Japanese: http://www.nikkansports.com/news/flash/f-sc-tp0-030222-26.html English: http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=28281 The official line is that Japan reconsidered after secuirty assurances were given. The real story is whatever you make of it. Regardless, who do you expect the team will be on the team? Euro-based players or not?
Nakata and Nakamura are willing to play. Ono, Inamoto and others should come to Seattle too. http://www.asahi.com/sports/soccer/TKY200302220225.html (Japanese) U.S. Soccer is quite confident that CIA and FBI can protect the players. I would trust the U.S. government more if they could capture the prime suspect in the terrorist attacks... Well, this game is becoming a political issue. Now we fully back up the Bush administration. Many people are saying, "Attack North Korea first," though. The Uruguay game might be cancelled or moved to a different city. Seattle or the new stadium in LA?
"We" ? Who is "WE"???? A recent poll in the Yomiuri Shimbun (which carries a lot of weight since the Yomiuri is the most conservative of the nationwide newspapers) showed 79% of respondents opposed to war with Iraq under ANY circumstances, and 87% opposed unless there is a second UN resolution. The only people in Japan "fully supporting" the Bush administration are the politicians, and if a war should go badly, they might not still BE politicians a year from now.
my possible lineup against usa option 1 ---------------agoos------ --------takahara----h nakata -------------nakamura/ogasawara k nakata------------------------alex ---------------inamoto/toda nakanishi--miyamoto--tanaka--matsuda/hattori -------------narazaki/sogahata option 2 ------takahara/suzuki----alex ono-----------------------h nakata/nakamura ---------inamoto----fukunishi k nakata/nakanishi--miyamoto--matsuda---hato -------------narazaki/sogahata
I'd like to see Japan try a 4-5-1 (or 4-2-1-2-1 depending on how you look at it). The "Golden Midfield" may make for pretty soccer, but it also leaves the defense vulnerable, I think.
"We" means Japan. What matters is our position in the Security Council. Anything else doesn't. We can't elect MOFA officials representing Japan.
I agree. Adding Toda to the midfield might help the defense. GK + Kashima's 4 Back + Toda, Inamoto, Ono, Nakata, Nakamura + Takahara? Agoos didn't play against Argentina, did he? I think US has better defenders.
i don't like 4-5-1. it's probably a good choice when we face like of honduras, norway and belgium but for usa i prefer 4-4-2 or good old 3-5-2
I think Zico is pretty dedicated to standard 4-4-2 I want to see someone new at striker, at least on the bench.
True, but with Yanagisawa injured his options at striker are pretty slim. Unless he goes with someone like Okubo or the younger Nakayama (naniwa no Gon), who are both promised to the U-23 team, he will have a hard time choosing a second striker. On the other hand Lakeside's lineup would work if Nakata plays at stand-off striker (1.5) and Nakamura plays as shireito. Assuming that all of these players are available (which isnt guaranteed), I think that might actually be the lineup with only two exceptions -- Matsuda will probably be the other center back next to Akita, and Nakata Koji is definitely ahead of Toda in the list of volantes for Zico Japan. Toda was a Troussier favourite but doesnt fit the Zico concept.
Errrrrhhhhh, not to turn this into a big argument or anything, but Japan is not a member of the Security Council. It doesnt matter diddley squat what Japan's "official" position is, especially in terms of its impact on passing a UN resolution. What does matter is the reactions of Japanese people if a war starts. There are already consumer and labour groups in Tokyo and Osaka who are planning boycotts of US goods and refusal to unload cargo ships, if a war starts. Thats pretty extreme for Japan. Protests of that level havent happened since the 1960s.
Re: Re: Japan friendlies in the US back on. LA's new stadium (a.k.a. The Woodshed) probably won't be ready in time as the Gals themselves won't move in until June 7. Seattle might be an option as might Spartan Stadium in San Jose (as a last resort, most likely).
That's almost funny. If you watched the same World Cup I did, though, you'd know Goose is all but done as an international.