Japanese Players in Europe

Shinji Kagawa played most of Dortmund’s 1-0 win at Bayern. The win brought Borussia to within two points of Bayern, who have been in first place for most of the season. In Europe, Dortmund lost away 2-1 to Arsenal. Kagawa scored his first Champions League goal in stoppage time, but that will be scant consolation as Dortmund's hopes of progression are now hanging by a thread. They will have to beat Marseille by a big score and hope that Arsenal don’t ease up against Olympiakos in the other match despite already securing top spot in the group. Highlights here.

Keisuke Honda returned for CSKA after a three-month injury layoff in their 2-1 home loss to Rubin Kazan. Honda will be happy to have returned from a lengthy injury, but the loss undoubtedly dampened the occasion. He did not play in the midweek Champions League match, as CSKA completed a poor week with a 2-0 home loss to Lille. He woke up with pain in his just-healed knee, however the team doctors assured him that it was not an aggravation of his previous injury and that he would be back soon.

Hajime Hosogai played all 90 minutes of FC Augsburg’s 2-1 loss at Vfb Stuttgart. Shinji Okazaki started on the bench for Stuttgart but came on for Ibrahima Traore in the 74th minute.

Maya Yoshida and Robert Cullen both started Venlo’s 2-1 loss at FC Groningen, but Cullen had to come off in the 38th minute with an injury. The loss puts Venlo deeper into the relegation battle.

Finally, a bit of bad news to wrap up an underwhelming week for Japanese players in Europe. Ryo Miyaichi will be out until 2012, as his ankle injury will keep him out for 4-6 weeks.

I know this is a week late and a lot of this weekend’s matches have already been played. This update is for last week. I’m sorry for any confusion my tardiness may have caused. This week’s update will come in the next few days. Thanks.

DPRK 1-0 Japan

There it is. Japan’s first loss since the World Cup.

First let me apologize for the lack of update over the last couple of weeks. Been busy, etc.

Secondly, I know that Japan had already secured progression into the next round of qualification, but I’m still a bit sad because of this result. Here are some reasons:

1. Always want to win, obviously.

2. Lose the title of ‘Unofficial World Champions.’ This really hurts because it was the first time that Japan had held the title, which they picked up when the beat Argentina last year. I was hoping that they could make into next year and have a run at the record of longest title reign, but I guess 16th longest after one try isn’t bad.

3. This was Japan’s first match in North Korea in 22 years. They had lost the last one, so it would’ve been nice to get one back, especially for the enthusiastic traveling fans.

4. Didn’t complete the calendar year undefeated. I know Japan’s unbeaten run had lasted over 365 days, but to have navigated an entire calendar year without losing would’ve been impressive. And to lose the last one of the year adds to the disappointment.

Highlights, if you can bear.

I don’t really have anything to say about the game, but good job Japan on a wonderful 2011. I’ll write more in my year wrap-up in December, but for now do the same–and more–next year.

Tajikistan 0-4 Japan

Japan have qualified for the fourth round of World Cup qualifying, with a 4-0 away win at Tajikistan. Shinji Okazaki had two goals, while Yasuyuki Konno and Ryoichi Maeda added a goal each. While it wasn’t the 8-0 hammering that they dished out when the two teams met a month ago, it was a good performance in an unfamiliar setting.

Konno opened the scoring in the 36th minute, pouncing on the rebound of Kengo Nakamura’s shot. It was Konno’s first goal in 47 appearances for the national team. The FC Tokyo defender started the attack with an excellent tackle on the left side, eventually leading to captain Hasebe putting Nakamura through with a wonderful chipped pass. The Tajik keeper was able to keep Nakamura’s shot out, but was helpless to keep out Konno’s follow-up.

Okazaki made it 2-0 in the 61st minute with a header. Kagawa made easy work of the Tajik rightback, then sent in a perfect dinked cross to the far post, which Okazaki finished with expert ease.

