Here we go, absolutely key match tomorrow. A loss will very likely mean having to fight for the 3rd place and the playoff. Lineup prediction: Nishikawa Yoshida,Morishige,SakaiS Hasebe,Yamaguchi Kubo,Kiyotake,Haraguchi Osako
http://www.footballchannel.jp/2016/11/15/post184951/ hopefully this guy isn't right. I'll smash the TV if Haraguchi was switched to the right to allow for Saito (who was pretty ineffective until Japan got the lead against Oman).
well, Kubo is set to play on the right, not on the left. The guy isn't making any prediction lineup wise...he just says that he thinks Haraguchi could play on the right (in general). I don't think Saito will start so it's a non-issue but I disagree, Saito put in several balls in the PA even in the first part (and later, also scored a goal). There are some lost balls that I didn't like, but he was good.
Looks like Nagatomo is fit. Gotoku on the bench. Nishikawa Nagatomo Yoshida Morishige H.Sakai Yamaguchi Hasebe Kubo Kiyotake Haraguchi Osako Ideguchi and Ueda left out of the bench.
Surprised to see Kubo starting. Ueda and Ideguchi are left out (no surprises). Surprised also to see Honda not starting in such a crucial game, which says a lot about a change in heirarchy (not to mention Kagawa and Okazaki being left out, because they are/were backfiring for months and already were benched by Vahid before).
Kagawa has barely recovered from the injury, I don't think he'll play unless Kiyotake has a disaster match. Honda and Okazaki are the big ones left out, sure Honda was in terrible condition both when he played in Milan and against Oman and Vahid didn't really hide his thoughts post match Okazaki would've probably started if Osako didn't grab his chance, I guess... All in all a huge gamble from Vahid. But I hope this to succeeds because it might boost the team's depth.
Happy to see Kubo starting, he's got a cool head unlike Asano and Honda didn't impress at all against Oman. I'm a bit worried about seeing Nagatomo but I hope he proves me wrong and Gotoku was a liability against Australia.
Please, hurry up with the gif of Osako sending the ball to the Gunma Prefecture standing alone 13 meters from the goal!
What do you guys think of the penalty? Legit or not? It's kinda hard to tell from the angle i'm seeing (watching it on BeIN), it seemed the ball hit the defender's chest but then again, the arab team had won dubious penalties in the previous rounds so it's like karma to them lol.
It shouldn't have been wistled but it looks like JFA made perfect preparations and didn't want to leave it on Halil & co.
Couldn't agree more, his post-play and vertical passing are surely joy to watch, finishing is a different case though
That's interesting. I always thought you Arabs were like brothers or something i.e. solidarity, brotherhood and stuff.
Well, i have to say that it certainly not a clear-cut decision like at how Saudi £12 should be sent to early shower in the 8 or 10 minutes. Some rash challange went unpunished too.