The best player for Japan in this tournament imo. And for all the shit oskao gets (pre wc) his hold up play despite being super skinny is nothing short of spectacular. Yes the tactics was horrid against Poland and Corner against belguim is embarrasing but those players played like they owed japan a lot. The work rate, the discipline, the effort. It meant a lot to the players. A lot.
Proud of the team today, but the loss was so typical of Japan. I also think tactically the team was very naive, should've played for possession instead of going forward at every opportunity, although for parts of that match Belgium looked like they were there for the taking. Anyways Japan did Asia proud. Going forward, I think Kawashima's position needs to be seriously looked at, that 1st Belgium goal shouldn't have gone in. He's over the hill and a liability and it hurts me to say that, as I was a big fan of his from his Kawasaki days. Osako has everything you'd want in a striker apart from ironically, finshing ability. Although Japan is an aging squad, I think the likes of Hasebe, Kagawa, Nagatomo and Inui have the legs for one last hurrah. Hope they stay on for the Asia cup and try to go out on a high, while blooding in younger players for the new cycle.
We support our @BelRedDevils 200% for 💪🏽 but we would have loved to see @kuboyuya31 on the pitch tonight 👀 #BELJAP #REDTOGETHER #Worldcup pic.twitter.com/ACjeJbcnbk— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) July 2, 2018
Shouldnt they use the Asian cup as preperation for the qualifiers though? I feel like the Asian cup is the best way to feel out a proper course of action going forward. If they play new guys and a minimum lose in the semis, then thats enough to work towards improving the newer guys for the qualifiers. Asian qualifiers arent getting easier. And with Saudi back in the pack group having three of Korea, Saudi, Australia, Japan, Iran is going to be a nightmare.
Japoneses, be proud of your team. Brazilians and fans from other countries are in the FIFA BEL-JPN forum saying you guys played sportsman-like soccer without cheating and with class, and only 1 mistake at the end prevented extra time. My birth country of Brazil is home to Earth's largest Japanese community outside Japan. After 100 years, the Nikkeijin and you native Japanese are very far apart culturally speaking. But due to these ties, many Brazilians look at Japan with sympathy, and your performance today earned a lot of respect.
Nishino had a better gameplan, but Martinez just redeem himself with 2 obvious subs. After adrenaline rush was over, this is just feel so idiotic though, this lose. What a terrible game management, not only by the coach, but also the players. 4 subs contributed directly for the result, FFS.
Also, I wouldn't be suprised if a european team goes in for Gen Shoji after this tournament ends, dudes a beast.
excellent example of a match that's excited everyone for nothing. Absolutely Nothing positive came of it. We just lost.
I get what you're saying as you don't know if you can trust players until you see them play under tournament presure. But I think Japan should treat the Asia cup like the big tournament that it is, play the best guys available and try to win it. You can still give a few youngsters opportunities, as I think Honda and Okazaki are done, but I think the others I mentioned still have more to give.
I understand that winning is the most important aspect of not only football,but all sports. But I think having a football identity is more important in the long run. If winning means compromising and playing like Russia did yesterday (although I doubt that Japan could ever play that style due to the lack of physicality and height) or diving and time-wasting, then I am ok with these kinds of losses. Japan plays more like old-Brazil than the current Brazil team does. In recent years, Brazil has almost completely lost its football identity for what? The only thing they've won recently has been the Olympics which was in Brazil.
From watching the Asian cup the last 5 editions, I'm just happy it hasnt turned into the African cup of nations where you get a bunch of spoiled euro based players who couldnt give a ******** about the tournement. But you're right, japan will treat it as a big tournament and rightfully so. They owe it to the players. I hope the AFC cup continues to be important for Asian nations similar to how the Copa America is still something very important for the South Americans Just dont turn it into CAF garbage where players think they're too good to play a continental cup.
whoever is the next manager, i hope they make a genuine effort to introduce some younger players for the asian cup. there are quite a few promising players who deserve a call up back in the j league.
The next Asian Cup will be a tough tournament when the likes of Iran, SK and Japan, three teams that demonstrated to be at Euro/SouthAmerica level, will clash. Probably it will be the best Asian Cup ever with an enormous boost of game quality than the past. I hope we'll see Doan and Nakajima as we seen Kagawa in AC2011 after he missed WC2010, and don't forger that Copa America 2019 is there for the next summer too.
So I wasn't the only one. Good to know. The real problem is: was there a real option beside Yamaguchi? In my mind, there was, but not in Nishino's. I don't understand why Wataru Endo was picked to be a back-up of Hiroki Sakai while he could have been way more useful as a DM. A role that he knows from his past in Shonan Bellmare, even if in a 3-4-3. Yamaguchi isn't JNT-material and he hasn't probably ever been. That will be the most delicate replacement to have. I hope Hasebe can endure the Asian Cup and then we can search for a replacement. Misao is at the current time the best name to spend. Do we consider Dragan Stojkovic a B-class foreigner? Because I think he'd be a perfect fit for the next cycle.
I agree with you and I don't think it contradicts what I said. We don't have to give up on our identity to start winning, just to sharpen the edges, improve the details that make a difference and, most importantly, nurture better players, more ruthless in the deciding moments.
Most of the famous players in Europe played in African cup every edition the likes of Samuel Eto'o, Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Sadio Mane and such.
Totally condescending. So if Japan ever come back from 2 down its got nothing to with Japan doing well and all to do with the other team falling apart. It happens all the time, Japan gave their all, played really well and acquitted themselves well against one of the favourites for the whole cup. Mocking someone for being positive about that is just sad considering Japan weren't expected to get a single point. It's easy to play the hindsight card
Probably the most anticpated Asian Cup in a long ass time. Asutralia is not too shaby either and I think outside of the disastrous opener the saudis showed character. Should be really intresting. I think if Asia can produce even more quality NT it can only serve the rest of the big boys I havent seen the Asian Cup potential bracket yet but based on World Cup performance i would say Japan vs Iran in the finals. SK and Australia play in the semis And one of SK, Australia, Japan, Iran would have to go through the saudis. Cant wait tbh.