Japan got down to serious business on Sunday morning as Mexican coach Javier Aguirre put his side through a training session at Bishan Stadium.
The Samurai Blue take on Brazil in a glamour clash at Singapore's new National Stadium on Tuesday and will enter the game in high spirits following a 1-0 win over Jamaica in Japan on Friday. The win was new coach Javier Aguirre's first since the Mexican took over the team after the Brazil World Cup. He led Japan in a 0-2 loss to Uruguay and a 2-2 draw with Venezuela last month.
The high morale in the team was evident as stars such as AC Milan forward Keisuke Honda and FSV Mainz 05 forward Shinji Okazaki bantered with team-mates.
The positive mood was helped by the presence of hundreds of Japanese football fans who cheered their heroes' every move. Armed with digital cameras and mobile phones, the 700-strong crowd roared when the team took the field.
The players posed for photos with kids selected by clothing chain Uniqlo, the Yuhua-Albirex Football Academy, Albirex Singapore Soccer School and the SportCares charity.
Japan is not scheduled to have an open training session on Monday but Brazil fans lucky enough to obtain a training pass can watch the Selecao in action at the National Stadium at 4pm on Monday.
