Cesare Polenghi is this week’s guest, the chat coming straight after the final whistle blew on Japan’s 6-0 win over Afghanistan on Tuesday night. After discussing that game, and the win over Cambodia last week, we move on to the Nabisco Cup 1/4s, the fixtures for J1 Matchday 27 and the Emperor’s Cup 2nd round.
All posts by Alan Gibson
The latest J-Talk Podcast is HERE!!
The latest J-Talk Podcast is HERE!! We’re right back into the swing of things on this week’s podcast, with Alan Gibson guesting first to chat about all of the results from J1 Matchday 26, Japan’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers and the new issue of JSoccer Magazine (to 39:00).
Then Richy Palmer returns to discuss all of the cupsets and major results from the first round of the Emperor’s Cup.
Whatever Happened to … the Japan 1998 World Cup Squad
1 GK Nobuyuki Kojima 17 January 1966 (aged 32) 5 Japan Bellmare Hiratsuka
Currently seen on Japanese TV commentating – from the studio, usually – on national team matches.
2 DF Akira Narahashi 26 November 1971 (aged 26) 29 Japan Kashima Antlers
3 DF Naoki Soma 19 July 1971 (aged 26) 50 Japan Kashima Antlers
Currently manager of Machida Zelvia.
4 DF Masami Ihara (Captain) 18 September 1967 (aged 30) 116 Japan Yokohama Marinos
Currently manager of Avispa Fukuoka.
5 DF Norio Omura 6 September 1969 (aged 28) 31 Japan Yokohama Marinos
6 MF Motohiro Yamaguchi 29 January 1969 (aged 29) 56 Japan Yokohama Marinos
Currently seen on Japanese TV commentating – from the studio, usually – on national team and J.League matches. Former manager of Yokohama FC.
7 MF Teruyoshi Ito 31 August 1974 (aged 23) 2 Japan Shimizu S-Pulse
8 MF Hidetoshi Nakata 22 January 1977 (aged 21) 21 Japan Bellmare Hiratsuka
Retired from the game at the top, after excelling in the game in Italy and England. Pops up now and again with various charity matches, or on TV in an interview from an exotic location.
9 FW Masashi Nakayama 23 September 1967 (aged 30) 27 Japan Jubilo Iwata
Currently seen on Japanese TV commentating – from the studio, usually – on national team and J.League matches.
10 MF Hiroshi Nanami 28 November 1972 (aged 25) 44 Japan Jubilo Iwata
Currently manager of Jubilo Iwata.
11 MF Shinji Ono 27 September 1979 (aged 18) 2 Japan Urawa Red Diamonds
Still playing in J2 at Consadole Sapporo.
12 FW Wagner Lopes 29 January 1969 (aged 29) 10 Japan Bellmare Hiratsuka
Managing/coaching in Brazil. Popped up with an ill-fated stint as Gamba Osaka manager, when working visa issues prevented him from actually doing the job he’d been signed on for.
13 MF Toshihiro Hattori 23 September 1973 (aged 24) 6 Japan Jubilo Iwata
14 FW Masayuki Okano 25 July 1972 (aged 25) 25 Japan Urawa Red Diamonds
General Manager at Gainare Tottori.
15 MF Hiroaki Morishima 30 April 1972 (aged 26) 36 Japan Cerezo Osaka
Mr. Cerezo Osaka – an “ambassador” role at the club.
16 DF Toshihide Saito 20 April 1973 (aged 25) 14 Japan Shimizu S-Pulse
Managed (and played for) Fujieda MYFC.
17 DF Yutaka Akita 6 August 1970 (aged 27) 27 Japan Kashima Antlers
Managed Kyoto Sanga, currently seen on Japanese TV commentating – from the studio, usually – on J.League matches.
18 FW Shoji Jo 17 June 1975 (aged 22) 24 Japan Yokohama Marinos
Currently seen on Japanese TV commentating – from the studio and live – on national team matches.
19 DF Eisuke Nakanishi 23 June 1973 (aged 24) 7 Japan JEF United Ichihara
20 GK Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi 15 August 1975 (aged 22) 27 Japan Yokohama Marinos
Still playing in J2 at FC Gifu.
