On Monday 26 June, the U-17 Japan National Team faced off the U-17 Australia National Team in the quarterfinals of the AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Thailand 2023 at Pathum Thani Stadium.

Japan made several changes to their starting line-up for this match, in which Head Coach MORIYAMA Yoshiro described as the “most important match of the tournament,” as the victor would earn a spot in the FIFA U-17 World Cup™.

GOTO Wataru (FC Tokyo U-18) was given the start between the sticks, with KOSUGI Keita (Shonan Bellmare U-18), NAGANO Shuto (FC Tokyo U-18), HONDA Kotaro (Shonan Bellmare U-18), and SHIBATA Shotaro (Kawasaki Frontale U-18) forming the four-man defence line. YAMAMOTO Joi (Tokyo Verdy Youth) and NAKAJIMA Yotaro (Sanfrecce Hiroshima Youth) were given the start in central midfield, while YOSHINAGA Yumeki (Kamimura Gakuen High School) and SATO Ryunosuke (FC Tokyo U-18) were positioned in the flanks. It was MICHIWAKI Yutaka (Roasso Kumamoto) and NAWATA Gaku (Kamimura Gakuen High School) who were named as the two strikers for this crucial match. .....

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