Match #43 - Japan v. Spain

I never disagreed with it. But another angle showed that there was a very visible space between the ball and the foot. Unless the foot was incredibly fast, which is impossible from the physiology of human beings, the ball would be completely out, right after or right before this frame was taken.

 

The linesman ruled the ball was out while in the air. Replay showed it was inconclusive. Usually the call goes in favor of big names if it is ambiguous or even if it is not ambiguous (or in favor of offense because the former sounded too racist) but they were confident that the linesman was paid. There was a riot in China actually. After the call the Korean side stopped playing so nobody knows what would have happened if no call had been made. It is listed as one of the cheats Korea did in that WC especially by Japanese and weeaboos.

 

Back from the stadium and yep, you know what time it is... the fan-cam footage from Japan v Spain here. Not my favorite stadium as it's more a multi-puropose stadium with track around the pitch and nose-bleed seats but looks nice from the outside. Khalifa International is actually the original stadium they had for the Asian Games and Asian Cup back in 2006 + 2011 respectively. I almost wound up trading this game for Belgium v Croatia... really glad I didn't now...

 

Japan have been incredibly lucky in this world cup. Winning with 17 percent possession is a new record in world cups. Japan had only 3 shots on goal and 2 went in. Against Germany Japan had 26 percent possession and 4 shots on goal vs 9 by Germany. When Korea beat Germany Korea had a 30 percent possession and 5 shots on goal against 6 by Germany. While Korea were lucky they played far more an even game.

One trick FIFA have against less favored AFC countries is not to to do VAR at all. It happened multiple times to Korea in 2018. It is no longer fashionable to protest too much in Korea so they just grumbled and let it pass. They just blamed the manager for not protesting on the spot but now seeing Bento get a red card it seems to have been wise that the Korean manager kept silent. But it is quite annoying that Japan never suffer any of this. I have seen Japan suffer in AFC by Arabs; my being anti-Japan does not blind me from seeing this but they are far better treated once they step into the world stage. The same cannot be said of Korea.

I am a man of science, I just don't believe in some kind of special spirit of a nation that uplifts their players to an incredible performance. I am also critical of Koreans who believe that they were special in 2002. They were just lucky. But this Japan's luck appears to have already exceeded the entire luck Korea enjoyed in 2002. In 2002 Korea had a fairly good possession and other favorable statistics.

It is possible that Japan's counter attack tactics is working. It somehow makes the players incredibly focused in a few chances they get. They probably learned the lesson from Arabs who employ similar tactics when they play against Japan and they have beaten Japan several times that way. When Arabs add grassrolling, which Japan don't do, it is an incredibly potent weapon.

But if everyone follows this pattern it will lead to boring football. I won't hide the fact I don't like Japan and her people but just for the love of the game sake this is a worrisome trend.

 

There is a conspiracy theory that Spain purposely lost to have easier opponents.
That is just silly. Spain could have been knocked out and the after-game interview shows that Spain were scared throughout after the second goal by Japan. Even if this were the WC final Spain would have lost. There is nothing deliberate about their loss.

Romantics will believe that it is due to the special mental strength and teamwork of Japan but for realists this is just an annoying anti-football trend that should be fixed even by changing the rule.
Arabs have been doing this for years. Japan's only credit is that they figured out how to do this without grassrolling and against world class opponents..

 

LOL, Japan drawn into the group of death, keeper slips on wet surface and gifts Germany a PK, get a lucky goal against them by the supposed weakest team in the group, and still top the group. How is that luck?

Japan's plan was obviously to keep the match close in the first half and then attack in the 2nd. But they scored 2 quick 2nd half goals in both matches and didn't really need to attack after that. Correct me if I'm wrong but Korea scored their goals in 2nd half stoppage time against Germany, so they were likely in attack mode or even match-up for a longer period of time.
Japan used to be a possession team, but this clearly changed with the introduction of Moriyasu as coach. Like it or not (and many Japan fans have complained endlessly about it) it is a strategy and not luck. But since you are bringing up the last World Cup how about Belgium's fluke goal when Japan were 2-0 up?

Korea weren't awarded a corner kick when they shouldn't have even been allowed to attack to begin with, as the stoppage time was finished well before that. Cry me a river. Korea never grumble and let things pass? Don't you remember the speedskating celebration against USA in 2002? Or how about the signs they hold up when playing against Japan? Or the countless death threats their fans sent to female figure skaters, etc. It goes on and on.

Not spirit, just skill. Japan have almost their entire squad based in Europe now.

