Japan boss Ikeda expecting “a tough battle” against Spain

Spain and Japan will conclude the action in Group C on Monday in a game that will decide who finishes top as well as their opponents in the next round. Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda joined defender Moeka Minami to preview the game.

Spain: “The Spanish team has great technique and play very intelligent football. It’s an opportunity for us to face a top team. It will be difficult, at the same time it will serve us in many ways, it will be a great experience. We expect Spain’s passing to be very effective, so we want to concentrate on defending well. Let’s hope we can steal the ball from them before they can punish us. I think we’ll see a match with a lot of one-on-one battles.”

Skill: “Spain has a lot of skill and excellent technique. They have players who are based at big clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid. They practice that style of football all the time. They have a certain way of facing teams and dealing with adversity. They are a very well formed, organised team. For us it is an honor to play a match against them”.

Starting XI: “I have a strategy in mind, there are going to be some things to try out. I am going to base myself on technique and also on resistance. Not only for tomorrow’s game, but also for the Round of 16”.

Future: “If we win and advance to the next round, we are already started planning our training schedule to support the physical demands. Up until now we have focused solely on the next game - and now it’s time for Spain. Of course we hope to progress further.”

Objective: “Spain has looked strong, they already have six points. They beat Costa Rica and Zambia. That level of concentration has to be maintained. We are not confronting this game thinking about who will be first or second in the group”.

Spain’s superstar players: “There are so many that it’s impossible to single out one… I cannot give specific names. In the center of the field they are very creative, they handle the ball like nobody else and they score lots of goals. But defending is one of our strengths, and we will have to use that to stop Spain”.

Injuries: “All of the players have been able to train as normal and they are all ready to play. Physically, they will go into this game in good condition so I have no concerns”.

Roma’s Moeka Minami accopanied the coach at the press conference. She praised Aitana Bonmatí, whom she knows well and admitted that the most recent meeting between the two countries, a friendly in Seville, confused the Nadeshiko, as Jorge Vilda veered from his usual set-up by deploying three centre-backs. “I have a lot of respect for them and the style of football they play. Every time I play against Spain it’s like a final again. It’s going to be a very interesting match. We will go into the game with great respect for our rivals. Spain will attack, that’s why we want to not allow them to settle on the ball. I know Aitana, one of the young women, well from the World Cups that we have played together in lower categories. She is an exceptional player,” said Minami sakka-senshu.