21 GK Seigo Narazaki 15 April 1976 (aged 22) 2 Japan Yokohama Marinos
Still playing in J1 at Nagoya Grampus
22 MF Takashi Hirano 15 July 1974 (aged 23) 10 Japan Nagoya Grampus Eight
Host of J
Samurai Blue Squad for Upcoming World Cup Qualifiers
Goalkeepers
Nishikawa (Urawa Reds)
Higashiguchi (Gamba Osaka)
Rokutan (Vegalta Sendai)
Defenders
Yoshida (Southampton, England)
Niwa (Gamba Osaka)
Makino (Urawa Reds)
Morishige (FC Tokyo)
Hiroki Sakai (Hanover 96, Germany)
Gotoku Sakai (VfB Stuttgart, Germany)
Yonekura (Gamba Osaka)
Nagatomo (Inter Milan, Italy, as I type!)
Midfielders
Hasebe (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany)
Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka)
Wataru Endo (Shonan Bellmare)
Gaku Shibasaki (Kashima Antlers)
Haraguchi (Hertha Berlin, Germany)
Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund, Germany)
Forwards
Honda (Milan, Italy)
Nagai (Nagoya Grampus)
Takashi Usami (Gamba Osaka)
Muto (Mainz, Germany)
Koroki (Urawa Reds)
Okazaki (Leicester City, England)
Goalkeepers
西川周作（浦和レッズ）
東口順昭（ガンバ大阪）
六反勇治（ベガルタ仙台）
Defenders
吉田麻也（サウサンプトン）
丹羽大輝（ガンバ大阪）
槙野智章（浦和レッズ）
森重真人（FC東京）
酒井宏樹（ハノーファー）
酒井高徳（ハンブルガー）
長友佑都（インテル）
米倉恒貴（カンバ大阪）
Midfielders
長谷部誠（フランクフルト）
山口蛍（セレッソ大阪）
遠藤航（湘南ベルマーレ）
柴崎岳（鹿島アントラーズ）
原口元気（ヘルタ・ベルリン）
香川真司（ドルトムント）
Forwards
本田圭佑（AC ミラン）
永井謙佑（名古屋グランパス）
宇佐美貴史（ガンバ大阪）
武藤嘉紀（マインツ）
岡崎慎司（レスター）
興梠慎三（浦和レッズ）
Kashiwa Reysol 1-3 Guangzhou Evergrande
Pictures courtesy of World Sport Group
Report from AFC web site:
The Chinese Super League champions were handed the lead after just five minutes courtesy of an own goal from Kashiwa captain Daisuke Suzuki before mid-season signing Paulinho (pictured) doubled the advantage before half-time with an eye-catching 40-yard set-piece.
Guangzhou, who beat Kashiwa 4-0 in their 2013 AFC Champions League semi-final first leg in Japan en route to claiming the continental title, added a third at the start of the second half through China striker Gao Lin.
Kashiwa striker Masato Kudo was able to pull a goal back inside the final minute, but Guangzhou will still take a substantial advantage into next month’s second leg.
Guangzhou coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was without Brazilian striker Elkeson although compatriot Paulinho was handed a first start in the competition, while Kashiwa were without injured duo Hidekazu Otani and Naoki Wako.
And Paulinho was quickly into the action in front of a vibrant capacity crowd at Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium as Huang Bowen’s fifth minute free-kick from the left was headed into his own net by Suzuki as the Kashiwa captain looked to stop the delivery from reaching the Brazilian close to the penalty spot.
The visitors continued to dominate as the half progressed with Zhang Linpeng and Zheng Long flashing efforts off target for Guangzhou with Kashiwa struggling for a foothold in the game with the absence of experienced midfielder Otani and defender Wako being particularly felt by the home side.
And five minutes before half-time, with the home side having not registered a shot on target, Guangzhou doubled their lead as Paulinho’s vicious swerving free-kick spectacularly found the top corner from all of 40 yards with Kashiwa goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno rooted to the spot.
Kashiwa striker Cristiano was unable to match his compatriot’s effort 10 minutes into the second half as the Brazilian’s free-kick from just outside of the penalty area drifted wide, although it did signal an improved display from the home side at the start of the second 45 minutes.
But seven minutes before the hour mark Guangzhou added a third as Gao’s angled glancing header from Huang’s chipped left wing cross into the penalty area looped over Sugeno.
Cristiano and substitute Ederson threatened for Kashiwa inside the final 20 minutes but Guangzhou goalkeeper Zeng Cheng remained largely untested.
