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Japan 0-0 China |
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A reasonably strong Japan side, with an adventurous triple strike threat of Okubo, Okazaki and Tamada (if Tamada can ever be considered a threat!) failed to dent the scoreline. Hirayama also had half an hour in place of Tamada to get on the scoresheet without success. OK, Japan were missing the flair of Shunsuke Nakamura and Daisuke Matsui, as well as the bite of Hasebe in midfield (and thankfully, Ogasawara was not in the line-up today - let's hope his recall is just a blip on the radar of Okada) .... but there still needs to be a LOT more invention, endeavour and grit in the play of the Samurai Blue if they're to get even a point in South Africa! Disappointing ... two games without a goal. Bring it up, boys! |
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ABOUT JSOCCER.COM
Jsoccer.com is the brainchild of Alan Gibson. Alan was born in Birmingham, England, and grew up supporting BOTH Aston Villa AND Birmingham City - and still does, from afar! Based in Kobe, Japan for the last 22 years, he has been covering the J.League since its inception in 1993, and remembers watching the first ever J.League match and thinking, "I've got to get involved in this."!
While TRYING to cover the whole of Japan, Alan has a soft spot for Gamba Osaka, since the team that they were formed from - Matsushita Denki - was the first team he watched in Japan in the late 80s! BUT, in the interests of supporting the LOCAL team, Alan has added Vissel Kobe to his list since their formation in 1995, and was responsible for their web site's English History and News Section until - in a cost-cutting exercise at the start of the 2010 season - they removed it, lock, stock and barrel!
Alan is now responsible for Gamba Osaka's English web pages, as well as being the voice of Gamba Osaka (GOOAAAAALLLL!) for their AFC Champions League games! As if all that wasn't enough to get the best info on the J.League, Alan regularly referees practice games, including regular calls from Vissel Kobe and Gamba Osaka to officiate! Jsoccer.com - it really is "from the inside"!
