On Wednesday 30 May, SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) faced Ghana National Team in the KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2018 at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, Kanagawa. Despite the match being the last match played in Japan ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, the team lost 0-2.

Coach NISHINO Akira who took the helm in April elected to play three defenders in the back line, a system they have been working on in the training camp ahead of this match. Placing HASEBE Makoto (Eintracht Frankfurt), MAKINO Tomoaki (Urawa Reds), and YOSHIDA Maya (Southampton FC) at back, while positioning OHSHIMA Ryota (Kawasaki Frontale) and YAMAGUCHI Hotaru (Cerezo Osaka) as the defensive midfielders. NAGATOMO Yuto (Galatasaray S.K.) and HARAGUCHI Genki (Fortuna Dusseldorf) occupied the wings. OSAKO Yuya (Werder Bremen) was selected as the lone striker, with USAMI Takashi (Fortuna Dusseldorf) and HONDA Keisuke (CF Pachuca) right beneath him. KAWASHIMA Eiji (Football Club de Metz) started in the goal.

Japan started off the match utilizing the width of the field by switching the ball from side to side, as both wingman Nagatomo and Haraguchi penetrated the flanks aggressively.

However, it was the visiting side who scored the opener. In the ninth minute, Thomas PARTEY snuck the ball through the wall to score a direct freekick, giving the Ghanaian side an early lead. Ghana continued to utilize their physical advantage, winning balls in fifty-fifty situation and sending long balls into the penalty area to seek for another opportunity.

Despite conceding an early goal, Japan started to find their rhythm through their quick side attacks as Osako and Usami threatened the opposing goal, but their efforts came short from scoring the equalizer.

In the 27th minute Oshima delivered a through ball to Haraguchi, who then sent a cross towards the middle which Osako attempted a header at goal. Just two minutes later Usami penetrated the left side and made a cut into the centre before launching a shot. In the 33rd minute, Honda struck a direct free kick, followed by Haraguchi’s header off a corner kick, however, all of these attempts were saved by the opposing goal keeper.

At the start of the second half KAGAWA Shinji (Borussia Dortmund) was brought in for Usami, MUTO Yoshinori (1.FSV Mainz 05) for Osako, and SAKAI Gotoku (Hamburger SV) for Haraguchi. Muto chased the ball enthusiastically upfront but could not score a goal.

In the 51st minute Japan was caught off guard, leading them to give up a penalty kick when Emmanuel BOATENG broke through chasing a fast ball delivered upfront. Goal keeper Kawashima came out to stop him in the box but instead got called for a foul. Boateng who was making his national team debut, converted the spot kick to further extend their lead.

In efforts to rally back, Japan substituted SHIBASAKI Gaku (Getafe C.F.) in for Yamaguchi, and OKAZAKI Shinji (Leicester City Football Club) for Honda in the 59th minute, converting their formation to two forwards up top. In the 76th minute IDEGUCHI Yosuke (Cultural Leonesa) was brought in for Hasebe, further shifting their formation to a 4-2-2-2 to create goal scoring opportunities.

Shibasaki delivered a cut back from the right side which found Ideguchi in the box, who then laid the ball to Muto, but Muto’s shot couldn’t find the target. Japan went on to take control of the ball but failed to score a goal. 64,520 people came to show their support to Coach Nishino’s first match as head coach, but the match ended in a loss for Japan with a final score of 0-2.

The match was followed by a send-off ceremony where UKASUKA-G performed live in the rain. In behalf of the team, Coach Nishino thanked the fans as he mentioned, “we will do our best to perform well at the World Cup to fulfill your expectation.” Team captain Hasebe also spoke to the fans, “your support will be with us in heart when we compete at Russia.”

Japan who is making its sixth consecutive, sixth overall World Cup appearance will face Colombia (19 June at Saransk), Poland (24 June at Ekaterinburg), and Poland (28 June at Volgograd). The final 23-man roster will be announced on Thursday 31 May.

Coaches' and Players' Comments

NISHINO Akira, Coach of SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team)
There were things we managed to do well and things we didn’t do well. The latter was the reason we finished with this result. We anticipated to penetrate the flanks by creating a point in the centre, which worked out just as we planned. We also created chances from attacking the centre, but we lacked just a little bit of combination to score a goal. In defence, we need to transfer the marksman seamlessly. The three centre halves must not leave a gap between themselves when making a slide. The lack of combination was exposed when we conceded the second goal. We did manage to try many things and had the chance to check up on each player, but it is disappointing that we lost the match before leaving for Russia. We managed to find our rhythm as the game progressed, but we were incohesive early in the match. The team was a little too passive to start the match. We changed the formation from playing three defenders to four defenders in order to play more offensively, but the players showed good intention in making the tactical shift change. We found out many tasks to work on, so we need to feed off of this match and get better.

DF #22 YOSHIDA Maya(Southampton FC)
We wanted to start off the second half by applying pressure from up top, but despite creating chances, we gave up a goal that slowed us down instead. The timing of which we conceded the goals were not good. We must be better in responding to the balls delivered in space, and we need to move the ball around to make our opponents chase the ball a little more. It also seemed like the player delivering the ball and the receiver were incohesive in terms of how they want to play the ball.

MF #4 HONDA Keisuke(CF Pachuca)
We must get better as a team, but we need to take it one at a time. We need to improve one thing by the next match, and another following that match. From today’s match, it was obvious what we lacked in offence, while our tasks in defence were also evident, so we will get to work.

MF #10 KAGAWA Shinji(Borussia Dortmund)
There are many things we need to work on. Both teams seemed off guard in the first 15 minutes of each halves. Although we entered the match with the intention to stay focused in the early minutes, we conceded a goal early. We had our chances in the match, and if we don’t capitalize those chances, it would be awefully difficult for us moving forward.

FW #13 MUTO Yoshinori (1.FSV Mainz 05)
I was in good condition, but I wasn’t fully aware of where and how to combine with my teammates. Our performance itself was not bad, and I feel like if I had scored we could have gotten into a better rhythm.

James APPIAH, Coach of Ghana National Team
It was a very difficult match and we struggled greatly in a tactical sense. Japan kept good possession to carry the ball upfront, but their defence were relatively weak. However, winning the match may not be the most important aspect ahead of the World Cup, as there are many things you can learn from defeat. I believe Japan will perform well at the World Cup.

Wed. 30 May 2018 Kick-off 19:25
Nissan Stadium, Kanagawa
SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) vs Ghana National Team
Match Info