Nadeshiko Japan gathered in Osaka on Monday 22 February to start training in preparation for the Asian Qualifiers Final Round next week to book one of two places at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

The 25 players joined the final training camp after the Ishigaki Island camp at the end of January and the Okinawa camp in the middle of February. The midfielder UTSUGI Rumi (Montpellier HSC) and the midfielder ANDO Kozue (SGS ESSEN) were not called this time due to the fact that they were playing in matches for their club teams and due to their conditions for coming consecutive games. Three players, namely the defender KUMAGAI Saki, the forward OGIMI Yuki, and the forward IWABUCHI Mana, joined the team from abroad. After seeing other player’s conditions, the final 20 players will be chosen to register for the final qualifiers. 

The players did some warm-ups and practiced passing, followed by 9-on-9 with free players on a narrower pitch to finish the one-hour session on the first day of their Osaka training. Iwabuchi joined the team in the evening, and the last player, Ogimi, will come to the camp the following morning.

The midfielder SAKAGUCHI Mizuho, who is from Osaka, commented with enthusiasm ahead of the qualifiers, "I look forward to the matches, as some of my friends will come to see us. Although the performance matters, the vital thing is the result. I’d like to score in any way whenever we have a goal-scoring opportunity."

Six teams will participate in the Asian Qualifiers Final Round to play the league matches. Japan will meet Australia for the first game on Monday 29 February, play against Korea Republic on 2 March, and against China PR on 4 March. Then the team will meet Vietnam on 7 March after a two-day break before playing against DPR Korea on 9 March for their last match. The games will be held at Kincho Stadium. The top two teams will book a place at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics 2016.

Coach and Players' Comments

SASAKI Norio, Coach
All the players played well with positivity. As the first match is drawing near, we’d like to prepare for the coming games, and analyse the opponents. During this week, we’ll improve the quality of last passing and finishing.

MF  MIYAMA Aya (Okayama Yunogo Belle)
We cannot lose a game in these qualifiers. All we need is to win matches. Since the remaining players in this camp will face this challenge, all of us have mentally prepared. We still need to improve tactics and combinations in detail, but the vital thing is our attitude and spirits. So we’d like to improve them even more, while building the team bigger. Our elder teammates, including SAWA, have told us what it means to wear the Japan National Team’s football kit – responsibilities and preparations. I’ll always remember that.

MF  SAKAGUCHI Mizuho (Nippon TV Beleza)
I believe I attended the training session refreshed after a one-day break. With one week before the first game, I feel it’s finally starting. We’re getting ready, so that any of us can play in midfield at the same standard. Although we have many goal-scoring opportunities, we cannot win a match without scoring goals. It would be better to earn a victory with a good performance. However, winning is all that matters. I’ll score a goal no matter how and whenever I can.

Nadeshiko Channel (Japanese version only)

Schedule

*The schedule and venues are subject to change.

Asian Qualifiers Final Round (Rio de Janeiro Olympics 2016)

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