Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] I'm seeing tweets about a torn ligament but who knows. I don't think anything's been announced yet.
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] It's still 0-0 at the half hour mark. http://southafrica2010.yahoo.co.jp/news/cdetail/201006040021-spnavi But it looks like the reserves are doing better against their reserves.
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] If Konno is out, Kagawa will take his place. Drogba is out of the World Cup. I'm really sorry Drogba.
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] I'm getting more reputable reports (still only on Twitter) of an interior cruciate ligament injury to the right knee, extent of the damage unknown.
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] Japan won the 3rd 45mins. Support squad member Nagai scored ...
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] Apparently Konno has said that he's not going to the hospital and that he won't immediately be able to return to practice. I imagine if it was a serious injury they'd already have him at a hospital by now, right?
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] My alarm did not ring and I missed the match. Thank you alarm clock. Whatever happened to saving face? Okada is in so much denial that I feel sorry for him.
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] Well, it could still be a bad ankle sprain, which could rule him out of the World Cup.
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] I hope not Tulio get suspended or some shit after this? Then it's over.
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] These... are missing something. But what could it be...? Ah, there we go.
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i8JoWMnw9D4XwMuJAPPrAuYvgewA Okada's comments kinda make me want to scream.
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] He talks like they won or played good. Ugh!! Fool.
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] Yea but when was the last time Japan lost 7 in a row?
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] Upon rewatching the goals, the 2nd one was COMPLETELY Kawashima's fault. He let a FK come in that actually landed about 50 cm out of the goal. Ridiculously poor judgement not to come out to that. http://www.japantoday.com/category/world_cup/view/ivory-coast-beats-japan-2-0-in-world-cup-warmup ‘‘This has made me realize that I have players who can compete against a team like this and players who can’t,’’ said Okada. ‘‘We conceded and our opponents created a zone that prevented us from creating many chances in front of goal.’‘
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] With the Drogba injury and Japan's play, its just getting more and more likely that North Korea will outperform Japan, despite being in the "group of death". At least in 98, they played really well. They could have won a game or 2 if not for those jokers Jo and Gon missing everything in sight. Bring back Hide!!!
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] I could not watch the game because of a sudden birthday party for a colleague, but maybe it was a blessing... A few comments to the previous posts: 1 - temperature and conditions can't be an excuse. This is soccer, it is played with any weather, an the weather is the same for both teams. By this logic, Drogba (an African) should underperform in London because it is cold in the winter...? 2 - In the three pre-season games we conceded six goals. Okee, three OGs and two set-plays (one a PK, we conceded two in three games, btw), but the worrysome data is that we have scored ONE goal in 270 minutes, with a defender and on a corner kick. Do you think it has to do with the fact that Okada brought over forwards completely out of condition? Was in any way meaningful to start again with Okazaki? Wasn't it clear enough from the previous two games that he is awesome against Chile's reserves, but disappears in the real games? Morimoto is clearly more dangerous, the world knows--except from one little man... 3 - Endo and Nakazawa seem on a descendant curve. There were plenty of alternatives to pick, but of course it won't matter, because Okada would play "his boys" even if they had one leg only. 4 - If Okada's plan is to make the group rivals over-confident, he's probably succeeding. I am wondering how "confident" are his own boys now, thou. The way we look, I will probably have to go back by my original prediction: we'll probably do as in 2006, 0-1-2. The only hope against Cameroon is to score the Cameroon and to resist. Any other scenario would mean a sad end, I am afraid.
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] If the cruciate is gone, you're talking about 6-10 months. Let's hope not...
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] Japan coach Takeshi Okada said he was on the whole satisfied with his team's performance. "We were up against a good team with good players," said Okada. "But we put some good moves together. We were tight in defence which helped us prevent our rivals from increasing their pace on us. "We were there for some good duels. I'm satisfied with the way that we used the ball up front. We knew how to keep it simple." This guy's brain is deep-fried...
Re: (06.04.10) Friendly: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Japan [R] The sad thing is that Okada seem to be happy with whatever performance. He does not care, at least he does not show it. He will stroll around on the training tomorrow thinking "man we are great team, can't wait for the semifinal, yeah we lost 4 games and just scored one, who cares? " Drastic changes is needed ,but they will never come.