In Seefeld, Austria, SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) began their training camp ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia as their coach NISHINO Akira said the team “started off really well.”

In Seefeld, Austria, SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) began their training camp ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia as their coach NISHINO Akira said the team “started off really well.”

Mountainous Seefeld is close to the boarder with Germany and famous as the site for ski jump and Nordic combined competition often held in winter. Just by the football field, there is a jump stand for the normal hill and large hill as well as the finish area for the cross-country race.

The 23 players on the squad for the World Cup including the two back-up members, IDEGUCHI Yosuke (Cultural Leonesa) and ASANO Takuma (VfB Stuttgart), all appeared on the pitch, where they went through stretching and running while three goalkeepers were separated for their own regimen.

Later they worked on passing, dribbling and juggling in pairs and ball movement drills in three large groups before engaging in a 10v10 scrimmage with INUI Takashi (Real Betis) and OKAZAKI Shinji (Leicester City Football Club) playing as neutral players. By the pitch were Japanese students visiting the practice from Japanese schools in Munich and Vienna, giving “Nippon” chants to the squad.

The first session wrapped up after core training and careful stretching.

About 190 children from Munich Japanese School and 10 more from Vienna Japanese School enjoyed a time on the pitch for group photos with the team before the practice started. After observing the whole practice, they also received autographs from the players. Very cheerful interactions were observed between the young fans and the players until the team bus took the squad back to the hotel.

Coach Nishino said after the practice, “Everyone is in good mood. We started off really well as a whole.” As for the international friendly match against Switzerland National Team in Lugano, Switzerland on Friday 8 June, he added, “We want to bring up our conditioning level high by the match.”

On the same day, the team reportedly had a meeting in the morning to review the Ghana match. Nishino commented on the atmosphere among the players, saying “They all are sharing their ideas to find the common ground and best decision making between their own ideas and the discipline of the team. It’s great that we feel that we can actually execute it.”

For the World Cup where Japan have participated six straight times, the national team continue working out there until they leave for Russia, while two international friendly matches are scheduled, one against Switzerland in Lugano, Switzerland on Friday 8 and the other against Paraguay National Team in Innsbruck on Tuesday 12.

The group stage of the World Cup will kick off on Thursday 14 June, Japan are set to face Colombia on Tuesday 19 in Saransk, Senegal on Sunday 24 in Ekaterinburg and Poland on Thursday 28 in Volgograd.

Coach and Players' Comments

NISHINO Akira, Coach of SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team)
The weather was great today, and everything seems to be going well. The team practice started today. The altitude is over 1000 meters high and some of the players are really feeling that burden. So, we started with aerobic exercise little by little. Players like Inui and Okazaki in the scrimmage directly told me they wanted to be back to regular players from being neutral. So that means they are in good shape, and that also helped us all to start it off well. We want to bring up our conditioning level high by the match against Switzerland, and, we want to figure out how to strategically face Colombia. I told my players that I would play every one of them against Switzerland and Paraguay. So, I want them all to adjust to three defenders or four defenders according to the opponents. I want them to think that way.

#8HARAGUCHI Genki (Fortuna Dusseldorf/Germany)
The altitude is high, and it was tougher than usual. But it’s getting better. I think my body gets used to it soon. Not only the practice on the pitch but also the meeting, I can sense that the coaches and us players are working together building something. So, it’s a kind of fulfilling feeling. I think other guys are feeling the same thing. We all share ideas in the meeting on the strategies. Besides coach Nishino, we have great coaches like coach MORIYASU and coach TEGURAMORI. So, it’s a team effort and we all bring out our own ideas to create something really good. There are many things we must do, so this camp is going to be crucial for us to get out of the group stage in the tournament.

#14INUI Takashi (Real Betis/Spain)
There are no odd feelings, and I have no problem with what’s going on here. I have waited for the next chance to kick the ball. I had chances to do it in Japan if I really wanted, but I wanted to spend time as I listened to advances from several sources. The battle for the position is on already, and I joined the race later than other guys. So, I want to show what I can do immediately. I have never tried the shadow position, either, but there should be many things I can do, and I think I can show my strength there. Yesterday on the plane, I had my birthday. I had never experienced that before, but my birthday was seven hours longer than usual. At the hotel, everyone celebrated my birthday with a cake in the evening.

#13MUTO Yoshinori (1.FSV Mainz 05/Germany)
When I play for Mainz, I get just one or two scoring opportunities per match. I must score with those limited number of chances. In the match against Ghana, I couldn’t do the same thing. But against superior opponents, I think I am getting ready, physically, too. Now I know I must prove it, not just talk about it.

Schedule

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

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

Tournament Dates: 14 June - 15 July 2018

Group stage
1st Match Tue. 19 June Kickoff at 15:00 vs Colombia National Team (Mordovia Arena)
(21:00 Japan time)
2nd Match Sun. 24 June Kickoff at 20:00 vs Senegal National Team (Ekaterinburg Arena)
(Mon. 25 June, 0:00 Japan time)
3rd Match Thu. 28 June Kickoff at 17:00 vs Poland National Team (Volgograd Arena)
(23:00 Japan time)

For more information