Upcoming Schedule 20 January - Japan vs Yemen - 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification 28 January - Bahrain vs Japan - 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification 4 February - Japan vs Finland - Friendly 11 Februrary - Japan vs Australia - 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification Squad for 2011 Asian Cup qualifier against Yemen Code: Caps Goals GK Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (Jubilo Iwata) 116 0 GK Ryota Tsuzuki (Urawa Reds) 3 0 GK Eiji Kawashima (Kawasaki Frontale) 1 0 -------------------------------------------------------- DF Shuhei Terada (Kawasaki Frontale) 4 0 DF Kazumichi Takagi (Shimizu S-Pulse) 3 0 DF Yuichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata) 40 0 DF Yuki Abe (Urawa Reds) 33 2 DF Yosuke Ishibitsu (Vissel Kobe) 0 0 DF Hiroki Mizumoto (Kyoto Sanga F.C.) 3 0 DF Masato Morishige (Oita Trinita) 0 0 DF Atsuto Uchida (Kashima Antlers) 14 1 DF Shohei Abe (Nagoya Grampus) 0 0 -------------------------------------------------------- MF Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale) 29 3 MF Takeshi Aoki (Kashima Antlers) 1 0 MF Kohei Kudo (JEF United Chiba) 0 0 MF Hiroyuki Taniguchi (Kawasaki Frontale) 0 0 MF Takashi Inui (Cerezo Osaka) 0 0 MF Mu Kanazaki (Oita Trinita) 0 0 MF Shinji Kagawa (Cerezo Osaka) 6 1 -------------------------------------------------------- FW Seiichiro Maki (JEF United Chiba) 35 8 FW Tatsuya Tanaka (Urawa Reds) 12 2 FW Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse) 4 0 FW Shinzo Koroki (Kashima Antlers) 2 0
http://www.sanspo.com/soccer/news/090116/scc0901160502000-n1.htm Japan to play Chile and Belgium in Kirin Cup.
Good news. Viduka will not play against Japan Lets be honest even now, he'd be their best striker and his physicality would be invaluable against a side like Japan.
http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/soccer/japan/news/20090117-OHT1T00182.htm Morishige out of Japan squad because of injury.
http://www.nikkansports.com/soccer/japan/news/p-sc-tp2-20090126-453926.html Kawaguchi is out at least 3 weeks.
btw has anyone seen this? http://ameblo.jp/kizuna-chatty/ LOL love it when they go away, they always take random pics.
absolutely ridiculous. its always the same, maybe one or two good performances and then a massive let down. this is my final opinion i dont care what he does in future but he must be sacked asap. okada is officially useless.
this time I'm not calling for Okada's head. I believe with the A-midfield and strikers, Okada's game works. But he chose the wrong midfielders to play the wrong style of game which didn't suit them, only Kagawa when he came on started to gel the players a little bit. Tatsuya Tanaka was excellent and the only reason Japan ever held hte ball in their half for longer than a minute. Japan lacked the composure on the ball that you see with Endo, Nakamura and Hasebe. I'm still inclined to believe that our best Japan, can and should beat Australia next month. Inamoto should not be called up again.
I will personally knock on Akira Nishino's door if they want me too. Please Nishino... take over NOW!
Yeh, it was a pretty crappy match. They didn't even make any real chances. I hate Okada but this time I'm on his side.... Remember.... 1) Japanese soccer is off-season now. 2) They are an experimental squad. 3) Bahrain is good. They were a better side than Australia in the last WCQ match.
No!! I won't let you take my Nishino away from me! I promise that Japan can have him for the 2030 World Cup when he'll be 75. He'll lead them to the title and end his career on a high after King Kazu scores the winner in extra time at the grand old age of 63!
Don't worry zappin we have I have other methods of getting him... A 75 year-old Nishino would be better than Okada. I have been quiet about Okada, but this is the last straw. He's been given all the chances that he needs. I was shocked with the first loss to Bahrain, but after the second I was pissed. The JFA should have signed Zico before he was snapped up by CSKA Moscow.
????? sorry, tried and failed. It is too late to replace Okada. Wait til Endo, Naka, Hasebe, Okubo are back in the lineup. Bahrain completely dominated Australia when the Aussies were at full strength (which suggests the idea we should hire Milan Máčala). We underestimated Bahrain. I believe that Bahrain are the 6th best Asian nation. I don't think it was so much Okada's fault. Fact is that the Bahraini midfielders have played together with the same set of players for years, their understanding means that they are better than when you put 3 Japanese midfielders that have never played together.
Are you kidding me? You wouldn't give Zico another chance? Anyone, but Okada would be good right now. First of all atleast Zico won stuff and Japan was able to compete with some European nations and South American nations. Secondly the Japan job was only his 2nd ever managerial position. After managing Fenerbalche to the Round of 8 in the Champions league (and nearly beating Chelsea) he has much more experience in some of the most competitive football competitions in the world. He has the experience that he needs to return Japan to the state that it used to be.
If anybody deserves another shot, it's Troussier. Say what you want about his methods, Japan did come runner-up in Confed Cup and to the last 16 of the World Cup under Troussier. Also Champions of Asian Cup and Last 16 with the U23 side at the Olympics (I believe he managed that as well). His success is why Japan is regarded as a powerhouse of asian football. Screw Zico.
Troussier isn't coming back ever. Do you really want a manager who is managing a JFL team right now who hasn't been managing for 3 years? I'm not knocking his achievements, but times have changed. How can you defend Okada after 2 loses against Bahrain? Sure it is partly the player's fault, but you also have to question the tactics. A player's performance is not only due to his own abilities, but the abilities of a manager to prepare the player for the match. It was obvious that most of the players did not have enough preparation.
Why is Yamase Koji not in the national team? And other proven veterens that have shown their consistency? The world cup is only a year away. Its not time to bring in the 20 year olds yet... Yamase was one of the most consistent scorers for the team recently and I don't understand why he was kicked off the team. His technique is wonderful. Can anyone explain his absence??