Soccer News of Wednesday, 30 May 2018

Source: footballghana.com

Shinji Kagawa: We are focused on Ghana friendly game

Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa

Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa has stated their readiness for their international friendly with Ghana today.

The Black Stars will face the Blue Samurai at the Nissan Stadium in a game which will define their team going into the World Cup.

Japan are hoping to have a good tournament in Russia and for them playing Ghana, three time World Cup campaigners is enough to get them in shape.

“It’s been a long camp and I’ve been able to concentrate every day,” said midfielder Shinji Kagawa, who returned to action with Borussia Dortmund earlier this month after missing three months through injury.

“Everything will be decided the day after the game but all the players are fully focused on the game itself. We’re prepared for any situation in the match and we want to win even though it’s only a friendly, because then we can carry that form onward. We’ll be trying out different things and we need to capitalize on the good things that come out of the game.”

Japan will warm up for the World Cup by playing Switzerland in Lugano, Switzerland, on June 8 and Paraguay in Innsbruck, Austria, on June 12. Nishino’s team opens its World Cup campaign against Colombia in Saransk on June 19 before taking on Senegal in Yekaterinburg on June 24 and Poland in Volgograd on June 28.