On Friday 7 April, the Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women's National Team), who are currently on a tour in Europe, played an international friendly match against the Portugal Women's National Team, ranked 21st in the FIFA rankings, at Estadio D. Afonso Henriques in Portugal.

Japan played in their brand-new away kit prepared for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia/ New Zealand 2023™ with the match kicking-off at 17:00 local time in temperatures exceeding 30°C.

For this match, Head Coach IKEDA Futoshi stuck with the three-back formation they used in the SheBelieves Cup held in February, as YAMASHITA Ayaka (INAC Kobe Leonessa) was given the start in goal, with TAKARADA Saori (Linkopings FC), MIYAKE Shiori (INAC Kobe Leonessa), and MINAMI Moeka (AS Roma) forming the defence line. HASEGAWA Yui (Manchester City) and NAGANO Fuka (Liverpool FC) anchored the midfield with SUGITA Hina (Portland Thorns FC) and SHIMIZU Risa (West Ham United) placed in the flanks. NAOMOTO Hikaru (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Urawa Reds Ladies) and FUJINO Aoba (Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza) were named as the two centre midfielders playing beneath TANAKA Mina (INAC Kobe Leonessa), who started as the lone striker. .....

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