I am in Paris: now leaving the hotel to reach Parc des Princes. As usual, I am not going to post during the game, so see you much later, guys. Meanwhile keep this thread updated.
You feel Japan need a good start in this tournament. The average age of their starting lineup is 24.7.
I agree. Those stars should only be there if they won the World Cup before. France and England don't have one even though their men's teams have won the FIFA World Cup before.
That is the problem with Yokoyama. She does not really pass the ball. Sawa wants Nadeshiko to put the ball in front of the goal face and have the side backs push up and run with the ball more.
Yokoyama wasting another pass in the attacking half again. She can be such a frustrating player to watch at times.
25' 0-0 Argentina are quite solid and composed, admittedly with 10 behind the ball, but they're essentially even in the 1-v-1 duels. Japan create about one entry past box top every 5', and Argentina defend it. Going forward, Argentina have managed a few longballs for low-numbers sprint chases. Argentina look better than Nigeria already.
The Argentine FA most likely just give them a replica of the men’s kit because it’s cheaper. I know England used to do that years ago. It’s the new rule to compliment VAR. They only put the flag up after the fact to make sure. In case they get it wrong first time. It’s so annoying.
38' 0-0 Nakajima(?) chips long from midfield right touch to arc right, headed away. 38' 0-0 Yokoyama plays a give-and-go with Sugasawa, reaches arc top, ball poked away. Banini does a spin-ccw at circle back left, takes kneecap to the right hamstring, goes down holding leg. Brief stoppage, trainers, she resumes: not the knee. 40' 0-0 Banini holds 1-v-2 at 6m wide left, backpass. High cross to 6-top right post, too far for Bonsegundo, Yamashita catches high. 41' 0-0 Hasegawa left throw-in at 23m, she receives a return pass down to 2m wide left, poked out. Left throw-in cleared into near touch again. 42' 0-0 Nakajima left ck, short to 4m mid-left, back to Nakajima. Two crosses blocked, Sameshima serves from 30m box left into arc left. Barroso clears ball into Kumagai(!), ball rebounds into Barroso's left forearm held horizontally directly in front of her chest, no call. 43' 0-0 Japan ping around circle top, looking for a lane. Hasegawa holds at 25m box left, thinks Yokoyama will make the outside-in cut down box left, overhits a vertical pass, no run made, over endline. 45' 0-0 Argentina cede possession and defend just behind circle back. Japan probe to arc top box right, lose it, Banini goes on a 1-v-2 dribble up left touch -- and loses it.
That was soft AF for a yellow card. Banini hould be embarrased with the simulation. edit: Sugita would have been in her own right to give Banini a bollocking.
45+1' (of +2') 0-0 Japan probe up box right, lose it again. Banini dribble-creeps up left touch, Sugita interposes body but reaches back with right hand and inadvertently slaps Banini's right temple/jaw, Banini goes down. Foul, yellow card on Sugita. Argentina hoof the free kick down 6-left and over, not sending anybody forward -- content to see out the half unscored-upon. HT 0-0. Japan seem tentative, not taking enough risks. Argentina's active bunker has been equal to that. When Argentina crosses midfield, it's almost always 1 lone dribbler quickly surrounded by 4 defenders, who poke ball away.
Argentina is hanging tough; Japan just can't quite break through. And while Argentina is no world beater, the last time they were in a group stage opening game, they were losing 0-5 at halftime (to Germany in 2007. The game ended 0-11.) This time around their opening match is going a bit better.
This is how Japan play. They do a lot of their attacks through the wings or from the corner (I know!). Their midfielders do not make any penetrating passes from their own half, they pass the ball backwards or sideways. Basically they go through their right and left mifielders/wingers. This is fine, but it takes so bloody long. I just wish on occasion they moved the ball more directly. If the midfielders get the ball a bit higher up the pitch then they will make some good passes, otherwise it is very defensive from their two midfielders. There was a clear chance for Hasegawa early on in space centrally and Miura just ignored her and passed it to Sameshima on the wing. It happens all the time.
They are already being more direct. This is much better, but the passes are coming from their defenders. They do not have to do it all the time, but mix it up.
You see if they play more directly and a bit more often through the middle it starts to open up the wings more.
50' 0-0 Japan bullet ground pass from circle top to Yokoyama unmarked at 27m center. Yokoyama turns and shoots long to 1/4 left low, Correa dives and blocks it leftward but doesn't catch, ball rolls out to 3m 6-left. Sugita follows and shoots one-touch left instep, but sends it way over and behind net. 51' 0-0 Sameshima(?) cuts through box left to 4m mid-left, ball poked over endline and she lets it go.