Didn't crumble, that could have gone the other way too. First half Japan was the better team if anything. That offside.... tough to take, but ok, it was offside, the spirit of the rule is something different, but ok, have to follow the letter. And if it's 1-1, as it should have been. this can go either way. Cross bar, post, nothing much went Japan's way today. Kokubo not looking good on all 3 goals. Possible the guy is better diving to the right? Fujita, for all his class never really got into the game, was almost man-marked by Alex at times, but needs to move more to free himself, make himself available. Still was a good game by Japan, that offside... and some luck and this can end differently
I'd say it was a decent tournament and the boys did a good job. I still rate Kokubo high despite his howlers today, hopefully he'd learn from his mistakes. I thought Japan would've been in a better position if they had the services of the over aged players but it is what it is.
To be honest, felt that if Kuryu Matsuki was here perhaps Japan might have played better. He was integral to winning the AFC U-23 Tournament earlier in the year imo, his leadership skills may be valuable in this instance.
Too bad for for the loss but they did well, the score absolutely doesn't reflect the game. And let's not forget we were playing against a team with a bunch of players getting regular action in La Liga. Their starting line-up today was worth 200m EUR, ours was worth... 11.8m.
bravo to the japanese team for their performance! they didn't have the best u23 players, and they also didn't have any players over 23, and yet they succeeded in the tournament despite this defeat.
Yes, especially Kota Takai, Koki Saito and Hosoya, they were Japan's best and already deserve to be called to the senior national team.
Wtf ? I agree Kokubo should do better on the first goal, even if it's a powerful shot and the teammate lost the ball badly. But on the second?? It's a masterpiece. If anything, the defending is completely amateurish. What the ******** is everyone doing on the box leaving a player completely alone outside?? As if they can't see him. Literally amateur football. Also on the third he should do better but Kimura (I think?) got him up with the touch.
No Dax , dont get me wrong, no goal was a real mistake by Kokubo but he didnt look good on all 3. The second was a shot totaly in the middle and the ball slipped through Kokubos both hands. Hard to save, but not impossible. The rule "when a goalkeeper get the hand on the ball, he need so save it" is not for nothing. But neverless more fault on the defender. Good tournament and a good game today. Japan was very even and had enough chances to score/draw/win today but it shouldnt happen. Way more easy to accept when you see the passion and fire the players has. How heartbroken was it, after the game when Kokubo fall to the ground and cry. Never see a player cry that long and hard. He was falling again and again to the ground, after Spains and Japans player try to get him up on his feed. By the way, Spains team was around 400 Mio. € not 200 .
Feel that Kosuke Nakamura should be the no.1 starting GK for the NT moving forward, overall still think he is the most suitable.
Kosuke Nakamura is a cracker yes, would also say he is one of the best. But Kokubo was insane in that tournament. You can clearly see that he was 5 years at Benfica Lissabon.
he literally has all the players in his face, and the shot has a lot of effect... question should be why was the player left completely alone
But thinking better, the 2021 squad was better than this one, we had Kubo, Kosei Tani, Ao Tanaka, Nakayama, Doan, Mitoma, Hatate. Probably only Kota Takai and Hosoya could play in the 2021's team, and back than we only lost to Spain in the extra time, so looking at this angle, it's indeed quite worrying.
Kosei Tani's performance in 2021 was really decent, still remembered he winning a PK shootouts in the QFs. Even in the match against Spain, he had a few saves. Kubo was vital to the team's performance in Tokyo Olympics.
But this time Japan send bis probably possible "weakest" squad. They dont used overage players, dont used the normal talents from europe appart from 4-5. So "only" players from the J-League and they were nontheless, the best team of the groupstage. Its was great played and a success. Witouht a any doubts there was nothing to worrie.
Moriyasu doesn't seem to call Nakamura that often though. For me, he is the overall most suitable for JNT right now imo. Kokubo even though in Spain match was not that great but was decent throughout the entire Olympics campaign overall. Just curious, whom do you guys think should be the no. 1 starting GK now?
I think that an even a decent first half of season for Suzuki in Parma will be enough to put him ahead of whoever. He is playing in the same spot where the greatest of all time goalkeeper played. Let's hope it will be a lucky charm.
Because you need something special to score in this way. China did the same in the Asian Cup against Qatar.
Spain has won a lot of the recent international competitions, Morocco is the one which came closest to beating Spain the Knockout stages this Olympics, They also beat them in the last World Cup. Perhaps Japan can draw some lessons from them.
Which lesson exactly? Japan won the Death Group at WC, probably Morocco would not. And in these Olympics vs Spain we lost worst then Morocco cuz of a stupid offside rule. Imo Japan need to emulate other football nations. Not any african nation has something to teach Japan about football.
Dont think they have to emulate anything. It was not the offside. It was the post, the crossbar and the 1vs1 that cost them the game, thats all. Only margins. They played a good game.