S.Korea, Japan eye World Cup at E.Asian meet
February 6, 2010
Defending champions South Korea and archrivals Japan see the men’s edition of the East Asian football championships in Tokyo as vital preparation for the World Cup in June.
The hosts and South Korea will try out home-based players at the four-team round robin, which kicks off on Saturday when Japan, three-time runners-up, play the 2005 champions China.
South Korea take on little-fancied Hong Kong on Sunday, but South Korean coach Hoo Jung-Moo will not be taking the game — or the tournament — lightly.
“We want to get off to a very good start looking forward to the World Cup,” Hoo said. “Although we miss the Europe-based players, we want to put on a good performance and take home the title.”
“The World Cup will definitely be on our minds when we play.”
Japan will also be without the services of Europe-based players led by influential Espanyol midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura and CSKA Moscow’s Keisuke Honda.
But Japan coach Takeshi Okada said that would not matter.
“I want to try several patterns of our attacking tactics. I also have some ideas towards the World Cup,” he said.
“We must win the championship because it’s a home competition and Japan have never won the title before,” he said. “I want to improve the team’s ability one rank or even half a rank, looking forward to the World Cup.”
At the World Cup finals in South Africa, South Korea will play Argentina, Nigeria and Greece in Group B. Japan face the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark in Group E.
For China it will be a chance to save some face after again failing to qualify for the World Cup, while the sport is mired in controversy and allegations of match-fixing back home.
“We took part in the championship many times but I’ve never been satisfied with our performances. We hope for the best result — that is to win the tournament,” said China coach Gao Hongbo.
It is the first time Hong Kong have reached the finals of the East Asian tournament, inaugurated in 2003, having beaten North Korea, Taiwan and Guam in the last qualifying round.
Hong Kong’s confidence is high after they beat a young Japan side on penalties to take the gold medal in December at the East Asian Games on home soil.
“We want to improve the team. Our goal is to finish with five points. We will play hard to reach that goal,” said Hong Kong’s South Korean coach Kim Pan-Gon.
In the women’s four-team tournament, defending champions Japan and 2005 winners South Korea take on China and Taiwan.
Taiwan, runners-up in the qualifying round, replaced North Korea after the communist country pulled out because of a visa problem.
“We will face excellent teams,” said Japan coach Norio Sasaki. “We will have the Asian Cup in May, which is a qualifying round for the Women’s World Cup in Germany. So I really want to win the title to build up the team.”
TOKYO (AFP)
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Japan held to goalless draw by Venezuela
February 2, 2010
Japan were held to a goalless draw by Venezuela in the first home game of the season for the Blue Samurai on Tuesday as they prepare for the World Cup in South Africa.
Japan were the first team to qualify for international football’s biggest prize while Venezuela failed to reach the finals after finishing eighth in the South American group.
Venezuela had the first chance of the match when 17-year-old debutant forward Fernando Aristiguieta missed a header from close range in the ninth minute following midfielder Giacomo Di Giorgi’s long-off effort.
But it appeared to be the best chance for either side in a game bereft of clear scoring opportunities.
Mitsuo Ogasawara, playing for Japan for the first time since the 2006 World Cup, fired a sizzling shot from outside the area, forcing goalkeeper Leonardo Morales to save in the 16th minute.
Ogasawara and Brazilian-born Marcus Tulio Tanaka missed a couple more shots, while Aristiguieta failed to catch up with Caracas defender Hose Manuel Rey’s free kick to end a goalless first half.
Venezuela piled on the pressure in the second half but managed just one shot on goal through defender Giovanny Romero.
Sota Hirayama, who scored a hat-trick in an Asian Cup qualifier against Yemen last month, was sent on with Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker Hisato Sato in a fruitless attempt to lend the Japanese some rhythm.
Overall, Japan hit a total of 12 shots on goal and Venezuela four.
“I was disappointed that we couldn’t win because Venezuela put wonderful pressure on us. But as an early game of the season, it was a nice game,” said Japan coach Takeshi Okada.
“Mitsuo struggled in the first half as the combination with the others was not so good but he did very well in the second half.
“We have three more games this month (in the East Asian championship). We are going to level up our team through the championship, looking forward to the World Cup,” Okada added.
Japan will play China, South Korea and Hong Kong in the championship starting in Tokyo on Saturday.
OITA, Japan (AFP)
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Sato hat-trick lifts Japan into Asian Cup
January 6, 2010
A hat-trick by Hisato Sato saw Japan qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory away to Yemen on Wednesday.
After allaying security fears over the match in Yemen, Japan traveled to the game which started quite poorly for the World Cup qualifiers.
Basem Alaqel fired the home side in front after just 13 minutes, and the Japanese were left reeling when Sami Karama doubled the Yemeni advantage seven minutes before half-time.
Sato, though, gave Japan some hope in the 42nd minute when he pulled a goal back for the visitors to make it 2-1 at the half-time interval.
The Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker pulled Japan level in the 55th minute, and he completed the comeback 10 minutes from with his third of the game – and seventh of his international career – to secure the comeback victory.
The victory secured one of the top two spots in qualifying Group A for Japan, ensuring their place for the Asian Cup finals in Qatar.
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Osaka beat Nagoya 4-1 to win Emperor´s Cup
January 1, 2010
Japan international midfielder Yasuhito Endo scored twice and set up another to lead defending champions Gamba Osaka to a 4-1 victory over Nagoya Grampus in the Emperor’s Cup final on Friday.
Osaka have now won the knock-out tournament three times.
Brazilian striker Lucas opened the scoring only six minutes into the first half after a quick passing move started by Endo on the left.
Nagoya missed a crucial chance to equalize when Keiji Yoshimura’s shot smacked the left post in the 30th minute.
Ten minutes later Nagoya drew level when Keiji Tamada sent a long ball into the Osaka area, where Australian international Josh Kennedy provided a perfect cross for Naoshi Nakamura to head home.
After a period of sustained Nagoya pressure in the second half, Endo dribbled to the edge of the area on the counter-attack and fired a left-footer to regain the lead in the 77th minute.
He then exchanged passes with Takahiro Futagawa, who made it 3-1 in the 85th minute before Endo put the game beyond Nagoya’s reach in injury time.
“I believed that we would create scoring chances sooner or later,” said Endo, adding that Nagoya’s tactics meant Osaka “couldn’t play our usual game.”
Osaka coach Akira Nishino noted that “for Nagoya, it was their last chance to qualify for the AFC Champions League, so they played aggressively in the second half.”
Osaka had already qualified for the AFC Champions League by finishing third in the J-League competition.
“We couldn’t win a trophy this season, so we wanted to win this one,” said Nishino.
“It was very tough until the end, but my players kept their motivation high and they did a very good job.”
TOKYO (AFP)
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Japan getting more serious about World Cup dream
January 1, 2010
Japan’s national football coach Takeshi Okada says a growing number of his players share his ambitious goal of a semi-final spot in this year’s World Cup.
“Honestly, I am surprised myself,” he told reporters when asked if the number of his players, who are “seriously” aiming for a top-four finish in South Africa, had risen.
“The players have ups and downs and they can flinch when they hit the wall… So I can’t say how many on a constant basis,” Okada said in the interview embargoed for release on New Year’s Day.
“But I have a feeling that the number was just a few this time last year and has since exceeded 10 and then 15,” he said.
His target has been snubbed as unrealistic because Japan have not won a World Cup match on foreign soil since Okada guided them to their finals debut at France 1998 in his first stint as national coach.
They came home after three straight losses at the group stage.
Securing just one point at the group stage in South Africa is widely seen as a tall order for Japan, who are pitted against the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark — all of them ranked above the three-time Asian champions.
Japan’s best World Cup result was a last-round spot in the 2002 tournament, which they co-hosted with South Korea, who finished fourth.
At Germany 2006, Japan bowed out after losing to Brazil and Australia and drawing with Croatia.
Okada, who took over from Bosnian Ivica Osim in late 2007, said he had been asked in an interview with football’s governing body FIFA about the source of his confidence.
“It is not only me but also my players and staff who feel that we can make it.”
The bespectacled 53-year-old said that a tour of the Netherlands last September had boosted his “Blue Samurai” squad.
During the tour, Japan came out fighting in their first-ever encounter with world number-three the Netherlands but eventually lost 3-0. They also battled from behind to beat the highly physical Ghana 4-3.
“That tour has made clear to us what we need to do to survive the battles,” Okada said.
Japan’s squad features a midfield led by Shunsuke Nakamura, who has struggled to earn playing time at Espanyol after moving from Celtic last June.
Their firepower is expected to be fuelled by 21-year-old Catania striker Takayuki Morimoto, who made his international debut in October, and goal machine Keisuke Honda, who began to score for Japan last year.
Okada said Japan needed to improve in three areas to be reckoned with on the world stage.
“To outrun our opponents. To outdo them in one-on-one battles for the ball. To raise the accuracy of our skills, especially kicks,” he said.
TOKYO (AFP)
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Nagoya face Gamba in Emperor Cup final
December 30, 2009
The 2009 final of the Emperor Cup, Japan’s most traditional football tournament, will have Gamba Osaka defend their title against Nagoya Grampus.
Gamba faced tough opposition in their match with Vegalta Sendai played in Tokyo, but took the lead through a bicycle kick from Lucas in the fifth minute.
Sendai fought their way back into the game and equalized with a goal from Takayuki Nakahara shortly before the hour, but Lucas netted his second to decide the clash minutes later, 2-1.
In the other semi final, Nagoya Grampus beat Shimizu S-Pulse 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Shimizu started well as Shinji Okazaki scored the opening goal after 17 minutes, but Nagoya drew level in minute 56 when Keiji Tamada converted a spot kick that was caused by Kodama’s foul on Australian forward Kennedy.
