Final: USA - Japan | 17.07.11 [R]

Discussion in 'Women's World Cup' started by Bonnie Lass, Jul 14, 2011.

  1. Bonnie Lass

    Bonnie Lass Moderator
    Staff Member

    Lyon
    Norway
    Oct 20, 2000
    Up top
    Club:
    Olympique Lyonnais
    Feel free to move any ongoing discussions here.
     
  2. police

    police New Member

    Jul 10, 2011
    2

    Let's have a great game!
     
  3. jd6885

    jd6885 Member

    Jun 30, 2001
    Tacoma
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm not surprised to see Japan in the final, but I am surprised to see my home country, USA in it.

    I would be happy if either team wins. USA because of course I'm from there, and Japan because I believe they were by far the best team in this tournament.

    If Japan does beat USA, I hope this will serve notice to US soccer to start grooming technical players and go back to fluid attacking soccer. Pia has been vocal about playing smartly and patiently, yet her team has not responded on the pitch. There is a disconnect there, and we may need a coach that can make that happen.
     
  4. newsouth

    newsouth Member

    Nov 20, 2010
    Club:
    Santos FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Brazil
    if Japan beats the usa, every Asian team, s and n Korea, Thailand and china, will adopt Japan’s strategy of milking the game down to 20-25 mins with possession football that goes no where other than between the 30s and look for a counter, esp if it is a top rated team like the USA or Germany playing under "the favorite to win the big one, Olympics or world cup" pressure. i know i'm hating. :)
     
  5. police

    police New Member

    Jul 10, 2011
    Really? I mean really?

    Japan had never progressed pass the quarter finals before; the US has never failed to reach the Semi-finals of a world-cup tournament. And you're surprised to see the US in the final, but not surprised to see Japan?

    I mean, really?
     
  6. WPS_Movement

    WPS_Movement Member+

    Apr 9, 2008
    Whoever wins, this is great for soccer/football, and great for the world.

    I'll be rooting for the USA, but if Japan wins, Japanese soccer (especially Japanese women's soccer), and Japanese sports will take off even more. And most importantly, the Japanese nation will have their first extremely happy moment since the disaster. I'll applaud Japan if they win. It would virtually be the only time during a loss in which my favorite team lost that I would stand up and exclusively applaud the opposing team (usually when you stand up and applaud during a loss, you exclusively applaud your own team's effort... but in this case, it would be directed at Japan for doing it for their entire country if they are able to win). And the world would applaud Japan, and it would be a great accomplishment and inspiration to the rest of the world in sports, particular female sports in nations that are underdogs at that gender in sport.

    And if the USA wins, then it'll be great for the USA in terms of soccer here, and women's soccer here, and women's sporting events here. I also think it would serve as a slap in the face to the greedy NBA and NFL leagues during this lockout process (owners and players). They get paid multi-millions and complain, while these women are doing this for moderate level income in comparison, and aren't out there doing it for the money. They're doing it for the love of the game and striving to make their nation proud. That will also be a sweet reminder to the rich athletes in this country in not forgetting about what should be most important about sport.

    Even if the USA wins, it's still great for the world too (not just America). Even if the WPS fails, the only chance a 3rd women's pro league would ever emerge in the near future (after WUSA and WPS) was for something like this to happen at the 2011 WWC. Someone with money is going to be motivated and inspired. And a new or continuous women's pro soccer league in the USA is a good thing still for women's soccer in this world. It will also be good, because the rest of the world saw how much adversity the USA faced and then won it. Inspiration and believing you can win, even when the opponent is dominating you in possession, goes a long way toward showing that anything is possible, no matter what situation or adversity you're up against.

    So whoever wins, it's good for that nation, and good for the rest of the world.
    East vs. West, Japan vs. USA, Sony vs. Apple, and Tokyo culture vs. New York culture, this is a compelling event.

    Abby Wambach and Hope Solo's big and thick presence in power vs. Japan's small but precise and technical magicians on the ball and their distribution of it on a laser string. It's gonna be a great match. Maybe one for the ages, you never know. Two clashing masterminds of looking "different" out there, competing against each other for the Cup.

    These were certainly two of the most intelligent teams at this World Cup, and two of the most hard-working teams. European size and Brazilian flair didn't get to the Final this year. It got there in 2007. Thankfully we got something new this time, and hopefully something even newer in 2015 (maybe Australia vs. Nigeria perhaps, LOL).

    You never know, but it's good if more countries and more continents can get to the Semifinal and Final. The WWC needed an epic tournament this year. They got it. They're expanding to 24 teams in 2015. That is now justified. It's the right time. It's time to "advance", "expand", and "upgrade" this tournament.

