it would be necessary to make a session of penalties between Japan and Spain... it could last very long...
Nadeshiko are in the top level of women's football. They could teach the men's selection how to do it. Or just set a hard rule: never shoot along the grass, unless it's down the middle. 90% of goalies won't stay down the middle.
I see Honda is tweeting a lot and is getting hella traction. One of his tweets (all in Japanese), got over 700K likes. I know people can translate it, but still has crazy traction. The way he is talking, is he gunning for the NT coach spot? Seems like it.
Makes every Japan fan feel better. I do wonder how would Morocco have played against Japan. Very defensively, or a bit braver? On paper, that's an equal match-up.
You can't sack him for that WC. He deserves some more time if he wants it. I also do think Mitoma LWB was an adaptation to the injury of Yuta Nakayama to some extent. Lets put it this way I dont think we're going to see 4 years of Mitoma LWB from here.
Hi guys. I needed more than full 24h to digest this. My opinion on random topics: 1) I believe as now (Suisse lose 1 - 5 to Portugal) that Japan finish this WC at 9th place like in 2010 (best ever position). We draw vs Croatia as Spain draw vs Morocco but we scored 1 more so same GD but with us scoring more. If I'm wrong sorry, it will be 10th place and the record of 2010 still intact but we will be anyway in the BEST 10 of the World. 2) Mental toughness? This team is the BEST ever JNT by mentality. Do you remember how many times we fecked up in the past WC and even Asian Cup for our weak mentality? Exactly as vs Belgium. This team leading 2 - 0 vs Belgium would NEVER lost 2 - 3. Never. I hope this will be the most important legacy Moriyasu will leave when he will left. 3) Moriyasu deserve to stay, try to win the Asian Cup and then leave gibing 2 full years to the new manager to arrange the team for the 2026 WC. 4) I can't wait for the post-WC update of FIFA Men Rainking. Some team will drop dead like Belgium, Germany and Italy. Maybe we will reach again the 15th spot or better. 5) Kubo was the most disappointing player of this WC. Imo he's done for. Yes there's the Asian Cup but he's simply useless for Moriyasu who called him just for the name. While Furuhashi would be the TOP and I hope so bad that Moriyasu will give him more and more chance, he can be our top scorer in Asian Cup. 6) This was really the best JNT ever. 2010 was the best to defend (deserved 4 clean sheets), 2018 the best to score (6 goals in 4 match) but this was the top in the internationl mentality you need at this level to keep going without felt apart. Remember that we draw vs an experienced Croatia (2018 2nd place) while in the other Final16 we lost to Turkey (3rd place), draw with Paraguay (Final8) and lost to Belgium (3rd place) all teams with no experience at this level. 7) Yeah we need a decent CF. Put a Fernando Llorente in place of Asano when Maeda was out of gas and just imagine how it could have ended.
Furuhashi instead of Asano (let's say if Ueda was never brought), and Croatia would have made more mistakes in possession. There'd have been a counterattack that even Gvardiol couldn't stop, and I'd be coming here not to console everyone, but to offer a virtual bow of admiration and pledge to cheer Japan on to ambush Brazil and take that title. Taichi Hara or even Hiroshi Ibusuki would be the closest to Llorente, but still way more useful than Ueda. Asano scored against Germany, so...
No, the coach of Cambodia was Félix Dalmás González first, while Honda was on the sideline playing coach and officially being the "general manager". Now it's the same with Ryu Hirose who has the S-class license.
Oh okay, my mistake. Youre right. Do you guys think a Honda can become a good coach? Really hope Makoto Hasebe is becoming some serious Material in the next 10 years. He earned almost every title, has the expierence of a god. When he has the mentality for a good coach, Japan can become very big.
Key issues next 4 years - Nagatomo was a beast, again. Legend. Nakayama has 4yrs to get that level of maturity in his game. - Strikers.... - GK - who will take the mantle. Fair play to Gonda, better WC than most if not all his predecessors tbh. As much as I loved Kawaguchi/Narazaki/Kawashima. Ah jesus i wish we had seen this NT have a crack at a Brazil QF. Truly the more i look and think about it, this was the best, tactically most diverse and most complete Japan NT of all time. Like the defense of 2010, and offense of 2018 pretty much.
Honda should start out as a set piece coach. Japan needs a direct FK specialist to be trained, while Honda could learn and progress.
Guys I have to say something. I feel soooo emtpy too, it was heartbreaking again but Japan played a great World Cup again. Lets be honest we all would be that sad when Japan loose the QF or HF or even the finals. Its normal to feel like this, thats show us how cool Japan was and how emotional we are. And I want to say a big thanks to you all. We know us for such a long time. 2006-2007 Maybe (most of us) and we go through bad and good times with the JNT. But overall I would say Japan gave us more stuff to cheer about together. I am very glad to be connect this forum and to be your "Internet / JNT - friend" Thanks alot, I really appreciate it !!!
I’m on the winning side by blood, but I cried yesterday. Because how cool Japan NT indeed were, how awesome they fought, and how proud I felt to be connected to them in spirit. As my face twisted, tears of both joy and sorrow flowed, I had one word in my mind: Banzai! It wasn’t fair that Japan had to meet my homeland so soon. I respect the checkered pattern on my country’s shirts, but a part of me wants the red squares to become circles. Hinomaru Croatia. I am also glad to be sharing positive emotions at a place like this.
Having international experience alone is not always enough to become a good manager, there are many examples of former international players who ended becoming awful managers. But if in addition of having international experience as a player, the manager has experience as an assistant of many other managers, the greater the chance of him becoming a very good manager. The current coaching staff of JNT is dominated by coaches who follow Michael Petrovic's school, so it's important for Japan to start having coaches who follow other "schools" as well.