U-18 Japan National Team, which will participate in the 28th Valentin Granatkin International Football Tournament in Saint Petersburg, Russia, gathered in the evening of New Year’s Eve. The following day, on 1 January, the team jogged to Naritasan Shinshoji for a New Year’s visit, and made wishes for the coming year.

Then they left Japan at 12:00, arriving at Saint Petersburg at 9:00 local time in the evening after a 10-hour flight. The players held training sessions both in the morning and in the afternoon on 2 January to check the team’s tactics in attack and defence prior to the tournament. 

The temperature in Saint Petersburg most days is 10 degrees below zero with fewer hours of daylight compared to Japan. Although matches and practice sessions are held inside, the environment will be new to the players. 

As Japan won the tournament two years ago, the team aims to claim the title again, playing in their style from the opening game.

Players' Comments

DF #5  TOMIYASU Takehiro (Avispa Fukuoka U-18)
After arriving in Russia, we attended a morning and an afternoon practice session at the stadium, in which the coming games will be held. We could check the atmosphere in the stadium as well as the condition of the artificial turf. We aim to win the tournament as a team, while I will personally focus on staying vocal to control the defensive line aggressively. I’d like to perform well in this championship, so that I can learn something for the future. 

MF #16  KAJIYAMA Kanta (Nagoya Grampus U18)
First of all, I’m pleased to join this Russia tour. Although it starts during the New Year’s celebration holiday, I’d like to enjoy participating in this international tournament. We held practice sessions in the morning and in the afternoon, which was very productive. I’m determined to claim the title in the tournament, which will start tomorrow.

MF #20  FUJIMOTO Kanya (Tokyo Verdy Youth)
I look forward to meeting various national teams during this Russia tour. As I believe we improved our coordination and communication in the morning and afternoon sessions, I’d like to prepare enough to perform well in the coming games. I’ll try hard, so that I can see how much our plays work in international matches.

Schedule

*Local time

The 28th Valentin Granatkin International Football Tournament Group Rosters

Group A : Saint Petersburg, Belarus, Slovakia, Japan, Lithuania
Group B : Finland, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Moldova, Russia
Group C : Slovenia, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Bulgaria