10 Sep 2007(Mon)

September 7, 2007: There can't be many Japan teams who have gone into a World Cup fresh from a 2-1 victory over Brazil.

But that is the case of the women's team, "Nadeshiko Japan", who open their FIFA Women's World Cup campaign against England in Shanghai on Tuesday, September 11.

Thanks to the generous support of Kirin, Japan were able to play two warm-up matches in recent days, against Canada at Kokuritsu and against Brazil at the home of JEF United, Fukuda Denshi Arena.

I attended them both -- but, sadly, the crowds were sparse -- less than 2,000 at National Stadium on a Thursday evening and just over 4,000 at Fukuare on a lovely Sunday afternoon.

The fans who did turn up, though, were really into it, and there is a very positive vibe around the women's team in general.

It's also a good time to be a member of the women's football scene in Japan, as the JFA is clearly sparing no expense in the development of this area of the game.

In his programme notes for the games against Canada and Brazil, JFA president Saburo Kawabuchi says: "Of all Japan's national squads, only Nadeshiko Japan can be considered close to achieving world-class status. Make no mistake -- Nadeshiko Japan's breakthrough will have a significant and lasting impact on other Japanese national teams."

Strong words indeed from the Captain, who states the target for the 2007 World Cup and 2008 Olympics is the semi-finals, and long-term to be in the world's top five by 2015. (They are 10th at the moment).

This is a big ask by Kawabuchi and the JFA, especially for this World Cup and next year's Olympics, and I hope it will not be regarded as a failure if they don't make it.

Several people have been asking me about the strength of Japan's first opponents in the Women's World Cup, England. I have to admit I haven't got a clue.

I like women's football but I don't go out of my way to see what's happening in England. I couldn't even name you one big girl who plays in the England team -- apart from Emile Heskey.

As luck would have it, I stumbled across a dusty copy of the pocket-sized football bible "Playfair Football Annual 2004-2005" the other day. Under the category of "Other Football" there was a whole chapter on "Women's Football". Well, not a whole chapter actually, but the bottom half of Page 329, under news on the English FA Academy Under 17 League.

Arsenal had won the women's league in 2004, one point clear of Charlton Athletic, and Arsenal won the cup, too, beating Charlton 3-0 in the final at Loftus Road, home of QPR. The crowd was over 12,000, and Fleeting scored all three for the Lady Gunners -- a headline writer's dream if ever there was one.

The women's game is growing around the world, and Japan is determined not to be left behind, so good luck to them in China next week.

I am looking forward to their matches against England, Argentina and Germany in Group A, and I hope many others are too.

ends