Japan head coach Akira Nishino said Sunday that his side were not preparing specifically for a penalty shootout ahead of their World Cup round of 16 Belgium clash.
Group H runners-up Japan will face Belgium, who won all three of their group-stage games, in their round of 16 match at the Rostov Arena on Monday.
"Of course, I make the decision concerning the penalty shootout, and I need to know the situation in the team... I was appointed to this position [of the head coach] not so long ago. Our team have never prepared for the penalty shootout specifically. I don't think we should practice penalties during our training sessions. We haven't done it," Nishino told journalists.
He added that the players' mental approach meant a lot during penalties.
"We can't prepare for that [the penalty shootout], as mental approach means much... The main burden lies on the one who strikes, not on the goalkeeper," Nishino added.
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