Japan's national team is keeping their cards close to their chest.

In the final stages of preparation for the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, the Japanese national team made a decision that was quite different from many other teams.

The Japanese national team did not play any friendly matches like their rivals. Photo: Reuters .

According to Yahoo Sports , instead of holding international friendly matches, coach Hajime Moriyasu chose to conduct a closed-door training match between the national team and the Japanese U19 team. The training match was held in a special format with four 35-minute periods. According to the "Samurai Blue" coaching staff, this model yields higher professional results than a regular friendly match.

With their superior strength, the Japanese team won 2-1 thanks to goals from Junnosuke Suzuki and Kento Shiogai. After the match, the coaching staff assessed it as a quality test, and all the players were given the opportunity to try out different formations.

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Another important objective of the match was to improve physical fitness in the hot and humid weather conditions in the US. Many players played for up to 70 minutes to enhance their fitness and ball control. Midfielder Daichi Kamada said the whole team adapted better to the harsh weather conditions after their training camp in Mexico.

The Japanese national team held a closed training session with the U19 team. Photo: Reuters .

Beyond just physical training, the closed-door match allowed the coaching staff to accurately simulate the playing style of their upcoming opponent. The U19 team was tasked with "playing the role" of the Netherlands , a contender for first place in Group F. The young players were instructed to use tactical approaches similar to their opponents, from long balls to utilizing their height advantage in aerial duels.

According to center-back Maya Yoshida, playing against the U19 team allows the national team to proactively control the match duration, test tactics, and reduce the risk of injury. More importantly, the entire preparation plan, including free-kick and penalty shootout drills, is kept completely secret from opponents.

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After learning costly lessons from their unsuccessful preparation for the 2014 World Cup , Japan is showing a more cautious and scientific approach. With improved physical fitness and meticulous tactical preparation, the "Samurai Blue" are heading to the 2026 World Cup with confidence and high expectations.

Source: https://znews.vn/tuyen-nhat-ban-giau-bai-post1658648.html