Overall Japan played a quite good game in terms of pressing and defensive play. 0 shots from Australia is a really good thing.
I'm disappointed with the draw, it should have ended at least 5-1 to Japan based on how Australia played and how many opportunities Japan wasted. This is the same Australia that lost to Bahrain at home and couldn't beat Indonesia away.
Yeah feel the same and its a good thing and the right way, that we feel disappointed. That shows how mich JNT and his players has developed the last years.
This "enhanced" Indonesia team lacks firepower and clinical finishing skills, but still, JNT defenders needs to be alert at all times. That Itakura brain fart earlier should not be repeated. Heavy rain ruins this game imo.
It rains often like that in Manchester. The conditions are the same for both teams. Hence our boys better cope.
I'd use fresh legs for the 2nd half. For me, China's match is more important due to the expected hostility from the Chinese and their rough play.
Tbh, I was expecting a tight game, but Indonesia gave up so easily even with their "imports", showing that quick shortcuts doesn't guarantee you success.
They actually played well for a team that lost 4-0. The actual scoreline should have been 5-2 to Japan or something like that.
Solid game with 1-2 defense errors. What the hell was Itakura doing at the 8th minute? He has quality and is some damn good defender but since 1-2 years, probably since bis brain dead in the asia cup, he has Yoshida tendencys, which is not good. Of course he is far more of a quality player then Maya but every time he is near the ball, I have some heart attack. His big weakness is, that he gets overrunned very easily. He has problems to know, when he has to start a run or switch his body between attacker and ball. And to call up Hashioka is a joke, this guy was injured over eternity + play in a 2nd league. Watanabe must kidnapped Moriyasus kids to be left out.
No time for Kyogo and this is a bad news cuz Moriyasu will send him in the lion cage vs China bloodthirsty tacklers. Please don't injure yourself Kyogo.
So how many points does Japan still need to secure qualification? I hope everything is set after March's matches and then Moriyasu can experiment to his heart's content
About 21-22 points so 3 more wins or so. Japan has pretty much already secured qualification because of how far behind Australia is.
Moriyasu really could experiment already now. Instead of the same team, exception Kubo/Kamada and injuries each game. Try 1-2 changes each game... let's see if he does vs China.
I think Moriyasu will go with same lineup except bring in Kubo for Kamada. Even tho i'd prefer ito and Nakamura over Doan and Minamino Also JNT need to be ready for nasty tackles, the Chinese media is already talking about "career ending tackles" and such mindset comes from the CCP itself