88' 0-0 Hasegawa turns and chases a deflected ball rolling to 6m box left. Kumagai arrives on an overlap -- and they congest each other, both pull out and neither take ball, it continues over endline left. It's been that kind of day 89' 0-0 Japan pass toward arc top center, deflected toward arc right. Iwabuchi backpedals waiting for ball to arrive, turns cw with it and gets shoulder-challenged down into box -- no call. Argentina clear, Sugita shoots from ~22m, high. +4'. 90' 0-0 Japan subs in (3 of 3) #13 Saori Takarada for #9 Yuika Sugasawa. 90+1' (of +4') 0-0 Japan steal at 27m box left, counter to box top left, chip over mouth to 2m 6-right. Hasegawa measures the bounce, hop half-volley low across mouth, Correa dives and blocks ball rightward, Barroso(?) blasts it clear. That was the half-chance
A disappointing day for JP...Let's not count JP out yet...A winner in 2011 and a runner up in 2015...
❌ - Argentina v Japan is the first match at the @FIFAWWC without a goal since 13 June 2015, when USA and Sweden drew 0-0. In-between, 39 consecutive matches at the Women's World Cup had seen at least 1 goal. #ARGJPN #FIFAWWC— Gracenote Live (@GracenoteLive) June 10, 2019
The Nadeshiko really disgraced themselves today. If they couldn't get the job done against Argentina, it will definitely get worse against Scotland and then England. I won't shed tears for Takakura if she gets to eat cake in the cold of Hokkaido after a sack.
Average? They looked like shambles, and that is what happens when we don't have enough good veterans in the side.
Goodness me. The World Cup always come up with some surprises. Blissett is watching this live. He must be pulling his hair out!
Sorry but I'm disappointed and counting them out. However, tomorrow I may change my mind. I'm happy for Banini, though.
I know; WC upsets are always fun until they're against a team you root for. Personally, I'm happy for Argentina, but my condolences to @blissett
They do not need veterans. They have pretty good players, but in my opinion they are not playing the right way. This relates to formation and how they use the ball. Scotland and England will not be so defensive, which means Japan will have the ball in a lot more space. That is of course if they can handle the pressure that will come from those two teams.
90+3' (of +4') 0-0 Hasegawa right ck, to 6-top 1/5 left, headed out to 10m 6-left. Header back to 6-top 4-left, Correa catches high. FT 0-0. The legend of Argentina's wall begins They played the classic anti-tika-taka style: don't try to match the ball control or possession, just shut down all space and actively destroy every imperfect entry. Japan never got into 4th gear. Argentina 39% possession, 5(1)-(3)8 shots(sog), 0-5 corners, 2-0 offsides, 28-14 tackes, 35-10 clearances, 6-6 fouls, 166/253 (66%) - 583/681 (86%) passes. Japan's sky-high pass completion might actually be a weakness: too safe. This group is very interesting now
I just listen to the panel on TSN, and even they pointed out that the lack of veteran presence has definitely not helped Japan at all. Seriously (and going slightly off-topic), why do you think the US keep on bringing on Rapinoe and Lloyd even if they may not be as sharp as they used to be? Scotland and England are about as energetic and more talented than Argentina. That is why I'm pissed off at the result. Without battle-hardened veterans in the side against them, our little girls will get eaten alive.
Well, they were 128th in 2016 because of being inactive. Imagine where they could be if they received more support from the federation.
There is a good way and a bad way to revamp squads. The good way is to gradually phase out the veterans while keeping around those who can calm everyone down when it gets tough; those are the good veterans. The bad way is to kick all veteran players out and thus letting the kids panic at the slightest bit of adversity. Takakura has simply screwed up by choosing the second option. Why do you think teams like Brazil, Canada, and the US keep on bringing Marta, Christine Sinclair, Megan Rapinoe, and Carli Lloyd even though they may not be as flamboyant as they used to be?
I am sure that Japan will move onto the knockout round somehow... I am sure Argentina team will get some good publicity back in Argentina...Before the Argentina men's team starts playing in Copa America...
What veterans are you talking about? Utsugi? That is about it. Sakaguchi has been injured for a whole year and has not played for her club team this season, yet she is here. That is truly doing my head in. The thing is that Sugita and Miura were fine today. Very little pressure for them, but in the context of how Japan play they were both fine. Miura was actually quite good. There are some players in Japan (not in the squad) who are in their mid twenties who could be on the pitch here, but they are not that experienced internationally and Takakura does not really like them.
Utsugi should be in the side. That is not something to negotiate. However, I think a lot more should have been done to convince Aya Miyama in unretiring for the time we have this World Cup and the 2020 Olympics. At her age, I think she can still provide something in that dressing room and on the pitch. You talk about Sugita and Miura. I thought they were awful when all we wanted from them was to make a through pass in the middle even if the Argentines were parking the bus. I'm sorry, but the World Cup is not a place to start 2 players who didn't even have 10 caps until today.