Before the home match against Australia in the 18th round of the World Cup, Japan's striker Kaoru Mitonabi was interviewed by the Japan Football Association (JFA), sharing his thoughts on the match and preparations for the match. Kaoru Sanfelt pointed out that Australia has an advantage in height and is good at attacking through passes, so Japan needs to adjust their tactics accordingly. According to him, the forwards need to press aggressively to limit the space of Australia's attack, while the backline should not retreat too much and should keep high defense to control the opponent. At the same time, whether defending high or low, they should ensure that the ball is cleared effectively to avoid conceding goals.
Kaoru Sanfelt emphasized that as a home game, Japan must go all out to win. He mentioned that if they can get 3 points in their next match, Japan will be able to move further up the table, so the whole team needs to be fully prepared to face Australia in the best condition.
Regarding the three-guard formation that the team used to adopt in the World Cup, Kaoru Mitaka said that the team is confident about it. He believes that if there are problems in the game, it is more because the players' judgment and position need to be improved rather than the formation or tactical system itself. He believes that the Japanese team has players who can flexibly respond to various situations, and the team can also switch from three backs to four backs to meet different challenges during the game, depending on the characteristics and needs of the opponents.
Kaoru Mitaka's speech showed the importance and confidence of the Japanese team for the upcoming match, as well as the flexibility and diversity of the team's tactics. Fans expect the Japanese team to show their best level in the match and fight for the victory.
