All about the three points for former champions Japan

21.07.2023 - 04:37 channelnewsasia.com

Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda said it was vital for the Nadeshiko to win their opening match against Zambia in Hamilton on Saturday if they are to make their mark at the Women's World Cup.

Champions at the 2011 World Cup and runners-up four years later, Japan exited in the round of 16 at the last edition of the showpiece of women's football. "We are ready for our match tomorrow.

Our first match of the World Cup is very important. So we have to be very careful, but dynamic, and we're going to get those points," Ikeda told reporters at Waikato Stadium on Friday."This is a tournament so we have to win one game after the other.

That's important. We want to get off on the right foot so we have to win. It's the first game so we have to, we just have to win it tomorrow."Debutants Zambia may be ranked 77th in the world to Japan's 11th but they proved their quality by beating twice world champions Germany in a friendly earlier this month.

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