Improved as the game went on. Well poised. Shoji has been very good again in the air. I think Haraguchi tends to be losing the ball a fair bit, but he has been very positive in attack. He's the more likely one to get subbed for ?Muto. Osako once again has done his job holding the ball up very well. Shibasaki has been very good, as has Hasebe. Nagatomo doing admirably.
Senegal's counter-attacks are lethal, Japan really cannot afford to be careless in possession. By the way, Japan really need to find a better GK by the next WC, Kawashima really scares me with his saves. Nakamura and Higashiguchi are clearly lacking from what I seen of them too. Well, Nakamura still can improve by the next WC. Who knows.
Our system is good to watch with Hasebe dropping in between Yoshida and Shoji allowing them to carry the ball up the field and find Kagawa. I actually feel that Honda should come on for Haraguchi to link better with Kagawa and allow Hiroki to get forward more. Haraguchi looks out of his depth. Kawashima proves again how bad he is.
Yeah Haraguchi showing more good and bad today as I suspected. Too bad. Shoji is surprisingly good, also in the air. Impressed. This can go both ways i feel. Hasebe is so good. Like a vaccum cleaner he cleans up when the other players fcks up!
Quite a balanced game, the subs will be very important today. I'm thinking the subs will be Haraguchi, Osako and another TBD out for Honda, Okazaki and TBD. Or maybe Muto not Honda. I feel like Nishino isn't going to make Honda/Kagawa play together which I don't disagree with.
Welcome back to the forums mate, where were you? There is no new generation this time, apart from few additions to the 2014 squad.
What an excellent goal from Inui. Japan really frustrated Senegal when they keep the ball with their tidy passing. Then they attack when Senegal switch off. Really liking some of the play here. Need to stay alert though, Senegal are very dangerous still
Everywhere 35 countires in 18 months. Funny to reread the political thread with [the mod] trying to talk about US military like he has a clue about anything. Nah it's definitely a new generation. Most of these guys may have been on the 2014 team but didn't play. Hasebe and Nagatomo are the grand old men now. No Honda for better or worse =/ And Kawashima I guess. I presume Okazaki is somewhere as well? Injured? Fun to see Inui and Kagawa reunited since Cerezo days. Osako just missed that =/