FIFA U17 World Cup: Who stole the attention in Japan U17 training?

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Japan will face England tomorrow at the Salt Lake Stadium. Image Source: XtraTime

Kolkata: Japan to play perhaps the toughest game of the FIFA U17 World Cup, as the Japanese U17 team to face the acid test of perhaps the most consistent team of the competition – England, in the Round of 16 match on Tuesday at the VYBK, Kolkata. The team got a surprise today in the training as Kolkata Giant Kingfisher East Bengal’s newly signed Japanese heart-throb Katsumi Yusa came to the Japan training to meet his former coach Yoshiro Moriyama as well as the entire squad to encourage them ahead of the big game.

Katsumi trained under Moriyama in the U18 level as he said, “I trained under him at Sanfreece Hiroshima at the U18 level. He is a fine human being and a great coach. I believe Japan will beat England tomorrow. 100%.”

Meanwhile, the Japan coach seemed excited again to play at the Salt Lake Stadium, as he said, “The ground is flat but the stadium with the atmosphere of 50k-60k fans is great. It’s a great experience for the players as well to play in such ambience.”

Eyes will definitely be on Japanese ‘Messi’ Kubo, but the coach echoed the depth of his team many a times during the press conference.

The circumspect Coach was still not aware of the unavailability of English superstar Jadon Sancho, as he said, “I think he will play. I saw him at the hotel today.” Though, later on it was clarified by the British coach that Sancho is heading back to Germany and he will not be available for the game.

Now, it is to see if the Japanese side can capitalise the advantage of the absence of their most possible threat Jadon Sancho who turned out to be the main matter of concern for all the teams who faced England in the competition so far.