The third day of the training camp in Hiratsuka had two sessions a day for the U-22 Japan National Team short-listed squad.

In the morning, the pitch had only twelve field players who have not had a lot of playing time yet in the league matches. Coach TEGURAMORI wanted to install his tactical vision more into those players, who were joined by three goalkeepers. In a misty rain, practical and detailed game plan was reviewed both offensively and defensively.

While the previous day had the temperature of 22 degrees Celsius, the thermometer on this day showed only freezing 8 degrees at the time the afternoon session began. The workout included passing and controlling drills and going through various formations before playing a 10-on-10 scrimmage. For the match on the next day, and eventually for the final qualifiers in January, the last practice opportunity during this camp was fully utilised by every player aggressively playing on the ball.

On the next day, Thursday 26 November, a practice match is scheduled against Shonan Bellmare as the last even for the camp. There are only one and a half months left before the final qualifiers to be held in January next year. No wonder the match will be significant for the team to perfect the tactics as well as for each player to make the final squad.

Coach and Players' Comments

TEGURAMORI Makoto, Coach
I said to players "today’s practice is for the match tomorrow, but the match tomorrow is part of the preparation for the final qualifiers." In tomorrow’s match against Shonan Bellmare, I want multiple players to initiate our attacks one after another and we want to play a speedy style of football. Regarding our defence, we have been more aware of defending together and paying attention to organization. But opponents’ offensive style can be different from a match to another. Our defensive organization can be broken down by the opponents’ attacking positioning.

Of course tomorrow’s match centres on our attacking simulations, but I also want it to be simulations for our defence especially at the time of allowing the opponents to attack us. I think our players should be aware of the expectation and attention people have on us. Development of our young players is quite necessary for the World Cup that will come after the Olympics and we have to show Japan’s potential that clearly says Japan’s future is right here.

FW  SUZUKI Musashi (Mito Hollyhock)
I joined Mito Hollyhock on loan in this August, and I realised that the best way to get your conditioning up is to play in matches. I got better both in terms of my physical condition and my plays, so that gave me confidence. This is another national team opportunity for me after the camp in Kyoto in August, and I was surprised that other players’ quickness had improved. Also I watched a video from the match against Sagan Tosu in October, and there were so much more of dynamic plays such as early pressing defence and counter-attacks that I felt the team got stronger.

It’s a good thing that the competition within the team has been more intense. We want to raise the level of each other. It’s good for you to have good rivals, and trying to outcompete them can make you better. In this camp I want to use my strengths such as my speed, physical strength and plays like rushing behind defenders to survive through the competition. I want to stay confident in myself.

MF  OHSHIMA Ryota (Kawasaki Frontale)
J.League’s regular season is over and it feels like the final qualifiers are finally approaching. I was able to play through this season for Kawasaki Frontale and I have got the feel of the timing when to aggressively charge to rob opponents’ ball. How you are expected to play is different with the national team from with your own club. With this national team that have "defending together" as one of the mottos, I want to improve what I have learned with my club in terms of defence. In terms of offence, attacking behind the defenders after robbing the ball is something I am accustomed to do with my own club. So I want to take advantage of it, too.

They say this national team are quiet, but we talk straight to each other while playing and I don’t worry about that. We keep bringing out ideas to keep scoring and win matches. We want to play tomorrow’s match with paying attention to defensive positioning.

MF  NAKAJIMA Shoya (F.C. Tokyo)
The final qualifiers are the tournament that I am looking forward to. I can’t wait. There are many aspects in my play that still need improvement, but as an offensive player the key is how you can make a difference in front of goal. I am working hard to score goals in every match. I especially pay attention to how quickly I can get to goal after I receive the ball. There are about two more months before the qualifiers. We still need to understand more what kind of characteristics each one of us has. So in order to improve our collective attacking, we want to keep communicating and improving through playing matches.

I think if we can have fun playing, good things will come. So I want to enjoy playing. You have to take your opponents into consideration, but as long as you keep being flexible time to time, we can play well, I think.

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