Official 2021 Nadeshiko Japan Thread [R] - なでしこジャパン（英語スレッド）

It's unbelieveable how bad Sugasawa has become lately...

 

Miyazawa is MVP of this match imho

 

Dutch were saved by the referees again

 

I'll upload full match in here within an hour @Manchester Nadeshiko

 

I am not being funny. The Netherlands A team might be like 7th-10th in the World right now, this Netherlands B team feels like 30th. Japan only missing Sugita and Yamashita from actual starters (plus Miura in my book, probably not in everyone else) and we struggled with both (like a lot), Iceland and Netherlands B...

Not sure what was promising today, compared to the 2019 game against team A, which was super promising in my opinion...

p/s take off Hasegawa, Iwabuchi and Shimizu, just imagine what would happen...

 

Thanks

 

It's quite difficult to assess the performance. It was really like a friendly match feeling on the Dutch side - quite a walking pace.

Tactically it looks like we are going to see no differences under Ikeda. Solid 4-4-2 and two out and out strikers today to start the game...

I did see that they were better pressing and winning the ball in the last two matches, but not sure if that was genuine or just due to the opponents.

Nagano looked promising which is good news - I thought she would never make it at senior level at one point. So that is a positive. After she was replaced by Sumida, it got a bit disjointed - couldn't control the midfield much and started long balls to front two. I mean what Norimatsu thinking to launch (she wasn't under pressure or anything) a straight long ball to Iwabuchi against the Dutch - what is Iwabuchi supposed to do with that.

Is Sumida playing well in WE League? She must be if she's back in the national team. I thought she already had a chance during Takakura era. She never looked like a national team level. Today she looked the same - weak in the duels and her pass speed is terrible.

Miyazawa was slightly better in the second half playing left. She looks more comfortable on the left to me - either side, she hasn't changed from the time I saw her at the youth level - she cuts in pretty much every time she gets the ball

Hasegawa is becoming a player level above the rest. Watching her play at West Ham, I'd like to see her play in the midfield of three. I wish we could see Hasegawa, Nagano, and someone very solid. But we know that will never happen - really don't know why they are so obsessed with 4-4-2 for Nadeshiko.

 

NED - JPN (1st half)
NED - JPN (2nd half)

(some occasional stutters in both videos)

NED 0 - 0 JPN

1 ---------- Shots -----------12
0 --------- on goal ----------1
49% ---- possesion ----- 51%
520 ------ passes ------- 516
80% --- passes acc. --- 79%
6 ----------- fouls ---------- 3
1 -------- yellow c. -------- 0
5 -------- offside ----------- 8
1 --------- corners -------- 5

(most of NED possesion was between the pair of their CB's)

Japan was missing Yamashita and Sugita while the Dutch - Miedema, Martens and vd. Donk.

Good training for AFC Cup.

 

Sorry to say but I think is impossible to win with only 1 shot on target in about 96 minutes....

 

I totally agree with you. 12 shots 1 on target is unbelievable.

 

...6 months ago in a galaxy.... not so far away:

ESP 1 - 0 NED
Guijarro 31'

20 --------- Shots ----------1
6 --------- on goal --------- 0
69% ---- possesion ----- 31%
681 ------ passes ------- 309
86% --- passes acc. --- 68%
7 ----------- fouls ---------- 9
1 -------- yellow c. -------- 0
1 -------- offside ----------- 2
7 --------- corners -------- 1

both sides started with their strongest XI's
during the match ESP made 2 subs, NED made 3 subs

Today's match was a reminder of that game to some degree. The differences like the new coach, new midfield, players tryouts in various roles and positions - on JPN side - with also new player tryouts and tactics tried by NED side - are not withstanding.

Nadeshiko pretty much shutted down Oranje's forwards and had their wingers contained. Introduction of Spitse, v. Dongen, Pelova, Doorn or Beerensteyn in 2nd half didn't changed much of the match picture. Dutch had problems to create any danger upfront that wasn't a hopeful ball to chase. Japan team on the other hand has build plenty of good goals scoring chances but it was Sugasawa on point who wasted all of those given to her. I wouldn't be surprised if she's gonna be benched for awhile (and same goes for Sakkiko Ikeda who may actually lose the spot in NT). Urawa's loosing streak in the league hasn't come from nowhere you know...
I think if it wouldn't be for Tanaka's injury, Sugasawa would've been replaced by Iwabuchi at half time (with Norimatsu and Sumida still keeping their chances to enter later and Takahashi at the very end changing tired Tanaka).

I don't see Japan playing three in the middle in 4-3-3 against such physically demanding opponents - the size of envelope to cover in the middle by only three players is to big for Nadeshiko players who today were loosing a lot of 1v1 battles or 50/50 balls. Only because they were quickly overcrowding dangerous areas (archaic it maybe but 4-4-2 is still the most balanced formation), they were able to contain the opponents into small area and then force them to cough the ball by small play. It's too early atm but in the future after this team gel some more I'd like to see coach Ikeda to try and incorporate some variants of 3-5-2. The key is to figure out how to transfer the ball quickly upfront after a turn over and the best way for it is to win the ball higher - thus come the high constant pressing - we have seen today. This is how Sasaki's era Japan won WWC.

 

The fact that we didn't score against a defensive line that had 0 caps before this games says a lot about our attack. But then I feel our problem in attack is so deep rooted that I wasn't expecting much in that area in the first place.

12 shots and 1 on target....I mean it's nothing less than the usual accuracy.

I'm overall happy though, it's been a while since I've seen this team play with purpose in offense or defense and I feel I saw that today. They had a plan and implemented it which is more than I can say about Takakura's Olympic run.

 

Very unfair comment regarding Takakura.

Takakura's team destroyed every weak opposition.

Got a draw against Canada who performed superbly at the Olympics. Got a very disappointing loss to GB who played not better than Japan. Barely beat Chilie, but they beat them.

Even against Sweden Japan had some good moments.

In my opinion, this team haven't shown anything yet, literally nothing. The only thing I can admit, I haven't expected Nagano to play that comfortable at her position compared to other players. Either she has real potential to get that spot or her competition is actually that bad.