In the shoot-out, Daisuke Ichikawa missed the first penalty for Shimizu and Nagoya went on to convert all of their five spot kicks.
The tournament is particularly important to Nagoya, who need a win in the final in order to secure a spot in next year’s AFC Champions League.
The final will be played on January 1st, 2010.
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Japan to face Venezuela in friendly
December 25, 2009
The Japanese national team will begin their 2010 World Cup preparation with a friendly against Venezuela on February 2.
Although Venezuela failed to qualify for next summer’s finals, Japan manager Takeshi Okada feels that it is a good test as “teams from South America always approach matches wanting to win”.
In addition, Okada told reporters that the game, to be played at Kyushu Oil Dome, “will help toughen Japan up”.
Japan have no further friendlies lined up at the moment, although they will face China, Hong Kong and South Korea at the East Asian Championships in February.
At the World Cup, Japan are drawn into Group E with the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark.
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Japan coach targets World Cup last-four spot
November 20, 2009
Japan coach Takeshi Okada has insisted that his squad’s target of a semi-final spot at next year’s World Cup remains unchanged no matter who may stand in their way, according to reports.
“Nothing will change,” he told Japanese media on Thursday when he was shown by journalists the complete list of 32 World Cup qualifiers and asked if he would still stick to the ambitious goal.
Asked which countries Japan, former Asian champions, want to avoid at South Africa 2010, he said “I don’t think about it at all.”
“We’ve got tougher as a team and moved forward little by little in the past year,” the coach said. “We may not look brilliant but we have more stable strength.”
Okada returned home after Japan beat Hong Kong 4-0 in an away Asian Cup qualifier on Wednesday when Algeria, France, Greece, Portugal, Slovenia and Uruguay became the last countries to qualify for the World Cup finals.
“In Europe and South America, powerhouses have qualified as expected. I think it will be a great competition,” said Okada, who guided Japan to a winless World Cup debut at France 1998 in his first stint as national coach.
His World Cup target has been widely seen as unrealistic as Japan’s best result yet was a last-16 spot in the 2002 edition they co-hosted with South Korea.
On Saturday, the Blue Samurai battled to a scoreless draw in an away friendly against South Africa when their lack of finishing power was laid bare.
In September, they were whipped by the physically stronger Netherlands 3-0 and battled from behind to beat travel-weary Ghana 4-3 in friendlies in Dutch cities.
But last month Okada’s Japan outclassed Hong Kong 6-0 in a home Asian Cup qualifier and easily beat visiting second-string squads from Scotland and Togo in friendlies.
TOKYO (AFP)
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Morimoto earns first Japan call-up
August 29, 2009
Catania player Takayuki Morimoto is the only new addition for Japan’s squad, for the upcoming friendly matches with the Netherlands and Ghana.
The 21 year old striker moved to Italy to join Catania in 2006 and since scored 10 goals in 43 appearances.
Morimoto formed part of the Japanese Under-20 team that reached the round of 16 at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, and was also incluced in the selection for last year’s Summer Olympics.
Japan face the Netherlands in Enschede on September 5. Four days later, the Asians play Ghana in the city of Utrecht.
Jonathan Roorda
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Nakamura set to announce Spain move: report
June 21, 2009
TOKYO (AFP) – Japan’s Shunsuke Nakamura will announce his move to Espanyol from Celtic as early as Tuesday and make his debut in a friendly against Liverpool on August 2, a report said Sunday.
Nakamura’s agent Roberto Tsukuda will Monday meet executives at J-League side Yokohama Marinos, who were also vying for his signature, to tell them of the star’s intention after talks with Espanyol in Barcelona over the past week.
Nakamura told Tsukuda by telephone last week that he had decided on the move to the Spanish side after talks with Yokohama, his first professional side, collapsed, Nikkan Sports said.
His debut will also be the inaugural match at Espanyol’s new stadium.
According to Japanese reports, the two-year deal will see Nakamura, who is leaving Celtic on a free transfer, pick up 1.2 million euros a year (1.7 million dollars).
Nakamura turns 31 on Wednesday and his contract with former Scottish champions Celtic expires at the end of this month.
“It’s up to Shun (Nakamura) to decide. Marinos or Espanyol,” Tsukuda told another daily, Sankei Sports.
“It is not that he is choosing terms of his contract. The point is how he will spend one year in the run-up to the World Cup finals and which is better for him to raise the level of his play.”
After polishing his game with the Marinos, Nakamura spent three years at Reggina in Italy before joining the Glasgow side in 2005 and helping them to three successive Scottish Premier League championships.
Despite his longtime dream of playing in Spain, Nakamura has recently talked of returning to the J-League to ease the burden of travelling for international duty ahead of the World Cup and raise his children in Japan.
But talks with Yokohama stalled with Nakamura’s side reportedly citing the club’s “insincerity” over financial matters and requests for his appearance in club events before he signed a contract.
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