The U-21 Japan National Team squad held two training sessions, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon, on the second day of the camp in Fukuoka. Notsuda Gakuto, who stayed for the postponed J. League match due to the typhoon, joined the camp today, meaning all 24 selected players got together for the training.

In the morning session, they had the usual conditioning test to gauge their fitness. Each player wore a cardiotachometer and ran a certain distance within a fixed time to record their cardiac rate. By repeatedly recording this number, the statistics can show the condition of the players.
After the test, the players attended tactics training under the mentorship of Coach Teguramori, in order to bring the team concept into their game. Although it was under the sizzlingly hot sun, high-spirits helped the players concentrate on their practices.

It was still very hot in the afternoon session, even though the sun was starting to go down. The players tried each tactic with a bigger team in a wider area than the ones in the morning session. They were trying their best to understand Teguramori’s football within a limited timeframe of three days. The players have cultivated a shared understanding of each player’s particular strengths and the tactics through the meetings and the training sessions.

In the evening, the international official Nishimura Yuichi, who refereed a match in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, gave the players a lecture. He encouraged the players, teaching them about judging a situation and the mental attitude required for international games.

The squad will have a friendly against Avispa Fukuoka on the third and last day of the camp. They will understand the tactics more through the practice match.

Comments

TOYOKAWA Yuta（Kashima Antlers）
This is my second time I joined the training camp after the one in June. I’ve understood the coach Teguramori’s concept more and became able to put it in my game. I am inspired a lot by playing with other similar-aged players in this team. I’m grateful to have had this experience here, which helps me to understand how good I am now.
Our aim is to win the medal in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Although all of us are playing for that high goal, I feel we need to have more ambition without being satisfied with what we’ve got at the moment.
There are different expectations in terms of our game for the national team and the club team. I’d like to be the kind of player, who can manage any tactic or playing style, in order to respond to the coach.

ARANO Takuma (Consadole Sapporo)
I realised the level of responsibility need to play for your country through the training sessions and the meetings at this camp.
The Asian Games are coming soon. If I’m chosen to play, I’d like to do my best to contribute to the team and play strongly to win the championship.

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