Plenty of respect as Japan prepare to face Spain in Women’s World Cup Group C decider
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Japan's defender Moeka Minami and Zambia's forward Racheal Kundananji in action during the Women's World Cup match on July 22.
PHOTO: AFP
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WELLINGTON – Japan defender Moeka Minami knows Spanish football very well and believes the Group C decider in the New Zealand capital on Monday could be a Women’s World Cup classic between two teams playing a similar style.
Japan and Spain have been two of the tournament’s standout teams, and both have already qualified for the last 16 after dominant wins over Zambia and Costa Rica.
Minami said she has always admired the Spanish style of play when she has come across it in European competition and in age-group tournaments for Japan.
“There are many players that I have played before and they have really good understanding with their teammates,” said the 24-year-old AS Roma centre-back on Sunday.
“I respect the team very much so whenever I play a Spanish team, it’s kind of more like a final for me.
“They play in a similar style to Japan as well, so I think we will have a very interesting match this time. We have to give the opposition lots of respect and make sure that we do our best to present the best of our team as well.”
Spain’s quality in midfield made it hard for their first two opponents to contain them, and they have scored eight goals and conceded none in their two matches so far.
Japan are not far behind with seven goals and none conceded, although they did lose to Spain in a friendly in Seville in November.
“We lost 1-0, but we had just started playing three at the back at the time. Now we have a lot more experience of it and we’ve been talking together to really shape it,” Minami recalled.
“Spain used different players in that match and so will we tomorrow, so I think we can actually maintain our mindset as a different team rather than dwell on the previous pain.”
The 2011 world champions have conceded only two goals in their last six matches – evidence that Japan’s defensive system has now bedded in.
Spain coach Jorge Vilda believes the game will be won in the final third.
He said: “Japan’s a very good team, interprets the game well and has quality players. Tactically, they are very well trained and it’s a team that can exert pressure on us.
“I think that the difference could be the team that is better in the last third of the field.”
Both beat Zambia 5-0 but Spain’s 3-0 defeat of Costa Rica, compared to Japan’s 2-0 win over the same opponents, means Spain top the group with a superior goal difference.
Vilda’s side will therefore finish top if the match with Japan ends in a draw. REUTERS, AFP
