No Ji So-yun makes a big difference. Not the same team without her. Challenge for them is developing enough quality and depth to withstand her absence.
INAC, in the lastest years always tried to dig out some treasures from the South-Korean market, although they never managed to find any player that could become as integral to their team as Ji So-Yun used to be. This Lee Mi-Na, anyway, was standing up quite a bit in the two games South Korea played so far at EAFF E-1, and looked like one of the most involved players in her team's offensive actions. I had already noticed how the commentators seemed so have a soft spot for her. I hope she can be a positive addition to INAC roster. Actually, our MF is quite clogged up with quality players, so I hope she will be deployed in a more offensive role (a lot of INAC players have suffered longtime injuries or have been quite disppointing, last season).
Courtesy of @Dernhelm , the schedule of AFC Championship 2018: I am aware it sounds like splitting hairs, but I don't like much that we have to play Vietnam in the first game, i.e. in the only game where Vietnam could actually want to put up a fight and try to live the dream with all of their fresh energies. We shouldn't really have any problems in scoring to Vietnam anyway, but of course the team that will have to meet them in the last game will likely have to face a much more demotivated team, that would probably be already out of contention.
I'd guess she caught an eye during Osaka qual. for Rio. I'm not quite sure that it was her but I do rember diminutive Korean player wrecking havoc from time to time on right wing in that game. ..and I do like this draw. Win against Vietnam and 3 points (don't expect any other scenario ) will setup Nadeshiko quite nicely for 2nd game vs. S.Korea where they can already secure place in semis. Koreans play Australia in first match. Would they lose or tie - the second game may be all or nothing for them (in terms of winning AFC Cup) and that means pressure and less tacical options beyond attack.
U-16 England Tour (December 17th~23rd) members: http://www.jfa.jp/attachment/5a30b474-9020-4363-b97d-6886d3093d95/20171213_u16w_member.pdf
Being played at St Georges Park Burton UK.....hope the games are not being played behing closed doors.. Early Christmas present if they're not!
Monday, in the evening, OL beat PSG by 1-0 with an Ada Hegerberg's goal and virtually shuts off French League after just 11 match-days. Saki Kumagai played the whole match. Judging from highlights, it looks like it was anyway an honorable loss for PSG, but OL, at the moment, remain slightly outside their reach.
Phone call to the F.A. St Georges Park...."being played behind closed doors because of the age group" I don't think even Dennis could get in this one. Boo Hoo..no early Christmas present!
He made the same inquiries, he told me and got the same. Age and gender being the issues here... Understandable...
Not sure if I really understand, instead... Do they assume that, given the age group, each supporter would be a potential stalker? Going to the game to watch the little girls, intead of to watch a nice football game?
That is correct. Old men leering at little girls. Dennis and I were looked at with suspicion in Gladbach at the U-20 friendly but talked with enough knowledge to be recognized as legitimate football fans. With a subtle warning not to take too many pictures.
Woah. I recognize the danger, and I can understand the girls can feel at unease, but I feel sad for our world that this is deemed as necessary... And I feel sad for women's football that the very fact of following it can be seen as suspicious.
I think it depends on the age of the players. Following a senior team is ok, I guess, because they are "adults". But under 18 seems to be a problem.
I feel sorry for the proud parents,grandparents,family friends etc etc.....not being able to share in what may be the biggest game of football in the young person's life... Having said that I can understand the authorities position...they have a duty of care.
An NWSL coach asked me in 2015 what I thought of Lee Min-a. At the time I said she was not a good fit for NWSL yet as she lacked size/strength and got pushed around too easily. Over 2016 she improved tremendously, however, and I recommended her as a player to keep an eye on. In 2017 she outgrew WK-League, it was way too easy for her. Top two in the league in goal scoring and assists. She's a quality player that likes to get forward into the attack. She's quick, aggressive and has a high work rate. She's still tiny, but she's learned how to solve pressure. She needed to get out of WK-League, however, to stretch her game. It's one thing solving pressure in WK-League, it's another on the international stage. In the second game against the USA back in October when Ji So-yun didn't play, she was absolutely overwhelmed by the pace of the US in the 1st half. 2nd half she adjusted and gave a good account of herself. Hopefully playing in Japan will help her get better and better at it, although to be honest I'd have preferred seeing her go to England or NWSL to really get exposed to pace/physicality.
It looks like Asuna will be leaving Inac. 【選手情報】このたび2017シーズンをもちまして、弊クラブの田中明日菜が退団をすることになりました。なお、移籍先との契約は最終段階に入っており、正式に決まり次第お知らせをさせていただきます。▼コメントはこちらhttps://t.co/2tInx08Ij4 pic.twitter.com/kNZyOoghf8— INAC神戸レオネッサ公式 (@inac_kobe2001) December 14, 2017