On Monday 24 June, the SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) played their third group stage match of the CONMEBOL Copa America Brazil 2019 against the Ecuador National Team. With both teams needing a win to advance through to the knockout stage, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, eliminating both teams at the group stage.

Following their 2-2 draw against Uruguay, Japan started a similar line-up in their match against Ecuador held at Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte. With KAWASHIMA Eiji (RC Strasbourg) starting in goal, IWATA Tomoki (Oita Trinita), UEDA Naomichi (Cercle Brugge K.S.V.), TOMIYASU Takehiro (Sint-Truidense V.V.), and SUGIOKA Daiki (Shonan Bellmare) formed the four-man defence line. While SHIBASAKI Gaku (Getafe C.F.) and ITAKURA Kou (FC Groningen) were positioned as the defensive midfield position, MIYOSHI Koji (Yokohama F・Marinos), NAKAJIMA Shoya (Al Duhail SC), and KUBO Takefusa (Real Madrid) played as the attacking midfielders with OKAZAKI Shinji (Leicester City Football Club) named as the lone striker......

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