Japan v Scotland
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Friday, 14 June 2019 – 2pm
Roazhon Park, Rennes
Scotland return to FIFA Women’s World Cup action on Friday, as we take on Japan in match two of our campaign.
Shelley Kerr’s side will aim to bounce back after an opening match defeat to England; a match in which Claire Emslie scored our first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup goal.
Game on in Nice.@emslie22 scores our first ever #FIFAWWC goal.#ENGSCO #OurGirlsOurGame
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) 9 June 2019
pic.twitter.com/g8JWMTB7Ex
What to expect from Japan
Japan opened their tournament with a 0-0 draw with Argentina. The match saw Argentina gain their first ever World Cup point, as they kept their first ever clean sheet at the tournament.
Friday’s opposition aim to reach their third straight World Cup final, having won the competition in in 2011 and finished runners-up to the USA in 2015.
Defensively, Japan are highly experienced at the back with 398 caps among the defenders named in the final squad – a defence that includes captain and 2019 Champions League winner with Lyon, Saki Kumagai.
In their two former head-to-heads, Scotland have yet to overcome 2011 @FIFAWWC champions Japan 🇯🇵
— Aileen Larkin, FIFA (@FIFAWWC_SCO) 11 June 2019
Will it be third time lucky for the #SWNT as they face @jfa_nadeshiko this Friday in Rennes? 😲🏴 pic.twitter.com/oWF9cc5z6e
Up front, Yuika Sugasawa and Kumi Yokoyama started in the first match against Argentina; they have 35 goals between them. Japan can also call upon experienced forward Mana Iwabuchi (17 goals at international level) if needed, alongside Rikako Kobayashi (2 goals) as well as Saori Takarada and Jun Endo who will aim to open their international scoring records.
All except two of the Japanese players player their club football domestically – the exceptions being Kumagai (Lyon) and Rumi Utsugi who plays in the USA with Seattle Reign.
Pre-match thoughts
Speaking ahead of the match, vice-captain Kim Little was under no illusions as to the quality of Japan:
“Japan are a great team and have been for many years, they were in the last final and won it the previous time, so we have to respect their style of football.
“It's very hard to play against their quick passing and precise play. We are extremely respectful of what they are capable of, but we're also aware that with our capabilities we can try and break them down with a good performance of our own."
Speaking about what Scotland can learn from the Argentina v Japan match, Little continued:
“We can take a few pointers from that into our game against them. They stopped Japan doing what they're good at in and around the final third. They performed very well.”
On the pitch
The FIFA Women’s World Cup, France 2019 will apply the new 2019-20 laws of the game in all matches, this includes the introduction of red and yellow cards for team officials, as well as substitutes leaving the field at the nearest point on the boundary line.
A full summary of the new laws, introduced by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) can be found HERE.
Additionally Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will be used at the tournament, as they were at FIFA World Cup, Russia 2018.
Tonight, for the first time, Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will be in operation for a #FIFAWWC match!
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) 7 June 2019
Ahead of #FRAKOR, here's what you need to know 👉 https://t.co/HeBATvYw9D pic.twitter.com/PhWzTSaFLK
Follow the match
Scotland supporters will be able to watch the match live on BBC One and BBC Alba.
You can also keep up to date via @ScotlandNT on Twitter.
Fan Information
Gates will open two hours prior to kick-off; please note that if you leave the stadium at any time, re-entry is not permitted.
During the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019, public transport systems will be under increased pressure and only limited parking space will be available close to the stadium. At certain times and locations, high demand will increase the time it takes to make a journey. We recommend that you allow plenty of time to travel to venues.
Full fan information can be found HERE.
Banners or flags exceeding 2 (two) metres by 1.5 (one and a half) metres are not permitted. Smaller banners and flags may be allowed if they are made from a material considered to be non-flammable and in accordance with French legislation. These banners and flags must be automatically presented for inspection. Flag poles will not be permitted.