Important victory for Japan against Korea |
JAPAN
Head Coach Tatsuya Ueta: Today's game was very difficult throughout the whole match. To win every single game we have to be mentally strong and have a better defence. As for today's game we did very well in blocking and defending, and also Tomonaga's setting was very good. Those are the main reasons why we could win this match. To be able to play in the Olympics we have to win every game after today as well, so we are preparing for the later matches.
Captain Masaji Ogino: We started in good form and our rhythm was good. In the second set we played a close game but lost it, and when we returned to the locker room we discussed about getting together and working hard in the next set. In today's game Tomonaga led the team. He gave Ishijima good tosses, and the reason we won is that we got together as one team.
Yusuke Ishijima: When the team was suffering I wanted to be a player like Ogino who can lead the team well. When I was on the bench I just watched Ogino's play and learned from him. I had a feeling that I wanted to contribute to the team when I got the call to play.
Kosuke Tomonaga: I played from the second set, and the mood and the rhythm wasn't so good, so I had to change this. I think I could make good use of Ishijima, and as a result I could control the ball and change the mood.
KOREA
Head Coach Yoo Jung-Tak: The match against Japan is always a match between two strong rivals, and we really are conscious of this fact. We were well prepared for this match but Japan were also well prepared. There are several reasons why we lost: the basics of the game were not working, and maybe we were unlucky, but Japan's defence was stable throughout the game and the Japanese players were more vigorous. Also, the Japanese head coach used his players well.
Moon Sung-Min: Korea and Japan are strong rivals, so we prepared well to compete against Japan. But we felt under a lot of pressure to win the game, and this contributed to us losing it. I regret very much losing this match because it will make it very difficult to go to the Olympics.
|
Algeria