USA's starting members are basically sub members. A bit disappointing really. Nadeshiko must win this game. They don't want to get beaten by this team, I'm sure. Kawasumi starts pairing Nagasato. Yano slots in for Iwashimizu and Tanaka in the midifield. The rest is as usual.
just in case anyone is confused, the starting team should be: Kaihori (? unsure about that) Kinga-Kumagai-Yano-Sameshima Ohno-A.Tanaka-Sakaguchi-Miyama Nagasato-Kawasumi
Well, Pia Sundhage apparently has been yet converted to a possession-oriented football (at least in her own words). Obviously she's also been converted to the "let's use this tournaments as tests for subs, instead of always wanting to win" attitude. Maybe because the winning attitude vs test attitude it's difficult to keep, when you happen to not actually win... So this time, when USA will lose, she can say "well, we were testing subs"... Not like last time, you know... ^__^
During a previous FW action on the left captain Miyama happened to look back with a gaze that was apparently saying: "Sameshima, where the heck are you?" ^__^
Precious heel by Nagasato, followed by a triangle in the US box at 20'... Very good action! Dangerous Kawasumi's shot from a Miyama's CK at 22'.
Kyoko Yano. It seems after Algarve Sasaki was not satisfied with Utsugi as center back, so now he is using a real DF for the post.
thanks blisset and for me is not a surprised tha Ayumi be the GK today, she is the best japanese GK and she is doing a good job today and nadeshiko are playing better, having some good chances
I don't think Kaihori can be considered a 'surprise'. It was quite obvious she would have got the chance to play vs USA too... It's not impossible that Sasaki will test Fukumoto vs Brazil, no matter how this match ends and Kaihori performance is... At 26' a Miyama FK generated a confused action in front of US box, with Nagasato and Sakaguchi dangerous attempts... At about 29' Japan made a long action in the MF, keeping possession maybe for an entire minute...
goooooooooaaaaalll of Kinga, what a great pass by Kawasumi , then Nagasato missed again but Kinga get the ball and scores 1-0
Well, in fact the only mild "surprise" could be Yano as CB, but, if Sasaki called her for this tournament it was quite obvious he wanted to test her. So it isn't necessarily like he's unhappy with Utsugi performances in that role. Yes, obviously Yano knows the role better as a naturall-born DF: another interesting fight for a place in London...
I thought the same, I think Ayumi amde the save (great by the way) good 1st half of both teams, I love to see female football more than male one, chances for both teams and good play too PS: Kawasumi is playing awesome this last games with Japan, she is making great technical things like this pass in the goal or the 2 great actions vs Germany in Algarve's cup final, I love this girl