The Young Nadeshiko play Spain in Friday's final and Ueki, who scored her side's first goal in Monday's 2-0 semi-final triumph over England, said teamwork is going to be key in overcoming the European side.

The teams met in the preliminary stage, with Spain winning the Group C clash 1-0, and Ueki expects another tough match.

“If I was to become top scorer, I would be very proud, but the priority is to win the championship for this team,” Ueki said.

Goals to Riko Ueki and Jun Endo mean only Spain - who defeated the Asian champions in group stage play on August 9 - stand between Japan and a first ever world championship at U-20 level.

Speaking after the semi-final in Vannes, Ikeda praised his players' mentality.

A faultless first half performance laid the foundation for the win, as Riko Ueki and Jun Endo continued their excellent form with a goal each inside the opening half hour.

Japan will now face Spain, who beat France 1-0 in the other semi-final, in Friday's final, giving Futoshi Ikeda's side the opportunity to add the title of world champions to the AFC U-19 Women's Championship they won in China last October.

In their third FIFA U-20 semi-final in six years, Japan produced a first half performance of such quality that it arguably surpassed even their sparkling display against Germany three days earlier.

A tense opening period gave little indication of what was to follow after the interval, as Jun Endo, Riko Ueki and Saori Takarada continued their superb form to provide the goals, before Germany's Janina Minge scored late on.

The result sets up a mouth-watering semi-final against England on Monday, after the Group B winners beat the Netherlands 2-1.

The Germans came into the match as the only team in the competition to have won all three group matches, and after a tight and tense opening, the first inkling of Japan's eventual control came late in the first half.

A first half penalty from Amelie Delabre was ultimately all that separated the two sides in a hard-fought encounter at Stade Guy Piriou as France progressed to a semi-final against Spain next Monday.

The home side began the rematch of the 2016 final on the front foot, with DPR Korea seemingly content to sit behind the ball and deny them space in the final third for most of the first half.

The Korean approach was largely successful in denying France early chances, with a speculative long range effort from Christy Gavory in the 14th minute the first real attempt from the hosts.

Futoshi Ikeda's side began the day walking a tightrope, but with Jun Endo imperious and Saori Takarada and Riko Ueki both netting hat-tricks, they had no need for the safety net provided by Spain's 2-2 draw with the United States.

The Young Nadeshiko's win equals their biggest ever in the competition and sets up a quarter final meeting with Group D winners Germany, also in Vannes, on Friday.

The East Asian side had been mere seconds away from securing a win that would have seen them claim the eighth and final place in the Knockout Stage, but Dou Jiaxing's unfortunate own goal meant her side were eliminated on goal difference.

Zhang Linyan's excellent goal put Peter Bonde's side in the driver's seat just before half time but they failed to hold on, extending their 12-year quarter final drought for at least two more years.