they are mostly kids who haven't even been capped yet, with a sprinkling of one or two legit first team players. Personally I was not that impressed with Chile, I thought the scoreline totally flatered them. Japan was actually outplaying them for much of the first half until they scored, and then Japan fell apart. Considering they are mostly kids it is understandable they fell apart, but clearly have learned form such an experience I guess.
I am honestly impressed with Japan. To think that this is a squad for the Olympics next year when they host makes me think of them to be amongst the favorites. I can't wait to see how they are next year in Toyko.
Japan looked alot better tonight of course. But still... Suarez and Cavani each with a missed sitter, plus 2 cross-bars. So not difficult to see how Chile scored 4. Harder to see how they kept a clean sheet against Japan
With all respect to Uruguay, whom I see as a legitimate contender, that PK was not right and the Japanese team did not get a PK it deserved. It should have been 2-1 or even 3-1 for Japan.
It was a harsh penalty but it was a foul. The Japan defender stuck out his leg and did not hit the ball, he hit the foot of Cavani. By rule that is a penalty.
I thought the PK was right. Japanese player never touched the ball. clumsy defending Japan also had 6 changes and included more experienced players and it showed. I think south american sides underestimate other continents wayyy too much and this happens. happened to us. Suddenly Uruguay does not look as strong as we thought. Lets hope Colombia stays focused on the goal, which is too win the copa. I dont doubt our ability i do doubt our mentality.
I think every fan of every Nation in this cup is saying the same thing about mentality. No one has looked invincible and every team has flaws. Let's see how it goes and which team comes out on top.
Cavani hit the foot of the Japanese defender on the follow through. Is that clear and obvious mistake by the ref? Not so sure. The incident at the other end was certainly clear and obvious. Japan got screwed there for sure. Of course no telling if Japan still would've scored another goal if they got the penalty. In the end , fair result in the balance of play.
Cavani has the right to swing at the ball. A Japanese player does not have the right to stick out his foot unless he hits the ball. If he hits the opposing player instead of the ball it is a foul. A foul in the box is a penalty.
Cavani has the right to attempt at the ball for a shot. The defender sticks out his foot and does not get the ball, he gets Cavani instead. It is strict and harsh but it is a penalty.
Are you telling me Japan was denied a clear penalty ? I was cooking and didn't see the entire match. Hmm Seems they didn't want one of Conembols flagship teams to be embarassed by Japan's olympic team. VAR only helps to enforce bias against "small teams" IMO We saw this clearly at the last WC.
I did not see the "clear penalty" so I cannot comment on the Japan incident. But if VAR goes against small teams within your conspiracy then why is Venezuela getting all the VAR calls? Does not make any sense.
I saw every World Cup match and VAR got the calls correct each time from what I remember. I do not remember any calls going against smaller teams that were incorrect.
You clearly did not see Morocco vs Spain. The worst case of daylight robbery ever. It was downright shameful what happened in that match. Morocco were robbed against Portugal as well.
In the first penalty, from one angle it looks like the Japanese defender simply tries to block the shot and Cavani hits him on the follow through. From the front angle it looks like the defender swings his leg back and hits Cavani. I suppose that it is a question of interpretation, I don't think many refs would've called it, not without VAR. At the start of the 2nd half there was a clear penalty, but the ref couldn't be bother to check VAR for this one. The Japanese got screwed.
I guess its not the ref's responsibility to check with VAR. VAR should message the ref when they think the ref clearly missed something, which was certainly the case here. Another time when the 'smaller' team seemed to get the shaft (not VAR related, mind you) was Otamendi not getting a yellow for his penalty foul against Paraguay.