Sayonara

"It may look that way, but without video, there is no way to know whether he bowed or not."

There's a way to prove he's not bowing with the rest of the team, and that's by using your eyes.

I'm looking at the picture, and despite my 20/20 vision, I cannot see what happened before this picture was taken, nor after. Do you have some magical ability the rest of us do not possess?

Highly disappointed of Japan right now. No excuse to not win 1 game. However, it is what it is. The time has ended and be ready next time.

slumdog: "Why should Honda be ashamed?"

Because of his bragging and his feelings of self-entitlement.

"There is nothing shameful about playing a game and doing your best."

There's something shameful about claiming to be the best, demanding 'Kagawa got it so I deserve it to!', blaming the others for not being as much, then crying when you do what you are truly capable of, which is not at all the best.

"You might want to consider getting off from that high horse."

Not on a high horse, bud, but I'm pretty sure in a one-on-one with Honda he'd even flub up and pass the ball to me, too. Or at worst, he'd kick the ball high above an empty net while I tried to keep up.

"You first claim they did a bad job, then you claim there is no shame and you say I am confused?"

Obviously you're confused. Twist it how you like. I said they did a bad job, but that there is no shame in the loss against Colombia, who has won all its games. It's not like I said they did a bad job but did a good job. I don't think Greece played well at all in their games against Japan and Colombia, but I don't think they have anything to be ashamed of for those games, save the conduct of a few members. You really can't see the difference?

Japan played badly, but they should not be ashamed of losing to Colombia. Not that hard to grasp, slumdog.

"It may look that way, but without video, there is no way to know whether he bowed or not."

There's a way to prove he's not bowing with the rest of the team, and that's by using your eyes.

Yes, Japan did a bad job, but I still think there's no shame in losing to Colombia, who was superior ad won all its games.

You first claim they did a bad job, then you claim there is no shame and you say I am confused? I think you might have that backwards.

And I learned Honda did indeed cry later. HE should be ashamed, perhaps, but not the team as a whole.

Why should Honda be ashamed? More importantly, why do you seem obsessed with the man? There is nothing shameful about playing a game and doing your best. You might want to consider getting off from that high horse.

Fadamor: Looks to me like most of the players are bowing at roughly the same angle at the same time, while Honda is standing there doing nothing.

It may look that way, but without video, there is no way to know whether he bowed or not. A picture is a snapshot in time, and doesn't show what happened before or after the picture was taken.

Obviously would've liked Japan to get into the next round, they had a chance, but it's all over now. Well done to all the team, including the respect shown by the players and supporters over there.

Fadamor: Looks to me like most of the players are bowing at roughly the same angle at the same time, while Honda is standing there doing nothing. If he doesn't want to bow, fine, but I don't want to hear anything about how stoic and respectful Japanese are. Maybe he DID do a slight bow beforehand, but even other posters have said his bows are shallow, much like an insincere hand-wave for a car not running you over at a zebra crossing. Anyway, let him cry all he wants... he made predictions he could not help the team live up to, and that's on him. Back to the bench in Europe, I guess.

each one has his own bowing angle, rather unusual in Japan.

Is that Honda at the rear right not bowing? Guess he's above it despite his suggestions.

Be careful about making judgements from a still photo. I learned this as a football official. A coach complained about a call and supplied a still photo as proof he was right. From the still photo it certainly LOOKED like he was right, but the video of the play showed the call was 100% correct. A still photo is one millisecond of time in a world that is constantly in motion. It cannot accurately be used to describe a sequence of events.

So I, for one, will not criticize the players for their bowing angles (or apparent lack of bowing) based solely on this photo. The players could have been in the process of bowing or finishing bowing.

The team under performed but talk about laying the boot in folks. After being knocked out of tournament and covering over 10km in 90min who cares about what angle or if Honda bowed.I am not a big fan of Honda but what is he suppose to say? As one of the leaders in the team of course he is going talk their chances up and hopefully spur on the younger players. The media was equally guilty of predicting Japan to get thru their group so the public had high expectations as well.As an Australian it was a shame that Japan was knocked out, was hoping for any of the Asian teams to do well to lift the profile of Asian football.

Slum dog: sorry you're confused. Yes, Japan did a bad job, but I still think there's no shame in losing to Colombia, who was superior ad won all its games. That make it easier? And I learned Honda did indeed cry later. HE should be ashamed, perhaps, but not the team as a whole.

He might have finished bowing a split second ago.

Honda is always bowing very lightly, not deeply, as same as singing national anthem very lightly. Bowing does not seems to be essential in front of fans.

