index – Page 5 – Japanese Soccer

Oswaldo Oliviera Continues Incredible Record As Nabbout Clinches Trophy But Problems Remain

By index on Saturday, December 22, 2018

One of the feel-good stories of last season has taken up the prestigious domestic trophy. However, this is hardly positive news. Urawa Red Diamonds of Andrew Nabbout has won the Emperor Cup by defeating Vegalta Sendai 1-0. Yet, they maintain the old record of Oswaldo Oliviera, the manager with a great record when it comes to Japanese football.

However, the Brazilian manager does not pay much heed to the striker of Socceroos’ World Cup who is yet to score for the Japanese team after fifteen appearances across all competitions for the club.

Japanese Soccer

Japan Claim Strong Success overKyrgyzstan

By index on Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Japan were able to come up with a strong performance in the recent game against Kyrgyzstan. It was an impressive performance from the Asian team as they were able to enjoy a dominant 4-0 success in this final friendly match before they step into the Asian Cup next year.RyosukeYamanak, who was making his debut for the national team, was able to score after just two minutes on the clock. This actually set the tone for the match and Genki Haraguchi was able to add another for Japan in the middle of the first half. Japan then gained a strong grip on the match with goals from Yuya Osako and Shoya Nakajima.

Hajime Moriyasu has been able to make a major impression in his first few matches as the Japan national team manager. The Kirin Challenge Cup success has been able to take his overall record to four victories and a draw since taking over the role as the national team boss. Three of those victories have been against American opposition. Even then,Moriyasu has tried to keep his team grounded by claiming that the stature of the opposition is not important. It is extremely important that Japan played with a high level of motivation irrespective of the opponent. It is likely that Japan will be coming up against Uzbekistan or Turkmenistan in the group stages of the Asian Cup next year.

Japanese Soccer

Japan Go with Veterans for Friendlies against Panama and Uruguay

By index on Wednesday, October 24, 2018

New Japanese coach Hajime Moriyasu has decided to call up as many as six veterans for the upcoming match against Uruguay and Panama. The 50-year-old will be leading Japan for the first time after recently assuming office. The pressure of winning the first game in charge appears to have made the 50-year-old go for the trusted option veteran players like Yuya Osako, Yuto Nagatomo, and Maya Yoshida. These players will be linking up with the 23 man squad named for the games against Panama and Uruguay. The first of those games will be against Panama at Niigata while the match against Uruguay will be at Saitama.

Moriyasu has been in charge of the Olympic and the senior team since July. He decided to go with a less experienced group of players for the games against Chile and Costa Rica. Even though Japan did not play against Chile due to an earthquake cancellation, the national team did take on Costa Rica in the subsequent friendly match and were able to get a comfortable 3-0 win. The next four matches for the Japanese national team happen to be at home and they provide a good opportunity for Moriyasu to settle into his role. The 50-year-old has a tough job of having to improve Japan, who were unable to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Japanese Soccer

Iniesta happy to play in Japan

By index on Monday, September 10, 2018

Former Barcelona and Spain international midfielder Andres Iniesta believes that he has made the right decision to move to Japan in order to play for Vissel Kobe. He said that he feels at home in Japan and that he has been welcomed really well by his teammates as well as the fans.

Indeed Andres Iniesta has enjoyed a good opening to his Japanese career and has scored two goals so far this season in the Japanese league.

Japanese Soccer

Japan replaces national coach

By index on Saturday, July 28, 2018

Japan has replaced their national coach Akira Nishino after their disappointing exit against Belgium. Indeed the Japanese team was leading by 2-0 with only 25 minutes left in the game and was ultimately beaten 3-2.

The Japanese Football Federation has decided that they will need another coach if they want the team to progress.
Akira Nishino said that he accepts the decision and believes that he has done his best for the team. He said that Japan has done their best in the World Cup and it is unfortunate that they could not win the game against Belgium. He said that they started the match well and did everything they can in order to control the game.

Japanese Soccer

JAPAN TO PLAY NEW ZEALAND IN OCTOBER

By index on Thursday, October 5, 2017

The Japan national football team calendar in 2017 is complete with the national team confirming an international friendly against New Zealand in Nagoya next month.

Anthony Hudson’s team, who defeated the Solomon Islands home (6-1) and drew away (2-2) for a 8-3 win on aggregate to book their place in the Intercontinental Playoff in November, will face the World Number 44, Japan on Friday 6 October at Toyota Stadium in Nagoya.