    "The world won with this World Cup." No matter who wins this upcoming Final -
     
  7. jd6885

    jd6885 Member

    Jun 30, 2001
    Tacoma
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah, I'm not surprised to see Japan in the final. If you look at the thread I started waay back before the tournament titled "Who will be the finalists?", I rated them very highly, picking them to be in the final against Germany (had things gone their way against England, this may very well have been the final). I always thought their skill and tactical awareness would carry them far in the tournament.

    And yes, I'm very surprised with where the USA is. Through the run up to the world cup, we struggled to dictate games and create meaningful opportunities from the run of play. Indeed, in the world cup we struggled against the top teams. Yet, we somehow won the games based on our doggedness in defense and pure determination in the attack.

    With two brand new semifinalists and two big teams out in the first knockout round, I think if there is anything to be learned from the tournament so far is that past WC performances have very little bearing on the present.

    So there.
     
  8. police

    police New Member

    Jul 10, 2011
    Japan lost three straight warm-ups to the US leading up to this tournament while playing like crap, and had yet to win an match in 2011. And you thought Japan might make the finals? Wow. I mean Wow.
     
  9. jd6885

    jd6885 Member

    Jun 30, 2001
    Tacoma
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    They were warm ups. If you forget, the Japanese league was held back because of the disaster earlier in the year, so it was understandable how they were not on form.
     
  10. police

    police New Member

    Jul 10, 2011
    so you thought an in-form US team would not reach the final game, but an out-of-form Japanese team would ...
     
  11. Romario'sgurl

    Romario'sgurl Member+

    Wakanda FC
    Aug 26, 2000
    Wakanda
    Club:
    FC Ingolstadt 04
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana
    Haha. There you go again! :D
     
  12. ForeverLOST108

    ForeverLOST108 Member+

    Jan 23, 2010
    Orlando
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well they got to the 3rd place game in the 2008 Olympics. Granted they lost but I don't see why people are shocked that Japan made it to the final. In 3 years they progressed from one stage of a tournament to the next. Doesn't seem too inconceivable.
     
  13. MiguelNajdorf

    MiguelNajdorf Member

    May 4, 2011
    Police, the surprising part of jd's statement is definitely the Japan side. Did you watch USA through concacaf qualifying and beyond? There were plenty on this board questioning how far the US would go. Defense especially appeared disorganized and slow.
     
  14. MiguelNajdorf

    MiguelNajdorf Member

    May 4, 2011
    For all those impatiently waiting for something to happen (score) we should institute a shot clock so teams have 24 seconds to score or lose possession. That way we can get in all the commercials breaks we need to get a snack and reset our attention span. It would force teams to value fast breaks and over the top passes, which is all anyone wants to see anyway.
     
  15. MiguelNajdorf

    MiguelNajdorf Member

    May 4, 2011
    Sorry, I'm in deep sarcasm mode today. Diversity of styles is a good thing. Technical skill was emphasized by the Dutch as a way to counteract negative play. I know that Coerver training has been deeply emphasized in Japan in recent years. Negative football is used by teams with no skill to counter teams with greater offensive skill. It's kiling off the game with defense, to try for a tie. To claim the skilled players are killing off the game, is absurd.

    Japan scored in the 6' v NZL, 13', 15', 39' v MEX, and 19' v SWE. First-half goals! Japan is not passing endlessly back to the keeper, they are not wearing out teams and "waiting" for a late counter, they are scoring early and often. Japan are playing possession in the other teams half, and getting chances because of it.

    You should stop with this assertion. If the score ends up low, it will be because the best two teams are evenly matched.
     
  16. MiguelNajdorf

    MiguelNajdorf Member

    May 4, 2011
    Edited out the accidental double post.
     
  17. MiguelNajdorf

    MiguelNajdorf Member

    May 4, 2011
    Sorry, I'm in deep sarcasm mode today. Diversity of styles is a good thing. Technical skill was emphasized by the Dutch as a way to counteract negative play. I know that Coerver training has been deeply emphasized in Japan in recent years. Negative football is used by teams with no skill to counter teams with greater offensive skill. It's kiling off the game with defense, to try for a tie. To claim the skilled players are killing off the game, is absurd.

    Japan scored in the 6' v NZL, 13', 15', 39' v MEX, and 19' v SWE. First-half goals! Japan is not passing endlessly back to the keeper, they are not wearing out teams and "waiting" for a late counter, they are scoring early and often. Japan are playing possession in the other teams half, and getting chances because of it.

    You should stop with this assertion. If the score ends up low, it will be because the best two teams are evenly matched.
     
  18. newsouth

    newsouth Member

    Nov 20, 2010
    Club:
    Santos FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Brazil
    Yep, those three are world powers. Lets see if they open up against the USA or tank the game, looking for a late winning goal.

