This article is a part of the Guardian’s Women’s World Cup 2023 Experts’ Network, a cooperation between one of the absolute best media organizations from the 32 nations who certified. theguardian.com is operating previews from two nations every day within the run-up to the match kicking off on 20 July.
Overview
The Nadeshiko, Japan ladies’s nationwide crew, had an impressive begin to the 2010s, being topped champions on the 2011 World Cup in Germany, incomes a silver medal on the London Olympics in 2012, prior to a runners-up end on the 2015 World Cup in Canada. However, the truth is that the present era has now not but lived as much as the heightened expectancies, with removal on the spherical of 16 within the 2019 World Cup and a quarter-final go out at their house Olympics two years in the past.
The Portland Thorns midfielder Hina Sugita, then again, not too long ago spoke of the sense of urgency amongst her teammates. “We were very disappointed not to progress further in the past. If we don’t dig in our nails now, it’s only going to get tougher for women’s football in this country,” she said. The current coach, Futoshi Ikeda, took over in October 2021 with the task of giving the team a fresh start towards reclaiming that title of world champions. This World Cup will be Japan’s first global competition since it took over.
This year’s team features many players who have performed well at age category World Cups in the past, and as a collective are improving with each passing match. Defender Moeka Minami said: “We want to use this World Cup as an opportunity to reinvigorate women’s football in Japan.”
One of the team’s key players, Yui Hasegawa, has a sparkle in her eyes when talking about the World Cup. “Results now are everything when we think of the future for women’s football in Japan. I’m looking forward to showing how much of a difference I can make individually,” mentioned the Manchester City midfielder. “Succeeding at the World Cup is now our immediate objective. I want us to express our qualities as Japanese on the pitch.
The team’s performances at this World Cup will have a major impact on public enthusiasm for women’s football in Japan going forward. Ikeda certainly piqued interest in the tournament by leaving out star player Mana Iwabuchi from the squad. “Iwabuchi is a player who has done a lot to drive this team forward but I am choosing 23 players for this specific time and there is no one reason for my choices,” Ikeda mentioned. “It’s about shape, health, the state of the crew and what we’d like in sure scenarios.”