Japan's new captain Itakura emphasizes team spirit ahead of World Cup opener

Japan's new captain, Ko Itakura, stressed the Samurai Blue's need to solidify their team spirit ahead of their World Cup opener against the Netherlands. The Ajax defender acknowledged that while the team's training has been intense and positive, collective spirit still requires improvement.

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We are training well and with high intensity. The team atmosphere is also becoming more positive, but there is still much that can be improved in terms of collective spirit.

With almost half of the 26-man squad set to make their World Cup debut, Itakura identified communication and leadership from experienced players as crucial. He aims to ease any pre-match anxiety and ensure all players are aligned, drawing on the experiences from the previous tournament to guide the newcomers.

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I want to reduce anxiety before the first match and ensure all players are on the same page. Senior players need to create an atmosphere like in the previous tournament because only they who have experienced it understand the real situation.

Itakura also emphasized the critical need to strengthen the defense before facing the Netherlands. He stated that the team cannot afford to give opponents opportunities to exploit weaknesses. "Small details will determine the outcome of the match," he noted, stressing the importance of mastering one-on-one duels and second balls as fundamental aspects before delving into tactical strategies.

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We cannot give them space to exploit our weaknesses. Analysis of the opponents has been done, and we have practiced to handle it.