Our strategy should depend on the other match result. If it's not a draw then goal difference becomes crucial and we need to play at a faster tempo but if it is a draw any win against Greece suffices. As a poker player I can appreciate the advantage of playing second
Those words are just the typical bbc bs Zac hasn't said anything about okubo being up front in today's game according to the brazilian press
Then we're possibly still seeing Okubo, just out wide instead of up front. Personally I'm leaning towards the same lineup with Kakitani up front... but there's been mention of "drastic" changes, so I'm not really sure what to expect at this point. A return to 3-back experiments with Konno? A return to Okada-esque Honda up top? Aoyama ? Kiyotake ? I don't have a clue what to expect at this point.
Anyway, I'd like to see: Kawashima - H. Sakai - Morishige - Yoshida - Nagatomo - Hasebe - Yamaguchi - Kiyotake Honda - Kagawa - Okazaki Hasebe said that he's ready and fit to play the full game
Uchida was the only player that looked dangerous against CIV while both crosses came from Nagatomo's side... why replace him at this point ?
I really want to see Kiyotake play along side with Honda and Kagawa. And play Kakitani up front. I have watched Kiyotake played a couple times and I think he's really good. Idk why none of the big team is interested in him. He surely deserves to play in a better team than Nurnberg.
If Ivory Coast wins today against Columbia this would be the best,cause then we have it on own hands. A draw or a win vo Ivory Coast would be great cause then we need to win both games and nothing else matters.
Yeah Cote Divoire wolloping Colombia by at least four goals is best for us because a draw vs Colombia would get us through. Colombia winning would be the worst for us because even 6 points might not be enough
Just posting the line up I think we will see today: Kawashima Uchida - Yoshida - Konno - Nagatomo Endo - Hasebe Okazaki - Honda - Kagawa Kakitani And the line up I would wish to see. Kawashima Uchida - Yoshida - Morishige - Nagatomo Yamaguchi - Hasebe Okazaki - Honda - Kagawa Kakitani As for todays prediction? Japan would ideally need more than just a win. A big win. I think it will be a very hard fought game and I predict a draw or a slight win by Japan. But it can go either way. They got themselves in a really tough position after that first game. If possible relax play your own game and dont think too much about the result and what not. We will see what Japan need after the first game between Colombia and Ivory Coast but it is 90% chance imo that they will need to win them both so.... For me victory today is not what is important. Me seeing some outstanding game played by Japan is. I want them to show what they can do and then if Greece has a wall too high, luck too big etc so be it. I would just hate them coming out all shitting their pants and maybe even winning in the process when I know it would all be just smoke and mirrors in the end. They need to keep the goal differential in mind as well. So play to your best and play like Japan not some freaking country who is not on this WC and does not deserve it
It's not clear to me why it's better for CIV to win instead of Colombia. So long as either wins, the other only has 3 points. Colombia is already way ahead of the pack with a GD of +3 as well. CIV's +1 would be negated by any loss. I would almost think it'd be better to be in a situation where Col has essentially secured top placing and feels they can rest players against Japan. A showdown for 2nd place between Japan and Colombia would be great entertainment, but probably not yield desired results for Japan. Worst case scenario would be a draw as it puts both CIV and Colombia in position to advance with 1 match left to play. Whatever the case, it doesn't matter if Japan can't defeat Greece. And of course same goes for Greece.
Because CIV will play Greece the last match. Plus Colombia can't rest their player too much too if Japan manage to score more than 2 goals against Greece and did only win 1 goal against CIV. However, if CIV win, Japan does not need to worry about goal difference, all they need to do is win both games.
Evene when Japan loose today then can go through when Columbia wins today,Japan beats Columbia and Greece beats Ivory Coast with the optimal result. So everything is possible
Win your game then wake up tomorrow and look at the standings, you will know what you need to do in the last game.
Both Greece and Japan are in deep shit by losing the first game. While draw for Japan tonight doesn't spell doom for Japan. It does make things even tougher. Heading into final game against Colombia, you at least want destiny in our own hand. If your Japan, now you taking very close attention to Ivory Coast vs Colombia match and hope Ivory Coast wins. Because that will at least keep Colombia at three points. So in case Japan draws against Greece, Japan at one point can still advance to the knockout stage by beating Colombia. Edit: first goal could be the decider of the game. If Japan scores first, Greece might pack it up and stop play. Which could allow Japan to score multiple times tonight. If Greece scores first, Japan could in for long night.
worst possible result for Japan is not winning games themselves. Dont expect other to bail you out at the WC. Win games and deserve to advance
A Draw would be as good as Ivory Coast wins cause Japan has it in own Hands then. Only a win by Columbia would be not that good
I find it fun to see ur guys comments, it's good to be optimistic but winning the group? Winning against this Colombia team would be a task difficult enough for them. Japan got bullied way too easy by Ivory coast but this Colombia team is putting up a fight.