(2010.06.28) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay x Japan [R]

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

I read Komano did good PK in previous practice before this match.
Still I also think there were plenty of other options.

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

Japan were one of the very fittest teams statistically. You could ask for more but they were really really fit, other teams fans have noticed this as japan's one of japan's strengths.

Sure Komano got all 3 of his previous international ones in, but each time I saw him take one I kept thinking he'd miss.

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

The lack of fitness thing was down to Okada selecting the same 11 each match and running them into the ground. That is a major limitation in playing a frenetic pressing style like that, you need the full 23 man roster.

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

Japan covered 133km, Paraguay 134km. Massive distances, its hard to expect japan to run 143km and outrun Paraguay.

My main regret is that Kengo Nakamura wasn't used more. The time he was on the pitch were some of the most inventive stuff japan played in teh whole tournament.

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

I'm a poster from Korea forums but I had to respond to this. I'm an interested follower of Japanese football and this is just my personal opinion.

It seems to me that unless you're Spain, Argentina or Brazil with established football culture that sprouts oodles of creativity, talent and athletic strength, worrying about aesthetics is really barking up the wrong tree. Even the above mentioned countries don't fret about "aesthetics".

I always felt Japan suffered from a false philosophy/mentality that supported a style that was more focused on aesthetics filled with good looking overlapping runs and nice short passes, much of it not very dangerous, that lead to nothing threatening in the box. This is a major challenge for Japanese football IMO. Even Brazil stopped fretting over aesthetics and they are looking pretty amazing.

The cure to this problem is decisiveness and efficiency in possession which is what Japan needs: Honda being exhibit A. There needs to be more of this in midfield and attack rather than backtracking and trying to revive a aesthetic stylishness being the proverbial goal.

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

the way Komano in 2 consecutive FWC has come into teh final 23 as a squad-member then to be thrust into the starting XI really late in the day and how he performed (which wasn't bad by any standards) speaks a lot about his professionalism.

But this world cup caps the end of a hell of a decade progress speaking for japanese football.

J.League averaging 19000 ish per game attendance, two teams claiming 3rd in the CWC, establishing itself as truly the greatest league in Asia in pretty much any criteria.

2 Asian Cups, 1 Confed Cup final, 2 R16 world cups. Establishing themselves fully as a true Asian powerhouse and a true competitor on the world stage.

During the last 3 FWC's, the WDL is 4-3-4 which is certainly much better.

However now, japan and Korea have cemented their places as the true powerhouses of asia. The most difficult part now is how they reach that next step. The tools, ideas, and practise needed to get to that stage doesn't lie in Asia. Friendlies etc japan must be exposed to top opposition much more. J.League players need more exposure to europe. A couple of the things that Africa is attempting to do but failing. Japan can do it better.

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

By aesthetic I was trying to say "anything but bunkering 10 men in our own box for 88m of the game" in a nice way.

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

Korea and Japan both outclass China on the world stage when they actually care, no offense. Personally, Asia proved themselves here so as long as it continues in 2014, China better step up, better yet, qualify.

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

Yeah, same with me and Denmark,Sweden and Iceland and to some extent Germany and Great Britain. But then I want to ask if you rooted for Portugal or North Korea in their clash in the group stage, and who did u pick as ur favorite in the Greece vs South-Korea match?

Dont get me wrong, I too rooted for South Korea, north Korea and also Australia in the world cup, but not just because they are Asian. But by following J.League as closely as I do I've come to known K.League, A.League and some o the NK-players as well, so I would rather see them go through than other teams. Usually I root for Sweden as well, although to a lesser extent Denmark.

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

"supman" is not clearly Chinese, I think he is not even Asian, just troller who have too much time on his hands. Just ignore him.
Besides, Chinese NT show remakable improvement recently. They will be serious contender in next WCQ.

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

Poor Komano.. next time better Lad !!!! loss in penalty shoot out is always hurt.. but that what you got if u cant score goal in normal time..

Banzai Nippon

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

Nice to see someone agreeing with me, I told that from the beginning of the competition. Sad because he will never had that chance again even though he looks like a 15 years old kid . I really like Kengo Nakamura.

Anyway, I read that the players were really tired going into this, from the mouth of Matsui I presume.

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

Yeah he looked really good. I wonder what he could've done in a potential quarterfinal since Endo were going to be suspended.

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FftVCLxvHw4&playnext_from=TL&videos=xZnxVNKJqVg&feature=recentf"]YouTube- ???????TBS[/ame]

What a shame .

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

I wonder why he didn't start in the 11. That was the biggest surprise for me when I was reading lineups before the game started. We all know that every single team has a problem with the fourth game in such tournaments because players are tired after giving in most cases more than 100% to qualify to the next round. Yasuhito wasn't good from the first game but he stayed for one decissive FK on the pitch. A thing that never happened. OK, once, but it's hard to assume that he's going to score from free kick in every game.
Speaking about Komano now. It looked like his one level lower from rest of the defense line. Another thing is that he didn't contribute as much to the offensive strenght of the team as Nagatomo, but he's one of the best side backs of the world right now so You can't blame Komano for doing his job well (defending). Why did he took a PK? An answer is simple. In the PK practice he must have been one of the best. The team probably knew who's gonna take PK and in what order before the game starts. Okada for sure knew this situation might happen so he probably consulted it with keepers too to decide. That was probably that thing that a man can do the same thing perfectly 99 times on 100 and we've seen this one exception yesterday. Sad but think that even Beckham failed in the most decissive monent.

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

Endo was excellent in the group matches. He was solid in the R16 match as well.
Really solid and dependable all around from what I recall.

His efforts just don't stand out as much.

For me, his general midfield excellence in the tournament culminates in the laser pass to Matsui, who crosses the ball to Honda, who scores.
No one mentioned Endo when that goal happened.

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

as they should, right? He was oriented much more forward than Abe whose work really wasn't in the centre of events for most of the time. And I can appreciate it. Maybe I used some wrong words when stating that he 'wasnt' playing good'. Well, I meant that he was playing good and nothing above it. Compare him with Kengo now. I was expecting more from him simply. Now that he didn't lived up to my expectations he should end his career .

Wow, that's gross exaggeration.

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

So wait the Japanese medias are blaming Komano and his mom has to apologize? Is that what I am seeing?
If so then there is something very wrong with the Japanese media. I mean first of all the Japanese players should be treated as a hero as round of 16 is a very good result, and secondly blaming it on one person is rather disgraceful as the fault could be pointed to many players even the coach.

 

Re: (6.28.10) FIFA World Cup RO16: Paraguay vs Japan [R]

TBS are evil anyway