Yes, there is a chance. Looks like they will pick up the 2 best 3rd-placed teams to complete the quarterfinals' picture.
Yes, and yes. I don't even need Itakura to offer anything in attack, I just need him to stop giving the ball away, in simple pass, in 5m range, without any visible pressure. The team is trying to build a 442/352 hybrid and the DMF/extra CB position is so crucial. Are both Itakura and Nakayama getting worse since going abroad? So frustrating. Tomiyasu, it's time for you to build up your muscle.
Milan should've sign Miyoshi. A like for like replacement for an overrated Suso and cost a lot less than him anyway.
Wow, surprised by positive comments toward Nakajima. I thought he was frustrating as F. Tried to do too much on his own instead of simply passing/releasing the ball. Wouldn't be a problem if his take-on % was high but seemed awfully low from my eyes. Killed way too many plays edit - conflicted by the fact Kawashima might still be the best GK for JNT at his age (and literally next to zero club mins this season)
to a degree but in this game, it was nothing but frustrating. also, take your pick on Wateru Endo, Nakayama.. Itakura. All 3 are piss poor but til we find someone better, will have to tolerate them. I don't want to see Tomiyasu as DM again
I see, it's the negative side in his play. But I also consider: - He also plays like this in full senior team. It is how he is now. - The other players in final third give up the ball far too easy in first touch. He is the only one who can hold up. Yeah after that if he decides to dribble to dead end we are ********ed but at the moment we don't have hope for a Japan that can pass the ball around until score. We still need an individual to spark a fire. For now adding Miyoshi is much more effective than playing both Nakajima and Kubo. These two offers same thing for the team and they tend to jump on the other's foot.
Endo is good, his absence might be the reason which costed us the AC final against Qatar. He is a beast compared to Nakayama. Itakura was good tonight and can surely improves himself, unlike Nakayama, who lacks the attitudes and nerves to play at this level.
I disagree as Yuya Osako is easily the best when it comes to hold up. Unless you specifically meant offensive midfield players. Either way, he is basically hit or miss. He was a clear miss today. Kubo should have come on much earlier .. to offer something similar, but perhaps with higher success for Nakajima really low standard though. being better over someone who is awful doesn't mean he is good either =P
I'm talking about this Copa's team in particular. It's also a funny part in watching Ueda in last minutes. Running in good position for a long ball, yeah; muscle out Jimenez on a challenge, f**k YEAH; poor first touch after that, ouch; losing the ball easily to Godin, facepalm. But he has a chance to be a more agile Osako.
You guys are judging young players such Nakayama and Itakura too early, don't forget they had only 4 days of training and have almost none experience in Europe. In one year we can evaluate them in a fair way.
I can understand your argument about Nakajima, takeuchi. He was wasteful in this match if you look at the raw stats, but what would you expect if the player around him was very passive. Just look at Sugioka and Itakura, too afraid to step up to the more advanced zone to provide support for Nakajima. Who's our alternative other than Sugioka down the left? BTW glad to see Sugioka is safe after he landed awkwardly on his head, the ********ing ref not surprisingly, despite his whistle happy attitude throughout the match, didn't take a countermeasure on that particular play, what a moron.
The CBs were overall decent in the match, should have done better on the corne tho. Naomichi Ueda performed ok overall today despite the PK which imo should not have been given. He still needs to learn to keep his balance better tho and not fell to the ground when making a clearance. Tomiyasu does not suit DM at all. Miyoshi and Okazaki was good today.
Assuming Chile bulldozing Ecuador, we will only got through if we won against them, hoping Argentina choking by themself yet again.
Brazilian journalist called it VARuguai, lol. https://blogmiltonneves.uol.com.br/blog/2019/06/20/varuguai-opera-o-japao-sem-anestesia/
I read on YouTube UruVAR too. The problem is they said this only cuz they hate Uruguay as the main opponent for Brazil. Probably with Brazil in place of Uruguay they would never have said it. Anyway: today is Bolivia vs Venezuela day, vital match for Japan chance to reach the final8. Go for win La Verde!