France: Japan braces itself for 'must-win' tie at Women's World Cup

M/S Japan women's football team coach Asako Takakura and defender Risa Shimizu entering presser, Rennes
SOT, Asako Takakura, Japanese team coach (Japanese): "This is the knock out stage so not to lose is something important. We must win."
M/S Japan women's football team coach Asako Takakura and defender Risa Shimizu *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Asako Takakura, coach (Japanese): "Back in 2011 we won the tournament and in 2015 we were at the top and of course we are aware that expectations from supporters are huge. And at the same time, as I said, many of the members of the team are young and they don't have any experience in the tournament. But what doesn’t change is our Japan spirit, our blood, and we are prepared as much as we can be." *FULL TRANSLATION TO FOLLOW*
M/S Japan women's football team coach Asako Takakura and defender Risa Shimizu leaving presser
SCRIPT
With the women's World Cup 2019 reaching the knockout stage, Japan's head coach Asako Takakura addressed the media in Rennes on Monday ahead of a "must win" contest against Netherlands to book a spot in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
The 2011 World champions and 2015 silver medalist, Japan in 2019 is one of the youngest teams in the tournament but Takakura backed her players saying that "what doesn’t change is our Japan spirit, our blood, and we are prepared as much as we could."
Japan takes on Netherlands in Rennes on June 25 at the currently underway FIFA 2019 Women's World Cup.