Maeda made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute with a ferocious shot from the edge of the box. After receiving a pass from Hajime Hosogai, Maeda was forced right by good defending. Unable to penetrate the line of Tajik defenders or find Okazaki or Nakamura, Maeda went right and bypassed the defensive line altogether with an unstoppable shot to the near post. It was the sixth national team goal for the Jubilo Iwata legend.

It was 4-0 in stoppage time after Okazaki finished off a beautiful team goal. Yuichi Komano started the move with a headed pass to Kagawa, who controlled and shrugged off a defender. He passed to Kiyotake. Then the two Cerezo Osaka products played a brilliant one-two (Kagawa backheel). Then Kiyotake played another one-two with Maeda, then played a one-time pass to an open Okazaki on the right who powered home. Seven passes, goal. It was a goal that Spain and Barcelona would be proud of.

Some points: Japan shredded Tajikistan apart attacking from the left. Konno, Nakamura, Kiyotake, and Kagawa all combined well to play some pretty football.

Japan struggled at first with the dreadful pitch. However as the game wore on, they were able to complete more passes and create more chances. It was good to see the ability to adapt to an unfamiliar situation.

The squad is getting deeper. Zaccheroni has been playing a lot of different players and they are now getting used to the short passing style that he’s been implementing. There were good performances from those who wouldn’t necessarily walk into the first xi, Kiyotake and Maeda in particular. This is a very good sign.

Up next is the highly anticipated match at North Korea.

Highlights.

Japanese Players in Europe

Shinji Kagawa was the Japanese star this weekend, as he scored a goal and had two glorious assists. He has been criticized this season for his inconsistent play, but he was in top form in Dortmund’s 5-1 demolition of Wolfsburg. He set up Mario Gotze with a slick backheel for the first, then scored the second just before halftime. In the second half he set up Robert Lewandowski with a heavenly pass with the outside of his boot. Lewandowski did his best to miss the opportunity but managed to score anyway. While Makoto Hasebe was probably unhappy with not playing, he can take comfort in the fact that he was in no way responsible for Wolfsburg’s capitulation. Highlights here.

Hajime Hosogai scored in Augsburg’s 2-1 home loss to Bayern. Goals from Mario ‘The Luckiest Player in the World’ Gomez and Franck Ribery had Bayern 2-0 before 30 minutes had gone. Hosogai netted in the 59th minute to make things interesting, however the newly promoted side were unable to complete the comeback. Takashi Usami was an unused substitute, probably a reward for his continued excellence for Bayern II. Usami has scored five times in nine games for the reserves. Highlights here.

Shinji Okazaki started, got a yellow card, and was subbed off in the 64th minute of Stuttgart’s 3-1 loss at Mainz. All in all, not his best day.

Both Maya Yoshida and Robert Cullen started Venlo’s 0-0 draw with Excelsior. Yoshida played the entire match, but Cullen was subbed off for Michael Uchebo, who is wanted by Stoke. Transfer rumours!

A bit of bad news now, as Ryo was injured in Arsenal reserves 2-0 reserve win over Fulham reserves. He was taken off in the 30th minute with an ankle injury that will keep him out for a minimum of three weeks, according to reserve team coach Neil Banfield. This means he will not feature in the Carling Cup match against Man City. He did play well in his 30 minutes though!

Another injury note: Nagatomo’s calf is still hurt, so he had to pull out of Japan squad, and was replaced by Vitesse’s Michihiro Yasuda, who incidentally played all of Vitesse’s 1-0 loss to NAC Breda over the weekend.

Some good news to end the report: 20 year-old, 6 foot 5, Hiroshi Ibusuki was given a place on the Sevilla bench in this weekend’s match against Mallorca. Ibusuki has been pulling out trees at Sevilla II, scoring 7 goals in 12 matches, making him the second leading scorer in Segunda Division B group 4. Well done!!!

Some links: Here are two articles by the always excellent Yoree Koh on Japanese supporters traveling to North Korea for the upcoming World Cup qualifier. Here and here.