They need to stop sending corners on the air, they should play it on the ground. What irritated me in the first half is the amount of the back-passes towards Kawashima which almost costed us a goal conceded. Kawashima became angry in the last few minute of the first half and shouted at the defenders. Negative play from Japan after they went 1-0 up, conceding the possession and momentum to Ecuador and let them score the equaliser. Nakajima’s accuracy and sharpness are dwindling, while Tomiyasu has been clumsy so far in this tournament and Naomich Ueda is clearly the better CB in this tournament. A final note is that South American is easy on giving yellow-cards and fouls against Japanese Players, but they are very strict when giving yellow-cards and fouls against Japan’s opponents. Japan CAN win this easily, but they have to utilise the chances they are getting and be more clinical, while they have to avoid silly mistakes that will make them concede.
That is why I said Abe is better than him. Kubo is good individually but is not good team-wise and he is not doing any tracking back to help the defence or pressing unlike Abe.
Kubo's positioning and playmaking created the bulk of Japan's good chances in the 1st half, and his pressing along with Okazaki in the defensive 4-4-2 setup has been important.
Kubo, the Japanese Messi... maybe in terms of not performing for the NT. Ludicrous that people are comparing him with LKI, a proven talent.
If our boys hope to go through, they will have to do a hell lot better than this. Get some energy and commitment in there! EDIT: Lucky me, it's live on my TV.
Oh, FFS!!! More chances being wasted! Ueda really pisses me off to no end. The Japanese Danny Welbeck.