The AFC U17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023, which started on June 15th, featured intense battles for a spot in the U-17 World Cup, which will take place four months later. In this tournament, three players from FC Tokyo U-18, Ryunosuke SATO, Wataru GOTO, and Shuto NAGANO, were selected and achieved victory in the Asian Cup.
Ryunosuke SATO, wearing the number 10 for Japan, scored a direct free kick in the semifinal match against Iran, showcasing his strengths in the midfield position and making a significant contribution to Japan's advancement to the final. Wataru GOTO, starting from the back, tightened the team's defense and received the tournament's Best Goalkeeper award. In the single-elimination tournament where a loss meant the end, he repeatedly prevented dangerous situations with his shot-stopping ability. Shuto NAGANO played a crucial role in the semifinal match against Australia, providing accurate long passes that led to goals and demonstrating his high level of contribution to the attack despite being a defensive player. These three players, who showcased their strengths and brought Japan to victory, returned to Japan on July 4th and joined FC Tokyo U-18's training from the 6th. After the tournament, the three players who returned to Kodaira Ground sent comments to the fans and supporters who supported them.
＜Comment from player Ryunosuke Sato＞
"It was a tough schedule to play a total of 6 games in 2 days, but thanks to the wonderful support from all 23 players and staff, I was able to spend about a month in good condition during the tournament period. And above all, I am grateful for the wonderful result of winning and the great experience I gained. I want to work hard in practice from today so that I can fully utilize this experience in the upcoming game this weekend. Thank you again for your support. This tournament was also broadcasted on DAZN, so I think many people were able to watch the games. It motivated me and I played with the desire to show good plays to as many people as possible. I will continue to do my best to play on a stage where everyone can watch. Thank you for your support."
＜Goto Wataru Player Comment＞
"I am relieved to have finished this tournament with a victory, but personally, I had a lot of plays that were supported by the defense, and I found many areas for improvement. Playing in the next World Cup is certainly one of my goals, but first, I want to contribute to the victory of the U-18 team and build up what needs to be done. Also, I received a lot of supportive comments. I think it means that people were paying attention to the U-17 Japan national team. I want to continue growing as a player who can receive support. Thank you for your support."
＜Comment from Shuto Nagano＞
"With the goal of conquering Asia, I trained in Japan and then went to Thailand. Personally, although there was a draw in a tough match situation, we were able to firmly win and seize the championship. Winning the championship is a great achievement for me. In this tournament, I found many areas where I was able to succeed and also areas where I faced challenges. I will organize my experiences and challenges, and as a member of Tokyo, I want to continue to grow. Many people sent me messages of support, and I was encouraged by everyone's support during the tournament, which allowed me to truly feel like a U-17 Japan representative player. From now on, I want to continue to receive support and achieve results in the Premier League, and I want to do my best to compete with the world as a member of the World Cup team."
FC Tokyo U-18 match schedule is here
