Japan’s Sasaki not ready to pack bags
VANCOUVER: The Netherlands may have a double reason to topple the defending champions but Japan coach Norio Sasaki warned he is not quite ready to pack his bags yet at the Women’s World Cup.
The 57-year-old was in a jovial mood ahead of a mustwin clash in Vancouver which will either send the Olympic silver-medallists home or into a quarter-final clash with Australia in Edmonton next Saturday.
“I’m really thinking about how to organise the luggage,” he said at the pre-match press conference at BC Place Stadium. “I’m not going to pack to go back to Japan, are we going to Moncton? Oh we’re going to Edmonton,” he said of the next stop on the ‘Nadeshiko’s’ title trail.
And he wasn’t ready to reveal any team secrets either ahead of the last 16 tie apart from that everyone was ready to play apart from Kozue Ando who broke her ankle in their opener and had to return to Japan.
“There are a lot of Japanese media here and some of the comments are actually revealed and have gone to rival teams. I’m talkative and I should not be revealing too much.”
Roger Reijners’ Dutch newcomers are seeking not only to topple Japan but to book their berth to a first Olympics at Rio 2016.
The Netherlands need to win to seal their place as one of the three European qualifiers alongside Germany and France.
And Sasaki admitted his side will have a difficult task against the 12th-ranked Dutch.
“They have nothing to lose, we are the champions, they are going to come after us,” said Sasaki.
“We’re the ones who have to play under this pressure. We know the game won’t be an easy, I know it and the players know it.
“They are a threat for us, but we are prepared for that threat.”
Reijners warned: “It’s going to be a huge match. It’s probably the biggest one they’ve (Japan) played until now (in Canada).
“We have put a goal in our heads, we need to win and tomorrow if things go well we’ll know exactly where we stand.”
Dutch captain Mandy van den Berg added that an Olympic place was a powerful motivator.
“These are the matches that top players want to play. We’re looking forward to it, we’re excited and we’re ready to go.
“We already know what is waiting for us if we win. The Olympics is what’s making us so hungry.”
Japan advanced as top of their group while the Dutch backed in as one of the best third-place finishers.
The two teams last met seven years ago in the Cyprus Cup -that time Japan won 2-1.
“It was right after I became coach, that time we narrowly won the game,” said Sasaki.
“In the past five years we have been following their games.”
Sasaki led Japan to a dramatic title in Germany four years ago with a penalty shootout victory against the United States in the final.
It was a triumph embodying the iron-willed spirit of a nation battling to recover from a deadly tsunami and nuclear crisis.
And he wants to create more drama in Canada.
“In the Olympics and the previous World Cup we have gained a lot of experience but we would like to create a new story.
“This is a knockout stage playing a fourth game, there will be drama we just hope it will be in our favour.”
Midfielder Mizuho Sakaguchi said the Japanese wanted to keep Ando part of the journey, with a white teddy bear wearing her number seven jersey present at all their matches.
“In the locker room I talked with Ms. Ando on the phone and she was able to hear me, and I was able to hear her voice, and the white teddy bear is a substitute for her. We don’t have any problem, we have her,” said Sakaguchi. – AFP