LIVE stream: Japan vs Uruguay on September 5, 2014 - Friendly Match

September 4, 2014 By Oscar Rojas

Topics: Japan, Uruguay, Javier Aguirre, Oscar Tabarez, Live Stream, TV Schedules, Live Scores, TV Listings

On September 5, watch live as the Samurai Blue start a new era under Mexican coach Javier Aguirre. Their opponent, Uruguay, will not have Luis Suarez with them , following the ban imposed by FIFA.

After being eliminated during the first round of the past World Cup, the Japanese Football Association decided to make a change. Mexican Javier Aguirre was given the coaching position with the Samurai Blue, and the seasoned coach will try to bring a new mix of talent and experience to the National Team. Aguirre decided not to call up Shinji Kagawa for health reasons, and will be giving a shot to young players from the local league such as Yoshinori Muto, one of the J-League’s rising stars.

Keisuke Honda, one of Aguirre’s veterans, spoke about the challenges of having a foreign coach and how the team is adapting to it:

“He is quite the motivator. Spanish is a little bit hard to understand, but we are communicating just fine in English. He is starting to make jokes and we are getting a good idea of what kind of person he is. I think he will bring a good balance to our team,” Honda explained.

On the other hand, Uruguay will try to leave behind all the turmoil brought upon them after Luis Suarez’s antics back in Brazil. Without coach Oscar Tabarez due to health reasons, Los Charruas will be led by star centerback Diego Godín and forward Edinson Cavani, giving chances to youthful players such as Diego Rolán and Mathias Corujo. Coach Tabarez’s assistant, Celso Otero, explained the objectives pursued by the Uruguayan squad:

“It’s time for us to broaden our possibilities. This couple of matches will give us the chance to look up players that have no experience playing with the National Team and head onto the future with a few prospects,” Otero told the press.

With their Confederation tournaments just around the corner, the Japanese and the Uruguayans will try to put on a good show for the fans at Sapporo Dome, arguably one of the most spectacular venues around the world.