He was playing out of position last cycle (CB), but he is one of the most reliable and experienced (DM's) in Japan.
Yea but he will be around 34/35 during Russia and he gives away penalties easily imo. The Asian cup match against SK and in WC against Colombia comes to mind.
The asian up match wasn't really a penalty imho. And if he's not a CB he can't give away penalties anyway. few random observations of the match: Kawashima is still the best goalkeeper in Japan, yep, get at me; Okazaki's miss was embarassing. Kubo's been lethal lately Overall UAE had a couple of very dangerous chances but I think the 3 points were fair and deserved
I think Vahid just went with the most experienced goalkeeper for today, someone who was often able to step it up when it mattered despite the pressure.
Can't really complain much. There are not much choices for GK for Japan. Nishikawa is not that good, maybe Kosuke Nakamura can be tried.
There's a lot of competition in that position and it's clear that Vahid wants "striker-type" wingers. Inui isn't a goalscorer. Can't blame him considering the struggle of Japan's centreforwards
Alternatives for DMs need to be tried too. Maybe Daichi Kamada, Ideguchi or even Harakawa can be tired?
Daichi Kamada isn't a DM... the other players might be tried in the upcoming friendly against Syria in june, maybe
Daichi Kamada is a CM that can be tried as a DM imo. His ability to hold on to the ball is there imo. Wataru Endo and Kashiwagi also come to my mind.
Fine then, still think that he can be moulded into one. Vahid need to try more alternatives though. Russia is only 1 year later, hope by then alternatives for Yamaguchi and Konno can be found.
Osako and Konno (foot fracture) are out for the Thailand match. They will be replaced by Yu Kobayashi and Wataru Endo.
Yoshida came up big and seemed to be everywhere in defense. He's really stepped up big time this season in England. I'd love Shoji to start alongside Yoshida as that centre-back duo has a lot of potential. Shoji is European league material. I hope the Werder Bremen rumor is true.
Despite a great game (as Hali-Japan as you could get), starting Kawashima, Kawaguchi and pitching Honda were non-sense move. Seeing Yu Kobayashi - this latest version, in his prime of his life - only because of a injury is madness. But anyway, this win is going to be crucial to be in Russia. Irmatov is one of the best referees I've ever seen. Props to him.
The real problem may be that no one is definitively better than Kawashima as a goalkeeper. He is certainly the most accomplished in Japan's history. Excited to see Kobayashi but it's totally understandable to select Osako, Okazaki, and a red-hot Kubo before him. Who is this Kawaguchi btw?
You're right, sorry, Hotaru Yamaguchi. Ideguchi - who's been already alongside Konno - would have been a different choice. No one is better than Kawashima? Nishikawa is not, but the other ones didn't play so much to prove it.