Seriously, it is infuriating to see how many times the Japanese players get into the right positions, but won't take the shot.
0-0 FT. 5 points, 4 goals scored, only 1 received (and it was an own goal), second of the group. Not bad numbers I guess. Next rival will be Argentina (mostly) or a derby against Korea Republic. Edit: sorry, the options for the next rival are the oposit, Japan will play second of Group F, not first.
Full Time: Japan 0-0 Italy. Japan finished the group as the runners-up, now they will face the runner-up of Group F which includes: Argentina, Potugal, South Korea, and South Africa. Japan will most probably face the European Champions Portugal, which defeated Italy by PKs in the European U-19, unless South Korea win their last match against Argentina. Italailan played well defensively, always trying to double team Japanese players and close them down, and the Italians physical power seemed to daunt Japanese players to an extent as the Italians played very aggressive physically to muscle off Japanese players of the ball. All of this said, yet Japan was clearly the better team and they wasted many chances to win the match, and Wakahara did well to save one or two shots from Italian counter-attacks.
No, they just can't create enough clear shots, We have the oportunity twice, but Ito and Tagawa blewed it. Benching Miyashiro, Fujimoto, and Seko hit us really hard. the pressing, build-up play, and transition notably slower than Vs Mexico. While Italy keep their block low and compact as possible, Ito's passive approach positionally surely doesn't help.
You summarize it well here. Only few coach in Japan professional level now seems to understand how to implement positional play properly. It always baffles me that the most successful coach in Japan in the last 10 years at least *cough Moriyasu and Hasegawa cough* doesn't implement a proper positional play in their strategy. Maybe we should be thankful to a long serving Japan's youth team coach, Yoshitake, for this.
Japan have 6 players with 1 yellow card each: Sugawara Ito Yamada Mitsuki Saito Miyashiro Mikuni It will be crucial for Mitsuki Saito, Yamada, Miyashiro and Sugawara not to be yellow-carded next match. As for Ito and Mikiuni, I don’t think they will start/play next match, even if they play and get yellow-carded they will be hardly missed.
The problem with Nakamura is that he doesn't participate enough in the game, unlike Miyashiro, who is always runnig and positioning himself to help the team. Nakamura also needs to improve his passing and shooting abilities, but he dribbles well at least.
I hope it will be NOT SK this time. Portugal can turn into a fascinating game especially cuz the World is looking for that Joao Felix dude and I will enjoy a lot making him fail.
Yup, not very impressed with Ito. I think Japan need to replace him in the RO16 if they want to win that match. Won't be an easy match in the RO16 for sure. Keito Nakamura is a bit too selfish imo, he should improve on his decision-making but I am quite still optimistic on him. He brings something different with his pace. I hope that it won't be SK-Japan next round. A bit sick of the matches between the both teams in the Asian Cup, EAFF ,etc. I def hope to see Japan vs Portugal. I doubt Japan can win against Argentina.
Yes, it is Japan vs South Korea in the last 16, the winner of this match will face the winner of Senegal vs Nigeria. The good thing about this match against South Korea is that Japan will have 2 days of rest more than the Koreans.
Last 16 matches: Bracket 1: Colombia vs New Zealand. Vs Ukraine vs Panama. Bracket 2: Italy vs Poland. Vs Argentina vs Mali. Bracket 3: France vs United States. Vs Uruguay vs Ecuador. Bracket 4: Japan vs South Korea. Vs Senegal vs Nigeria. —————————— It seems Colombia will have an easy path to the semi-final where they will most probably face Argentina. While if Japan manages to progress to the semi-final on the other side of the draw they will face either France or Uruguay. No match is easy in the knock-out stages and nothing shall be taken for granted as surprises and shocks can happen at any possible time. Good Luck for Japan.
Kyosuke Tagawa and Koki Saito both out of the squad after suffering injuries against Italy: U-20日本代表 田川亨介選手、斉藤光毅選手離脱のお知らせ~FIFA U-20ワールドカップポーランド(5/23-6/15)~ #jfa #daihyo https://t.co/eUkYrA5fVL— 日本サッカー協会 (@JFA) May 31, 2019 Koki Saito suffered a left-side pulled torso after an Italian player challenged him inside the Italian penalty-box. Yet, Japan was not given a penalty kick and neither the Italian player got any kind of punishment. Good job FIFA, your officiating system are always standing against Asian and African teams.
Ouch, it's a tough blow (especially Saito) I've changed my mind : couldn't we, ultimately, summon Takefusa Kubo and Hiroki Abe ?
Korea republic didn't look particularly good in their group games. Props to them for beating Argentina though.
Italians played dirty till the last minute with tackles, shoves and probably insults in italian (ala Materazzi). That's what happened when the opponents are stronger as Japan U20 was but no respected (cuz Japan is not perceived as a developed football nation for the most of italian rednecks). Anyway this is the less interesting scenario: SK and if done an african stronger side. I bet there will be more injuries.
Yup, they always bring their 120% against Japan. Japan need to start their full strength squad. Seko, Miyashiro, etc. must play and hopefully no Ito.
That remains me a little Captain Tsubasa when one japanese player play in an Italian "primavera" team and at the beginning he is always bullied about that. I didn't think real life was so accurate...
Ecuador might be the dark horse of the tournament, they were unlucky to lose against Italy, and they almost slaughtered Japan in the first 60 minutes of their match, they are the champions of South America and they had more shots and hold more possession an all of their group-stage matches.
there's a chance that saito and tagawa can replay the rest of the competition if Japan wins against Korea?