H.T....summary Priestman 1 Takakua 0....she got it absolutely right don't let us have the ball and press
That is about the same feeling I have whenever I can catch most matches with the men's England National Team under Gareth Southgate. The more it goes, the more I see Takakura as nothing more than a female Gareth Southgate trying to ride on her players instead of doing something herself to change the narrative of a match.
Yes, I already expressed my opinion a few minutes ago. We shouldn't have gone behind so early. If we don't change something in 2nd Half (more in attitude than in personnel or tactics) I can't see us coming back, despite the fact that this Canada doesn't seem anything exceptional to me.
Here's my take: if this was the Team Canada as coached by John Herdman, Japan would not be trailing by a single goal but maybe by 2 or even 3 goals with the flat approach that Takakura has offered so far. Just as blissett pointed out, something radical has to change quickly on Japan's side because this is where a result here is the most important. Great Britain is too strong for that Nadeshiko Japan team, and Chile can be another banana peel like Argentina at the last World Cup.
Whoever said that stutter runs and slow runs are useful needs a slap behind the back of the head. If I coach kids and see one trying that kind of stuff in training for penalties, that kid would not play for me until she/he watches a lot of videos of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Alan Shearer. SMASH THE SHOT HIGH!
Tanaka didn't watch the final of men's Euro: all players making the little mini-steps before taking the shot miss! (It's a way of kicking the penalty I always hated). On the other hand, all the time between the call of the penalty and the moment when it actually was taken piled the tension on her (also, could she have underestimated a likely half-inured GK?)
Now explain to me the reasoning behind starting Ikeda over Yamashita. Canada's 2nd goal was disallowed for off-side, but it was so poor defending from Japan that it makes me want to stop following the match! I almost repent predicting Japan would have advanced beyond group stage: where can we go, playing this way? Endo in, finally, but I wonder if it can be enough.
To me, it reeks laziness in some parts of young players' training. I know it takes a lot of practice to get everything right with the quick run, the pace of the shot, the accuracy of the shot, and the control of the shot to get the right height. But, boy, it is a very dangerous weapon when you get it right. Goalkeepers can only pray at best against those. Speaking of the right penalty to show based on that Euro final, I would show them Harry Maguire's shot all day. Thinking of destroying that camera is both sexy and effective.
Actually I have to say that I had seen the PK-save coming before it actually happened: the heroic injured GK saving a penalty is too much of a typical Olympic story for it not to happen... Sounds very "anime" cartoon also, in a tournamenyt played in Japan. Of course it was mostly a Tanaka's miss, but it was one of those typical things you see happen at the Olympics.
Just to lighten the mood....isn't it about time we the long range shot from Emi Nakajima that goes two yards wide that we always have in N.T. game...(perhaps it might go in the top corner)