Spain is out. I don't believe it, but it's true. And one between Uruguay and GB is risking. Also Switzerland is one foot out of the Olympic Games.. Still.. you don't believe IT?
I'd still prefer Belarus, for some reason I feel that we are better against European sides than arabs, but let's see. Let's get that first place before that.
its great to see japan playing so well right now! I lived over there the past 3 years so I've really taken to the team. I know the Japanese Coworkers I had back at my base are really enjoying this. they email me all bout it after every game. I agree tho, I'd love to see a Brasil vs Japan final.
Maybe but I don't know if they're worse then Egypt. I know that we do suck against teams like Egypt, though.
Great Britain vs. South Korea Brazil vs. Honduras Mexico vs. Senegal JAPAN vs. Egypt Needless to say: the chance of a medal is high if we play like we know.
Mexico vs. Senegal is very interesting and if Japan will play like we know one of this team will be our last obstacle before the final with Brazil (or GB if the "home factor" will counts). It seems Usami will never play again (but an injury of someone can change that), it's a pity.
That's their weak point Easily taken over by Japanese speed and agility on any competition level. Mexico plays much more technicaly oriented and not so physical football (still they're stronger than Japan physically).
So, Senegal throw away their chances of semifinal with two moronic mistakes. It will be a tough semifinal, but we're better than them.
Even though we have it tough against middle eastern teams, Egypt counts as an african side. Japan dominates african teams.
http://www.fifa.com/mensolympic/news/newsid=1675880/index.html "Kiyotake: Our mission is to win gold"
Now that the tournament is basically done, I'd like to open up to discussion what players will be contributors to the senior NT in the future. The 2008 team did terribly, but they now make-up the core of the NT. 2008 squad Nishikawa (regular call-up) Hosogai (regular call-up) Yoshida (starter) Mizumoto Nagatomo (starter) Morishige Uchida (starter) Honda (starter) Toyoda Kajiyama Okazaki (starter) Taniguchi Yasuda Kagawa (starter) Morimoto (regular call-up) T. Honda Lee (regular call-up) Yamamoto Not bad for a team that was expected to be one of the worst generations. So who do you guys think will be contributors to the senior NT in the future? Here's my take: Gonda (Maybe once Kawashima is done) Ando (Doubt it) H Sakai (Will replace Uchida in the next year or two) Yamamura (Doubt it) G Sakai (Will be called-up, but probably not a starter) Suzuki (Yes) Ogihara (Maybe) Muramatsu (Doubt it) Higashi (Will be called-up but won't play much) Usami (Future starter) Yamaguchi (Will be called-up) Kiyotake (Yes) Otsu (Doubt it) Sugimoto (Doubt it) Nagai (Maybe a future starter) Saito (Maybe)
Bold and italic for starter Italic for JNT squad 1 Gonda 2 Tokunaga 3 Ogihara 4 H. Sakai 5 Yoshida 6 Muramatsu 7 Otsu 8 Yamamura 9 Sugimoto 10 Higashi 11 Nagai 12 G. Sakai 13 Suzuki 14 Usami 15 Saito 16 Yamaguchi 17 Kiyotake 18 Ando
I can't comment for everyone, but for those I know. Gonda: Will naturally be Kawashima's understudy, but he can held his own. Regular Call-up (2nd Choice). Gotoku Sakai : Call-up. 2nd Choice to Yuto Nagatomo, if Komano is no longer called-up though. however can be switched to Right back if needed. Hiroki Sakai : Call-up. Can go head to head with Uchida @ Right-Back. but Uchida does have the edge. Future starter. Yoshida : Call-up, Starter. Been really impressive during this tournament. will gain a new sense of confidence when he returns to the JNT. Daisuke Suzuki : I hope he's called-up. Likely to replace Konno. impressive partnership with Yoshida. JNT already have many talented Midfielders, and while I'm liking what Ogihara, Higashi and Yamaguchi had done, right now, they won't be overtaken the likes of Hasebe, Hosogai, and even Endo. not to mention Kagawa, Honda, Nakamura and Okazaki. Kiyotake: Regular Call-up. he already perform nicely for JNT and a great combination play between him and Kagawa, and Keisuke Honda. a plus for him is that, while he is one of the main playmaker for U-23, he will be less burdened with Honda and Kagawa on the pitch and connect well with them. however, Okazaki and Kengo Nakamura would probably start before him. But he is a great addition nonetheless. Usami : Call-up. he didn't have the chance to shine like his counter part, but he's hard to ignore and whenever on the field, driven and ambitious. Japan would need for him to hone his skills. still raw somewhat. Nagai : not just call-up, Japan definitely need him to hone his skills and goalscoring, because he can become a lethal striker for Japan in the instant future. His speed alone can destroy Defense, his skills is quite good and he make dangerous runs. With the current JNT, midfielders like Honda, Kagawa, Hasebe and Hosogai, they can push Nagai and Okazaki (a FW/RMF) and possibly rip DF to pieces. I don't see Yuki Otsu, Manabu Saito and Kenyu Sugimoto being called up to JNT, maybe Otsu, even though he had a good tourney with 3 goals.
no way Sakai replaces Uchida if he has this kind of game again. As for the others. I dunno. I'd like to see players capable of making accurate long balls once in a while.