3-3 now.
I think it will be long until the next time Nishikawa starts a game. Horrible goalkeeping.
I think it will be long until the next time Nishikawa starts a game. Horrible goalkeeping.
Japan
- Thread starter Scrumpet
- Start date
4-3 now! Crazy game!
They made some changes, but that was how they started out. Kakitani, Okazaki and Kagawa eventually came off for 3 other strikers.
They made some changes, but that was how they started out. Kakitani, Okazaki and Kagawa eventually came off for 3 other strikers.
So Kagawa was playing LM when they started. Where was he playing in 2nd half up untill he was subbed off?4-3 now! Crazy game!
They made some changes, but that was how they started out. Kakitani, Okazaki and Kagawa eventually came off for 3 other strikers.
My mate had £200 on Japan. Can you imagine what he went through?
Still LM.
He plays there 90% of the time. The exception is when Honda is injured.
My mate had £200 on Japan. Can you imagine what he went through?
He must have shit himself 3 times.
Why don't they play Kiotakye in the 3 behind the striker? I know he's a #10 as well but he's surely more talented than other options there? Playing Sakai RW could be an option there too? I think him and Uchida on the right would be very interesting...
Unbelievable. I turned it off when it was still 2-1 because I was bored as sin.
He must have shit himself 3 times.
Yesss Japan
Get in
Noooooo
feck japan
whyyyy
:cry:
Yess
feck
Yess
Japan
yessssss
holy shit
i died
God is fecking with me
That's the whatsapp messages he sent me starting at 2-2
Zaccheroni has tried that, but it hasn't worked out. Kiyotake is unfortunately only able to play behind the striker. In any other position, he's simply not good enough to start.
It's really sad. Japan has 3 excellent AMs, and 4 great fullbacks. It would have been better if they "spread" out the talent. So many good players are wasted on the bench.
Guess you wrote that too quickly. Once Japan for their act together, Zambia couldn't live with their attack and I've seen nothing to suggest that Cote D'Ivoire have a better defense than Zambia.
Japan will probably conceed but should be able to outscore CI'D in the opening match.
Final 4-3 Japan
What a game!!
Gradual substitutions in the second half: Kakitani subbed by Osako, then Okazaki subbed by Okubo, Konno subbed by Morishige, Kagawa subbed by Saito, and Endo subbed by Aoyama.
With Zamiba leading they retreated more in their own half. It turns out the high pressuring by Zambia was hard work even for them, using their stamina. Japan showed far more guts when fighting for the ball in the second half, and substitutions Osako and Okubo created depth by running behind the defense line. Overall Japan was able to find more space and play its collective passing game than in the first half.
Kagawa had a great opportunity at the receiving end of a pass behind the defense line, but he failed to control the ball, pressuring himself when there was no defender approaching him. Kagawa needs to find more confidence to stop sensing ghosts. Later a cross by Kagawa went in to the goal for the equlizer as the target Okubo let the ball through.
Morishige, a CB, made a fancy turn inside the Zambia penalty area to serve a grounder cross just in front of the Zambian goal for a Honda tap in to make it 3-2.
Zambia came back with a quick powerful middle shot to make it an even 3-3 again.
Then CM Aoyama, who came in as substitute, in his first play passes long behind the Zambian line. Okubo controls it and scores a quite dramatic goal with two defenders sandwiching him, for the 4-3 final score.
MOM is definitely Okubo for me.
Overall the subs worked well for Japan but only three are allowed in the real match, of course. Japan was really terrible in the first half under Zambian pressing, so we need more intensity and guts from the start.
Morishige and Okubo/Osako should start instead of Konno and Kakitani. Perhaps Aoyama should also start for Endo.
Again, Zambia was a great team. Thanks for the great reality-check, Zambia.
What a game!!
Gradual substitutions in the second half: Kakitani subbed by Osako, then Okazaki subbed by Okubo, Konno subbed by Morishige, Kagawa subbed by Saito, and Endo subbed by Aoyama.
