Goalkeeping errors threaten Japan's Asian Cup hopes

It’s a team game and the goalkeeper should be the last line of defense. Why didn’t the “100%” Japanese kick more goals. I have a feeling it’s easy to throw him under the bus because of who he is. Could it also be Japan soccer isn’t as good as it used to be.

Shuichi Gonda has not featured at all since playing for Japan at the World Cup, with Moriyasu ruling him out on the grounds that he plays in the J.League second division.

Sorry, I don't get this. Without Gonda, Japan doesn't make the Round of 16 and beat teams like Germany and Spain.

Zion Suzuki is NOT the first choice keeper for his club side. How or why does the coach of Japan pick him as the No.1 keeper in Japan?

Unless Japan win the tournament Moriyasu deserves to be fired

Zion is young and still have room for improvement. Yes it sucks fumbling the ball. But he needs more encouragement than bashing. Soccer is a teams sports. Stand tall Suzuki san and keep yours on the ball.

Maybe it's not even the trainer's choice to come up with a more 'globalized' team. I guess or better I am quite sure, he has not even the slightest influence on that and much more probable there's a bigger and stubbornly followed political agenda in the background that has nothing at all to do with sports or soccer.

He is doing his best. He plays in a European league which is the best in the world for practicing to play in the international events like this.

I guess or better I am quite sure, he has not even the slightest influence on that and much more probable there's a bigger and stubbornly followed political agenda in the background that has nothing at all to do with sports or soccer

Absolutely fascinating. Who is pulling the strings for squad or team selection?

Zion Suzuki is NOT the first choice keeper for his club side. How or why does the coach of Japan pick him as the No.1 keeper in Japan?

It’s a fair point. If he’s not playing competitive games on a regular basis, it’s hard to be fully sharp.

It doesn’t mean he’s not the best available, though.

two backups who have only one international cap between them.

soooo, give them a chance then. let them get some experience in there.

If you’re losing with the current lineup, make adjustments. Find the right chemistry to win.

is this the coach’s first time coaching?

The team is in quarter finals that’s what matters the rest is noise.

Bring in Gonda even he is second division

Zion Suzuki is NOT the first choice keeper for his club side. How or why does the coach of Japan pick him as the No.1 keeper in Japan?

In the name of diversity?

He plays in a European league which is the best in the world for practicing to play in the international events like this.

The best in the world really?

I think the Coach's selection of players and tactics is the cause of the team's close games. The coach starts players who are not prime time players (Kubo, Doan, Ueda, H. Ito, Itakura) and gives them loads of minutes with low production against quality opponents--sure they score against lower caliber opponents, but against stronger teams their production is low (goals/assists/quality passes vs turnovers/bad passes/scoring opportunities created or nullified) and the offense looks inept. Where was the playing time for Maeda, Minamimo, Nakamura, Mitoma, Taniguchi? These players should have seen more minutes in the group and knock out matches. They are starters and quality players who can apply pressure and attack with pace--not Kubo, Doan, Ueda, H. Ito, Itakura who should be playing lesser roles as subs or filling out the roster or only starting in exhibitions or lower quality opponents. Watching South Korea's organized offense, pressure, and passing makes me wonder how is the Japanese team evolving. Japan looks worse than ever at set pieces with Doan/Kubo delivering poor free kicks and corner kicks and their offense looks too slow paced to fool well organized and coached teams.