SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) played Uruguay National Team in the KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2023 at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo on Friday 24 March. In their first match since the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, Japan drew the match 1-1 thanks to the 75th minute equaliser scored by NISHIMURA Takuma (Yokohama F. Marinos).

The newly assembled Japan National Team played aggressively in their first international match since Covid-19 prevention measures were lifted to allow vocal support from all seats, as the 61,855 spectators who filled Japan National Stadium cheered and chanted “Nippon” throughout the match. Despite allowing their opponents to take the lead in the first half, they made the most of their substitutions in the second half to spark a late comeback reminiscent of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

Japan entered the match with a 4-2-3-1 formation with SCHMIDT Daniel (Sint-Truidense VV) defending the goal behind a defence line consisting of SUGAWARA Yukinari (AZ Alkmaar), ITAKURA Kou (Borussia MG), SEKO Ayumu (Grasshopper CZ), and ITO Hiroki (VfB Stuttgart), while ENDO Wataru (VfB Stuttgart) and MORITA Hidemasa (Sporting CP) anchored the midfield. In the attacking third, DOAN Ritsu (SC Freiburg), KAMADA Daichi (Eintracht Frankfurt), and MITOMA Kaoru (Brighton & Hove Albion FC) started in midfield with ASANO Takuma (VfL Bochum) serving as the lone striker. .....

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