After breakfast, everyone prepared and headed to the field. We held a meeting just like before a game, then played a friendly match.
Our opponent was Grifone Monteverde, a club team from the Rome area in Italy.
The game started with a 9:00 AM kickoff. It was two 20-minute halves. There was a time limit on the game because another match was scheduled afterward.
<Starting Lineup>
GK: Taisei Matsumoto, FP: Shuto Tanaka, Daiki Katagiri, Ryunosuke Dobashi, Hiroto Sunaoshi, Eita Oikawa, Shun Nouchi, Haruki Kosuge, Kiri Kawamura, Tomoki Muramatsu, Yuki Toyoshima
<Second Half Lineup>
GK: Eita Kishino, Jumpei Uno, Daiki Katagiri, Ryunosuke Dobashi, Hiroto Sunaoshi, Amon Tamaki, Aoto Shiba, Ryunosuke Arakawa, Eiri Masuko, Tomoki Muramatsu, Homare Tokuda
First Half: 0-1
Second Half: 2-0
Total: 2-1
Goal Scorers: Tokuda, Arakawa
We conceded the first goal in the first half, but came back in the second half to win. We identified individual challenges that we need to improve through daily training even after returning to Japan.
After the practice match, we played an 8-on-8 small-sided game at the futsal court. We used a "stop-the-game" method, pausing the game when issues from the tournament arose, collectively reviewing them, and making corrections. It was a very effective training session.
We returned to the hotel, showered, and had lunch at 12:30 PM.
The championship trophy and commemorative T-shirts were displayed at the tournament headquarters.
At the match venue, we presented a uniform to Andrea, who has been assisting with various arrangements for this tournament. He also arranged the practice match for us.
In the afternoon, we left the hotel at 3:15 PM for the stadium to watch the final match and attend the awards ceremony.
The venue for the final and closing ceremony was the same one where we played our preliminary league matches.
The final match was between AC Milan, who defeated Juventus in a penalty shootout, and Atalanta, who defeated Inter.
AC Milan took an early lead in the first half and played a dominant game. Atalanta equalized in the second half, sending the game into extra time. Milan again took the lead, but Atalanta fought tenaciously and equalized with a penalty, leading to a penalty shootout as the match remained tied.
Antlers lost to Atalanta in last year's tournament, and this year, many tall players were also playing for Atalanta. Most of their players are big and have speed and technique. AC Milan, on the other hand, had many technically skilled players who were not particularly tall.
In the penalty shootout, both teams scored reliably for the first five takers. Both teams missed on their sixth and seventh takers, and it went to the ninth taker. Milan missed here, but Atalanta scored beautifully and won the championship. Atalanta, the champions, fought without giving up until the very end.
At the closing ceremony, all participating teams gathered, and each team received a commemorative gift for their participation.
Upon returning to the hotel, most of the tournament participants had checked out, and it was very quiet.
We had dinner at 8:00 PM and lights out at 10:30 PM.
Tomorrow, we depart Italy for Japan.