But after Kosuke Taketomi saw a late header rebound off the crossbar, Zeng was beaten inside the last minute of normal time as Kudo converted from close range to give Kashiwa a glimmer of hope for the return meeting in three weeks’ time.
http://www.the-afc.com/afc-champions-league-2015/acl-qf-kashiwa-reysol-1-3-guangzhou-evergrande
South China Morning Post report:
Guangzhou Evergrande took a major step towards booking a berth in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League with a 3-1 win over Kashiwa Reysol in Japan on Tuesday night.
Paulinho, making his debut in the competition after joining Guangzhou from the English Premier League club last month, scored with a sensational free kick from close to 40 yards and was also instrumental in his side’s opener as the 2013 champions looked in good touch.
“That was definitely the best goal of my career,” said the 27-year-old, whose long-range effort left Kashiwa goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno rooted to the spot.
The Chinese Super League champions were handed the lead after just five minutes courtesy of an own goal from Kashiwa captain Daisuke Suzuki before Paulinho doubled the advantage before half-time with his super strike.
Guangzhou, who beat Kashiwa 4-0 in their 2013 AFC Champions League semi-final first leg in Japan en route to claiming the continental title, added a third at the start of the second half through China striker Gao Lin.
Kashiwa striker Masato Kudo was able to pull a goal back inside the final minute, but Guangzhou will still take a substantial advantage into next month’s second leg.
Despite the result, Scolari remained cautious, saying: “It was an exciting game and both teams were very strong. We were able to make good decisions on the pitch and that was the main difference, but the result of the first leg is not decisive in this kind of competition.
“I am very confident about my team’s performance in the second leg, but I also respect Kashiwa and we will not underestimate them. I think Kashiwa is the strongest opponent I have faced in my 12 games in charge of Guangzhou so far. The Kashiwa coach had prepared his team very well and they put us under a lot of pressure.”
Jeonbuk Motors 0-0 Gamba Osaka
Jeonbuk Motors 0-0 Gamba Osaka
Gamba Osaka came out of this AFC Champions league quarter final with a goalless draw, which should not be considered a bad result, but an all-important away goal was not in the stars tonight.
Jeonju World Cup Stadium saw two previous ACL Champions fighting it out for the honour of meeting Guangzhou Evergrande or Kashiwa Reysol in the semi-final, and there is all to play for in the 2nd leg.Lee Keun-ho lined up for the Koreans against his former club after arriving on loan from El Jaish of Qatar in the summer transfer window.
Gamba manager Kenta Hasegawa was forced into changes, with Tomokazu Myojin replacing the suspended Yasuyuki Konno in the heart of the midfield, while Daiki Niwa took Koki Yonekura’s place at right back. Kotaro Omori started the match with Shu Kurata on the bench.
Jeonbuk had the better of the attacking play in the first half, but never really had Masaaki Higashiguchi struggling in the Gamba goal and it was the away team that came out looking the more lively in the second period. Kurata had replaced Omori at the break and Gamba had moved to a more fluid 4-2-3-1 with Takashi Usami on the left side of an attacking three behind Patric.
It was the big Brazilian who had a decent low shot saved early in the second half, while Usami and Kurata also had half chances as Gamba’s possession and passing game started to look like it might reap dividends but then, just as it seemed more likely that the away team would make the breakthrough, Jeonbuk poured forward and found space and a final mis-cued shot/pass found Lee Dong-gook with the goal at his mercy on the far post, but he put the ball wide from yards out.
Myojin had been felled twice, but got up and played on each time and when Yosuke Ideguchi was called on from the bench it was a surprise to see Hiroyuki Abe replaced. Kudos to Myojin for an excellent veteran’s performance when it mattered!
And so to the 2nd leg, which will take place at Banpaku on Wednesday, September 16th. Konno will be back and available, but Gamba will have to do without Usami, who picked up his second booking of the knockout stage and will be suspended.
Team – Higashiguchi, Niwa, Iwashita, Kim, Fujiharu, Myojin, Endo, Abe (Ideguchi, 72), Omori (Kurata, 46), Usami (Lins, 86), Patric
Team sheet and pictures courtesy of the AFC and World Sport Group
JSoccer Magazine Issue 17 Going to Print!
