As their second match of the 2014 Kirin Challenge Cup against Venezuela at International Stadium Yokohama gets underway two days later, SAMURAI BLUE (Japan men's national team) held a tactical practice in Yokohama on 7th September.
The team arrived there from Sapporo on the previous day and the practice session, which lasted for an hour and a half, was open to the general public.
In a 5-on-3 passing drill, the players were asked to ball control and supporting as well as quick judgements so they would put pressure from the defenders off.

Afterwards, they confirmed their attacking buildups from the final defensive line on a 4-3-3 system. For the defensive practice, they checked on their pressing and whether they would move as a collective group. Also, the team was divided into two groups and had a practical practice.
Japan coach Javier Aguirre repeatedly called the names of the players and ran up and down in the pitch, telling his players, ''Go, go,'' in Spanish, while occasionally he was showing some body gestures, in order to give the team some tension and concentration. Responding to that, the players exhibited energetic moves, talking to each other.
The national team will look to post their first win under Aguirre in the Venezuela match (7:20 p.m. Kickoff).

Comments

DF YOSHIDA Maya（Southampton FC）
Our passing was too dull and slow in our previous game, so this time it will be important for us to move the ball better so we won't give our opponents a chance to have an idea on where they should come at. And we want to move the ball with better tempo and find open spaces up front, moving the opponents. Because we have an anchor player, it will be important for us to not lower the line, and not give them chances to pass from their defensive midfielders positions because we will give them more time to have the ball at their center forward position. I think that it's time for us to go through fundamental things right now and unless we focus on them now, we are going to be collapsed easily later on including the Asia Cup. We will need more time to work.

FW OSAKO Yuya（1.FC Koeln）
This is a system that we have more men in the backfield, so in a positive sense it's important for us to save some energy when we play our defence, preparing for our offence. If we can move effectively as a team, I think that we are going to be able to have more powerful counter attacks. When you accumulate with new things and play more games, you'll acknowledge your issues. We are going to get better by accumulating with new things. When you change your way of doing things (with a new head coach), you'll have problems. But it'll be important how much patiently each one of us can do. It's more important later as the time proceeds.

DF SAKAI Gotoku（ＶｆＢ Stuttgart）
As we spent our time for defence like we did today, we are going to have to develop as a team like getting better this time than the previous time, and there's no shortcutting but get better step by step by adjusting to things. It will be important for the team that each player talks with others in closer positions, taking communications frequently. I think that we are going to deal with that in a better fashion.

MF SHIBASAKI Gaku（Kashima Antlers）
I certainly want to play, but it is up to our coach and we are not going to know that until the very last minute. (If I get to play) I want to select plays that give our team better chances and make those decisions by looking at the whole balance of the game. (On playing at a different position at his club) I don't necessarily feel uncomfortable with it. I just want to play, talking with other players at near positions.

JFA-TV

KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2014

Tuesday 9 September　vs. Venezuela National Team
Kanagawa／Internatioinal Stadium Yokohama
Kick Off at 19:20 (estimate time)／Open 16:20 (estimate time)
Nationwide Live Broadcast on TV Asahi Network
More Information