With a couple of days to go until their first 2014 Kirin Challenge Cup game against Uruguay, which will be the debut match for new Japan head coach Javier Aguirre, SAMURAI JAPAN (Japan men's national team) trained in Sapporo while most of it was closed for the media on 3rd September.

At the beginning of the third day of their training camp that was open to the reporters, the 23 players were divided into some groups and played pass exchanges. As they were asked to focus on improving their qualities in it, they looked to be aware of their pass speed and tempo and showed some moves putting markers on the pitch assuming those were the defenders.
''I'm not supposed to talk about the details, but we began working with the tactics of our coach and felt afresh with them and there were a lot of variations as well. I think that the Japan national team will provide a lot of fun from now on,'' said defender NAGATOMO Yuto (F.C. Internazionale) of his high expectations for the brand-new national squad under the new boss.

Meanwhile, the jersey numbers for the players were revealed on the day as well.
For the five newly-called-up players, midfielder MORIOKA Ryota (Vissel Kobe) was given No. 10, forward MUTO Yoshinori (FC Tokyo) No. 14, forward MINAGAWA Yusuke (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) No. 19, defender SAKAI Tatsuya (Sagan Tosu) No. 15 and defender MATSUBARA Ken (Albirex Niigata) No. 16. Also, midfielder SHIBASAKI Gaku (Kashima Antlers) and goalkeeper HAYASHI Akihiro (Sagan Tosu), both of whom try to make their national team debuts, were provided with Nos. 7 and 23, respectively.
''I'm pleased and honored,'' Morioka said. ''In my self, No. 10 should be worn by a player that amused the fans as well as himself, and I hope to put up my own performance.''
The numbers for the other 12 players, including forwards HONDA Keisuke (AC Milan) and OKAZAKI Shinji (1.FSVMainz 05), who competed in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, stayed the same.

Comments

NAGATOMO Yuto（F.C.Internazionale／Italy）　
It's important for us to take every single day importantly and to put up our best in order to stay on the Japan national team. On this team, every player is a rival and a mate, and I would like to inspire with each other so we can develop further. We had some practical practices and understood what kind of football our coach wants to play to some degrees. The first match under the new system will be important, so we need to make sure that we can firmly perform to our tactics and what we are supposed to do as a team, and hopefully we can put up a good result in the end.

MORIOKA Ryota（Vissel Kobe）
It felt like that I finally got to envision our coach's concept and what he's trying to do (through today's practice). I know No. 10 is an important number, and it makes me feel even so on the Japanese national team. But it's more important how much I can put up my own game, so I hope to play not conscious about the number too much.

MIZUMOTO Hiroki（Sanfrecce Hiroshima）
I believe that I got to be selected this time because of my play at the club, so I would like to showcase myself on this national team as well. Everything is the first time for me and feels fresh (under the new system), so we'll be tested from now on. I hope to show what I usually do at the club while I'll do what I'm asked by the coach. I'm turning 29 soon, but feel like I still have a lot of room to grow. So I want to boldly challenge on what Coach asks me to do.

OHGIHARA Takahiro（Cerezo Osaka）
I hope to play understanding our tactics that our new coach has set forth. Through today's session, I mostly understood how our coach was thinking. Toward the Uruguay match, I want to keep doing it, and stick to a result in the game.

JFA-TV

KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2014

Friday, 5 September 2014  vs. Uruguay National Team　
Hokkaido／Sapporo Dome
Kick Off at 19:25 (estimate time)／Open 16:25 (estimate time)
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Tuesday, 9 September 2014  vs. Venezuela National Team
International Stadium Yokohama／Kanagawa
Kick Off at 19:20 (estimate time)／Open 16:20 (estimate time)
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