On Friday 23 September, the SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team), who are currently on a tour in Germany, played their first match of the KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2022 against the USA National Team in Dusseldorf, where they earned a 2-0 victory with goals from KAMADA Daichi (Eintracht Frankfurt) and MITOMA Kaoru (Brighton & Hove Albion FC).

Japan had a productive match, both offensively and defensively, against the USA, who will also compete in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ in November.

Head Coach MORIYASU Hajime opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation for this match, a system used in many of his previous matches, instead of the 4-3-3 that had been used since the middle of the AFC Asian Qualifiers (Road to Qatar). MAEDA Daizen (Celtic FC) was given the start in the striker position with Kamada just beneath him. KUBO Takefusa (Real Sociedad) and ITO Junya (Stade de Reims) were placed in the flanks with MORITA Hidemasa (Sporting CP) and ENDO Wataru (VfB Stuttgart) anchoring the midfield. SAKAI Hiroki (Urawa Red Diamonds) made his return to the defence line alongside TOMIYASU Takehiro (Arsenal), YOSHIDA Maya (FC Schalke 04) and NAKAYAMA Yuta (Huddersfield Town AFC). GONDA Shuichi (Shimizu S-Pulse) was given the start in goal. .....

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