The only player I know who can use both legs well is Kagawa. Anyway, Kagawa's injuring is more shocking than anything else, and the final match no longer doesn't interest me.
Other Japanese players also got strongly shocked , but they will fight against Aussie , so just cheer them and hope the win and no more injury.
Injuries are part of the life of a soccer player. They just happen. In years they are forgotten But finals, especially those won, are forever.
Will Yoshida play? Replace Iwamasa? He was not that good. I promise you all. If Naka and Tulio played Japan would've won the whole fkcing tourney.
You don't often see two CB's so fkcing stable as Tulio and Naka. Look at the WC. Damnit. Japan would even have 1 point against Netherlands if the referee had blown for handball right before the goal. I hope they play Copa America.
[insert joke about the fallacy of tulio and own goals here] I agree, they really were the foundation for Japan's performance at the WC. Fingers crossed for no more setbacks for Nakazawa, I want him up for the start of the J1. Haven't heard anything more about Tulio since he went to Brazil.
We can forget about Nakazawa and Tulio and move on. I never actually felt safe when Tulio is on the pitch. Also I don't think we need anymore veterans to come back for the team. Having too many veterans might actually destroy the whole team and could create unnecessary distortion and resentment between the younger generations and veterans even though I don't think that would be a case for Nakazawa.
Yeah, it's time to build up a new generation of players. But I think Tulio should keep the JNT jersey for some years from now on, I'd say until 2014. And please, Zac, no more Okubo or Komano.
Tulio should continue but if he doesn't I think I've seen enough to say a Kurihara--Iwamasa combination with a little more experience will be more than enough come 2014 with Konno & Makino as backup. Yoshida might come good but as a few here have said, he's not up to scratch yet. Lots of players got experience, only Gonda, Nagata & Moriwaki didn't get any time.
Congratulations to the Blue Samurai! Japan really impressed me during the World Cup (a bit unlucky to go out against Paraguay) and they have really managed to build upon their successful showing in South Africa. This team definitely has a very bright future and it has demonstrated that it could be competitive even without a solid core of foreign-based players.
Tulio and Nakazawa werent that good ? They are two of the best defenders at the world cup....both of them were in the 11 of the day after every game at the world cup !?The german media love them and said only good things about them for example. The are without any doubts the best defender's Japan ever had.Especcialy Tulio is a bench of an defender,everytime when he plays you have a very safety feeling after my opinion....in compare to Yoshida,Inoha or our actually center backs the are miles better and this you see at the goals Japan get into his own net. Sure Tulio and Nakazawa are playing some poor games and do sometimes mistakes like every football player in the world but Nakazawa and Tulio are one of the greatest and most imporant players in Japan. But it's right that it's time to change for younger generation but Tuilo can play the World 2014 when he can handle it.He has the quality and expirience to teach the others what to do. It's a riddle for me how somebody can now thinking that this two defenders are not that good after everybody see it at the world cup and write since South Africa that they are "godlike" and something.I'm sure with Nakazawa and Tulio Japan maybe concern only 1-2 goals in the hole tournament. Also,Congratulations Japan it was a great horrible game =) my heart was running 120 minutes on fullpower and Lee made the day perfect,such an incredible goal ;D ! The Blue Samurai desere this !?
If any of you folks are interested... Korea 2-2 Japan (PK 0-3): Little things make big difference http://www.footkorean.net/korea-2-2-japan-pk-0-3-little-things-make-big-difference
Congrats Japan. I was away and couldn't watch the match live. From the highlight it looks like an exciting match. Australia was probably the only team capable of beating Japan in this tourney. Japan's ability to dig deep and humble the Aussies with a brilliantly struck goal says a lot of the overall maturity of Japanese soccer.
From Okazaki's blog: 優勝ってはじめてでどうしたらいいんって圭佑と話してましたよ！ そしたら圭佑が「鼻毛出てるぞっ」ていうから 「マジで？」 と思って直してるとこがTVに映ってたらしくて Edit: During the final ceremony Honda really told Okazaki that he got hair showing out of his nose.
Nakazawa started playing football for his home country. He played for Yoshikawa Higashi Junior High School and Misato Technology High School, but attracted no scouts' eyes. Determined to be a pro, he left for Brazil to improve his football skills and trained with América Mineiro. During his time there, he won the Campeonato Mineiro in the junior category and played a key role in coach Ricardo Drubscky's squad. Football Highlights