Japan captain Ko Itakura stressed the team’s total focus on their final World Cup group-stage match against Sweden, rather than looking ahead to potential knockout-round opponents. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Itakura made clear the squad must not get complacent or think beyond the upcoming fixture.
“We are concentrating solely on the Sweden match. Everyone knows that if we don’t win, we won’t have a chance to advance,” Itakura said. He emphasized that the team’s fighting spirit is key to securing a place in the next round.
Itakura’s teammates echoed his sentiment. Forward Daizen Maeda said: “We aren’t thinking about who we might face in the knockout stage. The priority is simply to beat Sweden first.” Midfielder Kaishu Sano added: “This is a decisive game. The whole team has prepared thoroughly and will take the pitch with the highest morale.”
The Japan vs. Sweden match takes place on Tuesday, with a spot in the round of 16 at stake. A victory would see the Samurai Blue face other strong sides, but Itakura and his teammates insist they will not let such thoughts distract them from the immediate goal.