With Zamiba leading they retreated more in their own half. It turns out the high pressuring by Zambia was hard work even for them, using their stamina. Japan showed far more guts when fighting for the ball in the second half, and substitutions Osako and Okubo created depth by running behind the defense line. Overall Japan was able to find more space and play its collective passing game than in the first half.
Kagawa had a great opportunity at the receiving end of a pass behind the defense line, but he failed to control the ball, pressuring himself when there was no defender approaching him. Kagawa needs to find more confidence to stop sensing ghosts. Later a cross by Kagawa went in to the goal for the equlizer as the target Okubo let the ball through.
Morishige, a CB, made a fancy turn inside the Zambia penalty area to serve a grounder cross just in front of the Zambian goal for a Honda tap in to make it 3-2.
Zambia came back with a quick powerful middle shot to make it an even 3-3 again.
Then CM Aoyama, who came in as substitute, in his first play passes long behind the Zambian line. Okubo controls it and scores a quite dramatic goal with two defenders sandwiching him, for the 4-3 final score.
MOM is definitely Okubo for me.
Overall the subs worked well for Japan but only three are allowed in the real match, of course. Japan was really terrible in the first half under Zambian pressing, so we need more intensity and guts from the start.
Morishige and Okubo/Osako should start instead of Konno and Kakitani. Perhaps Aoyama should also start for Endo.
Again, Zambia was a great team. Thanks for the great reality-check, Zambia.
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Zambia were the more skillful and better team but lack of defensive discipline when playing a high line cost them. Great game to watch though!
Ivory coast will beat Japan
Turns out you were right about this match. I wrote my message during halftime. If you wrote yours around the same time you're quite a prophet!
I still have a bad very feeling about the first half.
Yesss Japan
Get in
Noooooo
feck japan
whyyyy
:cry:
Yess
feck
Yess
Japan
yessssss
holy shit
i died
God is fecking with me
That's the whatsapp messages he sent me starting at 2-2
Your friend must be my twin bother that I've never met. He's telepathically connected with me.
Highlights
Kagawa touches
Kagawa touches
Guess we were watching different games, I saw Japan conceed 2 silly goals due to poor defending and otherwise dominated possession and chances created.
We will see in about a week, more confident with Japan now than before.
Eh you could easily say the same for the first two goals that Zambia conceded. A needless penalty for the first, and poor defending from the defender who was on the wrong side, and the GK who didn't anticipate for the second.
Zambia impressed me, I thought Japan were going to roll over them easily, and i'm sure Japan thought the same too.
Indeed. Zambia were better but paid for shoddy defending in the second half. Japan were lacklustre and looked nowhere close to world cup fitness against a team not even in camp or advanced fitness.
If Japan play like that against Ivory Coast they will lose guaranteed.
I heard that the Zambian coach, a young French guy, emphasized this is not a mere friendly for them but they're playing seriously in preparation for a cup match.
Not that it's an excuse for Japan's poor performance especially in the first half.
What cup match? Lol there's nothing to play for internationally but the world cup. The team haven't played a competitive game since the world cup qualifiers ended. The Africa cup of nations is in 2015. You heard him wrong about this so called 'cup match'. Japan lost to a hastily assembled team. The first choice GK, one of Africa's best, Kennedy Mweene didn't even play. It wasn't even a full strong Zambian team. A more advanced team preparation wise (i.e Ivory coast) will be harder to play against. The best Japan can hope against the big guns of Africa is a draw. We'll see what happens.
That was the impression the local commentator was giving. I checked and this is the closest thing I've found.
Beaumelle has taken to holding monthly training camps for local players and said he has his sights on building on a strong team for the September, 2015 Africa Cup qualifiers.
http://zambiareports.com/2014/03/31/zambias-coach-looks-forward-japan-friendly/
http://zambiareports.com/2014/03/31/zambias-coach-looks-forward-japan-friendly/
So you're right about the cup being next year and I stand corrected.
