I was hoping for a draw between Japan and Bahrain, but congratulations to Japan anyway. Leaving aside the "rivalry" stuff, my preference at the end of the day is to see the following standings: 1-IRAN 2-Japan 3-Bahrain 4-N.Korea Despite hating Bahrain for ruining Iran's qualification for the 2002 World Cup, I like them eventually to be the Asian representative against Concacaf. I think Bahrain are a decent enough team, notwithstanding the unsportsmanlike behavior they have shown in some games against Iran.
oh I forgot to complete my sentence. He was good yesterday so that's why I said when was the last time he was that good.
I actually would like them eliminated by the 3rd team from the other group (Uz). They play dirty football, and their grassrolling tactics which are common against all oponents once they score 1 goal, is simply amateurish and lame.
although I wasn't convinced with Japan's performance, I'm so happy the way Bahrain screwed. Pack, counter, grassroll, then own goal. they really deserve it way to go!
Congragulations JAPAN! I hope your team and Iran qualifies and dirty Bahrain ends up in third. Good to see that Bahrain scored an own goal and Japan ended up with the W. They are a much better and classier team than Bahrain, and will represent Asia with pride. I know you guys can do it!
Am I the only one who is freaking angry about this match? 1-0? At home? An own-goal? Japan needs to get something done, and I think it rhymes with Chico and that person needs to be fired. This is totally unacceptable for Japan, especially in a WCQ! I don't care what Zico or players will say about getting the win, Japan should be playing much better, otherwise we are going to barely get to Germany (if we get there at all), and when we arrive at Germany we will be crushed playing this way. Maybe Confed cup will knock some sense into the team.
Emphasis on 'Blah.' Are we sure Zico's full name isn't Sinead Kilkenny O'Zico? The man seems to be insanely lucky as a manager, or at least highly skilled at failing upwards.
No, that was the Mother of Own Goals. I mean he was looking backward at his own net, under some pressure, but mesmerized he kicks it right in. Japan's luck is incredible.
I agree with those sentiments. Putting aside elegance of football (so called ideal total football) I think Bahrain is a very competitive side in its particular skillset. Sometimes what a team needs is a gutsy performance on a big stage (kind of like what Greece did in Euro2004) and I think Bahrain has the greatest potential to do that better than any other Asian side. Defend well and counter well, that's a team that could really surprise any opponent on their day, more so than Iran, Korea or Japan at the moment.
This own goal was pretty weird. There comes a own goal that a player accidently heads the ball into the goal, or the ball bumps into a player and goes in, then theres he shoot it without looking at the goal, and it enters, then he sees the goal, but he shoots and trips and somehow it goes in, but this one was weird. It seems with all the pressure, he didnt know his exact direction, he was looking at the ball, with a Japanese player at his back, so he had to do something very quick, and as he looks at the ball, he shoots it, hes at the left side of the goal, and the ball goes straight and then turns left a bit but too late, as soon as he shoots the ball, he looks up and its an own goal. Poor guy, Ive heard he hasnt been able to get out of that own goal till now, even though hes considered as one of the best players in Bahrain.
Fagggeddaboudit. The mother of all own goals was the one scored by Yuta Minami, when he THREW the ball into his own net without any opposing players within 10 meters of him. Any other own goal doesnt even come close.