The U-18 Japan National Team, who have been holding a training camp in Marbella, Spain since 3 November, played their second match against the U-18 Belgium National Team on 12 November. Following their 2-0 victory in the first match played on 10 November, the team entered the match with the intention of finishing the tour on a high note.

The match started with Japan taking the initiative through their quick passing. In the 14th minute, KINOSHITA Shinnosuke (Cerezo Osaka U-18) responded to a through ball delivered by INAGAKI Atsushi (Urawa Red Diamonds Youth) to score the opening goal.

Belgium gradually increased their pressure following this goal, and Japan began to lose possession of the ball more frequently. However, Japan was able to maintain their lead thanks to the tenacious defending efforts put forth by Denis Jun PARKINSON (FC Famalicao) in the midfield. While keeping the Belgian offence at bay, Japan doubled their lead in the 28th minute, when Inagaki broke through the right flank and fired a powerful shot that pierced the upper corner of the goal. With momentum on their side, TOMINAGA Nina (Vissel Kobe U-18) capitalised on a cross delivered from the right side to make it 3-0 in the 39th minute.

Despite conceding a goal at the beginning of the second half, Japan scored back a goal in the 75th minute, when UCHINO Kotaro (Yokohama F. Marinos Youth) forced a turnover deep in the opposing end before setting up the goal of ISHIWATARI Nelson (Cerezo Osaka U-18).

As a result, Japan won the match 4-1 to conclude the Spain tour with three consecutive victories. Many of the players were on their first international tour, but they seemed to have gained lots of confidence through the tour. It was also impressive to see how they motivated one another both on and off the field through their interactions with members of the national team who grew up abroad, like Takahashi Cendagorda Nico (FC Barcelona) and Parkinson.

Coach and Players' Comments

TOGASHI Koichi, Head Coach of U-18 Japan National Team
This was the first international tour for the U-18 Japan National Team in two years. It was very unfortunate that the scheduled match against the U-19 Indonesia National Team was cancelled, but it allowed the team to train and share more time together. In the first match against Algaciras CF, the team was shaken up by the intensity level showcased by Spain’s third tier professional side, which set the tone for the subsequent two matches against Belgium. This tour made us realise that there is still room for improvements in terms of passing speed, ball control, turns, and other techniques, as well as individual tactics. What will they take home from this tour as a new challenge for their daily routine? We look forward to the development of these players in the future. I would like to express my gratitude to all the people involved in making this tour possible.

DF #19 INAGAKI Atsushi (Urawa Red Diamonds Youth)
I feel very grateful to be chosen to the U-18 Japan National Team and I would like to take this time to thank the staff who helped me, and everyone who supported me throughout this tour. It was my first international tour in four years, and I was both excited and anxious at first, but once the training started, time seemed to pass by very quickly. All of the players on this team displayed a high level of talent and quality, making it a pleasure to play for this team. We were happy to win all three of our matches and had a lot of fun. We have improved our coordination and raised our level as a team with each match. Our last match against Belgium left a strong impression on me. Although I was able to contribute to the team’s victory by scoring and assisting a goal, but there were many areas I needed to improve, including the accuracy and quality of my passes and the way I position myself. The Belgian players were all excellent in terms of speed and technique, and there was a lot to learn from them. I learned a lot from the experience of being exposed to the intensity level at the world stage. Through this tour, I have also gained a big goal and more rivals. I have learned what I am good at, and after returning to my team, I want to share my knowledge with everyone while also trying to make the most of the experience to improve as an individual.

MF #10 ISHIWATARI Nelson (Cerezo Osaka U-18)
It has been a long time since I have participated in an international tour, and I have received a lot of inspiration. We learned a lot about the differences in refereeing and diet between Japan and other countries, which was a great learning experience. We had a ton of fun playing football with talented players like Nico and Denis, who play abroad. I am glad I was able to score a goal in our final match. When I return to my team, I want to remember to keep this standard in mind.

MF #18 TOMINAGA Nina (Vissel Kobe U-18)
I started today’s match as a side-half, so I made conscious efforts to make runs towards the goal. It felt like Belgium’s pressure eased from the first match, but the lack of quality in our passes and ball control served as a reminder that we still have a lot of work to do. Personally, I am glad I was able to contribute to the team’s victory with a goal. I will do my best to make the most of the experience I gained at this tour to become a better player.