Kagawa – Japanese Soccer

NATHAN BURNS MOVES TO JAPANESE SIDE

By index on Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Australian football star Nathan Burns has moved to a Japanese side, reports confirm.

The player opted out of likely deals in Australia to move to Japan where he would feature for Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

“I am honoured [to join] Sanfreece Hiroshima, which is one of the most successful clubs in Japan,” a statement credited to the player is on the club’s website.

Burns is expected to help the J-League side with their ambitions. The club confirmed the move for the 29-year old on Thursday. He was recently released from the deal he had with FC Tokyo but there were reports of offers in the A-League where he was expected to move to.

Japanese Soccer

JAPAN’S WC QUALIFYING CAMPAIGN GOING STRONG

By index on Friday, May 26, 2017

Asian soccer powerhouse Japan thrashed Thailand 4-0 on Tuesday to get their third successive victory in the AFC World Cup qualifiers. They are now set to top Group B with the result.

Former Manchester United star Shinji Kagawa scored the first goal in the first ten minutes before his namesake Shinji Okazaki doubled the tally in the 19th minute. After the break, Yuya Kubo made the scorers’ list with his effort in the 57th minute. Maya Yoshida made it four in the 83rd minute.

Japan have earned 16 points, three points more than Saudi Arabia who follow closely. Saudi Arabia are meeting Iraq on Tuesday. Australia are in third place after defeating United Arab Emirates 2-0.

Thai manager KiatisukSenamuangdecided to play the centre back TanaboonKesaratin defensive midfield but it did nothing to limit the onslaught of the Japanese. he made several changes to the team that started the match. KoravitNamwiset, PeerapatNotchaiya, AdisakKraisorn and WattanaPlaynumwere drafted in the War Elephant’s lineupbut the 2002 World Cup host had a potent attacking side that prevailed.

Japanese Soccer

U-16 JAPAN START COPA UC WITH DRAW

By index on Saturday, January 14, 2017

Japan National U-16 Team, so-called “00 Japan”, started their COPA UC 2016 campaign on Wednesday 14 by drawing to U-17 UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA.

The opponents are one of the best clubs in Chile, winning countless domestic youth championships. According to the tournament regulations, the U-17 players of the club are participating this time.

The match was held right after the tournament’s opening ceremony. In the great environment with almost 800 fans in attendance including a large group of Japanese supporters, the U-16 Japan squad kicked off their first match.

For ’00 Japan’, it was the first official international match since they lost to Iraq in the semi-final of the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016. Despite the fatigue from a long trip from home, the squad, especially their frontline, displayed some impressive football.

The opponents composedly moved the ball around and showed their toughness and physicality time to time to dodge Japan’s pressure and prevented the Japanese side from creating chances. As they gradually started to control the match, a passing mistake by Japan in the 13th minute led to a threatening pass into the space behind their defenders.

Japanese Soccer

The Japanese Football Coach Observes American Football

By index on Friday, July 22, 2016

American football gets a Japanese coach who will be part of the off-season program of the Indianapolis Colts.

This team has been undergoing change in its coaching staff. The changes are taking place in the off-season. The new coaches are working at the OTAs to help the team improve as the new season comes up. Mutsumi Takahashi is a Japanese coach who has come in to learn more from American football and help out the team as well.

Takahasi initially played as a linebacker. He is one of the few players who are born in Japan and had participated in Arena Football League. He played here for five years. He also participated in highest levels back in Japan. He now takes the role of coach for Kobe University Ravens, who are based in Japan.

Japanese Soccer

JAPANESE FOOTBALL INTERNATIONAL GETS JAW FRACTURED

By index on Friday, May 20, 2016

Japanese International and Vancouver Whitecaps striker Masato Kudo will be sidelined indefinitely after suffering a fractured jaw that will require surgery in a collision during a match, the Major League Soccer squad announced Thursday.

The talented forward, who celebrated his 26th birthday just last Friday, was injured in the 11th minute of Wednesday’s 2-1 triumph over Chicago at BC Place.

Kudo was making a run toward the goal when Fire goalkeeper Matt Lampson rushed out to grab the ball and slammed into Kudo, who had blood coming out of his mouth after biting his lip and tongue on the play. He lay on the turf for several minutes being treated with players from both teams watching before being taken off on a cart and sent to Vancouver General Hospital.

Lampson posted on popular social media website, Twitter via his handle:

“Apologies, well wishes and a speedy recovery to @masatokudo9.

