Official Road to London 2012 Thread [R]

Discussion in 'Japan' started by goru_no_ura, Dec 26, 2008.

  1. Matsu

    Matsu Member

    Mar 28, 2001
    Those who have not had a chance to see these matches have been missing some great football. Obviously the team would be even stronger with J1 starters like Sakai and Usami in the mix (not to mention those two guys in Germany), but the basic level of confidence and efficiency that the team has displayed in China shows that this could be a real Platinum Generation. What impresses me most is how calm the team is when under pressure and how good their decisions. The cutback cross by Nagai to set up the thikrd goal is a great example. A lot of players would have blasted at the narrow angle, but instead he saw his teammate and calmly played the ball back.

    The score line against India is really misleading, and so was the one against Kyrgizstan. In both games they just held the ball up and passed it around until the opposing team stopped packing their box, like they were in no hurry to move forward if the other team was prepared to lose 2-0 or 3-0. If Japan had been trying to overturn a ten-goal goal difference it would have been VERRRY interesting to see how those games would have turned out.
     
  2. goru_no_ura

    goru_no_ura Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 20, 2006
    Miyako of Zipang
    Club:
    Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Japan
    Were the games televised...?
    I just got BS, but not sure how to find out what is on -- so many channels!!

    I just watched the streaming...

    Agreed on your comments except for Sakai. The guy has a lot of potential, but defensively he is a half-disaster. I am following for a friend who has an agency, and I can't keep stop counting his mistakes... The one against Vissel is paramount to his season. I am not saying he is not a good player, but he really needs to sharpen up A LOT.

    I like much better the other SB at Albirex, Nishi - only he's already 22.
     
  3. nipponbasse83

    nipponbasse83 Member+

    Jun 17, 2007
    Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan
    Club:
    Consadole Sapporo
    Nat'l Team:
    Norway
     
  4. AKITOD

    AKITOD Member+

    Apr 5, 2007
    Hobart, Aust
    Club:
    JEF United Ichihara
    Nat'l Team:
    Japan
    If we beat Iran itll be surprising and REALLY impressive statement. They have their legitimate U23 team + 2 overage players. They take this tourney quite seriously.
     
  5. Mani

    Mani BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 1, 2004
    Club:
    Perspolis
    Nat'l Team:
    Iran
    I am not sure what you mean by "legitimate U23 team" . But Iran's team is the same as Japan, this is the same Iranian team that will compete in the 2012 Olympic qualifications. The only difference is that Iran has opted to use the 3 over-aged players allowed, and Japan has not. Otherwise, the average age of the Iranian payers minus the over-aged players, is actually younger than Japan.
     
  6. AKITOD

    AKITOD Member+

    Apr 5, 2007
    Hobart, Aust
    Club:
    JEF United Ichihara
    Nat'l Team:
    Japan
    Well you've proved my point there. Many of this Japan side won't play the qualifiers with a couple of exceptions who may prove themselves here. But you could make a Japan U21 squad who are regular players here or abroad. No pro-player who starts or is considered really important to their club team was called up cause its not a priority tournament and clubs were not obliged to release players. resulting in this team which yes has some talented players but is mainly Uni players and bench/squad members. Point being Iran should be favorites if youve got your actual olympics team.


    Still a good bunch of players they have the ability to get the points.
     
  7. SkyPiercer

    SkyPiercer Member

    Jan 24, 2010
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Algeria
    Well, what Akitod meant was that Japan could have sent a considerably better squad which would likely tear its opponents apart if the likes of Usami, Y. Ono (18 y each) Kanazaki, Inui, Osako (all under 23) to name just those, took part in the tournament. But those players were left at the disposal of their clubs. I won't even mention Kagawa, Uchida or Morimoto.
    I understand why they chose not to pick them : the J. League teams won't be handicapped and it's also an occasion for the young lads to prove their worth and gain an appreciable experience.

    The vast majority of the players representing Japan in the Asian Games have NO playing time (or very little) in the domestic league, including the co-top scorer Nagai. :)
     
  8. Mani

    Mani BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 1, 2004
    Club:
    Perspolis
    Nat'l Team:
    Iran
    I got it, thanks for the explanation. :)
     
  9. tako

    tako Member

    Dec 11, 2003
    Yokohama
    Nat'l Team:
    Japan
    Well, if you say this Japan is U21 team, then China is also U21 and Iran are U21+ 3 overage .

    I also wrote same kind thing in Asian forum a month ago, but now I notice some J2 players in this Japan team are starter for their club, though J1 players have only very little playing time for their club. Maybe because J2 has no relagation so the club release them?

    Anyway , Thai played nice passing game, and dominated this Japan team. It will really hard game against Iran. Unless Japan improve, the game will be one-sided match.
     
  10. Mani

    Mani BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 1, 2004
    Club:
    Perspolis
    Nat'l Team:
    Iran
    Tako,

    Haven't seen you around here for a long time. Hope you're doing well. Do you have the official match statics for Japan-Thailand?
     
  11. tako

    tako Member

    Dec 11, 2003
    Yokohama
    Nat'l Team:
    Japan
    Haha I am doing well, but I have lost energy to do internet quarrel to peninsula neighbors, after all I am poor at English and it ofthen require time to write what I think and I can't write in English most of what I think . Thanks , Mani. :)

    Anyway, I don't know exact statics, but Japanese newspaper said Thai had 60 percent possesion. This Japanese team has some talented players, but lack experience in higer level football. Nagai scored three goals against Iran in Asian Youth two years ago when Iran Youth team dominated Japan Youth team. But Now Nagai wasted his talent in University and he just only played some J-League games as an exception, so I doubt he has enough experience to compete against current Iran U21 now. He was poor against Thai. Still If Iran has problem of finishing, I think there is some chance that Japan's counter attack cause upset.
    Good luck to both teams.
     
