Trying to Predict Inazuma Japan in Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road

*Spoilers for Inazuma Eleven:Victory Road* 

Man I guess all roads lead back to Inazuma Eleven. While my full thoughts on Victory Road will come likely at some point in the new year I wanted to make a quick stop to talk spoilers and future especially after the end of the story mode. As ever once the domestic tournament season is done we head to the international stage with Football Frontier International (FFI). There's been some leaks of the kit and badge so I wouldn't be shocked to see it as an expansion back later next year once the free updates for Ares & Orion come out. With that in mind we need to look towards what the team will be. 

I've kept it for the moment to 16 although it may be more in the series with the bench rotating and locked per match and while their default positions are listed I think a few will chop and change as is what happens with FFI, in the first one we had Sakuma as a midfielder for large parts and most of the time Fubuki was back in defence and then in Orion Nosaka & Asuto had their positions changed, I'm saying this here as there's just one actual confirmed defender so I have no doubt a lot of changes will happen to fit everyone in. There's a few here in terms of their status I will list as questionable (they'll be in italics) but we will break each one down by the teams they currently play for.  

Nagumohara
Sasanami Unmei (as a player) - MF
Sakurazaki Jouji - FW
Shinohara Raika - FW
Yagyuu Suruga - MF
Kisoji Heita - MF
Kodoukai Kameo - DF
Shisendou Garyuu - GK
Soramiya Sei - FW
Shinano Masashi - MF

So of course we begin with the main cast of character from Victory Road and the story mode. It makes sense that Nagumohara fills the core of the team as these are the players we've spent the most time with across the story. My main grips start with if Unmei will be listed as a player of as a coach I would personally due to it being a case of squad selection and numbers he should just be a coach (or co-coach more on that later). The other question mark is Masashi who while he has an icon in the save section on story mode he doesn't do much and is even the guy replaced by Unmei in the match againsr Raimon. If I had to sacrifice a player to bring someone new in it'd be him. 

As far as positional changes I could see Kisoji or Yagyuu moving into defence we need more defenders and I think the midfield would have one or the other in a 4-3-3 so it makes sense to use the other in a new role and actually build up some defenders. I think of the two Kisoji might be the better one for defence but the idea of a baseball style 'Home Run' Hissatsu block move where you just essentially kick the ball upfield might be someone to consider. 

Raimon
Endou Haru - FW
Tsukikage Ren - MF
Hoshimura Nao - MF
Sigdo Mama - GK

Always an interesting one looking at the runners up of the Football Frontier for the FFI. Zeus had nobody which admittedly was because in the original series Aphrodi played for Korea and in Orion was a late addition. But also in Orion only Nosaka and Nishikage represented Outei Tsukinomiya a team that ran through the tournament until the final (and even then Nosaka got a position change) so it does stand to reason we may lack members from the runners up. I've gone with four but if anyone would be dropped it would be Hoshimura Nao who I've only listed as she forms part of Inazuma Break and is one of the more featured team members for Raimon maybe a move to defence is something to be considered. I dunno outside of these four not a lot of the team screams unbeatable kings I found a real lack of presence on the team outside of Endou. I've gne with Sigdo Mama as the second goalkeeper as it makes the most sense. Introduced as part of the Raimon team right at the end and being able to move a building feels like setting her up for more in the follow up. Tsukikage gets far too much screen time to not be in Inazuma Japan and could very well be the captain if we take Unmei out (even then being the onfield captain).

Keizen Arashiyama
Saijou Lill - FW

We are moving into those players on the bench that get their one game if that of note and do nothing for the rest of the tournament type stuff here ngl and if the next pick for a forward as well we'd have a position change. Got that Kurimatsu, Kogure or Hijikata type feeling here. But Saijou has cutscense and has a history with a main character in Kisoji. A conflict that turns into a resolution so you'd expect some kind of combo move from the two of them. I dunno that's all I've really got it does feel like one of those hey we tried to do a move together when we were younger that didn't work but now it does.  

Teikoku Gakuen
Homura Eisuke - MF

The final returning character and the captain of the semi-finalists in Teikoku. It's not an FFI with some Teikoku flavour and I'll get to Alice later but if he's here it makes sense his most trusted player and captain is as well. Another probably on the bench for a bit and getting that one match he does the important thing in. Look I only have so many players to pick from and honestly I'd like to see some interactions between him and Sakurazaki that's a combo shoot I think that'd work great. 

New Character
Son of Gouenji - At a guess DF

Ok so I was confident and then I wasn't. Let's check the facts we know Goueni's son is 'out there waiting' in the world for Inazuma Japan but as a team member or foe? Personally I think he should be in the team and as a defender. We have two goalkeepers and the change of Endou Haru scoring goals and Gouenji Jr being a defender in comparrison to their fathers is quite a fun concept. We need more defenders for Inazuma Japan so why not create one of the best in the series.  

Coach
Fuwa Alice    

So we have a team and need a coach (or what many would call a manager I hate the change of names for these roles). Unmei will be there but Alice says about the two of them combining to take on the world. Look if that isn't foreshadowing I dunno what is. Maybe it's a case Alice will be the official manager with Unmei as a player with them working together. I do think we are in for some wild tactic ideas that'd look sweet in an anime.

Managers
Senno Himeka
Momochi Yuina
Amisaki Rea
Shimada Maina  

Ok so first of all let's bin off Manbe Osamu I get it you wanted a nw Megane but forgot to write a character. It didn't work, he's just a creep so long goodbye. So that leaves us with four to fill the manager role. The other two from Nagumohara I think are locks for sure so that leave Rea of Raimon and Maina of Keizen Arashiyama. I think if one has to go it's likely Maina but looking at Rea's role at Raimon I believe it is said at one point her role at the school is to help foreign students as a translation coordinator so I can see her doing that as a role when they go overseas translating whatever the language of the host nation is and then Maina can have a role. 

So that is my prediction for Inazuma Japan a good line up that is lacking in defenders as is Inazuma Eleven tradition. I do think some players may not be picked to add new characters we always need that Fubuki/Ichihoshi new supporting protagonist so we will see. We will see this in 2026 but I am looking forward to what this FFI brings now if we could get another England team I'd love it.