I won't argue that the tactics are boring. But at least they changed the tactics in the 2nd half. After they took the lead, it's up to the opponent to do something. Even the first half against Germany was entertaining because the Germans were attacking and creating chances. Spain not so much but that is mostly on them and their tiki-taka nonsense.

 

I wouldn't say that Spain necessarily lost purposely, but I think after Germany was ahead, they were satisfied and just stopped really trying because they would rather be in the other side of the bracket. They kind of tanked the game after a while.

 

Spain had their best 2 chances after Germany took the lead. Without Yoshida's timely clearance they would've tied it up. Not sure how you can fake that. Not saying it isn't possible they took their foot off the gas, but they play that way on a regular basis, so hard to tell. If anything they seemed afraid Japan would score more.

 

Luck is winning only with 17 percent of possession and 26 percent previously.

But it is a plan that requires a lot of luck unless you believe Japan have special something supernatural off the field.

[MOD NOTE - REMOVED PERSONAL ATTACK]

What about it? It was a celebration. And that was 20 years ago. Are you so desperate? I had actually , in mind, the protest in 2006 WC against Swiss as an example of past behaviors no longer fashionable or even acceptable among Korean fans.

I am sure you are the one who was holding up that Imperial Japanese flag that FIFA banned and got kicked out. I saw you on TV. You are a celebrity. It must work a lot for friendship between Japan and Indonesia or whatever.

Also I missed the part while quoting but Korea's plan in 2018 was mainly to get a draw as a final grace to a disappointing WC but tried some attack to show good sportsmanship. They knew of a very slim chance they could advance if Mexico beat Sweden and they beat Germany by a few goals. But that is obviously not what they had in mind in their attacks as they knew it was almost impossible and Mexico were being blown away by Sweden.

Korea could have been even more defensive minded if they single-mindedly wanted to achieve their goal but they did not do it. Also Korea would not have done what Japan and Poland did in the last WC. I am not giving them too much credit for it though. They are just naïve and politically correct rather than being good sportsmen.

P.S. My word may have been a little belligerent but it is befitting someone who holds it true the conspiracy theory popularized by Japanese ultra right wing forums like 2Ch. No one knows why and by whom for the Korean flag that was raised after the German goal. Actually it is not even clear it is a Korean flag. LOL

 

lmao. Don't worry Korea still has a chance to get through. They beat the golden generation Portugal and can do it again, especially if Portugal rests some players. No need for personal attacks, although you have the wrong person anyway.
And don't expect me to remember all the decisions that went against Korea way back in 2018. BTW Poland tried the same thing Japan did against them, and they were 0-2 down this time. Not impossible to think that Korea might try as well some day.

 

Intentional Spanish defeat.
They avoided Brazil, they eliminated Germany. Morocco easier than Croatia for them.
Spain was scared when Costa Rica had 2-1, so Spain brought substitutes in.
Germany did 4-2 and Spain was happy again.

 

I don't usually agree with you but you're probably right about this one.

 

Spain wouldn't lose on purpose. At the most they might not have tried as hard at the end but they wouldn't let Japan score twice. Spain created virtually nothing before and after Japan's goals so it is a bit of an excuse to say they let Japan win, when in fact Japan might have scored more on the counter if Spain went all out for an equalizer.

 

Why not? Third and irrelevant match.
Observe Unai Simon and his relaxed approach.
Why would Spain play against Croatia, if they can get Morocco?
Also, why not remove all those talented attackers of Germany?
At the end, why play against South American part of bracket?

Switzerland can surprise Portugal and Spain can meet Switzerland in quarterfinals.
Portugal won in one recent match 1-0 at home. Portugal chased them, but nothing. Entire match 1-0.

Senegal can surprise England. And Senegal could also surprise France in quarterfinals.
Pretty easier road for Spain.

How can we explain all those defeats of Spain, Portugal, Brazil, France?
Denmark could win against Australia, but this would be pointless for them. Tunisia would be 2nd.

 

I agree & even the rules analyst on Fox said the ball was OUT & the goal will be reversed!

So Spain got cheated & Japan basically got a stolen goal or a GIFT!

 

Did you miss the part where Spain were out and Costa Rica was going through? Spain wouldn't have been able to relax until Germany regained the lead in the end.
Unai Simon is always like that and was chosen because of it. Read this quote from Enrique:
“I need a goalkeeper that transmits peace and calmness to me - and that doesn’t mean they won’t make mistakes, errors are part of football. But what they generate I like a lot.”

 

And how could he determine that if he only saw the same angles as us? FIFA already released the proof it wasn't out so your timing is weird.