FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Yuto Nagatomo talked about his enthusiasm at the press conference on the 28th for the match against Spain, which was about to advance to the final tournament. Q: Reflecting on the match against Costa Rica on the previous day Nagatomo: There were some parts where I was too cautious in the first half, and I think it would have been better if I had attacked more boldly, but I firmly accepted the result. I think I want to switch and move forward. Q: How did you feel when you matched up with an opponent who was wary? Nagatomo: I didn’t feel like losing at all in the one-on-one part of the matchup, but the opponent made a solid block. It was difficult for Japan to break down as a team, even though we were asked to come in and hold back. Q: Was it similar to the 5-back team that had been having trouble since the Asian qualifiers? Nagatomo: Even in the Asian qualifiers, it was hard to beat the opponents who were holding back with 5 backs, so after all, they were the opponents of this world-class World Cup. I feel that it will become more difficult as we move forward, but it’s not just us. I feel that it is becoming more difficult. Q: How did you feel about the atmosphere of the stadium packed with Japanese supporters on the pitch? I told everyone before the game that they were creating a home atmosphere. However, I am very sorry that it cannot be returned as a result. Q: Before the game, the intention of making a gesture to inflame the supporters is Nagatomo: That really means that the team will fight together. I think it was a manifestation of the intention not only of the players but also of the supporters to unite their hearts and go for victory together. Q: Was it a win or a draw? Nagatomo: First of all, it was important not to lose, so I think everyone was aware that at least a draw would be fine. death. Of course, I wanted to win, but I didn’t want to go too far forward and let the opponent who was defending and aiming for a counterattack get beaten, so that’s something we discussed. Q: How was the communication between the bench and the pitch after you scored a goal? Nagatomo: We were always able to communicate with each other, and even from the bench, we were yelling at each other, but football is really quite difficult, and the opponents have very few chances. , It’s one shot on target, isn’t it? From there, the opponents’ morale increased even more, and the sense of unity increased, making it difficult to break through. That’s the fault after all. Q: Did the short interval between matches affect you? Nagatomo: Of course, the more time you have, the more you can prepare for your opponent, so it would be nice if you had more time, but the same goes for your opponent. I can’t make any excuses about this schedule, and the fact that we lost is everything, so I’d like to accept it and put everything on the line for the next match against Spain. Q: Has the team changed? Nagatomo: I think they have. I myself have completely switched, and I have experienced many things.In South Africa (tournament), we won the first match against Cameroon and then lost to the Netherlands, so the situation is the same. At that time, the attitude that the seniors showed me at that time is firmly engraved in my heart, so I firmly believe in such an attitude. I think so. Q: Is it safe to assume that the match against Spain will be a critical moment? Nagatomo: It’s already a critical moment, a real life-or-death battle. I think that the one who is really strong will be able to make it through the group league. Anyway, I would like to fight with a strong feeling with determination. Q: Spain is a very difficult opponent, but Nagatomo: When it comes to opponents at the World Cup level, it is difficult to fight any opponent, and on the contrary, we (opponents) can demonstrate our strengths better. That’s how I think We have clearly shared how to play, and we can see it, so if we can show it well against Spain, I think we will definitely have a chance to win. Q: How do you want to respond to the expectations of the supporters as an individual Nagatomo? Nagatomo: Personally, I don’t feel like losing at all. It’s all about improving and contributing to the team’s victory. Q: What is your image of the Spanish game? Nagatomo: I already have a clear image. The image of Japan winning. I see myself clearly.
[テレ朝ｎｅｗｓ] https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp “On the TV Asahi series, the match between Ecuador and Senegal will be broadcast live from 11:10 pm on the 29th (Tuesday)! We will broadcast the Spanish game live for free.”
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