The Summer So Far

Sorry for the extended absence–I just finished school and graduated. There was a lot to tie up at the end and things got quite busy, but graduation was one of the proudest days of my life. Congratulations to the Dartmouth Class of 2012!

While I’ve been away, there has been a lot going on in the world of Japanese football. For one, the next round of World Cup qualification began. Japan has got off to a flying start, and the match with Australia was one of the more electric qualifying matches for any tournament that I’ve seen. Shinji Kagawa has moved to Manchester United. As expected, the best Japanese player over the past two seasons has completed his dream move to England. Takashi Usami has moved to Hoffenheim. After a season of limited opportunities at Bayern, Usami moved to a different Bundesliga team where his playing time will most likely increase dramatically. Finally, the preliminary Japanese Olympic football team has been announced. I’ll examine all these things in the coming days as I get back to posting regularly.

Japan has gotten off to a great start in the fourth round of World Cup qualification. After three matches played in Group B, Japan is in first place with 7 points and a +9 goal difference. They started things off with a 3-0 home win over Oman, and then a 6-0 home win over Jordan. Honda scored a hat trick in the second game. In their third match, they earned a 1-1 draw away to Australia, in what was likely their most difficult fixture of the round. With two sendings off and an electric crowd of over 40,000, the match was a great spectacle. Next up for Japan is a home match with Iraq on 11 September.

Shinji Kagawa moves to Manchester United. Kagawa signed a four-year deal on Friday, 22 June. He had previously said that the Premier League was his dream destination, and after he rejected renewed terms from Dortmund, it was widely expected that his dream would be realized. When Alex Ferguson was on hand to watch Kagawa play an instrumental role in Dortmund’s 5-2 mauling of Bayern Munich in the DFB Pokal Final, a move to United seemed a certainty. After he signed, there was speculation as to whether he would wear the famous No. 7 shirt, with previous holder Michael Owen having been released. However, Kagawa said that he could not yet wear the shirt as he had not yet accomplished anything with the club, and would instead chose a number with “personal meaning.” I will post on where Kagawa will likely play for United and the implication his success could have for the national team in the coming days. But for now, congratulations to a great player on a great move! Personally, I can’t think of a team where he would be better suited to succeed.

Takashi Usami moves to TSG Hoffenheim. Usami found first team opportunities few and far between at Bayern last season. With Ribery and Robben playing the same position as him, it was always going to be difficult for Usami to break into the first team. He was a standout for the reserve team, however, and was regularly rewarded for his good play with a place on the first team bench. The move to Hoffenheim is perfect, and he should get consistent first team playing time.He’s still only 20 years old, and a good debut season could be the first step in a successful career in Europe.

The preliminary squad for Japan’s Olympic men’s football team has been announced. The 35-man roster includes Ryo Miyaichi, Hiroki Sakai (recently signed with Hannover 96), Gotoku Sakai, Hiroshi Kiyotake, and Usami. The three overage players are Yuhei Tokunaga (def, FC Tokyo), Maya Yoshida, and Akihiro Hayashi (gk, Shimizu S-Pulse). Kagawa and Honda were both left out after long club seasons. The squad will be trimmed to 18 + 4 reserve players by 11 July.

Look forward to regular posting now that I have graduated.

Yoshiaki Takagi scores for FC Utrecht

Nineteen year-old Yoshiaki Takagi scored his first goal for FC Utrecht. The goal came in the 48th minute of Utrecht’s 3-1 win away at Roda JC. It was the final game of the Eredivisie season for both teams. Let’s see if Takagi’s good play for Utrecht will get him noticed and considered for a spot on the Olympic team. Highlight here.

Japanese Players in Europe

Borussia Dortmund clinched the Bundesliga title this weekend with a 2-0 home win over Borussia Monchengladbach. Shinji Kagawa scored the second goal, with a neat finish around Marc-Andre ter Stegen. His goal set off rapturous celebrations around the Westfalenstadion, with Jurgen Klopp running all the way from the technical area to be the first person to greet him. It was a fantastic scene, and it was good to see a great team finally break Bayern’s biennial tradition of being champions. Kagawa now has thirteen league goals, and should be a contender for Bundesliga Player of the Year. Highlights.

Stuttgart drew 1-1 away at Koln. Gotoku Sakai played the entire match, and Shinji Okazaki came on in the 69th minute for Martin Harnik. They remain in fifth place, six points off of Gladbach and Champions League qualification.

