With the FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 kicking-off on Friday 7 June, the Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women’s National Team) started their trainings in Chiba Prefecture on Wednesday 22 May.

Out of the 23 players and five training partners announced on Friday 10, UTSUGI Rumi and KUMAGAI Saki, who plays overseas, were absent from the session, as well as NAOMOTO Hikaru, who is one of the five training partners, missed the session due to illness. The rest of the 25 players were present on the training field, as Coach TAKAKURA Asako gave a prep talk ahead of the training session, “The time has come. It’s a long tournament, and we may face difficult times, but I want everyone to keep a positive vibe and work together as a team.” Also, prior to the session, the team was presented with “Nama-Cha” from the Kirin Group, the official partner of the Japan National Team, along with words of encouragement, “You will have the support of our entire group.”

The Nadeshiko Japan will play a training match against the Spain Women's National Team on Sunday 2 June, before facing Argentina in their first group stage match of the World Cup on Monday 10. With the intention to play the entire seven matches, three at the group stage and four at the knockout stage, the team focused on preparing their conditions, as they went through conditioning menus for an hour to get themselves both physically and mentally prepared.

A meeting was held in the evening, where JFA Integrity Officer NAGAI Masafumi gave a course on integrity. The players were lectured on the menace of fixed matches around the world and deepened their understandings on the rule of 3R; “Recognise, Resist, and Report.” The course allowed the players to realise that when playing international matches, there are potential risks off the pitch they would otherwise never face.

The Nadeshiko Japan will continue to train in Japan until Sunday 26.

Players' Comments

DF #3 SAMESHIMA Aya (INAC Kobe Leonessa)
The league has come to a break and it really feels like the time has come. Since we are going to be working with this squad for the next month, it’s important to keep communicating with each other. I am hearing that many people are planning on going to France to support us, so we hope to showcase a performance that can please those supporters. If we can earn positive results at the tournament, we will get more exposure on the media and allow more kids to get to know us, regardless of their football experience. In order to make a deep run at the tournament, we will prepare ourselves in the best way possible during this training camp.

MF #14 HASEGAWA Yui (Nippon TV Beleza)
We are not at the site of the World Cup yet, so it still feels like a usual training camp, but my heart is filled with excitement because this is the stage I’ve been dreaming for. I’ve always wanted to payback to my family, coaches, and everyone who has supported me, so I hope to showcase a performance that can amuse everyone who is watching us.

FW #8 IWABUCHI Mana (INAC Kobe Leonessa)
It really feels like we are in the final phase now. We still have long ways to go, but we will try to play with a strong sense of commitment and responsibility, while showcasing a vibrant and entertaining football as a team. We also hope that we can convey a positive message through our performance, not only to the people who are regularly supporting women’s football, but to those who have never watched women’s football as well. I will try to showcase a performance that can fascinate the viewers. Although our goal is to win the title, we must first focus on given our very best efforts as a team in each match.

Schedule

Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women’s National Team) Squad, Schedule

FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019

Tournament Dates: Fri. 7 June - Sun. 7 July 2019

Group Stage:
Tue. 11 June 2019 01:00 (Japan time)
vs Argentina Women's National Team

Fri. 14 June 2019 22:00 (Japan time)
vs Scotland Women's National Team

Thu. 20 June 2019 04:00 (Japan time)
vs England Women's National Team

Tournament Information