Why is Nagatomo, Taniguchi and Kawamura (Sanfreece favouritism) in the squad. He should be finding longer term options for LB, give Watanabe, Fujii or even Takai some senior experience. And bring back Kamada to readapt to the squad
Kawamura is excellent, to be honest. Different qualities than Kawabe who is physically a bit limited.
Yeah Kawamura is a true two-way midfielder with strong athleticism which is a scarce profile in the national team pool. I guess the hope is that Matsuki will develop into this type as well.
sorry guys, but you are comparing a guy playing in J league vs someone competing in a top 10 euro league whilst the JNT has improved on the physicality aspect, the J league remains well behind even other Asian leagues in physical/athleticism. Most teams barely press in J league games, let alone consistently putting in physical challenges. Some of the foreign players do more but the domestic players are much more passive in defense
I admit to be a noob about asian club football but didn't Urawa won the last year Asian Champions League and Marinos reach the final (and lost cuz or a red card) this year Asian Champions League?
The above perhaps applies to teams like Kawasaki but teams like Urawa Red actually is physical, as evidenced by their ACL results. Machida Zelvia is maybe the most physical team in the league now, interesting to see how their styles will contrast with the other teams in the ACL next year (hopefully).
My updated Top 150 Ranking. Feel free to check it out https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1g9VCtXZ3hOePWaLo-UQe2CRbQk_qwYxDFhTpl50rsPE/edit?usp=sharing
No one gives a fck as usual ? Im glad to see Ogawa scoring 2 goals. I really like him. Great season also.
Well, not much to say really. It was Myanmar... But ok: Positive: - Moriyasu uses the game sensibly, trying new things. Back 3, first time he's played the whole game like that. -Nakamura, a constant danger on the left. Less for the 2 goals (second one was typical Nakamura) but for the play. For me his best game in the NT. Yes, only Myanmar, but still. Like that he's a good choice as number 2 behind Mitoma. -Kamada, outstanding first 30'. Vision, precision. -Morita Negative: -The right side showed very little. Sugawara continues not showing much in the NT. Nowhere near the best Sakai or Uchida. Hashioka behind in the 3 man defense actually showed more offensively almost. At this point I might prefer Maikuma or Hashioka to Sugawara. -Kamada, after the great first 30' he somehow was unable to do the easiest passes, started great, then got rather bad. -Ogawa, 2 goals, but he wasn't seen in the first half, never in the game really. Second half despite the 2 goals wasn't great either. Second goal shows he has the instinct to score when the opportunity presents itself. But he needs to impose himself more.Should get more chances in the future, but it's Ueda's position to lose. Ogawa vs a team like Myanmar he should have shown more. But I'll take him over Asano every day... -Corners: An absolute disgrace. With the size advantage and an estimate 8000 corners they produced N O T H I N G. -Still not really creating many chances, 5 goals, really the minimum that Japan should score against a team like Myanmar, but they actually didn't produce much more, there weren't the 500 missed chances that Japan pre-Moriyasu regularly had. 3 rather late goals as well.
They are 163rd in the FIFA rankings and 95% of their players play in the domestic league or in Thailand.
watching US fans tearing into Berhalter after they get spanked 1-5 by Colombia just reinforces my frustration with Moriyasu. Getting overrun by Iraq in 45min during a major tournament, when we last lost to Iraq in 1982 is disgraceful and should not be accepted
At this point, if JNT fails to make to QF in 2026, Moriyasu's 7 years will be the worst mistake ever made and everyone in JFA should resign in disgrace
Oh thats way to harsh. To be honest. To be a fan of JNT since 2010 is more a great journey with clear more positive stuff. For example in the last 9 years they are way more successfull then Germany or other good/big nations. Sure its disappointing when they fail close before they would make the next step. But to talk from a fail when it matters, thats not true.