Vahid Halilhodzic, the head coach of SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team), was interviewed by the media in Chiba on 11 May prior to the upcoming training camp for the Japan National squad, which will start the following day. He commented enthusiastically: “I’d like to pass my football knowledge directly to the players.”

The coming short training camp, which will be held on 12 and 13 May in Chiba, will comprise three training sessions in two days for the domestic players.

There will be 28 players, including seven new faces, such as a defender IWANAMI Takuya (Vissel Kobe), a midfielder ENDO Yasushi (Kashima Antlers) and SUGIMOTO Kenyu (Kawasaki Frontale).

The head coach showed the player list on the projector, commenting about the forward
OKUBO Yoshito (Kawasaki Frontale), who will join the squad for the first time since the previous FIFA World Cup last year: “he’s become the top goal scorer two seasons in a row and keeps striking goals. His age, 32 years old, does not matter at all. There are only a few players in our team, who can actually score.”

The head coach HALILHODZIC explained that this training camp is a preparation for the second round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the AFC Asian Cup 2019 joint qualifiers, which will start in June, and for the EAFF East Asian Cup 2015 in August. He noted: “many things can be discovered about the players through practice sessions. I can also build direct relationship with them.”

The head coach also commented: “I’d like to find as many players as possible to invite to the Japan National Team”, as he always wanted more competitiveness in the team since he took the job.

He flew for the Europe inspection on 18 April and came back to Japan on 9 May. He stayed in Germany, Italy and England, watched many matches, in which Japanese players were on the pitch, in order to communicate with them.

The head coach noted: “the players were very pleased with my visit. We talked about many things, sharing information. I encouraged the players, who are currently having difficulty getting off the bench, to practice harder to get their positions. It was a very productive time.”

Halilhodzic, the head coach, visited the practice ground for the training camp with his staff in the afternoon. Then attended the staff meeting back at the hotel, getting ready for the training camp on 12 May.

Comment

Vahid Halilhodzic, Head Coach of SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team)
The purpose of this training camp is to get to know the players and to give them my football knowledge. There will be the qualifying round of the FIFA World Cup in June and the EAFF East Asian Cup in August. I’d like to pass my message directly to the players in preparation for those coming championships. There are some players, who have already experienced playing for the national team before. I chose the players in the best condition, regardless of their age. Although there are some players, who haven’t got enough experience on the pitch, I believe in their ability to join the training camp. Small details can make big differences in high-level football. I’d like to tell the players that detailed preparation will lead you to a high-level game, and to improve their plays by encouraging them. As I think competitiveness is essential in the Japan National Team, I’ll find as many players as possible, hoping to invite some of them to our team.

Schedule