<h2>Interview with the savior of the sideback shortage!</h2>
<h3> Position: DF Height: 188 cm, Weight: 84 kg <br>
Affiliation: Stuttgart</h3>
<figure id="attachment_275757" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-275757" style="width: 2037px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="c5a12234"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2022/11/aflo_190112821.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-275757" class="wp-caption-text"> Ito, who creates chances with his high mobility and accurate feeds, also has the versatility to play CB.</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong> I didn&#8217;t watch the press conference for the national team. I thought the result would be the same even if I did. But I was relieved when I saw my name.</strong></p>
<p> Hiroki Ito, 23, was responding to the interview without hesitation, but when he reflected on the moment he was chosen for the national team, his cheeks relaxed involuntarily.</p>
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<p> Ito, who played midfielder until he was 20 years old, has a strong skill with his feet. Since his first call-up to the national team in May of this year, he has contributed to the team with his accurate feeds and aggressive attacking play. Ito has been a successful member of the World Cup squad.</p>
<p><strong> I was a little confident that I would be selected for &#8230;&#8230;,&#8221; he said with a laugh. (Laughs.) After all, I had experience playing in the Bundesliga for a year. Recently, I have gained confidence in my physical contact. I think coach Hajime Moriyasu (54) is looking for me to be competitive on the edge of the ball, so I want to show that.</strong></p>
<p> The team&#8217;s first-round opponents, the Germans, have played against them many times in league matches.</p>
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<p><strong> Among the players I will be facing, I am wary of 19-year-old Jamal Mussiara, who has a high level of skill in all aspects of the game. He has a high level of skill in all aspects of his game, and he is a player who can work backwards from the goal to find the best solution. In fact, he scored a goal right in front of me in the league match this past September, and if we clash at the World Cup, I would like to get my revenge.</strong></p>
<p> The World Cup comes just six months after his first selection. While he says he still has work to do, he and his left-sided teammates are working more closely together.</p>
<p><strong> Kaoru (Mitate) has a style of dribbling, so it is easy to match with him. On the other hand, Takumi (Minamino) cuts inside, so I am conscious of moving up to the open space on the side. I think our relationship is getting better and better.</strong></p>
<p> The World Cup is finally upon us. When asked about his enthusiasm, he gave a &#8220;typical&#8221; answer.</p>
<p><strong> I will fight with a level mind until the end. I want to be calm and in my best condition, and see how far I can go. I am excited about it.</strong></p>
<p> He is quietly burning with fighting spirit as he prepares for his first major competition.</p>
<p> From the December 2 and 9, 2022 issues of FRIDAY</p>


 AFRO

 Hiroki Ito says confidently, "I was confident that I would be selected for the World Cup team. He has played many times in league matches against German players, his opponents in the first match, and he is a reliable player with good skills on his feet. We have high expectations for his bold fighting spirit.

Japan’s representative, Hiroki Ito, says, “I was relieved when I saw my name.”

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