Kubo needs a big slap in the face. He's dead weight for the team when he plays like that. It would have been better to be 10 than having him sabotage every offensive play.
Wait what happened? When I watched the FIFA highlights Japan didn't even have one attempt or decent chance on goal? I was so optimistic after that first game, that maybe at least they'd give France a scare! Hmm well maybe this is what they needed
Japan don't really have much of a chance against either judging from today. The scoreline was flattering to Japan, France controlled the match. Japan couldn't break through the French's defence and they were outmuscled easily off the ball, especially Kubo. Kubo kept holding his hips, not sure if he was tired or hurting from colliding with the French players too much. Japan was passing too much and should have tried to shoot from behind the box and at least test the goalkeeper and draw him out. Looing at Iran's result against Germany, I think Iran will go the furthest among the Asian teams in the tournament.
So there's a chance if Iraq continue their good form and get still an unlikely win against England, that Japan could play Iraq in the next round? What a turn of fortune that would be, but even then Japan will need to play a lot better even to beat Iraq
Man, this is just sad that this supposedly decent generation isn't being properly coached. Moriyama's 4-4-2 is so damn appaling.
well, today's match has 9/11 reserves basically (Fukuoka a bit in-between). Still, 1-0 on New Caledonia after '60... I can't even blame the coach too much. Most of the players are not much more than good soldiers sadly.
Well, still i can't stop ask what if this team is being coached by Yoshitake. At least the team still has a bloody proper structure. this bloody team just keep playing with U shaped passing due to awful structure. To add some embarassment, with that kind of save approach, New Caledonia still managed to give us some scare.
They're absolutely atrocious and hopeless bunch those second string players. The only problem with the coach could be if he had to pick up those boys rather than others who stayed in Japan.
Japan should try to pump in crosses rather than just passing at the edge of the box even when the opponent has 10 players in the box imo, at least a goal might occur due to confusion inside their area. Simply passing and getting the ball cleared by the New Caledonia players over and over again is tiring to watch. Japan need to produce higher calibre of coaches imo, more Okada, Hasegawa and Moriyasu, etc. Like that, the youth players can have better coaching as well.
Still, Japan has achieved more than the supposedly great nation of I...RAN in the history of u-17 WC.
Before or after introduction of MRI test? Considering the pre medical test era, Iraq, Nigeria and some Arab teams like Oman and Qatar should be the super powers in youth level. Youth level achievement of the past are very murky.
Just curious, why are you salty about Japan suddenly? Don't recall any bad blood between Japan and Iran, at least in football.
it was my reaction to the match. It was embarrassing. I didn't expect Japan to draw with them despite using the subs. There is no bad blood between Iran and Japan in football or non-football issue. Japan is a distant friendly nation to us.
I hope that this will happen soon, as players who are now in Europe will start retiring, many of them will become coaches, and they will have the european experience, unlike any current japanese coache. Examples of this could be Hasebe, Okazaki, Yoshida, Kagawa, Sakai, Nagatomo, Honda, Inui. This could raise the level of the J league and consequently the level of japanese soccer considerably.
If Japan play in top gear England will have a tough game, but inconsistency seems to be an issue with this team, so who knows what team will turn up. I see kubo getting bullied again
Tani's distribution is poor, England keep having possession of the ball because he keeps on passing the ball out of bound. Japan's fullbacks are not doing that good thus far imo, they keep having success passing the full-backs down Japan's flanks. IMO, I think Ayumu Seko might be the best player on the pitch today due to his decent defending thus far. Don't understand why don't Japan send in crosses from the side even with the height disadvantage instead of trying to pass to the middle and trying to score from there when it does not work.
my impression from that match is that Japan is at the same level of England in terms of technique, but in terms of physical capabilities, England are light years ahead of Japan.