[Raph]

News:

Okada Takes Responsibility for Japan Exit

The South Americans progressed to the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time after prevailing 5-3 on spot-kicks following a goalless draw in which there were very few chances created.
Okada took responsibility for his side's exit and when asked about his feelings when the winning penalty went in, he said: "To be honest I felt that our World Cup was over, so I felt really sad.

"In terms of how we played I have no regrets at all, the players were really wonderful and they've been truly proud of being Japanese and representing Asia. I'm proud of them.
"I couldn't make them win, that's my responsibility. I didn't get my emotion across and didn't make them eager enough. It wasn't enough on my part."
Asked about his future, Okada suggested his time as Japan coach may be coming to an end, adding: "In a state of not having any reflection, I don't think I have anything left to do now

[Raph]

Okada Takes the Blame After Japanese Courage is Undone by Timid Tactics

A few millimetres of crossbar were the difference between Japan progressing to their first quarter-final and going home, but their coach Takeshi Okada took defeat in Pretoria yesterday hard. "If we are valid football players can be defined by the result and what we've done has not really been sufficient," Okada declared, adding rather ominously that "Japan were not able to win: the technical committee will address that."

This was certainly a long way from Fabio Capello's valedictory tournament address 24 hours earlier and Okada, unlike the England manager, rather ambiguously suggested that he will now call it a day. "I don't think I have anything left to do now probably," he said after a penalty shoot-out defeat which Japanese journalists were declaring was the first they had known.

Paraguay have never made the quarter-finals either and their manager Gerardo Martino had to be prised away from one of his coaches, in whose arms he was bawling his eyes out at the end. But it was hard not to sympathise with the Japanese players last night as they knelt on the halfway line to watch Oscar Cardozo dispatch the decisive penalty and kill off the hopes of a nation whose football has advanced so rapidly.

Pity Yuichi Komano, the unfortunate soul who missed. It was another blow in a career blighted by severe knee ligament trouble, thrombosis and an eye disease which briefly threatened to blind him.

Japan's entertaining preparations for the first penalty shoot-out of this World Cup included a group hug involving everyone, kit man and Okada included – "At that moment I told them why don't we score from the penalty kicks to win?" Okada revealed – and some players then donning long black coats, which made it look as if they were about to try a different kind of shoot-out with the Paraguayans. Considering the Japanese understanding of the properties of the Jabulani had made them the most dangerous team with a dead ball in the tournament, you would have backed them to finish it off at that stage.

It was actually their generally excellent goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima who proved less primed than he might have been and was nowhere near several poor kicks from the Paraguayans, though Japan were punished for a generally umambitious display in which they offered far less of the positive, energetic counter-attacking style which has made this tournament such an advertisement for them. Okada moved Yasuhito Endo up alongside the outstanding talent, Keisuke Honda, in the first half but with both sides so anxious to make it through, they froze. Those at home who popped out to put the kettle on for 120 minutes and re-emerged for the shoot-out can congratulate themselves today.

Okada laid the fault for this at his own door. "I did not insist enough," he said. "When I look back at what I could have done for the players and what I did for them I think I should have been more insistent, insisting on winning."

Briefly, Japan did offer a reprise of their thrilling group win over Denmark, which was secured with two fine free-kicks. It took Yo****o Okubo precisely 15 seconds to fire in from 30 yards and then full-back Yuicho Komano tried something similar two minutes later, watching the ball almost slither under Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar. Daisuke Matsui's effort also rattled against the crossbar.

In a half-empty stadium, the rest of the football was fairly desolate, with Lucas Barrios and Cristian Rivieros forcing sharp saves from Kawashima, and the shoot-out seemed inevitable from a long way out. One of the blizzard of statistics which this World Cup has generated includes the nugget about the eighth penalty of a shoot-out being the most likely to be missed, with just a 56 per cent success rate.

So it proved, sending through a Paraguay side who look too short of goals to be capable of progressing beyond the quarter-finals. But for now, their hearts are soaring. "Yes," said Martino when he had wiped his eyes and sat down to talk. "We are not trying to rewrite a page in the book of history but we are among the eight best nations in the world and we're celebrating that."

