The Japan Futsal National Team faced the Vietnam Futsal National Team in an International Friendly Tournament in Kariya, Aichi Prefecture, on 22 April. Japan entered the game in an aggressive mode. They didn’t let the Vietnamese play easily as they attack on them trying to hunt the ball with their quick moves. They overwhelmed Vietnam as they played physically on the ball while they made their transition quickly.

Japan’s hard-fought play paid off quickly. Just 32 second into the game, NAKAMURA Yusuke (NAGOYA OCEANS) received a pass from NIBUYA Kazuhiro (VASAGEY OITA), who dribbled on the right side, and sent it into the middle. SHIBANO Sota (VASAGEY OITA), who made his international A match debut in this game, and then back of the net.

Japan kept pushing hard on Vietnam even after the goal. In the 2nd minute, Nibuya fired a volley shot. It was once stopped by an opponent, but he re-kicked it into the goal to extend Japan’s lead. In the 4th minute, OSODO Nobuya (SHRIKER OSAKA) took the ball from the opponents at a high place. He passed it to NISHITANI Ryosuke (FUGADOR SUMIDA) and then he fed it to SHIMIZU Kazuya (FUGADOR SUMIDA). Shimizu netted it to give Japan a 3-0 lead.

Vietnam then took a timeout to change the momentum. After that, the scored stayed the same for about 10 minutes, but in the 14th minute, SATO Toru (SHRIKER OSAKA) scored the fourth goal for Japan, and ANDO Ryohei (NAGOYA OCEANS), who debuted for the national team, added another in the 15th. A minute later, captain Nibuya scored another, his second of the game, to give Japan a 6-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Japan kept overwhelming Vietnam. Although Japan added just one goal from Osodo, but outshot 20-3.

Japan missed their third consecutive championship in February’s AFC Futsal Championship in Uzbekistan as they lost to Vietnam after a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals. Japan avenged the loss against the same opponents and took a first step forward the 2020 FIFA Futsal World Cup.

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Coach and Players' Comments

KOGURE Kenichiro, Coach
We played this game after we missed the final four in the AFC Futsal Championship for the first time and failed to earn a berth for the Futsal World Cup. We entered the tournament trying to win games as we have our pride and play hard. Our players didn’t just play with strong mind-set after the kick off but they were also so determined to overwhelm their opponents from their warmups. Because we were able to start the game smoothly, it led to a result like this.

FP ♯7  NAKAMURA Yusuke (NAGOYA OCEANS)
It was the first time that I played from the start of a game. But our coach told me to use my speed and play hard on defensive side of ball, so I was going to chase the ball as hard as I could when the game began. I thought that once I moved quicker all of a sudden, they would become defensively, so it was good that I was able to outplay them. We had lost in the AFC Futsal Championship and it actually helped us play better. Hopefully, we can keep getting better as a team.

FP ♯13  SHIBANO Sota (VASAGEY OITA)
We were able to score the first goal easier than we would think. Nibuya is my teammate and I’ve played with Yusuke at Oita, so I knew the timing. We scored it from good collective plays. I happened to score it, but it was one that was scored by everybody. We are taking on Uzbekistan next. They are big and powerful. We are going to have to put the ball in place even better than today, so we will have the momentum of the game.

FP ♯10  NIBUYA Kazuhiro (VASAGEY OITA)
We attacked quickly and vertically and it was effective. In Asia, I thought that it was important to play futsal against Asian teams. It’s a different story whether we would play on par against the world’s top teams in the way we played today, but I felt that it’s inevitable to play depending on our opponents and playing with our strengths. We have to win the next game, too. To play better and show stronger mind-set than today, we would like to prepare ourselves soon.

FP ♯5  HOSHI Ryuta (NAGOYA OCEANS)
I think that it was bigger that we gave up zero goals than that we scored seven goals. By substituting our players even after short minutes on the court, our players up front were able to work hard until the end. If we lose here, it could give others an impression that Japan are not tough. Although this is not a tournament that we play for a berth for the FIFA Futsal World Cup, you have to win a game following a loss, even in an exhibition. We were on the same page that we would definitely go for winning, and it was the biggest reason why we won. So it’ll be important for us to take the next game as well.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

Schedule

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

International Friendly Tournament  @Aichi/WING ARENA KARIYA

2016 4/23 (Sat.) - 16:00 (estimate time)
Vietnam Futsal National Team vs Uzbekistan Futsal National Team

2016 4/24 (Sun.) -  14:00 (estimate time)
Japan Futsal National Team vs Uzbekistan Futsal National Team

Ticket now on sale ! (Japanese version only)

Fund raising begin to support damaged Kyushu, Kumamoto

To support the damaged areas and people from the earthquakes in Kumamoto, a fund raising will begin from 22nd April at the International Friendly Tournament. All the money raised in it will be donated to the relief fund account of Kumamoto Prefecture.

The Japan Futsal National Team officials will participate in the fund raising as well.

4/24 (Sun.)
Venue: At the entrance gate
Date: 12:00-14:00, after games