKURA Asako, Coach
Selecting the national team members was a difficult task. Since this world competition only lasts for few weeks, among the short-listed squad members the most important criterion in determining the final selection was their current form. Of course, we do have a set of players who are going to be the core of the team, but in this six-game-to-final tournament I find the players who can play various positions to be also valuable. Adjusting to the different dynamics of the game and having the arsenal to score when needed were also some of the criteria in our selection.

DF #5 NORIMATSU Ruka (Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies)
I haven’t been the world champions in my football career, and thus I want to be on the winner’s podium and see the view from there. I do have the confidence of making this goal come true. Surely, I want to return to Japan with the World Cup trophy. I believe we are well-organised team with high individual skills, and we want to capitalise on those strengths and compete in the World Cup.

FW #10 MOMIKI Yuka (NIPPON TV BELEZA)
There are players who were a part of the U-19 AFC championship, but were not selected as the World Cup squad members due to injuries. We have to reminded of those players and give our best in competing this world competition. We have players with high individual skills, but moreover we can work together as a team and improve on those individual skills. This is the strength of our team. We get along well and it certainly has a positive effect on our teamwork.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

Schedule

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