Cheers
Interesting. I thought this was a good test for Japan. Zambia definitely a side that could outmatch them physically and I wondered if this edge would become even more maximised as the game went on. Instead it seemed like Zambia tired and credit to Japan for maintaining belief in their system and eventually finding the breakthrough. I was impressed by Japan's mentality even though this was only a friendly. They're a good team but I feel their confidence/belief could be knocked a bit too easily at times. They also need to improve on not letting teams back into the game so easily when the temptation arises to lose some concentration once sitting on a lead
Indeed we'll see what happens...
Japan weren't great, but they were clearly the best team.
I started watching from 15-20 minutes out into the first half, and I thought Zambia looked extremely tame offensively. I counted 3 decent-ish crosses and 3 shots from outside the box during the whole game. 2 of their goals were awful mistakes from Japan, who tested out a new keeper.
I'm not claiming to have a sixth sense or anything, but before the second half kicked off I felt confident that Japan was gonna win eventually. And they did. Because they were the better team.
I started watching from 15-20 minutes out into the first half, and I thought Zambia looked extremely tame offensively. I counted 3 decent-ish crosses and 3 shots from outside the box during the whole game. 2 of their goals were awful mistakes from Japan, who tested out a new keeper.
I'm not claiming to have a sixth sense or anything, but before the second half kicked off I felt confident that Japan was gonna win eventually. And they did. Because they were the better team.
You're such a muppet Cal, I told you yesterday that Japan are overrated for no reason and Ivory Coast will win with ease, all Zambia did last night was prove me right they dominated Japan for most of the match, Japan were lucky to have gotten a penalty for ball to hand instead of handball, and their second goal was extremely lucky, Zambia were far more skillful, agile and composed on the ball than Japan and Ivory Coast are a far superior side to Zambia, if Japan play like that next week they're gonna lose by at least 4 or 5.
Tame you say? The Zambian left winger and LB had Japan frantic every time they ran at them. Zambia should've had 4 goals before halftime. Even in the second half before Zambia's equaliser, captain Chris Katongo missed a clear header unchallenged in the box, the keeper was beaten but it didn't beat the post, 2 minutes later the same player had a shot go just wide of the right far post and the goalie once again was rooted to the spot.
Clearly better is a dead wrong. Zambia were faster, more skillful and more inventive, they were also too cavalier and it cost them. At times they were toying with Japan with their quick flicks and dribbling.
How? They barely dared to attack, and 2 of their goals were massive defensive blunders from Japan.
The penalty was correct.
The second goal was sloppy from the goalkeeper, but he was waiting for someone to make contact with the ball. It's not easy to save those crosses.
The third goal was excellent attacking display, something Zambia didn't show even once during the entire game.
The fourth goal was a world class long ball over the defense, followed by an excellent finish.
Zambia should count themselves lucky to only lose with one goal. Had Kawashima been the goalkeeper, then they'd score 1 goal at the very best.
Here's the difference:
Japan had more possession, spent more time on the opponent's half, there was nothing Zambia could have done with Japan's goals, maybe except the second one, but that was deceptively hard to save.
Zambia spent most of their on their own half and had to resort to counters, most of which ended up with simple crosses and shots from outside the box. 2 of their goals were defensive blunders, and the longshot from outside the box wasn't excellent either. I think that keeper should have saved that one.
Japan had useless possesion. They looked lethargic, slow and uninventive and unskillful in the first half. Zambia were pacy, tricky, skillfull and exciting. A few Japanese players were embarrassed by the Zambian left winger. Resorting to counters? Please. People will see what they want to see so i'll leave it at that. A hastily assembled Zambian team mostly with semi pro local players gave the crowd more entertainment than Japan, who are about to play at the world cup.
@Loublaze
Useless possession? Japan scored 4 goals, 2 of which were top class! There was nothing Zambia could do to stop Japan. Zambia was actually depending on defensive blunders from Japan, which they also got because of feck ups from Nishikawa and Uchida.
This is hands down the worst defensive performance I've seen from Japan. Despite this, they still won. And deservedly so.
