Right about Naomoto. But based upon what I saw, she can be "play-maker" in the u-20 WWC. I have actually hardly ever seen her play before, because I only really saw the final of the u-17 WWC (when she did score) and because she played with AnClas for years (I guess she is from the western edge of that string of islands....). As for Hara - if anyone wants me to make a slide-show or her axing Arakawa from behind, just ask..... Just a very interesting, in-depth post - thanks! It fills out the missing parts of the plan. Best ever of Saki here ? Also Kozue dealing with height here ....
Yeah, but Ohno, Miyama, and Kawasumi are all highly evasive players, with enough speed and strength to compete and best any other women they may face in their area of the field. Ohno and Kawasumi in particular, have great levels of balance and explosive movement over short distances, while Miyama isn't to shabby with short distance sprints and body strength either. You won't see any of these players dominated due to a lack of athleticism or strength, even though they are significantly shorter than their much larger international rivals. Like you, I feel some of the U-20 Nadeshiko girls don't look even close to the senior girls in terms of robust physique. Obviously a lot this has to do with the evolving professional systems which over time have helped the best girls develop as athletes, but noticing how a quality short player like Hara never gets to see Nadeshiko squads past the youth levels, I just wonder about the prospects of another much hyped lightweight like Naomoto. Is Naomoto hyped more for her cute looks, because I'm honestly surprised at how lightweight she appears to be in the L-League .
You see Marozsan, Popp, or Kulig at 18? I know European girls by nature will be different to East Asian's, and the national teams are both at very different stages of development, but the German youth stars have all jumped into their senior team to great effect, while Japan only has Iwabuchi still taking her baby steps.
I watched Takatsuki vs Beleza. It clearly showed Maruyama's bad point. She easily gives up when she thinks it is not her game. You can't count on her. She sometimes plays unexpectedly great, or sometimes does far below par.
Good for these girls ? Japan doesn't need to rely on this generation anytime soon so the girls will be able to grow and take the measure of pro level at their own pace.
Anyone else just see the ad on Japanese TV at half-time in the Jordan game where Nadeshiko Japan bring on a giraffe to help their diminutive players? Nice timing! Edit: It also features an elephant.
Yes, similar to that. I didn't catch what company was doing the advertising though. I don't think it's the real players, I couldn't see them very well as they've been digitally made really small, the other foreign team are about twice the size.
Virany..... XD, CM, MS, AD - are you bringing a 3rd language to the board? I can always put the Japanese in google-translate, but this....... YT Videos: 2012 Belle INAC v Reds highlights There must be highlights of the other games out there, but I dont see them.
http://tokyo-issue.jp/news/joshi/nadeshiko/2012/06/07/11227 According to this, Yuki Nagasato has been training with Beleza. Yesterday she played a training game in the sub's team. I believe Ando and Kumagai are training with Tuskuba University. I haven't heard anything about Sameshima and Utusgi. But I read somewhere they were planning to start training a bit later than those from Bundesliga as the French league finished slightly later. Not sure who they'll be training with. Back to Beleza, it seems Iwashimizu was injured. I guess that's why she wasn't featured in last game. She still hasn't joint the rest of the group for the training but both Noda and Iwashimizu are optimistic she'll make it for L. Clasico. Iwashimizu says, after watching INAC's video, she feels it could be difficult for them to win the ball as INAC has 3 central midfield compared to Beleza's two. Akemi Noda is hoping it will be a high scoring match.
Oh, and mumf, for XD, just try to rotate it 90 degrees and look at it! It's just a chuckling/ROTFL face: the X are the eyes, tightened in laugh, and the D is the open smile...
Everybody already knows about these two games, I assume, since you are usually better informed than I am... I am sure they are buried somewhere in these 102 pages of information.... Kirin Challenge Cup 2012 Nadeshiko vs Australia July 11 @ Tokyo Training match Nadeshiko vs France July 19 @ Stade Charlety France
Like it's all being viewed from a parallel universe, it's now Japan's best young forwards that look positively world class, which has resulted in my confused state on the potential of the usually more high profile mids . In my mind, none of the mids seem to be able to stand out from each other, even though the mid-field is traditionally Japan's most talent rich department to select from . I'm sure you have heard about resting on what's worked before, being a sure way to eventual regression , and in a soon to be post Sawa era, I'm really interested to see if there's a new and improved version on the horizon. Oh, and why hasn't anybody commented on the ridiculously blatant hand ball by the new big girl in the center of the Nadeshiko's defense? Talk about one teams major issue with height, being the most obvious of elephants in the room , but seeing the new LSD assisted revisionists take on history was pretty funny, or is that scandalous .
http://www.verdy.co.jp/beleza/belezatop/ Look at the ticket prices for L. Clasico. I'm impressed. I thought they were basically handing out tickets to get large attendance, but actually they are charging decent money for a women's game. €50 for premium seats (apparently comes with lunch box). Not sure how many of these seats, but these are sold out. Even the cheapest seats for adult are €15 (€20 on the day). If they get +20,000 with these prices, now that's impressive.
Well, especially let's hope that the show that the teams will put up will measure up with all the buzz has been made about the match. I am sure that the girls are aware that they not only have to try to win for their team, but they also have to play good football, so those 20.000+ people have a reason to get back for more. This match has the potential to make Nadeshiko League grow, or instead to put it down if it will be a so-so played one. By the way, did I get it right that the match will start earlier that the matches of previous rounds? I ask because I am afraid it will be too much early morning for me here in Italy. Anyone can tell me at which hour exactly it will start in Japan, or, even better, here in Europe?
Looks to be the same as every other INAC game, 12:30 kickoff. Interesting that all 11 games are tomorrow, busy busy.