Vitesse drew 1-1 away at Heerenveen. Michihiro Yasuda played the entire match, and Mike Havenaar came on and scored a pretty equalizer. It was Mike’s fifth goal of the season since moving to the Eredivisie over the winter break. Vitesse remain in seventh and in a Europa League playoff spot. Video.

Inter could only muster a goalless draw away at Fiorentina on Sunday. Nagatomo came on in the second half for Javier Zanetti. Things got better on Wednesday, as they beat Udinese 3-1 away. Nagatomo played the entire match. The result brought Inter level on points with Udinese.

Takashi Usami played the entire match for Bayern Munich in a 2-1 win over Werder Bremen. It was nice to see Usami playing, but overall it’s been a shame to watch him on the bench. Maybe he’ll continue to get playing time in the Bundesliga and will earn a spot among the Champions League final substitutes.

Japanese Players in Europe

Borussia Dortmund look set to retain their Bundesliga title, after beating local rivals Schalke 2-1. Goals from Lukasz Pisczek and Sebastian Kehl were enough to overturn an early stunner from Jefferson Farfan. Shinji Kagawa played the entire match. Atsuto Uchida started and was substituted for Ciprian Marica in the 85th minute. The victory, coupled with Bayern’s 0-0 draw at home to Mainz, puts Dortmund eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, with three matches to go. Highlights.

Ryo Miyaichi came off the bench for Chris Eagles in Bolton’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle. The defeat put Bolton in the relegation zone along with Wolves and Blackburn, though they have played two fewer than QPR who are a point above them. Wolves will surely go down, so the fight to avoid the other two places will be between Bolton, Blackburn, QPR, Wigan, and Aston Villa. Bolton face Villa away in two weeks time.

Gotoku Sakai played the entire match as Stuttgart beat Bremen 4-1. Christian Gentner, Martin Harnik, and Cacau scored as Stuttgart came back to win emphatically. The win solidifies their hold on fifth place and a place in next year’s Europa League. Sakai set up the fourth with a well-delivered freekick, which Cacau headed in. Shinji Okazaki came on for the final ten minutes, after missing over a month through injury. Highlights.

J. League Update

After the first two rounds of the J. League, four teams have a perfect record. Vegalta Sendai, Vissel Kobe, F.C. Tokyo, and Kawasaki Frontale have all started off with two wins. At the other end of the table, Kashima Antlers, Albirex Niigata, and Gamba Osaka have two losses. Here’s a roundup of some notable matches and the star performers.

Vegalta Sendai beat Kashima Antlers 1-0 on the first matchday. Defender Taikai Uemoto scored the only goal in the 62nd minute on his Vegalta debut. Keeper Takuto Hayashi made a fantastic reaction save onto the post to deny Juninho a headed equalizer. The match was on the one year anniversary of the Tohoku disaster, and it was great to continue to see some football in Sendai after such destruction. Hopefully Vegalta will be able to maintain their great start and continue to play well throughout the season. It would be great for the region. Highlights.

Championship favorites Nagoya Grampus got off to a good start to their season, beating Shimizu S-Pulse 1-0 in the first round. As expected, they were good in defense despite Shimizu playing good short passes. Whenever a chance was created, reigning J. League Goalkeeper of the Year and former national team number one Seigo Narazaki was there to stop anything. Reigning top scorer Joshua Kennedy cooly slotted a penalty for the only goal of the game. Nagoya lost their next match 3-2 away to FC Tokyo. Based on how they played in this match, Shimizu are a team to watch this season. They won their second match 2-1 to Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Highlights.

Reigning champions Kashiwa Reysol have not enjoyed a great start to the season. After drawing their first match 3-3 to Yokohama F. Marinos, they lost their second match 1-0 away to Urawa Red Diamonds. Ranko Despotovic scored the only goal of the match, capitalizing on woeful defending by Jorge Wagner. In the second half, Leandro Domigues’s freekick came off the crossbar as Kashiwa tried to find an equalizer. Goalkeeper Nobuhiro Kato and midfielder Yosuke Kashiwagi were great for the Reds, who are coming off a terrible 2011 in which they barely avoided relegation. Highlights.

Cerezo Osaka won the first Osaka derby of the season by defeating Gamba Osaka 2-1. Branquinho’s 20th minute opener was canceled out by a great freekick from Paulinho. Both teams pushed for a winner, but in the end Kempes nodded home a high cross from Noriyuki Sakemoto to get his side a decisive second goal. Cerezo drew their first match, while Gamba has struggled and lost four straight in all competitions to start their season. Highlights.