From Blue and Red to the World. In preparation for the FIFA World Cup North and Central America tournament opening next June, the Japan national team undertook a challenging expedition to the United States, the host country. On September 6, they faced the Mexico national team in Oakland on the West Coast, and on the 9th, with only two days in between, they played against the United States national team in Columbus in the American Midwest. Yuto NAGATOMO, selected for Moriyasu Japan from Tokyo, was given his familiar number 5 jersey and watched the Mexico match from the bench. In the match against the United States, he was entrusted with the captain's armband and started as the left stopper in a three-back formation. Showing remarkable condition in blue and red, what thoughts did NAGATOMO carry as he faced the world? This time, we bring you an on-site report by Tomoo Aoyama, who has been closely covering the Japan national team.
The U.S. expedition, which he approached with determination to prove his own worth. What Yuto NAGATOMO gained there was a strong sense of crisis and great motivation.
After concluding the battles against Asian teams that lasted about two and a half seasons, including the Asian final qualifiers and the East Asia E-1 Championship in July, Moriyasu Japan has finally started challenging test matches against teams from around the world, envisioning the main tournament. For the players, this also marks the beginning of a fierce survival race to secure a spot in the final squad.
It is a battle to prove not only how much one can contribute to the team's strength but also the value of each individual. Nagatomo, aiming for his fifth World Cup appearance, stood on American soil and once again expressed his thoughts about this tournament.
"Everyone has their own way of expressing themselves, but I have a passion that I can't hide no matter how hard I try. I believe my will to survive is the strongest. I want to put that front and center and firmly prove my worth."
He watched the first match against Mexico from the bench, and after seeing the game end in a goalless draw despite having the upper hand in play, what he felt was that "if it had been the World Cup, it would have been a match where we lost 2 points."
"We dominated from the first half and it was a match we could have won. For about the first 30 minutes of the first half, it really looked like a half-court game, and being able to play such a match against Mexico is definitely proof that our strength has improved. However, I don't want to talk about that in the World Cup. If we don't capitalize on matches like this, we can't move up."
I don't want to have any regrets in this tournament. That's why I want to clearly address the issues. At the same time, regarding the fact that I couldn't score a goal, I believe that by delivering better balls from the players behind and improving the quality of crosses, we can get closer to scoring. We need to increase those opportunities. I was envisioning the team's way of playing and my own chances to participate.
The match against the United States arrived. Wearing the captain's armband on his left arm, the player with number 5 led the way onto the pitch. His position was the left stopper in a three-back formation, the same as in the East Asian E-1 Football Championship in July. Due to a series of injuries among the Japan national team's center backs, he stood on the pitch in the position he had prepared for, thinking "From the moment I saw this squad, I thought I'd be the left in the three-back."
As he himself had said before, "I am returning to the Nagatomo of the Inter (Inter Milan) era," his condition is impeccable, and he plays solidly even in an unfamiliar position. While being mindful of the issues that arose in the match against the Mexico national team, he maintains balance by communicating with those around him and shows timely participation in attacks.
At the 9th minute of the first half, he made a large side change to the right side with his left foot, which became the starting point of a decisive chance as it was passed from Henry Kaiki Mochizuki on the right side to Junya Ito. At the 21st minute, he made an overlapping run at the right moment and delivered a cross with his right foot, inviting a diving header from Mochizuki and creating another big chance. Furthermore, at the 26th minute, he sent a ground vertical pass from the last line to the lone striker Koki OGAWA, and by pushing forward and receiving the ball again, he added thickness to the attack.
Even in defense, he showed sharp interceptions against the opponent's vertical passes and demonstrated strong rebounds in aerial battles. He also kept up in speed contests, quickly snuffing out the seeds of counterattacks. Nagatomo himself reflected, "I didn't feel like I was losing in one-on-one situations or aerial battles," but then he faced a moment that he couldn't regret enough. It happened at the 30th minute of the first half.
When Christian Pulisic of the United States made a move from the left side and delivered a cross, Alex Cendejas struck a powerful direct volley with his left foot in the center to score the opening goal. For Nagatomo, it was a situation where the goal was scored right in front of him. It was a momentary event, but it was also a scene that reminded us of the fearsome nature of international matches.
Nagatomo, possibly affected by a deep tackle in the first half that injured his right ankle, had to leave the pitch at halftime, trailing by one goal, being substituted by Ayumu Seko. Nagatomo reflects on his performance in the match against the United States.
"Since I was involved in conceding the goal, I have to take it seriously and reflect on it. At this level, even small lapses and spacing mistakes like that can be punished. I could have closed down more, and at the very least, I should have limited the shooting angle better. If a shot is taken from that angle, as a goalkeeper, there's no way to stop it, so in that sense, it's entirely my responsibility and my own weakness. Honestly, I have to improve a lot more or else there's no point."
Nagatomo continues to explain the reason for being involved in the conceded goal.
"After all, the intensity and speed were completely different from the J.League. The speed of closing down, decision-making, speed, and physical ability—all of these were different from the J.League. I felt that all aspects of speed were truly different. I strongly felt the sense of crisis that if I don't really stay aware, I will be left behind, so I have to push myself even harder... actually, not just a little harder, but really strictly. Otherwise, I can't become a member of the World Cup-winning team. Along with this sense of crisis, I am also filled with great motivation."
Nagatomo, who said he wants to "prove his own existence" ahead of the match against the United States. Because he evaluated himself strictly, I deliberately asked him about the word "prove."
"No, no, no, there's absolutely no proof. We need to be stricter. I've experienced some tough lessons myself. Unless we reach a level where we truly dominate in the J.League, we won't be able to make the World Cup squad. So, with a sense of urgency, I'll work hard and intensely again in Tokyo. My motivation is seriously high."
How consciously can you play on a daily basis? Everything probably comes down to that. Whether in practice or in matches, with your current decisions and plays, can you compete at the World Cup level? Can you stop world-class attackers? Can you make passes against the world’s best? How much you focus on each play and continue aiming higher will determine your fate. Physically and condition-wise, you are returning to the state you were in during your time at Inter. So now, it’s about how much you can awaken and upgrade your senses to fight on the world stage.
Once confronted the world at the top level in Europe and showed a strong presence on the stage of the World Cup. Unless he regains that sharpened sense from back then and surpasses that time, he will not reach the fifth big stage he is challenging with his football life on the line. Coincidentally, the match against the United States national team held at the venue of this tournament made him realize that.
On September 12, after returning to his daily life in Kodaira following the expedition to America, Yuto NAGATOMO celebrated his 39th birthday. Filled with a strong sense of crisis and motivation, his first match back with the Blue-Red after returning to Japan would be against an opponent they absolutely cannot lose to, no, must win against. After receiving the comment "We must become an overwhelming presence in the J.League," we asked him about his determination for this crucial first match back after the America games.
"It's right there. We will fight with everything we've got towards that goal."
Yuto NAGATOMO has completely switched gears. After returning to Japan, he wrote on his social media, "I will definitely come back stronger," expressing his determination to set foot in America again after nine months. Adversity is an opportunity. He has always shut out the noise this way. To prove his own value and to elevate Tokyo to greater heights. Now 39 years old, wearing the blue and red number 5, he will awaken the sleeping giant within, rekindle his senses, and embark on a battle to pursue the "best performance in NAGATOMO's history."
(Honorifics omitted in the text)
Text by Tomoo Aoyama
Photos by JFA
