Japan 0-0 China
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The East Asian Championship (formerly the Dynasty Cup) kicked off with a disappointing 0-0 draw with China, in front of a disappointing 25,000 crowd at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo. |
Posted by Alan on 06 Feb 2010
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East Asian Championship 2010
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Schedule for the tournament featuring South Korea, China, Hong Kong and Japan. A useful tune-up for the national team and a great chance for Okada to try a few more line-ups out!
Saturday 6 February
Japan v China
Sunday 7 February
South Korea v Hong Kong
Wednesday 10 February
China v South Korea
Thursday 11 February
Japan v Hong Kong
Sunday 14 February
Hong Kong v China
Japan v South Korea
All games to be held in Tokyo. |
Posted by Alan on 02 Feb 2010
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Japan v. Venezuela Kirin Challenge Cup, Feb.2nd, 2010
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Japan kick off a new year of football against South American opponents as they take on Venezuela tonight. Many expected Hirayama to get a start, especially with Tamada under the weather, and Ogasawara to get his first start in three years or so. Well, we got Oga, we didn't get Hira - Okubo and Okazaki starting up front .... read on for the starting line-up and as-it-went match report! |
Posted by Alan on 02 Feb 2010
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2010 Transfers
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For those of you who can't read the Japanese stories out there.... here is a list of transfers from the end of the 2009 season until a few days ago. I'll update the latest every few days now and start writing articles on the latest and best transfers as we go.
This list is sorted by the J.League club that the player has ended up at. If anyone out there needs this in EXCEL, drop me an email at alan@jsoccer.com and I'll send it along.
The first names listed are those who retired or were released and, at this time, have no new club taking them on. If there is a " - " that means they have no new club (yet)... in the rest of the list the first named club is where the player was in 2009, the 2nd named club is where he is for 2010.
Enjoy....
Alan |
Posted by Alan on 27 Jan 2010
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Yemen 2-3 Japan
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Sota Hirayama scored a full national team debut hat trick after coming on as an early substitute when Japan were 2-0 down away at Yemen! While the 13 new call-ups and young team were not expected to get a big win, the fact that Okada changed it so early and the young guns were able to pull it around gives great encouragement! With the likes of Okubo, Tamada and other "regulars" rarely getting among the goals, it looks like Okada's "gamble" to see what could be gained has yielded another prospect to fight for a place alongside Okazaki, Morimoto and, perhaps Honda in South Africa!
The three points ensured Japan's place in Qatar in the 2011 Asian Championships with a game to spare, too!
"I must give the greatest praise to Hirayama, but him immediately becoming a full member in the national team is a different story. I must say he played to his potential , so there is great hope," Japan coach Takeshi Okada told reporters, through interpreters, after the victory.
Hirayama said: "We had to go home with a win and I just wanted to score again and again, But I'd like to to concentrate on myself this year, rather than looking for a place in the national team."
The FC Tkyo forward scored with a header in the 42nd minute and then trapped and swivelled in one great move to score the equaliser on 55 minutes. He then hit his hat trick with a difficult left-foot sliding volley.
While Okada has said he "expects" a semi-final place, the Japanese tabloids have put the mockers on this and roundly seem to think that Japan will struggle to earn a point in a group with the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark. not very encouraging from the local press!
The interesting team selection worked in two ways. The senior players were rested or allowed to stay in their leagues in Europe, while the three points were gained and qualification ensured ... AND there could be a new start rising! Welcome to the full squad Sota Hirayama!!
Now, why wasn't this game televised in Japan! The newspapers are negative and the TV didn't even think it worth showing? A sad state of affairs!! |
Posted by Alan on 08 Jan 2010
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Yemen v. Japan
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Amid security fears, and surrounded by armed guards, Japan's coach has thrown a few kids in at the deep end ... Here's the squad for tonight's game against Yemen - is Okada taking the pi$$? or is he playing a trump card by choosing the youngest Japan side ever to see who can come through for him? He sort of did the same in France '98 when he selected Ono and Ichikawa to join the squad, and left Kazu and Kitazawa at home ... didn't work then, though!!? |
Posted by Alan on 06 Jan 2010
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Gamba Osaka win Emperor's Cup for 2nd year in a row.
