Alireza Jahanbakhsh scored a 96th-minute penalty to give Iran a dramatic 2-1 win over Japan.
japan
Posted inSoccer America Daily
Goalkeeping woes threaten Japan’s Asian Cup hopes
Coach Hajime Moriyasu has left himself with no convincing alternatives.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
Tom Byer on the intriguing comparisons between U.S. and Japanese soccer — and the skill factor
For the USA, the evolution of Japanese soccer makes for an interesting study. No other countries that have come so late to the game, that didn’t rank soccer as their national sport, have been so successful internationally as the USA and Japan, on both the women’s and men’s side. On the men’s side, MLS launched […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
J-League propels Japan from soccer backwater to World Cup regulars
Japan was a soccer backwater when the J-League kicked off 30 years ago, but its success has helped the sport thrive in the country and turned the national team into World Cup regulars. The J-League starts its new season on Friday and has come a long way since it launched in 1993 in a blaze […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Under-20 Women's World Cup: Statement win for youth powerhouse Japan
Japan made a case for being the top women’s program in the world, top to bottom, with a 3-1 win over Spain to capture the Under-20 Women’s World Cup title before 5,409 fans at Vannes’ Stade de laRabine in Brittany. The match was a repeat of their group matchSpain won, 1-0. Spain and Japan finished […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Tournament of Nations: Reign's Utsugi and Kawasumi head Japanese team
Ruma Utsugi and Nahomi Kawasumi, who play for the Seattle Reign, second in the NWSL, head Japan’s 23-player team for the Tournament of Nations, where it opens against the USA onThursday. Japan has already qualified for the 2019 Women’s World Cup, winning the AFC Women’s Asian Cup this past spring. Eighteen players in Bridgeview are […]
Posted inOff The Post, Story
Arigato Gozaimasu and Sayanora, Japan
I watched most of the games in World Cup 2018. While watching the first half of the game between Belgium and Japan, I noticed something different. Japan was playing a kind of soccer — and it didso in most of the four matches in the tournament — which was very different than the rest of […]
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
Japan rediscovers its personality and its 'football'
By virtue of their enthralling 2-2 tie in the second round of Group G matches played Sunday, Japan and Senegal can assure themselves of a spot in the round of 16 by getting at least a point in theirfinal games. Both teams have four points. Colombia is in third place with three and pointless Poland […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: Kazuyoshi Miura
“I will always play my heart out and hope to continue to grow [as a player].” — Japanese forward Kazuyoshi Miura, who turns 51 in February, announcing that he had signed a newcontract with J-League second division club Yokohama FC for the 2018 season. (Asahi Shimbun)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Watch: J-League club forces monkey to deliver game ball
J-League club Cerezo Osaka used a reluctant looking monkey to start its game against Vissel Kobe. The macaque, donning Cerezo Osaka gear, gave up on kicking the ball and instead handed it to thereferee. @crz_official https://t.co/DnlKbUIXC0 # pic.twitter.com/rloCh6GmUV — (@J_League) November 27,2017 Animal rights advocates were not amused.