Japan take on Uzbekistan in Tashkent on Tuesday while North Korea welcome Tajikistan to Pyongyang as the 3rd round of Asian qualifying for Brazil 2014 continues.
After Japan defeated North Korea 1-0 in Saitama on Friday night I spoke with Mike Havenaar of the Samurai Blue, and the Chollima’s Chong Tese to get their thoughts on that game and their next fixtures.
Ahead of the Women’s World Cup final I spoke to Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s Tadanari Lee about Nadeshiko Japan.
The striker, who scored the winner for the Samurai Blue in their Asian Cup final in January, had some wise words for his compatriots, and was confident they could bring the trophy home.
The Samurai Blue may have failed to register any goals in the recent Kirin Cup but the players certainly benefited from the time together on the training pitch.
After the final game of the tournament against the Czech Republic I got the thoughts of Eiji Kawashima, Maya Yoshida and Keisuke Honda, all of whom are keen to keep improving.
Takashi Usami has had quite a week, and no sooner had he received his first call-up to the full national team than his much-anticipated transfer to Bayern Munich appeared to have become final.
On Friday I asked Keisuke Honda what he thought of the 19-year-old, and also what his own plans were for the future.
Before the J.League restarted this weekend I had the chance to speak with Kashima Antlers’ head coach Oswaldo Oliveira at JFA House.
The Brazilian felt his team were ready to get going again, and his comments can be found here.
On Tuesday the J.League called a press conference to announce its ”Team as One’ squad to face the national team next week.
The full squad and comments from J.League legend Kazu can be found here.
I spoke with Shinji Okazaki and Eiji Kawashima after Japan defeated Paraguay at the weekend and both told me that they are very much looking forward to the start of Alberto Zaccheroni’s reign as Japan coach.
Their comments can be found by following the links below:
Hajime Hosogai made an impressive debut in the heart of the Japan midfield against Paraguay on Saturday.
I managed to get a few words with the Urawa Reds enforcer after the match and you can see what he had to say here:
I had a chat with Urawa Reds defender Matthew Spiranovic after his side’s 1-1 draw with Kashima Antlers at the weekend, when we discussed his recall to the Australian national team.
Please follow the links below to see what he had to say.
English: http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-asian-cup-news/30204-spiranovic-targets-place-in-afc-asian-cup-squad
日本語：http://www.the-afc.com/jp/afc-asian-cup-news/30204-spiranovic-targets-place-in-afc-asian-cup-squad
Today I attended the press conference unveiling Alberto Zaccheroni as the new coach of the Japan national team.
今日は日本代表新監督アルベルト・ザッケローニの記者会見に行きました。
The Italian’s target for next year’s Asian Cup and his impresions of the team he has inherited can be found here:
http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-asian-cup-news/30199-zaccheroni-unveiled-as-japan-coach
ザッケローニ監督のアジアン・カップの目標と日本代表の感想はこちらです：
http://www.the-afc.com/jp/afc-asian-cup-news/30199-zaccheroni-unveiled-as-japan-coach
Sakka Nihon 