KING GEAR FC To Brazil! "~ Neymar Jr's Five ~ First off the Tanabata Decisive Battle! "

KikuchiWe would have disbanded if we had lost, so I'm really happy to be able to have this party again! First, let's look back on the penalty shootout in the Japan Final on June 11th, which decided our trip to Brazil. What did you think of Tsuchiya-kun, who was the last kicker and took the kick that decided our trip to Brazil?



Temple storeI was super nervous. If we had scored, it would have been Brazil!

KikuchiI could feel the tension. I could almost hear the heartbeat. Before the match, we had already decided the order of kicks in case of penalty kicks. Why did you volunteer to be the kicker?



Temple storeI didn't think it would go to a penalty shootout. Uruno-san and Milan-kun both ran for the spot. It was a three-player system, so the remaining players were Kikuchi-san, me, and Wright-kun!

When I watched Kikuchi's penalty kick practice in the morning, he missed it, so I didn't think it was him, and when I saw Wright's face, he looked like he didn't want to take the kick, so I knew it was only me!

KikuchiHey hey, but it's true that I didn't score in the morning practice. I had been sent off after conceding a goal, so I ended up not being able to kick the ball (lol). By process of elimination, I thought it was only me!

Temple storeWell, I volunteered like that and it really did end up being a penalty kick. If I'd missed, there was a chance that none of us would have been able to go to Brazil. The two who took the kick before me were former J-League players, and before I kicked, I looked towards the bench and saw that there were a lot of people there supporting us, which made me even more nervous. I'm really glad it was a goal.

URANOThe fourth kicker, Wright, was pretty nervous because there was a possibility that he would come around if Tsuchiya missed.

　  
LightI had read a lot of articles about how KING GEAR FC lost on penalties in February and couldn't advance to the world championships, so I was extremely nervous.

KikuchiWhat about Milan scoring the equaliser in the final?

MilanWhen we conceded the goal, I thought it was bad.

URANOThere wasn't much time left, so it was clear that we had no choice but to go on the offensive.

MilanThat was certainly the case. But it was pretty tough after we conceded the goal. We didn't have much time to restart the game, so we had to sprint to get the ball.




KikuchiIt was a really good goal in the last minute or so. 

MilanI don't remember much about the scoring scene.

KikuchiLooking back on the final, what do you think, Uruno-san?

MilanFirst, the incident where I destroyed the bench (laughs).

URANOHow did it break?

MilanI competed with the other guy, knocked him down, and broke his bench. And two in total.

URANOThat's right. I remember us getting into a physical fight, but did we really send him flying like that?

MilanIt seems there are no noticeable symptoms.

 

KikuchiIf people around the world saw that video, they would probably be wary and think, "Japanese teams are really fierce! They're like samurai!"

URANOBut it was tough to play in the final against a team we had beaten in the preliminary league, because the opposing team had come up with quite a few countermeasures.

KikuchiThey attacked more than I expected. They were also very aggressive around the ball and had a strong desire not to give up, so they were a difficult opponent to play against. I guess this level of intensity is normal when you go to the world. What did you think, Suga?

SugaI wasn't able to show my fantasy in Japan, so I'll show it at the world championships.

MilanThat's something to save for the World Championships.

KikuchiWhat about Iizuka-kun?



IizukaLooking back, I couldn't go to the World Championships in Brazil because of school. It's rare to get a chance like this. I was really frustrated every day. I wanted to somehow change my mindset, so I cut my hair. I thought it might help me to take my mind off things a little.

KikuchiI was surprised to see how different they looked when they came to practice. We couldn't find any other members with the same passion, so we decided to go to Brazil with the six of us who fought in the qualifiers!



URANOLet's unite as six people! It was great that we were able to train regularly this time. During the F5WC tournament in February, we were only able to get together and practice twice. 

KikuchiThis time, you had two months between winning the Tokyo qualifier and the Japan Final, so you had time to practice. 

URANOIt was good that we practiced the scenario of conceding a goal and being down to four men. There were days in practice before the tournament when things weren't going well as a team.

MilanIt was good that I had that bad day. It helped me pull myself together.

KikuchiHow did your coworkers react to you going to Brazil?

LightI'm a salesperson at a soccer shop, so it's hard to take a week off, but the manager and other staff were very supportive and told me, "Do your best!" I think I've joined a good company.

URANOAlthough it may be a burden to some, I am grateful for everyone's cooperation and support. I want to achieve results!

Temple storeI work at a futsal field, and the only employees are me and the manager. But they support me when I take a week off. In return, I'm working harder. I'm really grateful to the people I meet at the futsal field for their support! 

SugaSince I run my own company, I don't have any particular goals, but the people involved with me are supporting my trip to Brazil.

KikuchiLastly, please tell us your enthusiasm for Brazil.

LightI want to be a soccer shop clerk who can give people dreams, so I will do my best to become the best soccer shop clerk in the world!!

 
SugaI work in the wine industry, so I drink about two glasses of wine every day.If I can become number one in the world, I think I can spread the word to many people that wine can improve physical performance. I will do my best to achieve that!

Temple storeI'm looking forward to seeing if the tactics I learned while working at the futsal field will be applicable to the world! I'll be returning home with a victory!

URANOI can't predict the strength of my opponents, but it's certainly not going to be easy. I don't think we have zero chances, so I want to aim for the top, and we've been training well, so I have high expectations. I don't want to be satisfied with just going to Brazil, so I want to aim for the top from the first qualifying match.

 

MilanI think we can win if we play seriously, and I want to play with pride as a representative of Japan! After the Japan Final on June 11, our motto changed from "Let's go to Brazil!" to "Let's win in Brazil!"



I will fight with all my might, keeping in my heart the thoughts of our member Iizuka, who was unable to go to Brazil, as well as those at work and those who support us.

Although it will depend on the local internet connection, we would like to report the situation on KING GEAR's Facebook page as much as possible.

Please be aware of KING GEAR FC's battle in Brazil!


KING GEAR Facebook Page　
https://www.facebook.com/kinggearofficial/

Neymar Jr's Five Official Page　
https://www.neymarjrsfive.com/ja/JP

Reporting cooperation: Red Bull Japan Co., Ltd.
http://energydrink-jp.redbull.com/
https://www.redbull.com/br-pt/