Paraguay (4-3-2-1) Villar, Bonet, Da Silva, Alcaraz, Morel; Vera, Ortigoza (Barreto, 77) Riveros; Santa Cruz (Cardozo, 94) Benitez (Valdez, 60); Barrios.

Japan (4-1-4-1) Kawashima; Nagatomo, MT Tanaka, Nakazawa, Komano; Abe (Nakamura, 81); Okubo (Tamada, 106) Endo, Matsui (Okazaki, 66) Hasebe; Honda.

Referee F De Bleeckere (Belgium)

Man of the match Honda.

Attendance 36,742

[Raph]

Originally Posted by Jessica.

That's horrible Smithy! I care.

Thanks Jess. Just thought I'd create a thread for JFA, and then also the Japanese Football League, which is rising with talent a little more each year (only started around 10 years ago I think!) And I know some forum members (Shaun, Cara, Karl, myself, Twilight, and Jess etc) might like to talk about the Japanese team. No need for such a pointless comment, Smithy.

[Jessica.]

Originally Posted by Raph

Thanks Jess. Just thought I'd create a thread for JFA, and then also the Japanese Football League, which is rising with talent a little more each year (only started around 10 years ago I think!) And I know some forum members (Shaun, Cara, Karl, myself, Twilight, and Jess etc) might like to talk about the Japanese team. No need for such a pointless comment, Smithy.

Ya I think they are a very promising team, good luck with your thread Raph and good luck Japan.

[Raph]

Smithy, if you don't care, fair enough. But no need to piss other people off, is there? You've said you 'don't care' once so leave it at that.

Japanese World Cup Theme Song (Nice Tune actually! All about faith and belief in the Japanese team. Following the path to Victory. All in Good Spirit)

Youtube video

[King Gizzard]

Tulio was born in brazil so he's half japanese

Always thought he looked a odd for a Japanese player lol

[Raph]

Please stick to the thread, guys.

On topic, my favorite japanese player is the goalie, Kawashima. Last year he got the fair play award of the Japan League. What a legend. I still treasure the moment he saved the penalty from Lampard. That guy has got style.

[James]

I've deleted some unconstructive posts here.

[Raph]

Originally Posted by James

I've deleted some unconstructive posts here.

Thank you, James. I really see a bright future for the Japanese team. This thread might be seen in a different light in 4,8 years to come!

[CaraRawr]

I love them. <3

[Raph]

Japan Receives Warm Welcome Home From World Cup

OSAKA, Japan (AP) -Japan's football team returned home to an enthusiastic reception on Thursday after having exceeded expectations at the World Cup.
Thousands of fans waved flags that read "Thank You'' when greeting the squad at Kansai International Airport.
Japan surprised many by beating Cameroon and Denmark in group matches before being defeated in a penalty shootout by Paraguay in the round of 16 on Tuesday.
"We returned a little earlier than we wanted,'' coach Takeshi Okada said. "We wanted to play one more game, but this was a great team that did a good job of representing the spirit of Japan.''
It was the first time Japan had reached the knockout stage of a World Cup on foreign soil. Japan also reached the second round when it co-hosted the 2002 tournament.
Keisuke Honda, who scored twice in the group stage, paid tribute to his teammates.
"My teammates supported me and created situations that made it easier to score,'' Honda said. "But to be honest, I am disappointed, so will work hard to improve.''
The team's performance in South Africa touched off large celebrations at home.
Thousands went to stadiums around the country to watch public showings, while Tokyo pubs and sports bars were open all night and packed. After the win over Denmark, the normally sedate streets of Tokyo erupted in celebration.
Okada, who said before the tournament he was targeting a semifinal berth, has indicated he will step down as coach. Guido Buchwald, a former Urawa Reds coach and German defender, has been mentioned as a possible replacement.


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz0sR5knVsT

[Raph]

Kawashima had no chance to work his magic
Michael Church / Special to The Daily Yomiuri

PRETORIA--With the encouragement of his teammates ringing in his ears and his confidence at an all-time high, Eiji Kawashima went into Japan's World Cup penalty shootout with Paraguay composed and ready for action.

