Re: Official Japanese WOMEN'S NT Thread [R] FC Gold Pride announced Tuesday that the team has finalized an agreement to loan striker Eriko Arakawa to Japanese club team NTV Beleza of Japan's Nadeshiko League. The loan agreement will return the Tokyo native to her long-time club team NTV Beleza, allowing Arakawa to compete in Japan through the end of her WPS contract which ends September 30.
Re: Official Japanese WOMEN'S NT Thread [R] I saw something where Miyama and Sawa are also back, and would appear to be playing for their old teams in the ladies' league. I wonder if this will lift Beleza to catch the Reds ? Also I saw on YouTube a link where Sakaguchi appears to be joining (or subject to getting a visa) a team in Indiana that is a step below the WPS. I am very impressed by her courage, because the "pay" must be barely enough for bread-and-water ! If she makes it, I would bet she gets drafted by one of the two new expansion teams (I think Philadelphia and Atlanta ?) early in Spring. And I would like to ask her for her autograph - I think she is a great player.
Re: Official Japanese WOMEN'S NT Thread [R] Iwabuchi nominated for FIFA women's player of the year award.
Re: Official Japanese WOMEN'S NT Thread [R] Slightly new-look Nadeshiko team ? Upcoming friendly v New Zealand http://www.jfa.or.jp/eng/topics/2009/191.html Gone it seems are GK Fukhumoto (reflexes of a cat, but a bag of nerves ?), Maruyama, Ikeda and susprisingly (to me) MF Sakaguchi who I thought was so promising. Back is GK Yamago (she must be 33 - 35 now ?). "New" are Asano Nagasuto, Toyoda, Kitamoto - that is of course if they make the final 11 - also some INAC players in MF. Still in there is Arakawa now 30, Kinga, Yuki Nagasuto, Yano, Iwashimuzu, and of course Sawa, Ando, Miyama, Ohno.
Re: Official Japanese WOMEN'S NT Thread [R] Bicentennial Cup in Chile, January 2010 Confirmed teams : Chile Denmark Japan Colombia Argentina Mexico + two other national teams , to be confirmed Japan`s first match is against Denmark on 13. January http://dbu.dk/news/newsShow.aspx?id=252406
Re: Official Japanese WOMEN'S NT Thread [R] Japan won that game 2-1 but conceded a free-kick goal from 40 yards! So the GK problem remains, perhaps the biggest problem. The draw for the EAFF tournament (February) is out, and it is good for Japan, they have DPRK in their group which means that they cannot meet them in the semi-finals - http://www.jfa.or.jp/eng/topics/2009/241.html
Re: Official Japanese WOMEN'S NT Thread [R] With 8 teams over 2 weeks, that sounds like a mini world-cup ! It should be a great tournament. Japan also qualified for the u-17 world cup next year, by finishing 3rd in the u-16 AFC. They lost 0-1 to So. Korea in the semis, a very close game apparently, and then the So. Koeans crushed DPRK 4-0 (surprise !) in the finals. For the vital playoff game, Japan crushed Australia 6-2, with one player (Mai Kyokawa) scoring 4 and winning the "golden boot" with 9 goals total (wow !). http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-u-16-womens-championship-2009/26016-wu-16s-final-reaction I am sure they play just like all the young Nadeshiko teams and so they should light up the u-17 World Cup next year.
Re: Official Japanese WOMEN'S NT Thread [R] The squad of 25 players has many surprises (to me) - http://www.jfa.or.jp/eng/topics/2009/268.html Out is Eriko Arakawa, could it be her international careeer is over ? None of the Nagasato sisters make the squad (could they have a family committment ?) but tiny Natsuko Hara makes it. Another surprise (among several names I dont even recognise) is Nakano of Yunogo Belle, and this may be her first international squad at any level. I just know her on Youtube from her eternal grin/smile while playing ! One foreign-based player, Mami Yamaguchi (of Umea, Sweden). Back among 4 (! - Sasaki's biggest problem ?)) GKs in the squad is Miho Fuhkumoto, reflexes like a cat, and I hope she has solved her aerial nerves.
Official 2010 Nadeshiko Japan Thread [R] http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/soccer/headlines/20091228-00000028-kyodo_sp-spo.html Ando moves to Bundesliga side Duisburg.