I mean… the stats say it all don’t they… the players certainly fought to the bitter end but it never felt like little Nadeshiko were gonna win this one. I doubt the North Korean players were really concerned at any point either.
That's true, Koreans controlled the game, but for me, outclassing opponents requires greater scoring (at least 2:0) or physical advantage.
Looks like it’s a bit more than a rumour at this point.. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ckdqgzp70dko
Moeka Minami scored the opener with an header from CK-action today in Roma-Fiorentina that ended on a 5-0 score. She played the whole game. Saki Kumagai was just an HT sub instead, but look at her pinpoint pass in the action of the 5th goal. Previously today, Napoli had lost a game vs Pomigliano by 3-1; since the team had avoided relegation last week already, it was all about giving playing-time to some fringe players: subsequently Miharu Kobayashi didn't play. But, surprise, Yuki Togawa did! She started and she played the whole game. (You can hear the coach calling her name out loud at 0':31" of the video highlights ).
I have some questions about the game against North Korea. 1. Both teams used long balls a lot, but while North Korea took many chances from them, Japan's ones were almost wasted. Why? Was it caused by the difference of the abilities of CBs or FWs or some strategic problem? 2. I wonder if Little Nadeshiko seriously intended to catch victory of this game. If they desperately wanted to win this, I think there were a lot of different tactics or selection of players on pitch.
These are just some random thoughts about the game. Again I may be misremebering things, so please take what I say with a grain of salt. The North Koreans sat a bit deeper than Little Nadeshiko. Also North Korea's full-backs very seldom pushed forward in the first-half, which meant they had numbers back for any ball that went towards Sato. In the second half they were more attacking and one of their best chances came from the left-back. It also has to be said that the passing to Sato was not particularly good. And then there was Hirakawa and Shinjo who both sat deep with Sakaki (?) sitting even deeper in midfield. Both Shinjo and Hirakawa ignored Kinoshita on the left and continued to play through the right. What I am trying to say is that there really was only Furuta and Sato to aim at. Little Nadeshiko played a high defensive line, which meant that the North Koreans had a bit more space to run in to. But in general when the North Koreans played their long balls they transitioned play more quickly, which allowed them to catch the Little Nadeshiko off-guard. I also think that their forwards were just faster than Little Nadeshiko's defenders. The North Koreans were good on the ball, strong and fast, which made it difficult for Little Nadeshiko to compete. At times it looked like they were playing a 4-2-4, but I am probably wrong because I am terrible with identifying formations. I believe their central midfield can be got at, but you need a player to get by a midfielder like Kikuchi, or some very slick passing. The key is the slick passing has to come in North Korea's half. That is about all I can remember. Let us not forget that this is all the North Korean's play for. These players have nothing else to look forward to, so their intensity is just on another level. They are going to be very hard to beat. I am just not sure they are all seventeen that is all.
Young Nadeshiko members for Sud Ladis Cup (27 May - 6 June): http://www.jfa.jp/news/00033944/ Itamura is in maybe instead of injured Tsujisawa. Kashimura is in from Menina, but why not Ikegami (injured?) And Ohshima is neither there.
Saito played for or was in the U17 squad in her time. I thought the game was Viamas poorest game this season. I'm glad they won or they would take it out on Iga this coming weekend.
You all probably knew this but I just found out that Regina and Inac have highlights of their games on their club webpages.
Ikegami did not play on the weekend, so who knows? As much as I like Ohshima she did not play that well in the World Cup Qualifiers, so it kind of makes sense. She is a little bit inconsistent, but when she does do something good it is usually very good. I think she should be in the squad even if it is just to have her come off the bench, but I am not selecting the team. There are some players who are given way more slack than others. Not to pick on Amano, but she does seem to get an easy ride. I assume it is because she plays for INAC. Sakakibara is quite a good player in my opinion and versatile, but never enters the conversation for Young Nadeshiko. I think we should point out that Koga, Tanikawa and Fujino could be in this team.
I agree, Sakakibara has given me good impression every time. I'm concerned about CBs. Yoneda always chose safety clears against strong North Korea attack. As a result we were continuously under their threat, and finally gave them goal. By the way, Tanikawa scored yesterday again.
Yup she surely did ... wining goal against last year champions and league vice-leader Hammarby, scored in their house no less.
Controversial result with Hammarby being denied, what looked like a pretty clear equaliser at the end of the game. The fans were not happy.
Yeah, unfortunatelly officiating is quite poor across this league. In yesterday game, Tanikawa herself was the vicitim of a reckless challenge - YC worthy, but the ref did nothing.
Squad is based on six WWC 2019 veterans and around 10-12 players that joined before WWC 2023. Notable omissions: Ria Percival (retired fron NT), Abby Erceg (retired from NT) and Betsy Hassett, Annalie Longo, Paige Satchell. The Ford Football Ferns squad to face FIFA rank no. 7 Japan in June has been locked in 🇳🇿🇯🇵Head Coach Jitka Klimková has selected a 24-player squad to take on the 2023 FIFA WWC quarter-finalists across two matches in Murcia, Spain 🇪🇸🔗 Read more: https://t.co/DZhfIOgiLn pic.twitter.com/Wsx4JEITRx— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) May 20, 2024
Ford Football Ferns..? I know many national teams have corporate sponsors, but to be included in the name?
Yes, that's the final straw of the Big-Brother-like corporate world we live in. Since I am a fervid advocate of the freedom of speech, I always take pride in spelling all the names (competitions, stadiums, awards, etc.) without the compulsory sponsorship-name added.
Beginning of the end? How about if they were sponsored by The John Shortingham Pencil and Yardstick Corporation Maybe they could then just get rid of Fern and Football and just call themselves The Shorties Is nothing sacred in sport anymore?
Well the Australian NT are called CommBank Matildas and they were Westfield Matildas before that. Their men’s team are the Subway Socceroos. Maybe it’s an oceanic trend. FAs of both countries are always struggling financially as football is not as big there domestically. They probably need all the money they can get.