Great comeback performance. Too bad it's all in 2nd Half.... Because I only got to watch the 1st. But I'm not surprised, because they did well to creaate chances in the first, I knew zac would rile them up during break to score. Hope to see highlights soon.
It's good to see good side of JNT. Last time was so long ago that I can't come up with a good performance in a moment...
Kakitani needs to learn how to stay onside. Still, he could've had a few assists if Honda didn't pull a Havenaar and if somebody made a run into the box when he had the ball. Still frustrating for me, as this could have been about 7-1..
Pointless what if discussion If Ghana had finished there first half chances it should have been something like 1:4 by half-time. Great comeback by Japan nonetheless, even if it was against Ghana's B/C squad.
A really well played match. And those of you who are talking smack about Kakitani... you either dont watch the game or are blind. The guy is linking up so well in the offense that it is scary to imagine the potential as they work more and more together. The run and pass to Honda, the one two with Kagawa etc... He is doing great. Osako offers other options as well. All and all a lot better than Maeda Havenaar stuff
I remember 4 such situations. But ok. Apart from the goals you scored I also remember one good chance that Japan had which wasn't scored, while two of the goals were let in by sloppy goalkeeping from Ghana's third/fourth choice keeper. 3:1 is a deserved result (Japan A team is clearly better than Ghana B/C team), but lets not get over our heads with claiming WHAT IF results such as 7:1.
I hate the alphabet game. "Our B+ team is clearly superior to your A- team, but we had to field our B- team because blah blah blah..." It's a frickin friendly. Who cares.
Can't agree more. I simply LOVE how Kakitani add to the offense phase, he's the most smooth-footed and skilled fw Zac can choice. Osako is simply a different type of player that add different things. I hope for them to be JNT fws at the WC.
with Kakitani, it seems Japan add another Creative Attacker along with the usual Honda and Kagawa super duo up front. along with the usual RMF Okazaki, the creative Kiyotake and the Endo-Hasebe pair on a good day, really alot of interchange going forward. what's more, Kakitani can really bring anyone forward with him holding the ball in the final third, the target men, Kagawa and Honda movements seems really lethal especially.
Good game. But Japan have a tendency to do well against African teams. They also beat Ghana in 2009 on neutral venue. The draw will be like this -> Japan, seeded team, non-seeded European team, African or S. American team The key to success is avoiding S. American teams. In 2010 all five South American teams advanced to the knockout round, four as group winners. African teams don't scare me at all...
Aren't Asia and Concacaf usually mixed together in the same pot? 4 AFC teams+4 Concacaf teams (or 3+New Zealand) makes for an even pot. That would explain why we drew Cameroon last time around. If it's like the 2010 draw, you'll have Brazil+7 top seeds, tier 2 European clubs, AFC+Concacaf, and Africa+Conmebol. Based on current FIFA rankings, a nightmare draw would be something like Spain, Belgium, Uruguay, Japan.