While New Zealand won the OFC Final Stage Playoff, Japan defeated Australia 2-0 in the AFC Stage Three Qualifiers to book their place in the FIFA World Cup in 2018.

New Zealand boss Hudson said the fixture, which will be for the Kirin Challenge Cup, would be a great test for his side in their final match before taking on the fifth-ranked South American team for a place at the FIFA World Cup.

“We are really pleased to have this international friendly with Japan confirmed,” said Hudson. “Japan are a top team and they are a team in form as they have qualified for the World Cup next year – their sixth World Cup in a row which is a great achievement.”

Japanese Soccer

NATHAN BURNS MOVES TO JAPANESE SIDE

By index on Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Australian football star Nathan Burns has moved to a Japanese side, reports confirm.

The player opted out of likely deals in Australia to move to Japan where he would feature for Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

“I am honoured [to join] Sanfreece Hiroshima, which is one of the most successful clubs in Japan,” a statement credited to the player is on the club’s website.

Burns is expected to help the J-League side with their ambitions. The club confirmed the move for the 29-year old on Thursday. He was recently released from the deal he had with FC Tokyo but there were reports of offers in the A-League where he was expected to move to.

Japanese Soccer

JAPAN’S WC QUALIFYING CAMPAIGN GOING STRONG

By index on Friday, May 26, 2017

Asian soccer powerhouse Japan thrashed Thailand 4-0 on Tuesday to get their third successive victory in the AFC World Cup qualifiers. They are now set to top Group B with the result.

Former Manchester United star Shinji Kagawa scored the first goal in the first ten minutes before his namesake Shinji Okazaki doubled the tally in the 19th minute. After the break, Yuya Kubo made the scorers’ list with his effort in the 57th minute. Maya Yoshida made it four in the 83rd minute.

Japan have earned 16 points, three points more than Saudi Arabia who follow closely. Saudi Arabia are meeting Iraq on Tuesday. Australia are in third place after defeating United Arab Emirates 2-0.

Thai manager KiatisukSenamuangdecided to play the centre back TanaboonKesaratin defensive midfield but it did nothing to limit the onslaught of the Japanese. he made several changes to the team that started the match. KoravitNamwiset, PeerapatNotchaiya, AdisakKraisorn and WattanaPlaynumwere drafted in the War Elephant’s lineupbut the 2002 World Cup host had a potent attacking side that prevailed.

Japanese Soccer

50-YEAR OLD SCORES IN JAPAN

By index on Thursday, March 30, 2017

Japanese football witnessed yet another record, as Kazuyoshi Miura became the first player over 50 years to get a score in the country’s football league.

The player scored for Yokohama FC in the game against Thespa Kasatsu. Miura’s goal made all the difference, earning the team maximum points in the Division 2 clash.

The former Japan international said he had “the vibes of a goal” and that he was just trying to stay positive before he netted. The player broke his previous record as the oldest goalscorer in J-league history as he held the record at 49 years, three months and 24 days. He has now set the new record at 50 years and 14 days.

He renewed his deal with the club in January, amidst strong speculations that he could retire. He has an amazing record, netting 55 times in 89 games for Japan.

Miura started his professional football career in South America, playing for popular Brazilian club Santos. He played there in the late 1980s before moving to Italy to feature for Genoa and Dinamo Zagreb in the 1990s.

Japanese Soccer

U-16 JAPAN START COPA UC WITH DRAW

By index on Saturday, January 14, 2017

Japan National U-16 Team, so-called “00 Japan”, started their COPA UC 2016 campaign on Wednesday 14 by drawing to U-17 UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA.

The opponents are one of the best clubs in Chile, winning countless domestic youth championships. According to the tournament regulations, the U-17 players of the club are participating this time.

The match was held right after the tournament’s opening ceremony. In the great environment with almost 800 fans in attendance including a large group of Japanese supporters, the U-16 Japan squad kicked off their first match.

For ’00 Japan’, it was the first official international match since they lost to Iraq in the semi-final of the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016. Despite the fatigue from a long trip from home, the squad, especially their frontline, displayed some impressive football.

The opponents composedly moved the ball around and showed their toughness and physicality time to time to dodge Japan’s pressure and prevented the Japanese side from creating chances. As they gradually started to control the match, a passing mistake by Japan in the 13th minute led to a threatening pass into the space behind their defenders.