Under scorching temperature over 30℃, U-18 Japan National Team Short-Listed squad and U-17 Japan National Team had training in the morning and the afternoon of Wednesday 15 July

In the morning, both teams had defence-centred training. In a game-style training on a half-sized pitch, coach Uchiyama gave instructions regarding who was responsible for challenging on the ball when the opposing offence got the ball. 

As time passed, the players' judgements and moves got better and started showing collective defence to win the ball.

The afternoon session was focused on offence. The U-17s tried to improve the accuracy of each play while moving and went through plays for creating openings by making opponents move.

They also reviewed set-pieces in preparation for the International Youth Soccer in Niigata. The shortlisted U-18s also started their session after the U-17s, but called off their training due to lightning strike near their training site.

After the dinner, the players had a birthday party for players and staff born in July. Unfortunately, the U-17s did not have such a person, but everyone took part in the party to celebrate the total of six players and staff members. Tomorrow's training is scheduled to include a training match for both teams, U-18 Japan National  Team short-listed squad in the morning and U-17 Japan National Team in the afternoon.

Players' Comments

MIYOSHI Koji (Kawasaki Frontale/ U-18 Japan National short-listed squad)
It's only a few months left for October's qualifiers. To improve quality of plays in the few training opportunities available, we all have high motivation to work on training. We have been sharing more of our understanding as a team on both offensive and defensive sides, so what we need to do now is to improve the accuracy to show it off in an actual match.

I believe it is very hot in the qualifying round's site, Laos. To run hard until the end, we will require ourselves to run extensively even during practice. As there are some players who don't have so many opportunities to join the team, it's important for our team to actively communicate with teammates and staff members who I work together for the first time in order to raise the perfection level as a team. I will keep it in mind when working on training.

We will stick to a victory and play our game in tomorrow's match.

NAKAYAMA Yuta (Kashiwa Reysol/ U-18 Japan National short-listed squad)
It's been a while since I worked with the national team last time. What I should do and what I have to do became obvious when I joined last time, so I've kept them in mind while playing. As the afternoon training was cancelled because of bad weather, we had training only in the morning. In tomorrow's match, I will show off my good part and also try to take advantage of it for the team.

WATANABE Kouta (Tokyo Verdy Youth/ U-17 Japan National Team)
I'm very happy to take part in the national team camp. In the today's practice, I was told to keep each play going without stopping moving. I will try to do it also in the match tomorrow. As a team, we will focus on winning to keep our momentum for the upcoming tournament. We will work hard to win the tournament.

TANAKA Riku (Kashiwa Reysol U-18/ U-17 Japan National Team)
During the past two days, we worked hard on receiving the ball while moving and tried to improve the accuracy of cross balls. Everyone on the team had high motivation and worked on training with a real match in mind. In the training match against Hokushinetsu, I will work hard to display my strength and show off what I've learned from the training.

I will also play in preparation for the international tournament in Niigata. We will get together to clinch the tournament title.