Japan will face Brazil in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 on June 30 at 1 a.m. Beijing time (CEST). On the eve of the match, Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu held a press conference. This is the second part of that press conference.

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I have a question. In the previous Brazil versus Japan match, I recall Japan won. Japan performed exceptionally well in the last FIFA World Cup, defeating Germany and Spain. So my question is quite simple: do you think Japan are favourites to win tomorrow? Thank you. Additionally, personally for this FIFA World Cup, to what level or how far do you want to lead this Japanese national team? Thank you again!

On this point, first I'd like to recall that in a friendly match last year, when we faced Brazil's national team in Japan, we were very fortunate to win that match.In all our encounters with Brazil throughout history before that match, Japan's senior national team had never won. So at that moment, I truly felt it was a historically very meaningful turning point.

But at the same time, I also thought about something else. That is, precisely because we had that victory, when we face Brazil again in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the situation we face and the difficulty of the match will likely be even more severe.While not all current Brazil squad members participated in that friendly, as a team, Brazil's players and coaching staff surely harbor deep disappointment and determination about that loss.

So in tomorrow's official match, I predict Brazil will take the field with extremely high fighting spirit and strong psychological motivation, determined to beat us this time. Because they have this determination to avenge the loss, tomorrow's battle will certainly be extremely difficult and demanding.

But the only thing I want to emphasize is this: previously, we believed the probability of beating Brazil was nearly zero, but through actual competition in that friendly match, we finally truly understood and confirmed one thing: we do have a chance and possibility to win.Tomorrow's match will still be extremely difficult, but to ultimately grasp victory, I hope the entire team will give everything, maximize our focus and concentration, and face this challenge with full commitment.

Regarding match intervals, it is true Japan has one fewer day of rest than Brazil. Furthermore,regarding travel distance, Japan's travel is approximately double that of our opponent. This is certainly the current situation.How do you think these disadvantages will affect us? I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Yes, that's right. As you mentioned, in this North, Central America and Caribbean FIFA World Cup, the long-distance travel across the United States, Canada, and Mexico is certainly very demanding and puts significant physical strain on the players.In this situation, while Brazil has a relatively long recovery period, we only have three days. It's certainly a disadvantageous situation for physical recovery and match preparation, but I'm not particularly concerned.

I say this because we have been fully aware from the start of the necessity for physical adjustment and our schedule. So as a team and as individual players, we are working within our given circumstances to minimize the impact of travel, to make better use of these three days outside the pitch for recovery, and to be in good condition for the match. With this approach, both players and staff have made thorough preparations, and I firmly believe our players will deliver their best performance tomorrow.

Furthermore, our opponent tomorrow is precisely Brazil, and we have great respect for them. But the opportunity to face Brazil, a true top competitor, on the World Cup stage will be a valuable asset for our future. So we are working hard to create an environment where players can compete freely with courage and determination, with everyone in peak physical and mental condition. Yes, I believe everyone is adjusting themselves to peak condition mentally and physically.

So far, in defensive positions, especially center-back, six players have either started or received adequate playing time overall. I think this is currently an excellent and ideal situation. In contrast, what do you think is necessary, or what conditions would be needed, for attacking players who haven't received similar playing time to gain equal playing opportunities and minutes like the defensive players?

Yes, on this point, you're exactly right—the current player distribution demonstrates rotation, or more precisely, substitution among players. Specifically, all defensive players are getting opportunities to play in turn. However, I cannot definitively say whether this approach is absolutely correct or appropriate at this stage.

In reality, depending on each team's situation and team-building philosophy, there is a management approach that tends to fix core members. Under this philosophy, the starting lineup is set, and substitute players must demonstrate enough strength to overcome intense internal competition and earn the starting position through their own efforts.Within such a rigorous and direct competitive process, the core values of the team are reflected, and this can be a genuine opportunity to promote continuous improvement in individual players. So I don't think we can simply conclude that "giving more players playing time is always good."

However, considering Japan's current development stage and the challenges we face, I believe the model where more players participate in the FIFA World Cup—such a rare and valuable experience—and gain firsthand exposure and understanding of world-class technical and tactical standards is better suited to our current situation.Therefore, my core thinking is this: by giving as many players as possible competitive experience in major tournaments, we can achieve improvement in each player's ability while also aiming for a significant leap in the overall competitive level of the team.

Regarding forward players' appearances in upcoming matches, among the 26-member squad currently selected, looking only at outfield players, Shuto Machino is the only one who hasn't yet received playing time.However, when selecting players, I always follow the principle of "choosing the best solution based on the specific circumstances at that time." This means comprehensively and holistically considering our highest competitive state and optimal technical and tactical fit against specific opponents. Based on these careful considerations, I make my final decision and send players onto the field.As for what player setup and tactical formation we will use in tomorrow's Brazil match, please wait and see what we actually do.

AI翻訳。

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