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- Japan vs. the US Ogawa shot a mid-range shot in the second half (photographed by Kou Kenta)
The Japanese national team (17th in the FIFA rankings) lost 0-2 to the US national team (15th in the FIFA rankings).
FW Ogawa Koki (28, NEC Naymehen), who started as the first batter, recalled, “The quality of the counter and the way he interacted with him after joining the forwards were of quality, and the opponent was better than he was. He was a strong opponent that he didn't have in Asia.”
In the second minute of the second half, defender Seko Ayumu headed a cross and sent him to the goal, but he was held back by the goalkeeper and ended up not finishing. “We ended our activities in the Japan national team with zero goals, but I think there have been many challenges. We want everyone to recognize this and make sure that the team we are involved in can be selected and improved, and that we can improve.”
He intends to take the 2016 FIFA World Cup North and Central America Tournament with a desire to be the culmination of his own efforts. “The World Cup was my big dream, and I have done a lot to do to achieve that. I came out overseas for that reason. I have really put all of it into it, and I have put all of it into it, so I want to do it to make sure I can grasp it.” After further leveling up in the Netherlands, he vowed to return to this place at the main tournament.