Photo/Illutration Saki Kumagai, fourth from left, captain of the Nadeshiko Japan, clasps the head of Riko Ueki after she scores Japan’s fifth goal during the Women’s World Cup match against Zambia in Hamilton, New Zealand, on July 22. (AP Photo)

HAMILTON, New Zealand--Saki Kumagai has good reason to feel confident in her teambuilding efforts after the Japanese women’s national soccer squad scored a dramatic 5-0 victory over Zambia in its opening match of the Women’s World Cup here.

“Have fun on the pitch, younger members,” the captain told her teammates before the July 22 game. “Those of us with more experience will back you up.”

As if in response to her rallying cry, Hinata Miyazawa scored a pair of goals in her World Cup debut and other team members put in strong performances.

“We have made a good team,” said Kumagai, the oldest member, after defeating Zambia.

The women’s national soccer squad, affectionately known as the Nadeshiko Japan, has performed poorly since it clinched the World Cup title in Germany in 2011.

Under Kumagai’s leadership, the team is now trying to stage a comeback.

On the World Cup circuit, the Nadeshiko finished in second place in 2015 and failed to advance to the round of eight in 2019. In the Olympics, it had to settle for silver in 2012 and failed to qualify in 2016. It did not make the final four at the 2021 Tokyo Games.

Kumagai, the only member who was with the Nadeshiko in 2011, is 32 years old, the same age as Homare Sawa when she led the 2011 championship team as captain.

Twelve years ago, Sawa told her teammates, “When times are tough, watch my back.”

Kumagai became captain of the Nadeshiko in 2017. She has urged her teammates to think hard about what they can do for their team, something that has always been at the back of her mind since she was with a high school soccer team.

In November, the Nadeshiko, caught up in a generational transition, were shut out 4-0 by England, a European powerhouse.

“We can never win at the world level if we are a group of athletes whose only objective is to be chosen to play on the Nadeshiko,” Kumagai told her teammates during an emergency meeting.

“Ask yourselves once again what you need to do to win (the World Cup) eight months down the road.”

Kumagai said members of the 2011 winning team, regardless of age, had a mantra they kept repeating: Bring out the best of yourselves to lead the team to victory.

She has assiduously passed on that spirit to her teammates.

“I am entirely different from Sawa,” Kumagai said. “I cannot compare myself with her.”

Sawa also told her: “You cannot make the same team. Just act like yourself.”

Given Kumagai’s age, this year’s World Cup being held in Australia and New Zealand, could be her last.

“We want to make our team even better so we can stay in competition with this team as long as we can,” she said after the game against Zambia on July 22.

Japan, 11th in world ranking, will face Costa Rica, ranked 36th, on July 26 and take on Spain, ranked 6th, on July 31 in the Group C.

Zambia, 77th in world ranking, made its debut in the World Cup in the match against Japan.

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