Japanese Soccer

Performance Of Japanese League In The AFC Champions League

By index on Wednesday, May 4, 2016

The J League with its mission to increase the Japanese football level has also promoted the flow of the game using the professional football medium. Another objective of Japanese league is to foster the growth of the sporting culture in Japan.

Three of the Japanese football league teams successfully reached to the pitch on 20^th April 2016 in the fifth day of the AFC champion’s league group stage. The team FC Tokyo was defeated in a 3-0 loss to Jeonbuk Motors, the K- League champions. The former midfielder of Cerezo Osaka, Kim Bo-Kyung along with Ko Mu-yeol managed to score the opener and also helped Lee Jae-sung on the second goal by making it 3-0 in the stoppage time. Tokyo is now in need of away victory at Binh Duong of Vietnam so as to achieve the round of 16.

As far as the Urawa Reds are concerned, they made their appearance in the tournament after eight years with a draw at Sydney which remains the highest in the group. The results in numbers have eliminated Guangzhou, the current champions from progressing in order to ensure that there is an entry of the new Asian member at the FIFA club world cup this year. Sanfrecce Hiroshima has joined Gamba Osaka in the exclusion pile with loss of 1-0 at Shandong Luneng. However, the defenders of the Japanese football team have surrendered a goal to none other than Diego Tardelli and have been assured a third place finish position in group F.

Japanese Soccer

Jose Mourinho is backing his former striker Didier Drogba

By index on Friday, October 2, 2015

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is backing his former striker, Didier Drogba, to be a major success in the MLS.

The striker is on the verge of joining an MLS club with both Chicago Fire and Montréal Impact interested in his services. Both clubs will be getting an ageing striker on an extraordinary wage packet, but Mourinho believes that Drogba is fully worth this respect. The 37-year-old striker may be on his last legs in terms of playing football, but the contribution that he makes to the squad is invaluable according to Mourinho. In fact, the Portuguese manager has gone as far as saying that he would make Drogba as his first signing at each of his clubs.

The Ivory Coast international was a major factor in Chelsea keeping the trophy hunting going even during the dark at times at the club. The club has gone through more than 10 manages the last decade, but the players have been the constant aspect. Drogba was a major factor in keeping the team united in the hunt for trophies. Without the influential figure of the former Marseille striker, the blues may not have achieved the success. Drogba decided to leave Chelsea after just one season due to the lack of regular football.

Japanese Soccer

Japan are already favourites to reach the World Cup 2018

By index on Friday, June 26, 2015

Japan are already favourites to reach the World Cup 2018 even before the qualification campaign is yet to begin.

The national team may have been disappointing at the previous World Cup, but they have so far look extremely good under the management of Vahid Halilhodzic. The Bosnian watched his team get a 4-0 win over Iraq in a friendly match. This friendly is a good preparation for the team ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Singapore. This is the first qualification match and a good result is an important aspect. The national team will also be hoping to put behind the disappointing quarter-final exit at the Asian cup.

The fact that the team managed to beat semifinalist at the Asian cup – Iraq – so convincingly, even if it was a friendly match, is something that provide will a lot of boost. Keisuke Honda opened the scoring and Tomoaki Makino chipped in with another goal all inside 10 minutes. This immediately put the pressure on Iraq, who completely folded in response. Shinji Okazaki came up with the third goal for Japan before substitute Genki Haraguchi also joined in the fun. It was a great game and one that could potentially see Japan make a strong start to the World Cup qualification.

Japanese Soccer

Shinji Kagawa – Best Passes – Manchester United (2013/2014)

By admin on Sunday, April 19, 2015

Video Score: four / five

Japanese Soccer

Vahid Halilhodzic reckons the Japan squad has to be rebuilt

By index on Saturday, April 18, 2015

Vahid Halilhodzic reckons the Japan squad has to be rebuilt and for that, there is some time needed, but, he is very happy with the talent that he has found in his ranks.

According to Halilhodzic, he is excited to work with the Japanese guys as they are hard working individuals and they go about everything in a much disciplined way.

Halilhodzic has recently been named as the Samurai Blues boss. He has replaced Javier Aguirre who was thrown out because of match fixing allegations.

The 62-year Yugoslavian landed in Tokyo last week and is at his work already.

He has to pick his players for the Tunisia game which is not that far away and so, he has been watching a few games of the Japanese League.

Yesterday, he was among the spectators watching the game between Tokyo and Yokohama.

Halilhodzic looked impressed with a few players post that game, but, he has sent a clear message outside that there is a lot of refining to be done to this team and thus, nobody should expect immediate results.

Tag Archives: Kagawa