Wednesday, August 31, 2016
SAITAMA, JAPAN // It is highly unlikely, but if the Japan national team were unaware that the spotlight shines brightly on them for Wednesday’s’s clash with the UAE, then there was little escaping the fact 24 hours out from kick off.
On Wednesday, a phalanx of photographers and members of the Japanese media descended upon the Saitama Stadium, eager to catch a glimpse of their final training session, keen to gather the latest thoughts of players or coaching staff, anxious to take the temperature before the final round of qualification for the 2018 World Cup gets under way.
• See all our coverage ahead of Thursday's match here
Make no mistake, this suddenly felt serious.
However, the players must be used to the glare by now, for they stretched and jogged and smiled and joked as if there was not much at stake at all.
Even when a select few stopped midway through the mixed zone, and thus instigated a scramble for space and for quotes, they appeared pretty unperturbed.
The UAE, those conquerors at the most recent Asian Cup, await, but the Japan team blatantly understand what is required.
They are seasoned professionals, with AC Milan’s Keisuke Honda the star attraction, a Japanese version of Omar Abdulrahman if you will, possessing the status and the style to stand out. Both are instantly recognisable by their hair, of course, one bleached-blond and the other a moptop mane.
The latter had obviously inspired one Japanese fan, dressed in Abdulrahman’s No 10 jersey and sporting a curly wig, to declare his affection for the UAE playmaker, in full view of some patently bewildered compatriots. Apparently, Japan can love “Amoory”, too.
The local hastened to add that, come tonight to the north of Tokyo, he will be cheering on the hosts. It represented an astute play.
Saitama Stadium is sure to provide the perfect setting, for the buzz around it on Wednesday suggests when full to its 67,000-capacity it will throb and it will thrive.
The spotlight will shine even brighter then, but the Japanese appear poised to embrace it.
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