The Japan National Team held a practice session in Osaka on Sunday 16 November in preparation for their second match in the KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2014 against Australia, which will be held at the Yanmar Stadium Nagai on Tuesday 18 November. It is supposed to be their last match of the year. In a two-hour practice session, the players divided into three groups to practice passing at various tempos in the first 15 minutes, and then they attended a closed session to check their tactics.

The Australia national team will host the AFC Asian Cup in the coming January, and Japan is aiming to become back-to-back champions. The Japan National Team drew with Australia on 4 June 2013 in the qualifying round of the FIFA World Cup Brazil and they have not met since then. Japan’s record against Australia is 7 wins, 7 losses and 8 draws.

KIRIN Group, the official sponsor of the Japan National Team, supplied drinks before the practice session. Javier Aguirre, the head coach of the Japan National Team, received their supplies from Sugiura Junichi, the Kinki Regional Sales Planning Department Manager for Kirin Beverage Company Ltd, and Inuma Junji, the Kinki Regional Sales Planning Department Manager for Kirin Brewery Marketing Company Ltd.

Players’ comment

DF  YOSHIDA Maya (Southampton FC/England)
As I know the Australian strength going toe-to-toe, it’s vital not to let them get into good positions from the start. It’ll be a good practice before the Asian Cup. We have a new head coach, team and system, and have been building our team since September. I think we have become calmer and able to concentrate more on our plays compared to the time in the camp in September. It’s essential to really bring up the defence. We hope to get into top condition before the Asian Cup and continue developing during the Cup.

DF  MATSUBARA Ken (Albirex Niigata)
As it’s my second time at the training camp, I think I’ve been communicating enough with others and have started to understand what I’m supposed to do in games. I’d like to start focusing on the defence. I’d like to play precisely while in possession and handling the defensive and attacking lines. I’d also like to show my strengths, in my movement and crosses. Bearing the Asian Cup in mind, I’d like to enhance my ability to respond to the coach’s request in practice sessions and show 100% of what I’ve practiced when I’m on the pitch.

DF  SHIOTANI Tsukasa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
Watching the plays of the leading players in the Japan National Team in the match against Honduras made me think what I could do if I had been on the pitch. I’d like to move the defensive line forward and back, and also initiate attacks with a spot-on pass when I have the ball. We have played against Australia twice in the AFC Champions League and know they are physically strong - they are tall, strong and quick. I’d like to be careful not to drop the defensive line back too much. As it’s been a month since the match against Brazil, we know what we have to do now. Although there are still many issues to be fixed, we’ve started to understand what the coach wants us to achieve, including the team concept and the defence method. I feel I need to join the national team more often, so that I can have better relationship with the players up front, that helps my understanding.

MF  SHIBASAKI Gaku(Kashima Antlers)
I think I’ve understood the team’s movement and now I need to build better combinations with the players, considering each one’s skill. We’re focusing on detail more than in the previous camp or the one before. The coach tells us gradually what he wants us to do and we bring them into the game. This match will be important, because we might play against Australia in the AFC Asian Cup and also because it will be our last friendly of the year. There will be so much to focus on - getting a good result and confidence before the Asian Cup. So I think this match against Australia will be vital.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

Kirin Challenge Cup 2014

Tue. 18 November 2014    SAMURAI BLUE(Japan National Team) vs Australia National Team
Yanmar Stadium Nagai/Osaka Kickoff 19:20(plan)/Open 16:20(plan)
TV Broadcast: National live broadcast on FUJI TV

More information