Japan coach Nielsen wary of Philippines threat

[p]The highest-ranked team in the competition and the only Asian side to win the World Cup, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ltLyWcnC/"]Japan[/a] have been clinical so far with three wins from three games in the group phase.[/p][p]They have blasted a tournament-high 17 goals while conceding none, with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philippines/CINRvtL5/"]Philippines[/a] facing a daunting task in Sydney on Sunday.[/p][p]"[b]The Philippines are a very hard-working, disciplined and interesting side to watch, and it's going to be a challenge for us,[/b]" said Greenland's Nielsen, the first foreign-born coach of the Japan women's team.[/p][p]"But I feel we have the tools to counter the challenges we face.[/p][p]"[b]We are preparing for all kinds of scenarios so that we can adapt quickly to whatever happens during the game, especially if things don't go our way.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="847ffa3f-300e-4649-8758-2865b24a0ca8" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53gnIZVXEvY&t=1s" social-type="youtube" /][p]For the Philippines' Australian coach Mark Torcaso, reaching the final eight is an achievement in itself.[/p][p]He acknowledged the job in front of them, but said his team was playing for national pride.[/p][p]"[b]Given it's Japan, I know our chances will be limited so we must take full advantage of whatever opportunities we get and be disciplined in our game,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]"This is not just about reaching the quarter-finals.[/p][p]"[b]It is about carrying out our responsibility to showcase our quality so that every young girl in the Philippines will dream of playing for the national team.[/b]"[/p][p]The winner will bank automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil and line-up a semi-final against either [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-korea/6LgUhbye/"]South Korea[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/uzbekistan/fPB68otI/"]Uzbekistan[/a].[/p]