Official 2022+ Samurai Blue thread

Lots of Dutch fans. But Japan fans in good voice as well. Our 12th man is going to be important as well, they must make themselves heard to the players

 

Taniguchi got turned by Malen there, very poor!

 

Huge amount of Japanese fans, it's so nice to see.

 

I feel like Suzuki was a bit lucky to save that, it didn't look like he knew too much about it.

 

Nakamura doesn't look like he's got shinpads!! I wonder why?

 

Nice play, Daizen comes wide and Nakamura inside. Kamada with a pass into Maeda and wins a corner

 

The plan seems to be to defend deep and then hit on the counter-attack, so far Maeda and Kamada are the only one offering some skills going forward.

 

This is a tense match.
I hate these hydration breaks.

 

I feel they play a dangerous game with this tactic although it often works.

Very passive

 

Kubo and Doan fullbacks. Ok.

 

Yeah, similar tactics to last world Cup, Dutch look good though, their passing is on point, so this really could go either way, nerve-wracking to watch

 

Kamada slows the game down to much
All his balls forward have failed

 

They are losing every second ball now
Come on

 

Suzuki.......

 

Taniguchi should not be letting Malen get the header

 

We are not doing too well with the set pieces. It's a lack of physicality, size and height which is hurting us there

 

almost.

 

The Dutch are the tallest people in the world on average.

 

omg ueda almost

 

Both Nakamura and Ueda should be hitting the target from their shots.

 

They're doing pretty well against a very tall team

 

Tanaguchi is struggling big time in the air and against Malen while Suzuki looks shaky.

 

Well, will they change anything?

 

Malen has had 2 headers so far. Has to be cut out, I'm not happy with this because even if we're shorter we have to use physicality to make it difficult for the Dutch to get their headers.

In terms of the game generally, it's slow paced but Japan want to catch the Dutch out with a change of pace. For subs we could have J Ito and Y Suzuki come on after 60 mins. J Suzuki is a possibility as well

 

Are you kidding me Kamada was the worse player in the first half...