Captaining Nadeshiko Japan for the second straight World Cup, defensive lynchpin Saki Kumagai is aiming to emulate her illustrious predecessors by leading her team back among the top women's football nations.
The 32-year-old will be the only remaining member of the 2011 World Cup-winning squad at this year's tournament, kicking off July 20 in Australia and New Zealand, where she will also be the oldest player for Japan manager Futoshi Ikeda.
"I want to remain a captain who, come the end, everyone feels they were right to follow," said Kumagai, who will don a Roma shirt in the new club season following her spell at Bayern Munich.
The scorer of the World Cup-winning penalty in Germany 12 years ago, Kumagai had a close-up view of eventual Ballon d'Or winner Homare Sawa as she led the line from the front, including her dramatic extra-time leveler in the final against the United States.
The iconic Sawa was succeeded by another midfield maestro, Aya Miyama, whose compassionate brand of leadership spurred Nadeshiko to runners-up finishes both at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2015 World Cup in Canada.
While holding onto what she has learned from the decorated pair, Kumagai is also determined to lead in her own way, focusing on bringing the group together without being too fixated on the role of skipper.
"There has been heavy influence from them, but I'll be who I am," said Kumagai, who could be seen in frequent communication both with her younger teammates and team staff during the pre-tournament camp that started on June 27.
"I'm aware of providing opportunities to discuss matters together for the sake of team bonding and mood-lifting (ahead of the World Cup)."
The surprise omission of fellow 2011 World Cup-winning attacker Mana Iwabuchi means Kumagai, who also captained Japan to the last eight at the Tokyo Olympics, is unrivaled in the squad when it comes to big-match experience.
She, in fact, is the only player remaining from the subsequent two major finals, both won by the United States, before Japan disastrously failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Joining Kumagai at the upcoming World Cup are some 14 tournament debutants, along with eight players who made the 2019 World Cup squad in France, where they exited in the last 16.
"I just have to give it a go," said Kumagai, who met the 30-year-old Iwabuchi in person following the squad announcement and received words of encouragement.
"I was picked to play, and all I can do is provide the answer on the pitch," she said.
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