    Japan vs Germany or the USA - Yawn til 20 mins left in the game because of the great japanese tech skills

    Nigeria vs Germany or the USA - Muggings up til 20 mins left in the game when everyone is tire, given athletes with no skills run out of gas too..

    Pick your style of play.
     
  19. MiguelNajdorf

    MiguelNajdorf Member

    May 4, 2011
    Style of play, or is it actually just hard to score against the best teams?
     
  20. MiguelNajdorf

    MiguelNajdorf Member

    May 4, 2011
    First half match notes from Sweden-Japan SemiFinal. Full of Japan stalling in their own half, not really trying to do anything except wear Sweden out.

    **The referee brings the first half to an end.
    45' +2 A player from Sweden is adjudged to be in an offside position.
    45' +1 Japan tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.
    45' Japan swing in the corner.
    44' Sweden**are ruled offside.
    40' Japan are penalised after committing a foul.
    39' Sweden concede a free-kick following a challenge on a player from Japan.
    37' Japan take the corner kick.
    37' Japan tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.

    37' A player from Sweden commits a foul.
    34' Japan swing in the corner.
    34' Japan has a shot blocked.
    34' Japan take the corner kick.
    34' The goalkeeper of Sweden pulls off a save.
    34' Japan hit their free-kick on target.

    33' Sweden are penalised after committing a foul.
    29' A player from Japan is adjudged to be in an offside position.
    28' The goalkeeper of Sweden pulls off a save.
    28' A player from Japan sees her effort hit the target.

    26' Sweden**are ruled offside.
    25' Sweden concede a free-kick following a challenge on a player from Japan.
    19' **(1 - 1) KAWASUMI (Japan) scores!!
    10' **(0 - 1) ÖQVIST (Sweden) scores!!
    9' A player from Sweden is adjudged to be in an offside position.
    3' Japan**are ruled offside.
    1' A player from Sweden commits a foul.
    **The match kicks off.
     
  21. aurajenn

    aurajenn Member

    Apr 5, 2010
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    USA fitness will counter the japanese technical skills. awesome fitness is the new must have. did you notice the brazilians sitting down before the overtime periods?
     
  22. Chastaen

    Chastaen Member+

    Alavés
    Jul 9, 2004
    Winnipeg
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Not sure if it is accurate but alot of those look like indepth descriptions of the same play. Japan having a shot and Sweden's goaling blocking in the same minute don't show 2 attacks...unless they just worded this sloppy.

    NOT ARGUING YOUR POINT, mind you ;)

    This is probably more accurate, without changing the data.

    45' +2 A player from Sweden is adjudged to be in an offside position.
    45' +1 Japan tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.
    45' Japan swing in the corner.
    44' Sweden**are ruled offside.
    40' Japan are penalised after committing a foul.
    39' Sweden concede a free-kick following a challenge on a player from Japan.
    37' Japan take the corner kick.
    37' Japan tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.
    37' A player from Sweden commits a foul.
    34' Japan swing in the corner.
    34' Japan has a shot blocked.
    34' Japan take the corner kick.
    34' The goalkeeper of Sweden pulls off a save.
    34' Japan hit their free-kick on target.
    33' Sweden are penalised after committing a foul.
    29' A player from Japan is adjudged to be in an offside position.
    28' The goalkeeper of Sweden pulls off a save.
    28' A player from Japan sees her effort hit the target.[/B]
    26' Sweden**are ruled offside.
    25' Sweden concede a free-kick following a challenge on a player from Japan.
    19' **(1 - 1) KAWASUMI (Japan) scores!!
    10' **(0 - 1) ÖQVIST (Sweden) scores!!
    9' A player from Sweden is adjudged to be in an offside position.
    3' Japan**are ruled offside.
    1' A player from Sweden commits a foul.
     
  23. newsouth

    newsouth Member

    Nov 20, 2010
    Club:
    Santos FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Brazil
    Post Germany stats, Outside of the counter for a goal, I can't even remember them putting anything on frame. You really think Japan will press and try to match the USA in shots or it will be something like Germany 23-9.

    they won't try because the USA is good at one thing. Two iffy passes and get the ball forward to A-Rod or Abby, and A-rod, as bad as she has played this cup, is equally solid with her feet, as any japanese player and lethal to japan, as far as scoring. actually, one of the teams she plays well against.

    USA will probably out shoot them 3-1, but their hustle and keep away style will probably keep them in the game late.
     
  24. roninmedia

    roninmedia Member

    Jun 19, 2006
    Orlando
    The currently knock on the Japanese team I've heard from announcers such as Kate Markgraf is that they "lack a killer instinct".
     
  25. police

    police New Member

    Jul 10, 2011
    That's a fair observation, imo. They don't have the world class strikers, at least on paper, that Brazil, the US, and Germany possess. The same can be said about the Japanese men's national team. It might be a cultural thing in Japan, where individualism is discouraged.
     

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