Futoshi Ikeda guided Japan to the Women’s Under-20 World Cup title in 2018, and last year his team was the runner-up to Spain — reversing the outcome from the final four years earlier.
Ikeda has moved up to coach Japan in this year’s Women’s
World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and, of course, some of his younger
players are joining him on the big stage.
Much will be expected from fans of a team known as
“Nadeshiko Japan.” The term derives from “Yamato Nadeshiko,” which has been
used to describe Japanese feminine beauty.
Japan won the World Cup in 2011, was second in 2015 — both
finals against the United States — but had a disappointing exit in the round of
16 four years ago.
“I told the players that they should fight hard in each and
every game in front of them,” Ikeda said in an interview with The Associated
Press. “But rather than feeling the pressure of having won the title 12 years
ago, they should feel the joy of making new history on their own again and use
that as motivation.”
At least three players from last year’s Under-20 squad will
be keys this time: defender Rion Ishikawa, and forwards 19-year-old forwards
Aoba Fujino and Maika Hamano, who signed with Chelsea in January. About a dozen
players on the squad were on the 2018 team or 2022 team and have followed Ikeda
to the big time.
The backline will be anchored by captain Saki Kumagai, who
is playing in her fourth World Cup. And leading the midfield will be Manchester
City’s Yui Hasegawa.
Kumagai scored the winning penalty in a shootout when Japan
beat the Americans 12 years ago for the title. She is the only player remaining
from the 2011 squad, and the 32-year-old recently joined AS Roma from Bayern
Munich.
Almost half of the 23-woman squad is made up players
competing in leagues in Europe or North America. The rest are playing at home
in Japan’s WE League. Clearly Japan — a traditional leader in women’s soccer —
is trying to keep up as the game keeps expanding and improving.
“I believe that the speed of growth of women’s football in
the world, including various environmental aspects, is developing at a
tremendous momentum right now,” Ikeda said.
In addition to Hasegawa, some of the scoring punch is also
likely to come from overseas-based players such as Angel City forward Jun Endo,
Hina Sugita of the Portland Thorns, West Ham’s Honoka Hayashi, and Liverpool’s
Fuka Nagano.
Endo is recovering from a left knee injury and is the
easiest player to spot: she is the darting left-footer with the pink hair who
has become a favorite in Los Angeles. People expect things to happen when she
touches the ball, and she has promised to get a fresh hair coloring — still
pink — for the World Cup.
“She is a player who is trying new things in search of her
own development in the American league,” Ikeda said. “Her speed and strong,
accurate kick with a solid left foot will be a plus for the team.”
Ayaka Yamashita is expected to get the start in goal.
Japan often faces a size deficit in many matches, but its
technical level might be the best in the world.
“Of course it is important to develop athletic players who
are fast and big,” Ikeda said. “However, physical ability is not just about
being fast and big, it also includes agility, which I think is one of the
strong points of Japanese players. So I want to take advantage of that strength
that we have.”
Japan plays its Group C games in New Zealand, opening
against Zambia at Hamilton on July 22, followed by Costa Rica on July 26 in
Dunedin and Spain on July 31 in Wellington.
Japan, ranked No. 11 by FIFA, will be an overwhelming
favorite against Zambia and Costa Rica. The game with No. 6-ranked Spain is
likely to be for the top spot in the group.
“First of all, it’s the World Cup, so I don’t think the FIFA
rankings and other such numbers are of any help,” Ikeda said. " Above all,
I think Zambia will be well prepared for the first game of the tournament, so I
think it will be important for us as well to be fully prepared for the first
game.” -AP