I remember reading Zac saying that he was training the team to be more aggressive and attack oriented. Obviously this hurt the defensive part of the game, balance is better. Japan did show a edge in speed in the begining but lagged near the end of the first half and all through the second half. Maybe that was the Colombian's game plan......let them run themselves out. On the last 2 goals but Colombia Japan was very slow on getting back on defense.

Gokurosama, Nippon.

Is that Honda at the rear right not bowing?

He might have finished bowing a split second ago.

Guess he's above it despite his suggestions Japan could win it all.

He has responsiblity to say things like that as an ace player of the team.

Yakyu player are a better class of player. At least they have players get into the Major League. As for this team, they achieved the same result as the 2006 World Cup vs Brazil. Maybe they need to avoid Brazil, but in 2 years it's Brazil again. The Samurai part never fit them. Based on their playing style they should change colors to yellow.

In any case, no shame in the loss to Colombia--they played a superior round.

? You wrote this on another thread about the loss. Which is it?

Didn't watch the game, but I bet he cried at the end. In any case, Japan did a bad job, all told, and attempts to square it all on the coach are ludicrous.

maybe it is time now to consider soccer more than yakyu (baseball),,b.t.w otukaresamadeshita to samurai blue, u did ur best!

with Colombia on their back-sides? ROFL

Obviously the odds were stacked against the Japanese team, Colombia? Wow, but it was great to watch. But they ARE getting better and their strong point is speed. They have to compensate for most of the players are shorter and I have to say, I was impressed by their speed. There is always a next time and they will with time get better. They played well, so until next time. I wish them much success.

One thing that really let them down is the defence. Great efforts Japan!

Such a pity. In the olden days the headline would have read Hara Kiri.....

Please refrain from this sort of pointless Japan-bashing. It reflects badly on yourself.

Japanese footballers sucks,and they deserve to go home,end of the story,SAYONARA Japan.

While England are probably their own worst enemy, and Italy will probably blame Suarez's teeth, with Japan it seems a bit of the same-old same-old.

While one of my female students seems to have a crush on Zac, the coach ('Absolutively (sic). ... He is 61 but Honda is married and he is twenties *(sic)' she said. 'Oh, not Honda?' her friends inquired followed by 'あたしも's) he will probably go. Honda ('... his beautician goes to see him in Italy each month*' she also pointed out), will probably stay around though my students may stop noticing him, a couple of the others will come and go from the national team, they probably will do OK in the next Asia Cup and then do same-old same-old again in the next world cup, with either a new manager from overseas who will see the distance or get shafted for a stand-in local manager who might be less illustrious but may actually do OK. Like either of the last two times. My two yens' worth!

But if my student and her friends are anything to go by, the fixation on Honda was never as strong as the media made out.

Samurai Blue Otsukaresama deshita!

I guess the food and the enviormemt didnt agree with them oh well see ya-! In 4 years!

You did your best , it was fun to watch. We sitting watching from the side could second guess all day, but we weren't on the field, you were. Thank you for the exciting games.

Well said!

Go back home Honda, your arrogance was just plain ridiculous. The dude really thought that him and it's team is actually playing any good soccer.

Which ex-girlfriend/wife or current girlfriend/wife in Japan made you become this bitter?

Samurai Blue...thanks for your hard work and efforts this time around!

Go back home Honda, your arrogance was just plain ridiculous. The dude really thought that him and it's team is actually playing any good soccer.

Is that Honda at the rear right not bowing? Guess he's above it despite his suggestions Japan could win it all. In any case, no shame in the loss to Columbia--they played a superior round.

@ isoducky - thanks!

You did your best , it was fun to watch. We sitting watching from the side could second guess all day, but we weren't on the field, you were. Thank you for the exciting games.

WolfpackJUN. 25, 2014 - 09:21AM JST Beating Columbia was a tall order. No shame in this defeat. The loss to Greece was the downfall for the Japanese men.

Japan didn't lose to Greece.

Beating Columbia was a tall order. No shame in this defeat. The loss to Greece was the downfall for the Japanese men.

@BurakuminDes, that marketing idea from Puma.

Can anyone explain why several Samurai players through the tournament have worn odd-coloured boots? Hey, maybe that's their reason for being goal-shy?!

Bowing? Looks more like Team Japan's on-field playing position against Columbia.

Ha!

+1 for Zaccoroni bowing. Some of those players look more like they are slumping over. Understandable. Almost looks like a Japanese version of Bradying.

Good sportsmanship. The Japanese women do this after every game, too, win or lose. Even Zaccheroni is bowing.

each one has his own bowing angle, rather unusual in Japan.

"I did my best, but I guess my best wasn't good enough..."