On Friday 7 October, after winning the third match against Iraq of the final Asian Qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup last night, SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) had training sessions in Saitama prefecture prior to the departure in the evening for Melbourne, where their 4th match against Australia will be held. 

In their previous must-win match against Iraq, midfielder YAMAGUCHI Hotaru (Cerezo Osaka) scored a dramatic game-deciding goal in the additional time. Japan currently stands in fourth place in Group B with two wins and one loss. Their last-minute victory put the squad members in a positive mood for the training sessions. 

While the substitute players had game-format practice including six-on-six and five-on-five drills, the starting members had a series of recover sessions, which included stretching, running and passing exercises and core muscle work-out.

The team’s coach, Vahid HALILHODZIC, demanded ‘dynamic play’ from the players and gave them detailed instructions during the training. Including the three substitutes of the preivous match—Yamaguchi, forward ASANO Takuma (VfB Stuttgart/Germany), and forward KOBAYASHI Yu (Kawasaki Frontale)—all moved energetically during the practice sessions.

Meanwhile, defender SAKAI Hiroki (Olympique de Marseille/France) left the team and will go back to his club team since he won’t be able to play in the next match against Australia due to suspension after getting a second yellow card last night. Sakai commented: “I will leave it (second match) up to the team and shift my focus to working hard and playing well in Marseille. I will do my best to get selected to the national team again”.

Defender MAKINO Tomoaki (Urawa Red Diamonds) has shifted his mind to the upcoming match and stated, “the next game will be the most challenging one. Regardless of who the selected players are, scoring goals will be crucial in determining the result”.

The next match against Australia will kick off at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne at 8:00 pm (6:00 pm in Japan’s time). 

Players' Comments

DF SAKAI Hiroki (Olympique de Marseille/France)
Yesterday, we focused on winning the second balls, but the Iraqi players fought more aggressively for them, allowing them to have stretches where they took control of the game. So far, even if we dominated the match, it was difficult for us to attain the positive results. However, winning the match this time means that we are gaining momentum as a team. I believe that the next match will be a good one also. I regret receiving a yellow card in the first match. However, I cannot help it now. The match yesterday brought unity to the team. I believe the victory meant a lot to us. 

MF KASHIWAGI Yosuke (Urawa Red Diamonds)
Watching the flow of the match, I was thinking that Yamaguchi should be brought on to the pitch in the second half, and when that happened, we eventually got the good result. I was very happy when he scored. Personally, I regret I couldn’t perform as well as I wished. However, I demonstrated my strength, coordinating plays, certain number of times in the first half. I regret I couldn’t do that for the entire match. I expect the next match against Australia will be difficult; hence it can be 0-0 for some time. If that is the case, I believe that there will be a role in which I can make a positive impact. Having the possibility that I would be brought on in the middle of the match, I will continue to prepare well to contribute to the team’s scoring.

DF MAKINO Tomoaki (Urawa Red Diamonds)
There were certain aspects which made me worried, but I was able to face Iraq in a good mood after spending a good time together with my teammates. We had difficulties and issues during the match, but I think it was an excellent match where we showed our sense of pride and responsibility, in addition to our desire to win in the end. In the next match against Australia, I have to capitalise on my strength in height and physicality whenever they are called for. I believe that this match will be the most difficult one, so regardless of who the selected players are, scoring goals will be vital in determining the result. 

FW OKAZAKI Shinji (Leicester City Football Club/England)
Until the very last moment, we did not give up and believed in winning it. At the moment of the second goal, I felt like, ‘this is the qualifier for the World Cup. The team that can win under difficult circumstances will go through to the World Cup’. After competing this crucial match, I felt Iraq was strong, and I believe the future opponents will be strong also. Furthermore, I think we are evenly matched with Australia. We have to win the upcoming matches against potent teams. In that sense, this victory was significant. It also made us united. This time a substitute scored the important goal, and I felt I have to do more in the next match. 

Schedule

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

ASIAN QUALIFIERS - ROAD TO RUSSIA

2016-10-11 (Tue.) - 20:00 (estimate time) (Japan Time 18:00) 
Docklands Stadium (Melbourne, Australia)
Australia National Team vs SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team)
More information