Maya Yoshida of FC Schalke 04 is captain of the Japanese national team. Here’s what the defender has to say ahead of Wednesday’s clash against Germany.

With Manuel Neuer, Leon Goretzka, Leroy Sane and Thilo Kehrer, four players with a Schalke past are part of the World Cup squad of the German national team. Meanwhile, the only current Schalke professional taking part in the tournament in Qatar will be playing for the DFB team’s opening opponents.

When it comes to Japan on Wednesday (2 p.m.), Schalke’s defensive veteran Maya Yoshida will lead the “Blue Samurai” onto the field. The 34-year-old is captain and a fixture in the national team with the experience of 122 international matches. This status is unlikely to have changed despite his mixed performances for Schalke.

At the bottom of the Bundesliga, Yoshida, who arrived from Italy in the summer, is the outfield player with the most minutes played. However, Yoshida is not entirely uninvolved in the unsuccessful first half of the season and the 32 goals conceded in 15 games – especially as he lacks pace.

But at least during the World Cup, the central defender can forget the dreary time in the Ruhr so far. “We feel calm at the moment, but are gradually building up a sense of pressure,” he reported on the Japanese Football Association’s homepage on Sunday. “Since we arrived here, we have received healthy meals, restful sleep and attentive care. “

Before the duel with Germany, however, there was a damper. The dress rehearsal against Canada was lost 2-1. “There were some players who could not travel with us to Dubai (the venue, ed.),” said Yoshida, referring to several absences. Stuttgart captain Wataru Endo, for instance, was missing. “But I’m sure they watched the game. It’s definitely important for us to get on the same page as a team. “

The intensity of training has been increased ahead of the World Cup opener, according to Yoshida, who said on Sunday, “We will sharpen our approach to the game. We need to discuss what we would do against Germany and refine our general plan, where we apply pressure and how we possess the ball.”

It is possible that Yoshida himself could provide valuable insights for Japan’s match plan. After all, in Schalk’s 2-0 loss to FC Bayern in the last game before the break, he defended against Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala or Thomas Müller, who could be in Germany’s starting eleven on Wednesday.