What are your current complaints or irks of the national team heading into the World Cup?

Btw, Japan is bringing the entire u19 squad to the WC while ours will only bring 3 training partners from kleague... Just shows how well JFA is prepared for everything.

 

a washed 33 yr old with 0 goals in the MLS is gonna start as striker for this team. group exit confirmed.

 

A zero-goal striker who can't even perform in the MLS gets a free pass to the national team, and on top of that, is the captain? LOL.

 

We have genuinely regressed over the past two decades. Ironically, while we now have players with strong technical ability, there is a clear absence of strategic cohesion to move us forward. The FA’s corruption has become a fundamental source of dysfunction, and in some ways, the success of the 2002 World Cup has proven counterproductive. Several players from that era now occupy administrative and managerial positions for which they are simply not qualified.
In contrast, I look at Japanese football with a sense of envy. From grassroots development to the senior national team, they have rebuilt their system with intention and discipline. It has taken over 20 years, but the results are evident today. Meanwhile, we remain trapped in a short-term, results-driven cycle; constant managerial turnover with no long-term vision. The persistent lack of interest in our domestic league is, in many ways, a reflection of the national team’s overall health.
At this point, my frustration has turned into resignation. For the first time, I feel no excitement for a World Cup, despite it being so close to home. More than anything, I feel for the players.

 

Mong Gyu… Just seeing his face raises my blood pressure.

 

Netherlands lost to Algeria 0-1 and their performance was fking awful. Won't be surprised if Japan wins the group.

 

I get the sentiment. I've gone to every LAFC home game... and it's not been fun as of late.

But you can't not start SHM. Just the name value alone vs the opponents.

I do see him playing a bit more on the left with Oh as the true striker. I didn't get the watch the whole game but I believe that was the setup vs El Salvador.

 

Im hoping that as well. If it does not work with Oh, try Cho.

 

Japan will win the WC in my lifetime I think. That's their serious goal.

Korea's goal is always to just get out of the group...

That tells you the aspirations and expectations...

 

Japan did it correctly. They had a 20 year goal and a 50 year goal. We are trying to plan for the next couple of years at a time... that'll not work.

Japan put pristine pitches all over the country. Not only sending players to Europe, they sent coaches and trainers and staff. They selected a Japanese coach and gave him backing and that created cohesion and strategy and tenure.

They did a hard reset and it's not paying dividends. There are no shortcuts. Korea needed a hard reset in 2006 or 2010. It's been "respectful" only by brilliance of individual performances here and there but that's not enough to make a lasting impact on the game as a country. And now that Son is out of his prime, there is no system or team to turn to... we are just hoping another individual brilliance will carry the team (Lee might be up the task).

What we need is individual brilliance + team cohesion and coaching strategy and team identity not just for the next WC but for the next 4-5 culminating in a 20 year plan to try to get back to the semis or win the damn thing.

Will it happen? I hope so, for the players' sake. But I highly doubt it.

 

2002 was a curse for us. These delusional 꼰대s have been full of themselves.

 

On the other hand Mexico won 5-1 over Serbia. That is a strong win.
And the Czechs won 3-1 over Guatemala.

 

We have to win vs Czechs in game 1... But I think we'll get a late draw...
I foresee a 3rd place finish and barely get out of the group with a 1-1-1 finish... or a 0W 2D 1L finish... that might be enough for a 3rd.

 

Is South Africa that bad right now?

 

They just lost to Kyrgyzstan 0-1 lol, even with Europe-based players. LMS is a fking clown and BJH, YHJ, etc will need to go to army bc of him. There is no way we will win the gold medal for the Asian Games. I heard Japan will pick the best players this time unlike the previous ones because they are hosting it.