Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
San Jose: With Japan set to face Spain in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, Young Nadeshiko defender Nana Ichise believes the unity amongst the squad holds key to their success on the world stage.
The fact that Japan are a powerhouse of Asian women’s football and the senior side are the world’s reigning champions somewhat have a positive effect on the U-17 team.
If Ichise’s team manage to beat Spain in the final to be played in San Jose’s Estadio Nacional in Costa Rica on Friday, they will better their previous record of finishing runners-up back in 2010 when rivals Korea Republic edged them out in a penalty shootout.
Ahead of the final, Ichise (pic) is confident that the team’s unity will play a vital role and success is on their way.
“We are all close friends away from the game and we like to talk things through with each other. You can see that unity when we play. We all defend and attack as one,” she was quoted as saying on FIFA.com.
Going into the match, Japan have a psychological advantage as they had defeated Spain 2-0 in the group stages but Ichise is taking nothing for granted.
“We won the first match against Spain but I’m expecting them to be full of determination and to try to get revenge. They’ll be going all out to win the final.
“We’re just trying to stay grounded, though, and keep on playing the way we have been doing up to now,” added Ichise, an ardent fan of World Cup Spanish winner Andre Iniesta.
Photo: AFP