For their third day of training, SAMURAI BLUE moved to Oita Stadium, where they have a friendly against Tunisia.

As INUI Takashi and OSAKO Yuya did not participate in training due to illness and left ankle strain respectively, a total of 27 players worked up a sweat. Because the training of the day was closed to public, silence wrapped around the stadium, which is expected to gather about 40,000 football fans on the match-day.

While Halilhodzic’s coaching echoing, the players went through training drills one after another with concentration for a surprisingly short two hours.

Players' Comments

DF #2  UCHIDA Atsuto (FC Schalke 04/Germany)
We have meetings at hotel, but it’s the best to actually play on the pitch. We have training briskly with concentration. Our coach is very enthusiastic. I will try to prepare as usual for the Tunisia match.

MF #10  KAGAWA Shinji (Borussia Dortmund/Germany)
We got through training in a tensed mood. Our coach requires a high level of work. But through meetings, I found I could agree with a large part of the concept he requires and I want to have more conversations with him. We lost the Asian Cup and our head coach was replaced. We need to put up some good results as the national team. I will make more efforts for the upcoming matches.

FW #30  USAMI Takashi (Gamba Osaka)
Our coach told us what approach he requires during training. I feel his requirements on the pitch are high-levelled, detailed and severe. He told us many times to win. His hunger for a victory is very obvious. I haven’t played on the pitch as a national team player, so I strongly want to play on the pitch. By doing that, I think I can learn a lot of things. I want to definitely play.

JFA-TV

Schedule

KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2015

Fri. 27 March 2015
SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) v Tunisia National Team
Oita Stadium, Kickoff 19:30/Open 16:30
TV Coverage: National live broadcasting on TBS Group

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JAL CHALLENGE CUP 2015

Tue. 31 March 2015
SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team)  v  Uzbekistan National Team
Tokyo Stadium, Kickoff 19:25/Open 16:25
TV Coverage: National live broadcasting on NTV Group

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