In fact, after the end of Coppa Italia's final lost by Roma, Moeka Minami was seen crying in the arms of coach Alessandro Spugna: many observers (myself included) interpreted that not only as sadness for the loss in the final, but also as a sign that an important segment of her career was going to come to an end. (When I say it was a very important phase of her career, I mean it: she was in Roma for three seasons, being a fixture and a playing-time record-woman in a team where she won two Italian titles, a Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italiana, while reaching once the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women's Champions' League. A successful stint for a Japanese player abroad if there ever was one! ).
Actually, I had forgetten that there was still a chance that one or two Japanese players could have lifted the AFC Champions' League's trophy, but it faded away yesterday. Sakura Yoshida started for Ho Chi Minh City vs Wuhan Jiangda and played for 83' minutes, but her side lost by 2-0 to the Chinese team (highlights). Yuka Toriumi and Haruhi Suzuki played one half each for Hyundai Steel Red Angels instead, and the latter actually went close to scoring, but in the end a Melbourne City's goal at 90'+4' eliminated the Korean side from the final (highlights). Oh, well, no winning run for Japanese players in the AFC Champion's League, this year.
All three spanish players are leaving INAC Kobe as their contract have expired. Already a lot to track of between the managers, retirements, and contracts expiring. Takahira, Nakajima and Hara are leaving Mynavi, for instance.
Nakajima Emi, Takahira Miyu and Hara Ibuki all leaving Mynavi https://www.mynavisendai-ladies.jp/news-club/2025/05/post-7800.html https://www.mynavisendai-ladies.jp/news-club/2025/05/post-7780.html https://www.mynavisendai-ladies.jp/news-club/2025/05/post-7768.html
Tomorrow's games: Nadeshiko League (all games start at 13:00) Nittaidai vs Shizuoka Speranza vs Viama Harima vs Setagaya Nadeshiko League 2 Bunnys vs Mie 14:30
I think that is why the manager got sacked. I could be completely wrong about this, but I get the impression that this season the locker room atmosphere has not been the best. If I were a betting man I would put my money on Nakajima going to Niigata; they seem to be the retirement team of the WE League. To be honest she is still not a bad player so I could see JEF going in for her, because they need a central midfielder. I have always rated Takahira, but she can be a bit injury prone. If she has sorted out some of her physical problems and can play well for a half-decent team I could see her being in contention for a place in the Nadeshiko squad. Yes, I really think she is that good, but recently she has been uuable to play well for even half a season. Sendai have got a long couple of years ahead of them, but when you have nothing to lose you can just play the kids. It is a shame about Kikuchi who is obviously still recovering from her injury, but they should get a boost from her when she comes back.
Ishida is leaving Niigata and looking for a challenge overseas. https://albirex-niigata-ladies.com/news/2025-05-23-2/ Takeda (Niigata) and Ibaraki (Mynavi) already retires at 25 and 27. They both had ACL injury like 2 or 3 years ago and barely came back in the pitch this season.
Michigami signing for INAC Kobe 1925824223659930057 is not a valid tweet id In the meantime, Albirex will loan Seira Tanaka to Omiya.
Tanaka, Ishibuchi, Michigami leaving...that leaves only Shinbori as a striker. I don't know much about the 2 young players called Fujihara and Nasuno.
Shimbori like Tago for Cerezo started to find her feet towards the end of the season in my opinion. She might be ready to step up for Niigata. They may also just play the towering presence of Yamamoto up front. Niigata tend to share the goals amongst the team, so I am not sure how much they will miss Michigami who has gone off the boil over the last couple of seasons. Having said that I do think they may need to find another forward. I love Ishida and she has been one of my favourite players since she first debuted for Stella. However, she is not fast even by WE League standards, so I hope she can land in a team and league where she is not overwhelmed by the pace of the game. Of course she will never know what it is like unless she gives it a go, so I hope it goes well for her.
Fujihara was an impressive player in Fujieda: not a genuine FW but rather a left side winger. I don't remember Nasuno much. I like Yamamoto, but she is small.
Now this is a friendly of all friendlies! I will share my secret with you: I'm always irritated how 99% of Nadeshiko opponents always try to win by some 'trick': physicality (Sweden at WC), superscorer (Rodman at Olympics) or sitting back and getting some fluke goal. In my perfect world the only 'fair' way to defeat Nadeshiko is to technically outplay them. Every other way is unfair and makes me angry. Spain is maybe the only team that can try to win over Japan playing the actual football. Looking forward to this clash of titans!
Well... both these "titans" have a bigger fish to fry (EURO's and EAFF's) barely two weeks later, thus I don't expect a fierce match.
Yamamoto is more like a winger or an inside forward. And you're right, Niigata share their goals amongst the team I liked Michigami because in the League she has an atypical profile compared to other japanese strikers.
Eaff-1 schedule 9th July vs Taiwan 13th July vs South Korea 16th July vs China I hope like last time it will be mainly player from the league.