Bundesliga striker yearns to score against Vietnam

The Japanese team has been training hard for their opening match of the 2023 Asian Cup against Vietnam. Striker Takuma Asano is determined to score, helping the "Blue Samurai" team get off to a good start.

" I prepared well for the first match. I had a strong desire to contribute to the victory by scoring goals ," Osano shared. " The way we prepare for each match is the same. I don't feel nervous at all ."

The Japanese team is considered a candidate for the 2023 Asian Cup championship. The team's determination is even greater when they only finished second in the 2019 tournament. At that time, Japan lost 1-3 to Qatar in the final match.

Takuma Asano is an important player for coach Hajime Moriyasu.

The Japanese team is in an easy group with Iraq, Vietnam and Indonesia. However, Asano is not subjective: " There is no easy match. We want to focus on what we need to do and play well in the first match ."

To prepare for the Asian Cup, the Japanese team gathered since late December last year. After the match against Thailand on January 1, coach Hajime Moriyasu quickly announced the official list of 26 players.

He overlooked many quality names in attack, such as striker Yuya Osako or two stars playing in Europe, Daichi Kamada and Kyogo Furuhashi. However, Takuma Asano has always been an indispensable player for the 55-year-old coach.

The player born in 1994 plays for VfL Bochum (Bundesliga). His forte is winger. This season, Asano played 17 matches, scored 6 goals and assisted 1.

For the national team, he played 48 matches, scored 9 goals and had 4 assists. Asano's most memorable goal in his career was a dribble and shot from a tight angle, sealing a 2-1 win over Germany at the 2022 World Cup.

He is expected to shine at the Asian Cup in the context that Kaoru Mitoma has not recovered from injury, and Takefusa Kubo needs more time to reach his best form and condition.

" Everyone around us expects us to play well in the opening match. That's why I always have to practice hard to reach the highest standards ," Asano said.

The match between Japan and Vietnam will take place at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow, January 14, at Al Thumama Stadium.

Van Hai

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