JSoccer Magazine issue 17 is going to press next weekend… so much good stuff, interesting articles, and unusual things covered. You can all read about Gamba, Reds, Antlers, etc. every day (every hour) from various sources, so JSoccer Magazine never claims to be “up to date” or new (although the revealing of Usami’s transfer to Bayern Munich in Issue 1 was timed perfectly, after he’d told us weeks before knowing that the timing of his move announcement would coincide with release of magazine – hopefully not setting precedent!) … we have a Nadeshiko Women’s World Cup spread, an “early history” of Urawa Reds (and some great “ancient” pictures), a look at the final day of J1 in 2005 – more pictures, too. There’s a look at some young players who are eligible to play for Japan, but living overseas, the United Nations of S-Pulse (planned, need to finish that!), Taiwanese ladies playing in Japan, and MUCH more … details coming closer to release date but, as always, thank you for your support.
JSoccer Magazine Available on eBay, too!
Issue 1 – signed by Yasuhito Endo – here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221259663017?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
Issue 8 signed by Beverly (Goebel) Yanez is here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221259663013?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
Issue 15 available here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321694573707?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
Bargain Issues 1 to 6 PDF easy-pack available here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/221259663014?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
Or mail alan@jsoccer.com with any questions, or requests for a specially tailored-for-you bargain pack!!
Thank you for your support!
Japan Under 22 (2016 Olympics) Training Camp Squad
Japan Under-22 training camp selectees for the August 23 to 26 session. Four days at the camp will end with a practice match against Kyoto Sanga.
Japan coach Makoto Teguramori is looking at the players and options available to him for qualification for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, which would come via success in next January’s 2016 AFC U-23 Championship in Qatar.
GK
Masatoshi Kushibiki (Shimizu S-Pulse)
Ayumi Niekawa (Jubilo Iwata)
Kosuke Nakamura (Avispa Fukuoka)
DF
Masashi Kamekawa (Avispa Fukuoka)
Yukitoshi Ito (Kashima Antlers)
Tatsuki Nara (FC Tokyo)
Naoki Kawaguchi (Albirex Niigata)
Takuya Iwanami (Vissel Kobe)
Kazuki Anzai (Tokyo Verdy)
Naomichi Ueda (Kashima Antlers)
Kyohei Yoshino (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
Kazuya Miyahara (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
MF
Kohei Uchida (Mito HollyHock)
Riki Harakawa (Kyoto Sanga)
Shinya Yajima (Fagiano Okayama)
Gakuto Notsuda (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
Takuya Kida (Yokohama F.•Marinos)
Shoya Nakajima (FC Tokyo)
Naoki Maeda (Matsumoto Yamaga)
Kei Koizumi (Albirex Niigata)
FW
Musashi Suzuki (Mito HollyHock)
Takeshi Kanamori (Avispa Fukuoka)
Takuma Asano (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
Tomoya Koyamatsu (Nagoya Grampus)
Daichi Kamada (Sagan Tosu)
Naoki Matsuda
Here’s the text with that video … August 4th, 2011, RIP Naoki Matsuda
Former Japan international defender Naoki Matsuda died on Thursday, two days after collapsing with a heart attack during training, leaving the country’s football community in mourning.
His death aged 34 was announced by his club Matsumoto Yamaga of the Japan Football League, the third-tier division, where he moved this year after 16 years at J-League first-division side Yokohama Marinos.
Matsuda fell into a coma after a warm-up run on Tuesday morning. He was rushed to hospital, where he was put on life support.
Fans, along with past and present team-mates, flocked to the hospital in the mountain city of Matsumoto, 180 kilometres (110 miles) northwest of Tokyo, as Matsuda fought for his life.
His death came just over two weeks after Japan’s women’s team won the World Cup for the first time.
“I never got to know Matsuda directly but knew what a great player he was having watched him in the J.League last year,” Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni said, according to Kyodo news agency.
Matsuda, known as a gutsy player and valued for his 183-centimetre (six foot) height, was capped 40 times. He played all four of Japan’s matches at the 2002 World Cup, when the Blue Samurai reached the last 16 at home. But his international career ended in 2005 when he fell out with then national coach and Brazilian legend Zico.
Matsuda said in his farewell speech to Yokohama fans in December that he lived for the game. “Seriously, I love football for the heck of it,” he said.
… and another worth your time: