The Japan men’s Olympic soccer team coach Makoto Teguramori has said his boys will give it all for their first Group B match against Nigeria on August 4 in Manaus, Brazil.
The young Samurai Blue left for Brazil on Thursday and will launch the Rio Olympic against Nigeria, followed by a game versus Colombia three days later, and then another against Sweden to close out the first round on Aug. 10.
“We’ll be at our peak for the first game,” Teguramori said at Haneda airport. “That game will make or break our medal chances.”
Japan warms up for the Nigeria game with a friendly versus Brazil on July 30. Teguramori’s squad is trying to win the nation’s first medal in men’s soccer since the team took home the bronze from the 1968 Mexico City Games.
Teguramori has no illusions about the tall order his group faces.
“The mission we’ve taken on is a huge one,” he said. “Hopefully we can bring back a medal to add a new chapter in (Japanese soccer) history.”
In London four years ago, Japan came close, reaching the bronze-medal match (a 2-0 loss to South Korea).
During the Rio Games, where Japan will be playing every three days, Teguramori and his coaching staff will focus on keeping the troops as fresh as possible.