i haven't been following soccer that well for 2 years. Why is Honda not starting now. does he have old legs or you guys have better players?
I think it has to do with form and stage of his career. Unfortunately the AC Milan move never worked out ... and now he's in Mexico. He still has it, but using him as a super sub at this stage in career seems wise. He carried the 2010 team as a revelation; tried to carry the 2014 team and it didn't work out very well. As a super sub, that pressure is off and he can just play.
Well Japan could easily had 3 points.. 1 point is good. Second half shows they can play soccer again, so this is so much more positive from couple of weeks ago. Poland game scares me though.. Love you Honda
I'm tired as I played the whole game, this match was so crucial! Inui crossbar make me cry but what I feel more is the rage for what Niang did to Hasebe and Shoji taking only 1 yellow card. Wtf were VAR men doing? This should be a win with Senegal in 10 men. Anyway now any thoughts to Poland. Another match scary as hell that we could avoid with a bit of luck/properly use of VAR.
Honda.....that guy..... Involved in 7 of the last 10 Japan FWC goals (assist or score), scored at 3 consecutive FWCs.....unbelievable.
Overall it was a good game by Japan. They moved the ball well and they showed some good combinations. Shibasaki was great and was instrumental for the build up and showed some great visions. Yoshida and Shoji were also solid. But the main issue with this team is the fact that it lacks decent subs. Apart from the goal Honda did not have any positive impact on the game. Usami is simply bad. And Okazaki is not in great form. This team would be much more promising if Nishino had called up players like Nakajima, Kubo and Morioka. These players would do a great job as subs. Lets hope that there will not be any injuries or otherwise this team is doomed
I love that we've seen Japan in a European FWC score 4 goals in 2 games against the likely 2 strongest opponents in the group. I hope Colombia now dispatch Poland. Will watch with interest. Draw would be the worst outcome.
I honestly think with this team playing as they are we will ******** up Poland. We bossed the midfield for the majority of the game. Senegal basically had no chances apart from two goals from mistakes and switching off at the back. Osako apart from his hilarious miss-of-the-tournament was good again. Hasebe and Shibasaki were excellent. Yoshida needs to stop spraying passes out to the sides because they are all going out. Overall, I was very impressed with how physical we were whilst still playing technical football when we won the second ball. This is how Japan should always play. Honestly unbelievable how this team has developed. Basically all of it must be attributed to the manager.
That flurry of yellows Senegal received at the end of the match could prove decisive if Japan and Senegal remain as they are now, even on points, goal differential and goals scored.
Having seen England yesterday, I suspect they'll own Belgium......and it'd be nice to avoid them should we make the 2nd round.
Osako and Inui should have scored their chances. I am surprised that Niang iirc or who else was not booked for whacking Hasebe in the face. Shoji was also fouled too. Nishino was good with subs. Poland is still a tough opponent. Japan still cannot afford to slack off.
Actually they should be reduced to 10 men, as Niang deserved to get a red card (double-yellow) for his off-the-ball slapping and elbowing of Hasebe and Shoji.
Hopefully Colombia will beat Poland and knock them out. Then you'd have 4/4/3/0 with us playing an eliminated Poland and Colombia playing for their progression and reputations against Senegal.
Hopefully Japanese TV can stop with the Hanpanai garbage now that Osako blew his chances. Probably coulda won this match, but decent result since we started at a 1 goal disadvantage. Inui blaming himself for Senegal's second goal, but really there's no way he can keep up wit this man there. Chance should have been snuffed out earlier.
With a Colombia win, we're 90% sure of progressing, since last match will be between them and Senegal. Then we would have to lose heavily against Poland (already knocked out at that point) and see a huge draw in the other game. Possibile, but hard to see.
He might have missed the ball but Osako once again . The runs, the hold up play against two 195cm giants, the passes, the intelligence overall. Any other japanese striker would have been bullied.