Subject: NT matches: Friendlies

I think we have seen the same match ;-)

Today we're going to play with Uruguay at 17:00 SK-time. You can already see the starting eleven in the NT-association, but of course I'll write a couple of lines here too a few minutes before the match.

Japan played three times against Uruguay until now, every time they won by 3 goals. We're clearly not the favorites of this match, so I'm going to test a new tactic, I hope we can cause some surprise. Even one point would be awesome.

Sahara - Minami, Oniki, Arai, Shiota, Yukio (60' Fuji) - Inoha, Takahagi, Sugiyama - Ono T. (60' Morino), Hiraoka

So Sahara - man of the match ;D

I don't like tactics with 5 defenders and off side. If the defenders aren't quick and technical enough, which is the case, I guess, the opponent has a lot 1-on-1's with the keeper. Better would be, but that's my opininion, if you have players like Arai (divine def but not very much pace) to play with 5 defenders that are a bit closer to the own goal, and eventually 2 side defenders that play a little higher while attacking, to keep some pressure on the opponents.

arai does too have high pace :(

Sorry for disappearing, unexpectedly I had a rather busy week.

Our defenders are quick enough, but the Uruguayan strikers were faster than I thought. The other problem is that we have only one Arai :o) And his form is not too bright either, that's why he played a bit weaker in the last two weeks.
Still, I believe that we achieved a better result than we would with a 'normal' tactic.

Tomorrow morning we're going to play with Hayastan, it'll be a crucial match. Tactics and starting eleven will appear in the NT federation soon, but most likely I can't watch the match live as I have a strong feeling that I'll be sleeping that time :o)

If Nippon win, will get 50 position in ranking;> We was on 50 position one time only..

Hayastan 0:2 Nippon

I'm very happy about the result, we should earn 38 ranking points and a position (as brokus mentioned) with this win :) The defence had a nearly perfect game apart from that penalty situation but Sahara kept the clean sheet with the save.
However I wasn't happy with the midfield, Sugiyama and Tada played much better against Costa Rica. They were slow, mostly innaccurate with the passes and I expected better defensive work. As for the strikers, Hiraoka was great (as always ^^), and if Morino picks up a bit more form, he should be okay too :]

Next week, we'll play with Hellas. They played 2-2 against Uruguay, so we need to win for going into the next round. Current standing of the group:

4 points - Uruguay (5-3)
4 points - Hellas (4-3)
3 points - Nippon (3-3)
0 points - Hayastan (1-4)
(edited)

in last Mini World Cup we played with Hellas too but they played u21 (as i remember) and we won 2-1 ;>

Good analysing ;-), I saw you didn't use the 5 defender-offside tactic and that made me happy, and indeed the midfield sucked...

Anyway, nice result...Good job!

I didn't have a reason to use it :) Thanks anyway!

In a few minutes we'll play our first match at home under my management. Our opponent is Hellas, a tough NT with high-technique strikers. Two seasons ago Nippon beat Hellas 2-1 in the Mini World Cup, today we need to repeat this performance and win. It won't be easy though...

Here's the starting eleven:
Nakata - Fuji, Shiota, Oniki, Arai, Minami (55' Masashiko) - Kudo, Miyazawa - Hiraoka, Ono Tashiro, Ono Oshikatsu

And the bench:
Sahara (GK), Horinouchi (DEF), Sugiyama (MID), Morino (ATT)

Nice win and of course two nice goals by Ono. :)

Here I am again with my comment on the match. Ok, first of all congrats with the victory, which was rather an undeserved one. That means that your tactic was good and luck was on your side.

About your tactics: defensively very solid, very nice played by Nakata again. Your midfield wasn't good enough, I think that 2 central mids is an idea to forget in the future. Personally I think that it would be better to let the most technical of your attackers drop back from the (central) attack, to be a kind of offensive mid unless an ATT order (like the match from Germany against Belgium). Then you have the possibility to put (one of) your mids a bit lower, in which way you have a rather defensive mid (what you really missed in this match) and the central def would be out of position due to that 'offensive mid'. I liked the idea of 3 att anyway, a nice surprise, 3 att vs. 4 defenders, that's the reason I guess, why your Attackers were so efficient.

Great Result but as i saw lucky result?:p I will watch the match in the evening ;] But Nippon will play in next match in Mini World Cup! It's Fantastic :)