Minamino, midfielder for the Japanese national team, is involved in the team's work as a "spiritual leader" during the 2026 World Cup. On June 26, he was interviewed by the media in Nashville, the team's base camp for the World Cup.

While assisting with team training, he occasionally participates in shooting drills. Regarding his recovery from the anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his left knee that he suffered in December of last year, he said: "Of course, there are still issues to be resolved, such as unequal muscle strength between my left and right legs, but the overall rehabilitation process has been smooth."

Due to this serious injury, Minamino was not included on Japan's official squad list for this World Cup. However, at the arrangement of coach Hajime Moriyasu, he joined the team as a "mentor."

Since the team moved to the base on the 8th of this month, he has continued rehabilitation training while participating in some joint training sessions. He also traveled with the team to match venues and even entered the locker room, supporting the team in a role similar to that of a coaching staff member. Along with Maya Yoshida, who also accompanied the team in a "support role," he provides support from a perspective closer to the players.

He delivered an impassioned speech at the first training camp meeting, quickly immersing the team in the atmosphere of the major tournament. Additionally, he also helped players clean their boots and organize equipment at match venues, and his meticulous efforts were appreciated by his teammates.

Speaking about the much-discussed behavior of "polishing boots," Minamino recalled with a smile: "At first, it was Maya-san who did it. After the first match, we had to catch a flight, and he said the time was tight, so he started organizing the boots. Then I thought, well, I can only do this together (laughs). That's how it started."

Although it began as a coincidence, this behavior continues to this day, reflecting the personalities and dedication of both, and has become an important opportunity to strengthen team cohesion.

On his role in the team, Minamino said: "On one hand, I do my best to bring strength to the team, and at the same time, my teammates also communicate with me at the academy or during training. This is exactly the environment I want, and this kind of interaction is a great stimulus for me. The more I am here, the more I cannot suppress the desire to return to the pitch as soon as possible."

He not only serves as a spiritual pillar but also actively participates in tactical discussions and assistance: "Observing the game from the outside, I can offer some opinions that I would have liked to hear as a player. Especially, understanding between players in the same position is very important. Now, some attacking midfield positions are in constant rotation, so everyone should share their characteristics and the characteristics of the players around them. I will offer suggestions when asked and also proactively express my opinions."

With his support, the Japanese team advanced to the knockout stage with an unbeaten record of 1 win and 2 draws, and will face Brazil in the first round.

The Japanese team played against Brazil in the Kirin Challenge Cup in October, where Minamino captained the team and led them to a comeback victory after falling two goals behind.

Speaking about facing Brazil again, he said: "From the team environment perspective, everyone understands that if we want to win the championship, we will have to face this level of opponent sooner or later. Everyone is mentally prepared and has made their decision."

"The opponent has a world-class attacking line, and they have one more day to recover than we do, which is indeed a difficult condition. But as long as we maintain our usual challenger mentality, I think we are capable of creating something in an all-or-nothing match."

Traduzido por IA.

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