BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- In a recent in-depth conversation, Japanese women's soccer coach Mrs. Ikeda revealed to the Japanese media their ambitions for this year's Asian Cup, pointing directly at their upcoming semifinal opponents, China.
Speaking about the team's mission in the Asian Cup, Mrs. Ikeda revealed, "We are participating in the Asian Cup with a lot of ambition. Our first and foremost goal is to win a ticket to the 2023 World Cup, which we have already achieved by eliminating Thailand. This was achieved by eliminating Thailand, followed by the quest for a third consecutive Asian Cup, and we are two wins away from that honor, with the first being the semifinal against China. The most ambitious goal of all is undoubtedly to achieve success in the World Cup, or even to win it. The Asian Cup is the first step in that great journey, and these matches will help us grow and move forward."
Facing the upcoming Chinese team, Mrs. Ikeda is confident: "With limited time to prepare for the tournament, we will make the most of every moment and strive to win the tournament to ensure that our ultimate goal is reached. Right now, the entire team is brimming with fighting spirit, and we will not allow any let-up."
Speaking about the team's current challenges, Mrs. Ikeda admitted, "I think what we urgently need to improve is the rate of transition between offense and defense, especially when the offensive line is cut off, we have to quickly adjust to the defensive mode. Facing the strong teams from Europe and the United States that we may encounter in the future, it is even more important for us to adapt to the speed and physical confrontation of the opposing team and fully utilize our own strengths."
It is reported that the semifinals of the China-Japan women's soccer team will be played at 22:00 Beijing time on February 3, the third day of the Chinese New Year. (Source: DD)
