Training Match 1st vs Kagoshima Josei High School

2016-8-25 (Thu.) - 16:00 Playing Time: 70min. (30mins.x2)
Kagoshima Fureai Sports Land (Kagoshima Prefecture)

U-16 Japan National Team 3-0（0-0, 3-0）Kagoshima Josei High School

Scores
37'　Own goal（U-16 Japan National Team）
56'　KUBO Takefusa（U-16 Japan National Team）
63'　NAKAMURA Keito（U-16 Japan National Team）

Line-ups
GK: TANI Kosei
DF: KIKUCHI Kenta, SEKO Ayumu, SUGAWARA Yukinari, KOBAYASHI Yuki
MF: HIRAKAWA Rei , SUZUKI Toichi, TANIMOTO Shunsuke, NAKAMURA Keito
FW: MIYASHIRO Taisei, KUBO Takefusa

Substitutions
GK: AOKI Kokoro, OUCHI Issei, KOKUBO Leobrian
DF: SAKUTA Ryutaro, KEMMOTSU Takumu, SEKIGAWA Ikuma, KATSURA Rikuto, KUWAHARA Kaito
MF: KOZUKI Soichiro, KUMASAWA Kazuki, SEHATA Gijo, MATSUMOTO Nagi
FW: TANAHASHI Akito

HT　NAKAMURA Keito → KATSURA Rikuto
HT　TANI Kosei →AOKI Kokoro
52'　TANIMOTO Shunsuke → NAKAMURA Keito
57'　SEKO Ayumu → TANIMOTO Shunsuke

Training Match 2nd vs Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School

2016-8-25 (Thu.) - 17:50 Playing Time: 70min.(30mins.x2)
Kagoshima Fureai Sports Land (Kagoshima Prefecture)

U-16 Japan National Team  4-0（3-0, 1-0）Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School

Scores
11'　TANAHASHI Akito（U-16 Japan National Team）
20'　KOZUKI Soichiro（U-16 Japan National Team）
35+1'　TANAHASHI Akito（U-16 Japan National Team）
57'　KOZUKI Soichiro（U-16 Japan National Team）

Line-ups
GK: OUCHI Issei
DF: SAKUTA Ryutaro, KEMMOTSU Takumu, SEKIGAWA Ikuma, KUWAHARA Kaito
MF: KOZUKI Soichiro, KUMASAWA Kazuki, SEHATA Gijo, MATSUMOTO Nagi, KATSURA Rikuto
FW: TANAHASHI Akito

Substitutions
GK: AOKI Kokoro, TANI Kosei, KOKUBO Leobrian
DF: KIKUCHI Kenta, SEKO Ayumu, SUGAWARA Yukinari, KOBAYASHI Yuki, KUWAHARA Kaito
MF: HIRAKAWA Rei, SUZUKI Toichi, TANIMOTO Shunsuke, NAKAMURA Keito
FW: MIYASHIRO Taisei, KUBO Takefusa

HT　OUCHI Issei → KOKUBO Leobrian
HT　SEKIGAWA Ikuma → TANIMOTO Shunsuke
HT　KATSURA Rikuto → NAKAMURA Keito

Match Report

The U-16 Japan National Team, ’00 Japan’, played two practice matches – one against Kagoshima Josei High School and the other against Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School – on their fourth day, Thursday 25 August, to finish their training camp in Kagoshima. All the players stayed focused prior to the selection of the team for the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship in India.

The first match was against Kagoshima Josei High School. In the first half, they struggled to find their rhythm due to sporadic attack and uncoordinated defence. The game stayed scoreless until halftime. There was a cooling break during the game, simulating the coming 2016 AFC U-16 Championship in India. In the second half, two forwards and wing half started to coordinate better, and the U-16 Japan National Team created numerous goal-scoring opportunities.

After 37 minutes, midfielder SUZUKI Toichi, who broke free on the right side, whipped in a cross, where the opponents failed to clear and resulted in an own goal. In the 56th minute, forward KUBO Takefusa was taken down inside the box and earned a penalty kick. KUBO himself scored from the spot, building a two-goal lead. Then, in the 63 minute, forward MIYASHIRO Taisei dribbled past the goalkeeper attempting to clear the ball and send a cross to midfielder NAKAMURA Keito, who picked it up in front of the goal and scored their third. Japanese defenders remained focused until the final whistle and kept a clean sheet, winning the game 3-0.

The team played their second match against Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School. Japan attacked from the beginning of the game. The forward, TANAHASHI Akito, who reacted to a pass from defender SEKIGAWA Ikuma, earned a penalty kick in the 11th minute. Tanahashi struck the opener from the spot. In the 20th minute, midfielder KOZUKI Soichiro, who stood unmarked, connected with Tanahashi, who got through on the right and scored their second goal.

In the 1st minute of injury time in the first half, the midfielder, MATSUMOTO Nagi, intercepted and passed the ball quickly to Tanahashi, who struck a superb long-distance shot. The game went into the second half 3-0.

In the second half, the players started to show tiredness and struggled against the opponents creating numerous scoring opportunities. However, the goalkeeper, KOKUBO Leobrian, performed excellently to keep them out. In the 57th minute, Kozuki received the ball on the right side to fire in a shot, scoring their fourth goal. The team defended solidly and won the match 4-0.

With three weeks to go before the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship in India. The ’00 Japan’ will hold a preparation camp in Ibaraki from Wednesday 7 September, before leaving for Goa, India, where the matches will be held.

* "00 JAPAN" is the nickname of the U-16 Japan National Team that consists of members who were born after 2000.

Players' Comments

SEKO Ayumu (Cerezo Osaka U-18)
We entered the first half poorly in today’s match and we struggled to defend effectively. Having said that, in the second half, the whole team switched quickly between offence and defence and coordinated well defensively. In terms of attack, it was great we scored (quite a few). Keeping a clean sheet brought us confidence. As there is still room for improvement especially in reacting to the space behind the defenders, we’d like to communicate better among the defenders to improve our coordination. We’ll finally play in the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship in India. So we’d like to fight together and book a place in the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017. 

SUGAWARA Yukinari (Nagoya Grampus U18)
In the first half, we were one step behind and had to focus on defence due to poor anticipation and positioning. We failed to find our rhythm. After we calmed down and shared out our tasks during halftime, we coordinated better and intercepted the ball many times.

I played in various positions. In terms of defence, I could have controlled the defensive line better. I would like to improve on that. Offensively, by building self-awareness and raising my current level of play, I would like to display my strength against formidable opponents.

Since there is a great atmosphere around the team, we’ll become even more united to play through the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship in India. We’re determined to win the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship.

TANAHASHI Akito (Yokohama F・Marinos Youth)
I played as a match captain for the national team for the first time. After enduring together through tough stretches pressured by the opponents up front in the first half, I could get through using the space behind the defenders and take shots. In addition, I was able to initiate a number of effective attacks as well. Having said that, in the second half, we lacked both the individual and team efforts to push forward and struggled to build our momentum.

As there will be tougher matches in the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship in India, I’d like contribute to the team by showing my strength. I aspire to win this championship in Asia and book a place in the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Schedule

*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.