Mellowing with age was never likely for Japan’s 39-year-old Yuto Nagatomo, who is as irrepressible as ever as he prepares for his fifth World Cup — an Asian record. The left-back may not be able to get around the pitch as quickly as he could during his Inter Milan heyday, but his relentless enthusiasm could […]
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Posted inSoccer America Daily
Japanese minnows one win from fairytale Champions League title
Japanese minnows Machida Zelvia have vowed to keep their cool in Saturday’s final on hostile soil as they attempt to pull off a major shock by winning a fairytale Asian Champions League crown. The unheralded team from Tokyo’s suburbs, led by a former high-school coach, battled into the final with a 1-0 win over UAE […]
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Game Report: USA-Japan Women’s Friendly Player Ratings
USA-JAPAN EXPRESS:April 14 in SeattleUSA 0 Japan 1. Goals: Hamano 27.Att.: 36,128. The entirely different starting XI Coach Emma Hayes fielded for Tuesday’s evening rematch of the USA’s 2-1 win over Japan on Saturday produced a sharply contrasting performance. Tuesday’s U.S. crew failed to replicate the backline composure and midfield cohesion we witnessed three days […]
Posted inGame Report
Game Report: USA-Japan Women’s Friendly Player Ratings
The USA opened its three-game homestand against Japan with a 2-1 win on goals by Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Heaps. Those two veterans also combined with Sam Coffey in a midfield trio that powered the USA’s sustained dominance.
Posted inSoccer America Daily
Culture clash spelled shock end for Japan women’s first foreign coach
Women’s national team director Norio Sasaki argued that Japan could not win next year’s World Cup if Nils Nielsen remained in charge, describing his coaching as “a little too lax, a little too soft.”
Posted inSoccer America Daily
Historic England win shows confident Japan can go far at World Cup
Coach Hajime Moriyasu cautioned it was only a friendly, but Japan’s slice of history with a statement 1-0 win over England at Wembley shows they could go deep at the World Cup. Japan strolled through Asian qualifying to become the first team to seal their place at the finals in North America and beat Brazil […]
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Asia champions Japan need ‘different tools’ to win World Cup – coach
Coach Nils Nielsen warned Monday that Japan need “different tools” to win next year’s Women’s World Cup after sweeping to the Asian title with a series of barnstorming performances. Japan beat Women’s Asian Cup hosts Australia 1-0 in Saturday’s final in Sydney to lift the trophy for the third time in four tournaments. Nielsen’s side […]
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Invincible Japan edges Australia to win Women’s Asian Cup
Maika Hamano scored the only goal as a formidable Japan battled past Australia 1-0 to clinch a third Women’s Asian Cup title on Saturday in front of a record-breaking crowd in Sydney. The Tottenham star hit a stunning long-range strike in the 17th minute at Stadium Australia to break Australian hearts and add to their […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily
Humble Japan ready to win hearts at Women’s Asian Cup
Japan’s Greenland-born women’s national team coach Nils Nielsen is no fan of Donald Trump but he loves his team and believes they can become fan favorites at the Asian Cup in Australia.
Posted inSoccer America Daily
Japan eyes Premier League parity by aligning calendar with Europe
Japan’s J. League can one day compete with England’s Premier League if a calendar switch helps clubs bring in bigger transfer fees, its chairman told…