  12. Saku²

    Saku² Member+

    Aug 22, 2009
    Club:
    FC Salzburg
    Japan wasn't outplayed by Thailand, they scored then left the ball to the Thais who could do almost nothing with it. To be able to win even when you're not playing the game of your life is a good thing. And still, not a single goal taken. Very good so far.

    But I agree it will be difficult against Iran and almost impossible against South Korea ... But they need it more badly than we do :) .
     
  13. tako

    tako Member

    Dec 11, 2003
    Yokohama
    Nat'l Team:
    Japan
    I don't think it is impossible, They even struggled against 10 men Uzbeck. I think we have more chance against them than against Iran.
    Still it is very difficult for Japan to beat both Korea and Iran anyway. Only if they suck in finishing, Japan will have chance.
     
  14. AKITOD

    AKITOD Member+

    Apr 5, 2007
    Hobart, Aust
    Club:
    JEF United Ichihara
    Nat'l Team:
    Japan
    Okay I agree that Iran and Korea are favourites but still what the hell is all this pessimism? We haven't conceded...... not once in 5 games. This team is capable.

    We have a 1-0 win over Thailand and everybody's crapping on like we've been eliminated.
     
  15. Saku²

    Saku² Member+

    Aug 22, 2009
    Club:
    FC Salzburg
    Nagai is a mon-ster. The hype train is on the rails but man, can't wait to see him in J.league.


    edit : YES ! Final ! What a wonderful team. It was tough, especially after Nagai scored, but they hung on in there.
     
  16. tako

    tako Member

    Dec 11, 2003
    Yokohama
    Nat'l Team:
    Japan
    I thought Japan has chance if Japan score first but if Iran score first Iran mostlikely win. In that sence, I was uttly wrong. Nice comback from this young Japanese players, but after Japan scored scond goal, it was almost all Iran attacked, and missed chance. Hard luck, Iran. That disallowed goal will cause controversy. Does anyone have Youtube Clip?


    Anyway, here is Nagai's goal.
    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt4wsVk69J0"]YouTube - 2010????? ??? ??×??? ????????[/ame]

    Very good goal, and I really think why he went to university? If he directly went to Pro club, he could be more better player already.
     
  17. tako

    tako Member

    Dec 11, 2003
    Yokohama
    Nat'l Team:
    Japan
    And Korean must have been pleased as they face Japan not Iran. :eek:
     
  18. Saku²

    Saku² Member+

    Aug 22, 2009
    Club:
    FC Salzburg
    Me too.
    And, live, I didn't think Iran's goal was offside ... But this kind of mistakes happen.

    Nagai's career is weird. He was a star in the university, best goalscorer during the last universiades, then he played for Avispa Fukuoka without scoring a single goal. He then signs with Kobe, plays like two matches, no goal, and then totally disappear. But suddenly, some weeks ago, he makes a come back in the medias, every single J1 club wants him and Wolfsburg wanted to test him. He's special.
     
  19. tako

    tako Member

    Dec 11, 2003
    Yokohama
    Nat'l Team:
    Japan
    :eek: Hard luck,Iran.

    Yeah, there is system J-League club give talented university student the chance to play some J-League games as exception. But he did not do anything and disppear, so I thought he is not good enough currently agasint higher level opponent, but today I was surprised at his goal.
     
  20. AKITOD

    AKITOD Member+

    Apr 5, 2007
    Hobart, Aust
    Club:
    JEF United Ichihara
    Nat'l Team:
    Japan
    Its the "JFA Designated Players for Development". People like Tatsuya Tanaka, Ryoichi Maeda, Nagai and so on have gone through it.
    edit----------------

    Our opponent for the final. Decided at time 121:55 with 2 minutes additional..... Is UAE!!!

    MOST AMAZING of finishes to a game which Korea Republic largely controlled (I only watched last 35 minutes)..... Then PERFECT finish to the game in the last 10 seconds they gain control and the UAE winger finishes it off!!!!!! WHAT A FINISH.
     
  21. AKITOD

    AKITOD Member+

    Apr 5, 2007
    Hobart, Aust
    Club:
    JEF United Ichihara
    Nat'l Team:
    Japan
    Oh I hope we're all content with the final cause we're not gonna score in the final....... The UAE GK is amazing
     
  22. SamuraiBlue2002

    SamuraiBlue2002 Member+

    Dec 20, 2008
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    Japan
    I'm not Nagai's biggest fan, but that was some finish.

    Hopefully they'll win against UAE in the final.
     
  23. SamuraiBlue2002

    SamuraiBlue2002 Member+

    Dec 20, 2008
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    Japan
    Full highlights

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2A0MHInABg"]YouTube - 101123 Asian Games [6] SF U-21 Japan vs Iran[/ame]
     
  24. Mani

    Mani BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 1, 2004
    Club:
    Perspolis
    Nat'l Team:
    Iran
    Congrats and good luck in the final.
     
    1 person likes this.
  25. goru_no_ura

    goru_no_ura Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 20, 2006
    Miyako of Zipang
    Club:
    Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Japan
    When is the final?
    Is BS broadcasting it...?

    My HDD Is supposed to monitor all soccer-related stuff on TV, but it seems as it is regularly failing me..... Please help!
     

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