It was a decent performance and a deserved win but instead of Kubo palyers like Kobayashi, Honda or even Saito should have played.
this group is so tight. 4 years ago it was Australia and the rest, this time we have to battle against the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The way things are going, we'll have two teams with 10pts and two teams with 9pts tonight.
well, the group is tight mostly because Thailand and Iraq have been a non-factor this time... last time Jordan did well, just kept dropping points away. uhh sorry? Saito hasn't played on the right since ages and Kobayashi is a midfielder (and plays on the left anyway)... I think Kubo deserved a shot, but it's not his real position.
Halilhodzic got his tactics right. Great intensity and quality up front gave Saudi Arabia something they couldn't deal with. Still need to create more chances in the box and become more comfortable retaining possession, but a good performance.
Agree with some of the others here that this was the best performance by Japan in a while. They looked great going forward, but as often before the finishing was at best lacklustre. In decent positions all we got was some half-hearted weak shots, and the final pass was on many occasions also horrible. That goes for most of the attacking players. Osako were great in the pressing and post-play role, but he needs someone who can score goals alongside him ( like Modeste). Their relationship at Köln reminds me a bit about Vardy - Okazaki at Leicester last season, and just imagine if Japan had a lethal striker that could fill that Vardy/Modeste role. I still think Yoshinori Muto is the best bet for now, but need him to recover fully from his injury. But overall both groups are wide-open so far, and a poor result in UAE in 4 month's time can prove very tough for Japan.
We need a better DM and centreback. Cannot see JNT depending on a J2 player as their first choice DM. There need to be alternatives to Yoshida as well.
I don't like this direction. You gotta give him credit about finally keeping the big names on the bench, but if their condition - I'm referring to Honda and Kagawa - is the same on March, better not call 'em.
You're complaining about "J2" player.. only to mention BL2 player, who hasn't been relevant with the national team since 2014?
If there is any CM in the pool who can play Yamaguchi's role better...it'd certainly be news to everyone.
First 45 minutes was the most intense and fired up performance from the JNT I've seen in a long time. Hasebe and Yamaguchi were winning all the 50/50 contests and Haraguchi was playing like a possessed man as usual. Halilhodzic looked like he wanted to kill someone, mentally they were very well prepared for such a high-pressure match.