Last 16 games in Emperor’s Cup … match-up of the day? Marinos v Yamaga – Matsuda’s two teams up against each other – wow! Fate!Nagoya Grampus v Kashiwa ReysolKashima Antlers v Kyoto SangaKawasaki Frontale v. Shonan BellmareMito HollyHock v FC TokyoEhime FC v Urawa RedsCerezo Osaka v. Vegalta SendaiShimizu S-Pulse v. JEF UnitedYokohama F.Marinos v. Matsumoto YamagaAt least one J2 team (from Mito v FCT) in last eight then!

SEVEN teams in the last 16 of the Emperor’s Cup 2011 are from outside J1! Congratulations, especially, to Matsumoto Yamaga (spurred on by the spirit of Naoki Matsuda, no doubt) who beat Niigata to represent the JFL in the final 16 this year.Fukuoka Univ. 0-3 Bellmare (J2)Gamba 2-3 Mito (J2)FC Tokyo (J2) 2-3 VisselKashima 2-1 Toyama (those four games after extra time)Jubilo 0-1 JEF (J2)Hiroshima 0-1 Ehime (J2)Reysol 6-1 KofuReds 2-1 VerdyMarinos 3-0 TochigiNagoya 1-0 KitakyushuYamagata 2-3 Kyoto Sanga (J2)Frontale 4-0 TrinitaS-Pulse 5-0 GainareCerezo 3-0 FagianoVegalta 3-1 AvispaAlbirex 0-1 Matsumoto Yamaga (JFL)

Did you know? North Korea are the new Unofficial Football World Champions, after Japan held the title for a decent 16 unbeaten matches. Meanwhile, the North Korean nation probably don’t realise they hold the title as their Internet access is probably quite limited!The Japan game itself was broadcast on North Korean TV well after the fact, on delay, and the Japanese national anthem was edited out of the TV broadcast – shame – quite impressive booing and shrieking accompanied the live rendition before the game.Around 1 million homes have TVs in the North, but no estimate made as to how many people watched on each TV – it was probably obligatory to watch the game, though, somehow!Apparently the TV and newspapers have not mentioned the fact that the team has actually been knocked out of qualifying for Brazil 2014!!!As for the Japanese team (and fans) – it apparently is a relief to just get out of the country safely, and the result was not deemed important, at all, in the final scheme of things.

A full round of cup games tomorrow night to ease us back into the J.League at the weekend. Down to 32 teams.13.00 kick offYokohama F. Marinos v Tochigi S.C. – Mitsuzawa19.00 kick offNagoya Grampus v Giravanz Kitakyushu – MizuhoKashiwa Reysol v Ventforet Kofu – HitachiAlbirex Niigata v Matsumoto Yamaga – Big SwanKashima Antlers v Kataller Toyama – KashimaMontedio Yamagata v Kyoto Sanga – ND SoftKawasaki Frontale v Oita Trinita – TodorokiFukuoka University v Shonan Bellmare – NACK5 (Omiya)Gamba Osaka v Mito HollyHock – BanpakuF.C. Tokyo v Vissel Kobe – AjinomotoSanfrecce Hiroshima v Ehime F.C. – Big ArchUrawa Reds v Tokyo Verdy – SaitamaCerezo Osaka v Fagiano Okayama – KinchoVegalta Sendai v Avispa Fukuoka – YurtecShimizu S-Pulse v Gainare Tottori – NihondairaJ

Don’t you just love Internet translations? Here’s the English version of the story below:J1 / G Osaka practiced closed in a practice field in Suita-shi, Osaka on 14th. Niigata round (Tohoku electric ス) and the important match of the league continue this week by middle 2nd on Mito round (an international exposition), 19th of the Emperor’s trophy on 16th. Manager Nishino tightened a team for [the minus number figures end] and the Emperor’s trophy and 2 crown conquest of the league match. The team circumstances are severe. As for MF Endo of the central pillar, FW 李根鎬, the match of 16th is absent by World Cup preliminary participation. FW ラフィーニャ of the score source took time for the recovery of the left shoulder wounded in, and absence became strong with two games. The commander expects FW Hirai, FW Kawanishi, MF 金承龍 in a substitute. [I do Mito and a dull match, and don’t influence it on the weekend.] ] which a member organizes in the main premise that finishes winning. The appointment in 19 days suggests it if I play an active part in the match of 16th. For title capture for the first time in two years, I demanded the stirring up of the Class reserve.Ｊ１・Ｇ大阪は１４日、大阪府吹田市内の練習場で、非公開練習を行った。今週は１６日に天皇杯の水戸戦（万博）、１９日にはリーグの新潟戦（東北電ス）と重要な試合が中２日で続く。西野監督は「負けたら終わり」と、天皇杯とリーグ戦の２冠制覇に向けてチームを引き締めた。　チーム事情は厳しい。大黒柱のＭＦ遠藤、ＦＷ李根鎬はＷ杯予選出場で１６日の試合は不在。得点源のＦＷラフィーニャは、負傷した左肩の回復に時間がかかり、２試合とも欠場が濃厚となった。　指揮官は代役にＦＷ平井、ＦＷ川西、ＭＦ金承龍らを期待する。「水戸とつまらない試合をして週末に影響しないように。勝ちきる大前提でメンバー編成する」。１６日の試合で活躍すれば１９日での起用も示唆。２年ぶりのタイトル奪取のために、控え組の奮起を求めた。Story from Twitter – http://eag.ly/y/mF773 J.League News

