Definitely not a money issue - the jersey's were specifically designed for the women or this WC. And the badges are a trivial amount in that overall cost. It is actually more to put the stars on them.
56' 0-0 Japan pass to Nakajima at circle top right touch -- RB Shimizu is already overlapping past her up right touch. Nakajima passes inside instead, to Yokoyama at 25m box right -- and she pings inside-out down wide right for Shimizu continuing her run, alone through 8m box right to 5m mid-right. Gentle backpass through 8m mid-right, Sugita dummies over it and drags 3 defenders away. Hasegawa is unmarked at 10m 6-right with ball rolling across her feet, promptly resets stance and snipes left instep bend -- gets no bend, just wide left high. And Sugasawa(?) was even more unmarked at 10m 1/3 left, can only spread arms and rue. 57' 0-0 Japan subs in (1 of 3) #8 Mana Iwabuchi for #20 Kumi Yokoyama.
Isn't that something that FIFA can and should talk about? Stars on international jerseys are supposed to represent how many World Cups a country has won either at men's senior level only or women's senior level only.
Japan needs to start peppering the Argentine goal by all means. It's no use passing the ball around because the Argentines will run around all day if nothing's done; it should be obvious by now.
64' 0-0 Argentina subs in (1 of 3) #5 Vaneaa Santana for #8 Ruth Bravo. 65' 0-0 #9 Jaimes actually dribble-stumbles her way to 11m mid-left, rattles ball through two defenders' legs, shoots across mouth, blocked point-blank by Minami's left shin. Argentina's 1st shot.
At this pace, no. I'm seriously disappointed with the lack of greater effort in the final third by our girls.
Yes. Some of Argentina's defenders are starting to look really ragged. I can see a bad mistake gifting Japan a goal.
Japan have switched to a 4-2-31 with Hasegawa in the centre. Iwabuchi on the right. They should start like this in my opinion.
68' 0-0 Iwabuchi receives at 10m mid-left, spins ccw but ball poked away behind her. Argentina win 3 straight 50-50s with just-in-time slides (it's just not happening for Japan today), suddenly Bonsegundo has a 1-v-3 breakaway through circle back right. Argentina underhit two square passes through circle center, lose forward momentum. 70' 0-0 Iwabuchi receives at box top mid-right, promptly taken off her foot. Argentina win another 50-50, switch right and lose it. 72' 0-0 Sugasawa rides off a slide-tackle at 27m center, pops up from that and steps into her own challenge, clips Bravo(?)'s left ankle. Foul. 73' 0-0 Argentina fk in their own 1/3, deep down box right. Ground cross to 4m 4-right, nobody making the run but Japan clear under duress. Argentina work a give-and-go through box top mid-right, Bonsegundo cuts back at 12m mid-right to 9m, shoots right foot to right post low, medium-slow roller doesn't trouble Yamashita. Yet somehow Argentina are forcing more saves than Japan have 74' 0-0 Japan subs in (2 of 3) #19 Jun Endo for #7 Emi Nakajima.
Traditionally, but really there are no such rules. And the "tradition" is really relatively recent. (For example, I don't think England's men added a star to the jersey until the early 2000s. Brazil's men have since the late 60s or early 70s though.)
77' 0-0 Argentina subs in (2 of 3) #19 Mariana Larroquette for #11 Florencia Bonsegundo. (Not-so-)new FIFA rule: Bonsegundo may (actually: must, but they're not enforcing that) leave through any boundary, not at 4R -- she steps off through the endline, walks behind own goal. 79' 0-0 Argentina subs in (3 of 3) #17 Mariela Coronel for DM(?) #16 Lorena Benitez.
According to FIFA rankings, Argentina (37) is below even Thailand (34) and Vietnam (35). I honestly think they can beat those 2 teams easily... https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/women/
The Japanese buildup is way too slow. Can't expect to get anything if they don't increase the pace in their passes and movement.
Well, on this evidence they could easily draw with those teams. But who knows what their attack actually looks like. We've hardly seen it all game!
82' 0-0 Banini steals at circle center, counters 2-v-3. Fast left outstep diagonal pass is a bit behind Jaimes at 18m mid-left, she must slow down to receive -- else she was in. Tired standing low right roundhouse shot from there, deflects down mid-left, Yamashita comes across to collect. 83' 0-0 Larroquette shoots ambitiously from 30m center, wide left low. 85' 0-0 Sameshima crosses to 9m left post, Barroso heads upward over Hasegawa. Ball pops up and drops to 6-top center, Correa catches high. 85' 0-0 Banini cuts behind Iwabuchi at 33m wide left and spins her, Iwabuch reaches left hand out and grabs Banini's jersey at the throat. Banini promptly goes down, holding face Foul, yellow card on Iwabuchi. Japan are showing some uncharacteristic frustration.