Nakajima and Misao saved the day. Both Misao and Nakajima started the play which led to the goal, which went from Misao > Nakajima > Yu Kobayashi who crossed the ball to Honda but it was cleared by the Mailan Defence > Misao collected the poor clearance pass it to Nakajima who scored the last-gasp equaliser.
Judging by Halilhodzic's recent interviews, he is a kind of guy who hides his real plans regarding players and tactics until the World Cup starts. I wouldn't be too surprised if he switches to a completely different formation like 4-4-2.
http://www.miomio.tv/watch/cc370539/ For those who couldn't watch the game because of things like life, work etc.
It will be awesome if AFC organizes a meeting between Takeshi Okada and all coaches of qualified Asian national teams to the WC 2018. It will be useful for all coaches of qualified Asian national teams to the WC 2018 to hear from Okada what he did to get those exceptional results with Japan at the WC.
Asian teams (including Australia) have played 20 games against South American teams at the World Cup and the record is 0 wins, 3 draws, 17 losses. In the group stage of 2018 there will be three Asia vs. South America matchups. Japan vs. Colombia Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay Australia vs. Peru
What about the data of Japan x South America (WC only not friendlies/Confederation/Copa America)? Here we are: 1998 Defeat 2002 - - - 2006 Defeat 2010 Draw 2014 Defeat Nice shit. We are doomed against Colombia, at least we will have 2 match before them to secure a spot in the final16.
Yes, most South American WC representatives have been much better at playing football than their Asian counterparts. How insightful! If only Japan was playing Peru...
Haraguchi is Bundesliga 1 material without a doubt. The reason he was benched at Hertha is because he refused to extend his contract with them to join a Premier League team (Brighton).
Line-up against Ukraine: Kawashima G.Sakai - Ueda - Makino - Nagatomo. Hasebe - Yamaguchi. Shibasaki. Honda - Sugimoto - Haraguchi.
HT: Japan 1-1 Ukraine. Ukraine scored first as Rakitisky (who was completely left unmarked) scored from an outside of the box shot. The midfield is the one to blame as it was the case against S. Korea in the last EAFF, as Japanese midfielders (and even attacking trio) did little to press opposing players in the middle of the park. Japan reacted in a good way as Makino headed home a Shibasaki free-kick. Notable issues: 1- Hasebe seems slow and he nearly gifted Ukraine a goal with a poor back-pass. 2- Shibasaki can not cope with with ultra-physical players like teams from Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. 3- Haraguchi is obviously lacking top-level playing time as a result of his transfer to second division club in Germany.
He tried to find a contact, it was really obvious. Man, this team can't create anything. And defensive phase isn't even that good. I think Hali's approach is showing every possible weakness in these two friendly games.
No they did try to press but the press is so disjointed and they did it in a wrong way, not to mention Kenyu was completely clueless at how to initiate the press in this level. That, leave our backline vulnerable as Yamaguchi very often caught in a wrong position as he tend to get tight at his man all the time. Hasebe is pretty decent, he looks slow because we play with a very weak structure. Too many players occupying same space, and Ukraine also has a decent defensive block. Very far cry from his Frankfurt team which is a tactically savvy team. And he didn't suffer from same issue there. Shibasaki is not in a good form since returning from long injury and he looks lost all the time. Haraguchi, well, after some good spell in the qualifying round, his form is fading very fast. I'm afraid that we only have Nakajima, Hasebe, and currently ommited Doan as a bright spark.
Hasebe-Misao Doan-Kagawa-Nakajima Would be very interesting but it's up to Vahid to fix this spacing issue and an in-form fullback to support them, especially Nagatomo or Kurumaya down the left as Nakajima tend to drift inside. And if he opt to press rather high, he should make it very clear what is the trigger of the press, so far it looks like that he ask the players to press high-up the pitch but with no spesific reference. Worse, Japan has been known for a very long time is not a tactically strong team despite have an arguably better talent than let's say SK, Iran, or KSA.
Shibasaki should play as a central midfielder, not as attacking midfielder. The ideal formation for the WC imo is this one: ---------------------Okazaki------------------ Nakajima---------Morioka-----------Doan -------------Hasebe------Shibasaki-------- Nagatomo---Makino---Yoshida---Sakai -------------------Kawashima----------------
Yes, and it was a cheap dive. I wish Vahid will bring back Kagawa, Okazaki and Inui, and give enough time for both Nakajima and Misao + call-up Doan. Please no more Haraguchi, Usami, and Yu Kobayashi (and obviously no more of Ugajin). I wonder why in the hell Vahid subbed out Sugimoto for Yu Kobayashi? What kind of added-value Yu Kobayashi is expected to have against a team like Ukraine with its players have superior height and physicality than him? Why Japan's players kept sending aerial crosses into the box with nobody tall or capable enough to outjump the Ukranians? Why did Vahid called-up Yu Kobayashi instead of Yoshinori Muto to begin with? Nakajima almost saved the day and in the limited time he had, he did better than what Usami, Haraguchi, Shibasaki and Yu Kobayashi combined did in the last two matches.
Yes, if Shibasaki manage to recover his form, it would be very helpful, but i am not so sure about that.