and for our Japanese readers :JSoccer Magazine 第二号好評発売中！！日本国内は送料込み８００円！清武選手　特集細貝選手　インタビュー侍ブルー　写真李　忠成選手　なでしこジャパン徳島ヴォルィス石川　直宏選手清武弘嗣　選手細貝　萌インタビュー＆日本代表の戦術李　忠成　サンフレッチェ広島　表紙フレデリック　ユングベリ　清水エスパルス　表紙松田　直樹選手　早すぎた別れなでしこジャパン　特集徳島ヴォルティス　特集ガイナーレ鳥取　特集　＆　ピクチャーダウンアンダー（オーストラリア）からの見解＆エディー　ボスナー写真Jリーグ韓国人選手　

In J2 – Tokyo are all but in J1. 9 point cushion and huge goal difference means “magic number” of points needed is 1!Battle for 2nd and 3rd very close!1 F.C.Tokyo 71 +412 Sagan Tosu 65 +323 Tokushima Vortis 62 +164 Sapporo 62 +15 5JEF 55 +8Romantics hoping for Sagan and especially Tokushima it seems. Sapporo would just come down again. Tosu and Vortis may well not?!

12 Kawasaki Frontale 38 31 11 5 15 45 49 -413 Albirex Niigata 38 31 10 8 13 36 40 -414 Omiya Ardija 38 31 9 11 11 32 42 -1015 Urawa Reds 32 31 7 11 13 33 39 -616 Ventforet Kofu 30 31 8 6 17 37 58 -2117 Montedio Yamagata 21 31 5 6 20 22 53 -3118 Avispa Fukuoka 19 31 5 4 22 27 66 -39Montedio and Avispa already gone, Ardija, Albirex and Frontale have an 8 point cushion. It’s between 194cmHavenaarMike and his boys and the flailing Reds.

1 Kashiwa Reysol 65 31 21 2 8 59 39 +202 Gamba Osaka 63 31 19 6 6 72 48 +243 Nagoya Grampus 62 31 18 8 5 61 35 +264 Yokohama F･Marinos 55 31 16 7 8 44 34 +105 Vegalta Sendai 52 31 13 13 5 37 24 +13All but decided ACL places with Grampus having a 7 point cushion? Anything can happen in J.League, though!

ロンドンオリンピック予選 U-22日本代表メンバー＆スケジュールGKs権田　修一 ｺﾞﾝﾀﾞ ｼｭｳｲﾁ GONDA Shuichi ＦＣ東京増田　卓也 ﾏｽﾀﾞ ﾀｸﾔ MASUDA Takuya 流通経済大学安藤　駿介 ｱﾝﾄﾞｳ ｼｭﾝｽｹ ANDO Shunsuke 川崎フロンターレDFs薗田　淳 ｿﾉﾀﾞ ｼﾞｭﾝ SONODA Jun 川崎フロンターレ比嘉　祐介 ﾋｶﾞ ﾕｳｽｹ HIGA Yusuke 流通経済大学丸山　祐市 ﾏﾙﾔﾏ ﾕｳｲﾁ MARUYAMA Yuichi 明治大学大岩　一貴 ｵｵｲﾜ ｶｽﾞｷ OIWA Kazuki 中央大学鈴木　大輔 ｽｽﾞｷ ﾀﾞｲｽｹ SUZUKI Daisuke アルビレックス新潟酒井　　宏樹 ｻｶｲ ﾋﾛｷ SAKAI Hiroki 柏レイソル濱田　水輝 ﾊﾏﾀﾞ ﾐｽﾞｷ HAMADA Mizuki 浦和レッズ酒井　高徳 ｻｶｲ ｺﾞｳﾄｸ SAKAI Gotoku アルビレックス新潟MFs山本　康裕 ﾔﾏﾓﾄ ｺｳｽｹ YAMAMOTO Kosuke ジュビロ磐田山田　直輝 ﾔﾏﾀﾞ ﾅｵｷ YAMADA Naoki 浦和レッズ東　慶悟 ﾋｶﾞｼ ｹｲｺﾞ HIGASHI Keigo 大宮アルディージャ山口　螢 ﾔﾏｸﾞﾁ ﾎﾀﾙ YAMAGUCHI Hotaru セレッソ大阪登里　享平 ﾉﾎﾞﾘｻﾞﾄ ｷｮｳﾍｲ NOBORIZATO Kyohei 川崎フロンターレ扇原　貴宏 ｵｳｷﾞﾊﾗ ﾀｶﾋﾛ OGIHARA Takahiro セレッソ大阪FWs永井　謙佑 ﾅｶﾞｲ ｹﾝｽｹ NAGAI Kensuke 名古屋グランパス山崎　亮平 ﾔﾏｻﾞｷ ﾘｮｳﾍｲ YAMAZAKI Ryohei ジュビロ磐田大津　祐樹 ｵｵﾂ　ﾕｳｷ OTSU Yuki ボルシアMG（ドイツ）大迫　勇也 ｵｵｻｺ ﾕｳﾔ OSAKO Yuya 鹿島アントラーズfor the games….11月22日(火)　17:30　ｖｓ　U-22バーレーン代表（Bahrain National Stadium）11月27日(日)　19:20　ｖｓ　U-22シリア代表（国立競技場）