But, as is so often the case for goalkeepers, there was little he could do to keep the Paraguayans at bay. Kawashima was not destined to be the hero at Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

There was to be no repeat of the penalty save the Kawasaki Frontale man made against Denmark in the previous game--when he saved Jon Dahl Tomasson's initial spot kick--or when he faced England in a pre-tournament friendly in Austria and kept out Frank Lampard's effort.

He was not given a chance as Edgar Barreto, Lucas Barridos, Cristian Riveros, Nelson Valdez and Oscar Cardozo all struck with aplomb to send Paraguay through to a quarterfinal date with Spain, leaving Japan thinking of what might have been.

"I'm really disappointed I couldn't save any of the penalties," said the 27-year-old former Nagoya Grampus goalkeeper, who has been linked with a move to Belgian league side SK Lierse.

"I stopped two penalties when we had games against Denmark and England but I was very disappointed I couldn't stop any today."

So accomplished was the execution of all five spot kicks, not even a quiet word from Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, who knows plenty about saving penalties at the World Cup, could help Kawashima.

The former Yokohama F Marinos man kept out a spot kick from Darijo Srna against Croatia at the previous edition of the tournament in Germany four years ago, but there was little he could do from the bench on Tuesday evening.

"I told him to calm down and he could be a hero after the game if he saves the ball, but it's difficult," said the four-time World Cup veteran. "That's football.

"I think the Paraguayan players were more comfortable taking penalties, our players looked a little bit nervous. But we were unlucky today."

Despite the loss, Kawashima believes the Japanese should take heart from the performances in South Africa, both against Paraguay and in the tournament as a whole.

"I think we played well," he said. "We lost on penalties and we didn't concede a goal. I think we played well and we should have confidence because of this result. They had chances but we defended well.

"I never knew that I could play at a World Cup and this experience is something that not everyone can have. I now have to progress for the next World Cup with this experience.

"We can go forward with confidence. Even though we're very disappointed with the result today, we have proved that the Japanese team can play much better."

[Raph]

^Kawashima off to Belgium? (Off to check out what the Belgian league is like!)

[Raph]

Kawashima (goalie) has signed the deal with SK Lierske and will be transferring for the new season. (Belgium Division 1)

[Raph]

Youtube video

Ah miss this!

[King Gizzard]

Future looking good for Japan eh?

[Raph]

Originally Posted by Nathan

Future looking good for Japan eh?

What makes you think that, Nathan? I haven't followed the national team as such really since the World Cup, although I still keep posted about the whereabouts of certain players.

Hey on another note, via your avatar, I noticed that you're a West Ham fan; I didn't remember that. I've got to say, although the penalty wasn't really deserved, i'm really happy that West Ham beat Blackpool in the playoff finals! Although of course, ideally, Cardiff would've been the team going up - alas, our game against you in the play-offs was shameful so you guys fully deserved to go up

[King Gizzard]

I'm Aston Villa

and the emergence especially of Shinji Kagawa, soon to play for United, Miyaichi, Takashi Usami at Bayern, Nagatomo at Inter, Honda at CSKA, and alot of players from J-League have gone to Germany

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Raph

you're a West Ham fan

wut

[Raph]

Originally Posted by Nathan

I'm Aston Villa

and the emergence especially of Shinji Kagawa, soon to play for United, Miyaichi, Takashi Usami at Bayern, Nagatomo at Inter, Honda at CSKA, and alot of players from J-League have gone to Germany

Ahaha aw sorry man, at a quick glance all I noticed were the West Ham colors, my bad

But yeah for the second part, you're right lots of Japanese players doing really well in Germany - quite exciting stuff. Yeah true, I wonder how Kagawa will cope at United. He played excellently in Dortmund but I think the style of playing is quite different in England to Germany, so it'll be nice to see how he adapts as a player. As for the others, actually Usami left Bayern because they never played him! Which is a shame considering the fact that in one of the two games where they played him, he scored a brilliant goal. Oh and yeah man, Honda's my favorite, still.