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Gamba Osaka 4-1 Nagoya Grampus
Two goals for Endo, the first a 2-1 lead-taking shot was a perfect example of the fair play of this man. Minutes after Tamada got a yellow for a dive, Endo rode two late tackles to stay on his feet on the edge of the area (even though perfect poitions for his trademark free kicks) and put the ball away from 20 yards. Then Gamba's passing and carefree don't-care-if-we're-winning-let's-get-another-goal-anyway attitude brought the 3rd goal. And a wonderful control, turn and volley from Endo crowned the win! |
Posted by Alan on 01 Jan 2010
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Gamba Osaka 2-0 JEF United Chiba Ichihara whatever ...
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Gamba dispacthed the relegated Chibans with ease ... but what came after was worth waiting for ... |
Posted by Alan on 10 Dec 2009
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VIssel cut 11!
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Vissel Kobe have announced their cuts... stand by for the other teams as they come in! |
Posted by Alan on 06 Dec 2009
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Bando and Matsuyo move on, Saito retires ...
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Very moving sayonaras at Banpaku yesterday for Bando and Matsuyo, but the most moving for me was JEF's ex-Gamba and Cerezo defender Saito Daisuke who was invited to the microphone after Matsuyo had done his bit and Saito - watched by both complete squads made a goodbye speech praising his time at Gamba, etc. and thanking JEF (of course)... the best part was the Gamba fans started chanting his name and then the JEF fans joined in, echoing the same chant, but not in unison, more of an echo... Gamba fans - Daisuke , JEF fans - Daisuke, etc. very nice touch that brought a lump to my throat and a tear to me eye ... I have known Saito since way back at Gamba, and call him now and again to chat about stuff - his English is excellent, actually, not that that's relevant - so it was nicely coincidental that his last game was at Banpaku after all these years.
Matsuyo emphasised that he was still genki, so I guess he is hoping for offers from another team .... Saito retired - and will be a coach of Junior Youth or Youth at JEF.... Bando emphasised, in his own enthusiastic and amusing way with the microphone in front of the Gamba end - that he was NOT retiring! He has had an offer from Cerezo, though not yet officially announced, as well as some other "lesser" offers .... we'll see where he ends up, but whoever gets him, they'll be getting a player that gives - and demands -100%. Good luck to him. |
Posted by Alan on 06 Dec 2009
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Kashima Antlers 5-1 Gamba Osaka
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The scoreline doesn't tell the whole story as Gamba took this to Antlers and, but for a few decisions going against them - hello Mr. Yoshida! (PKs, red card for Lucas) - they could have been in the lead, instead of having to finish the game in a 1-4-4 formation and leaving themselves open for two more late strikes as they went for goals!
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Posted by Alan on 28 Nov 2009
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Shimizu S-Pulse 0-2 Gamba Osaka
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Gamba anilhilate S-Pulse's hopes of a winning season and nail three points to make it wide open at the top. |
Posted by Alan on 27 Nov 2009
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Sagan Tosu 1-3 Gamba Osaka
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Gamba Osaka earn a quarter final place in the Emperor's Cup... next stop Antlers! |
Posted by Alan on 22 Nov 2009
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J1 hot at the top.... Oita and JEF win! Kawasaki messed up!
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Yes, Oita did us all a favour by taking out Frontale 1-0 today... Gamba and Antlers won yesterday, so it's wide open at the top.... Gamba beat Kashima next week and it's all down to the last day... and Reysol could be fighting for their life on the last day so Kawasaki will have their hands full! Gamba to destroy JEF and take it!? |
Posted by Alan on 22 Nov 2009
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Beckham cracks us up!
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"I was joking on the sidelines saying, 'You Americans have been dying to get it to four quarters and you finally got it!'"
David Beckham after LA Galaxy's Western Conference play-off final with Houston was affected by power cuts! |
Posted by Alan on 17 Nov 2009
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