Ahead of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, TEGURAMORI Makoto, the coach of U-23 Japan National Team, announced his squad on Monday 20 June for their final home match – the KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2016 against the U-23 South Africa National Team – to be held on 29 June at General Sports Stadium ALWIN. The Japan boss said, "this is a training match and going to be the final test."

Teguramori's 21 men include not only regular faces such as forward ASANO Takuma (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) and midfielder ENDO Wataru (Urawa Reds) but also F.C. Tokyo duo defender MUROYA Sei and forward NAKAJIMA Shoya and Albirex Niigata striker SUZUKI Musashi, all of whom had been away due to injury since they clinched the Olympic spot in the AFC U-23 Championship in January.

Before the announcement of the 18-men Olympic squad scheduled on 1 July, Teguramori said of the players returning from injury, "my expectation is they will be fit not only for one single match. The finals have got a string of matches." He wants to determine "if they possess physical and mental strength that enables them to battle it out."

Overage defenders SHIOTANI Tsukasa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) and FUJIHARU Hiroki (Gamba Osaka) were not called up this time in consideration of their club activity and physical condition. But the U-23 boss said, "we've got enough time to make an adjustment with the overage players even after getting to Brazil." Overseas-based forwards KUBO Yuya (Berner Sport Club Young Boys/Switzerland) and MINAMINO Takumi (Salzburg/ Austria) are also not called up for the contest.

The team was launched at the AFC U-23 Championship Oman in January, 2014. Having played 33 matches in the past two years and a half since then until the Toulon International Tournament in France last month, Japan's record is 23 wins, 6 losses and 4 draws.

A matchup against African teams is their second time after the MS&AD Cup 2016 against the Ghana National Team on 11 May, where Japan won 3-0. South Africa are also in a preparation phase, and if both teams win through the group stage, they may be facing in the quarterfinals. Japan meet Nigeria, Colombia and Sweden in Group B.

"We've prepared to take a challenge on the world stage. Like speed and power, and flexibility and simplification, we want to vary our pace in football," Teguramori said enthusiastically. "First with this squad, I want to display our style of football we are trying to show in the Olympics and the capability that we can make a breakthrough in Rio.”

Japan's match against South Africa is scheduled to kick off at 19:30 on Wednesday 29 June.

Comments

TEGURAMORI Makoto, Coach of U-23 Japan National Team
I composed the squad of players who have been with the team since it was launched, who didn't join up because of injury after the final Asian qualifying round of the Olympics and who I wanted to have on hand once again. I have a certain level of framework of the squad for the finals. But giving a chance to the players coming back is my way of doing it. I believe we've got enough time to make an adjustment with overage players even after getting to Brazil.

Our style is to play collectively and to display football with a crisp tempo, keeping defence compact and offence in moderate distances. Talking about the finals, especially our opener in Manaus, we need to put forth all our energy in an extremely tough environment. With that toughness required, I want this squad to show their hard-working that could even overwhelm a team like South Africa.

It's better to take advantage of our strength, but we can't expect that on the world stage and can't keep up our pace for 90 minutes. Then, I expect them to determine when to attack and when to defend and show effective use of speed and power to control the game. I will let them keep trying that in the South Africa match. I hope fans come to feel like they can't wait the Rio Olympics after watching this match.

SHIMODA Masahiro, JFA National Technical Director
This is going to be the final match in Japan as their preparation and training ahead of the Olympics. We wanted to have an opportunity where we can evaluate how they can perform at the very last phase against a team taking part in the Olympics, so I'm happy to see the team playing against South Africa. I hope it's going to be a match with a good sense of tension.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

Schedule

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

KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2016

U-23 Japan National Team  vs  U-23 South Africa National Team
Wed. 29 June 2016 kick off 19:30 (tbd)
Nagano/General Sports Stadium ALWIN

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