When a team loses a game and someone says to me that they deserved to win then I expect:
1. The goals they condeded were silly mistakes.
2. Dominating possession.
3. Spending most of the time on the opponent's half.
4. Creating more clear-cut chances.
Zambia did none of the above. How you can suggest that they deserved to win then, is beyond me. I don't know if you're a Zambia fan or Japan hater, but this is starting to get comical.
Useless possession? Japan scored 4 goals, 2 of which were top class! There was nothing Zambia could do to stop Japan. Zambia was actually depending on defensive blunders from Japan, which they also got because of feck ups from Nishikawa and Uchida.
This is hands down the worst defensive performance I've seen from Japan. Despite this, they still won. And deservedly so.
When a team loses a game and someone says to me that they deserved to win then I expect:
1. The goals they condeded were silly mistakes.
2. Dominating possession.
3. Spending most of the time on the opponent's half.
4. Creating more clear-cut chances.
Zambia did none of the above. How you can suggest that they deserved to win then, is beyond me. I don't know if you're a Zambia fan or Japan hater, but this is starting to get comical.
You really are insane, Japan played badly against Zambia and still won with relative ease. Zambia hardly created anything all match except from the defensive mistakes by the Japanese defence who gifted them 2 goals, yet they still lost.
Japan could and should have won by a bigger margin, but in the end it was only a friendly game that didn't really matter.
Cote D'Ivoire are so superior to Zambia that they lost to them the last time they faced each other.
Depending on blunders? The Japan goals were down to recklessness on the part of Zambia. You're deluded. Zambia conceded goals they shouldn't have if they were less cavalier about going forward and more focused at the back. Dominating possession doesn't mean shit, look at Bayern against Real Madrid in the CL. Even people in the stadium were saying Zambia played better. Japan must be proud to concede three goals and be outskilled by a team composed mostly of young semi pro players who are nowhere near the fitness levels that Japan are just before the world cup. Bravo to you and bravo to Japan! What a joke. Lets see how they play against Ivory Coast.
Kagawa and Honda were nowhere to be seen in the first half especially. LOL at the delusion in this thread.
@Loublaze
Way to ignore most of my post.
Where did Zambia spend most of their time? On their own half.
Did Zambia create more clear-cut chances than Japan? No.
Was Zambia's goals a result of attacking brilliance, or failure from Japan's side? The latter.
Did Zambia at least dominate possession? No.
So that's 4 important factors, all of which Zambia failed at. It doesn't matter if they ran faster and did some cool dribbling moves, when they failed at everything else.
Zambia did one thing well this game, and that was defending. There was nothing they could have done about Japan's goals.
Way to ignore most of my post.
Where did Zambia spend most of their time? On their own half.
Did Zambia create more clear-cut chances than Japan? No.
Was Zambia's goals a result of attacking brilliance, or failure from Japan's side? The latter.
Did Zambia at least dominate possession? No.
So that's 4 important factors, all of which Zambia failed at. It doesn't matter if they ran faster and did some cool dribbling moves, when they failed at everything else.
Zambia did one thing well this game, and that was defending. There was nothing they could have done about Japan's goals.
You can talk all you want about how amazing you think Japan is but at the end of the day you're gonna lose to the Ivory Coast, I'm gonna make a lot of money and you're not, deal with it.
I have never claimed that Japan was amazing in this game. In fact, I think they played badly. But they still deserved to win.
It's comforting to see that they can score 4 goals on a bad day against a decent African team with a deep defensive line. In the world cup Japan wont make the mistake of starting Nishikawa again. At least 2 of the goals conceded could easily have been prevented if Japan's first choice, Kawashima, was starting.
You're deluded and clutching at straws. Zambia gave Japan problems everytime they ran at them and that was a lot of times especially in the first half. They couldn't contain the more skillful Zambians. How many times did the Zambian leftback Mbola skin a Japanese player? The one thing Zambia did wrong was defending. They played a high line and paid for it in the second half. Congrats to a world cup ready Japan for struggling to beat a team not even at the same fitness level. LOL