soccer

Osako's 2 goals send Japan to Asian Cup final

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Dominant performance against Iran, a team many were calling “best in Asia”. Lol! Osako, unbelievable form in this Asia Cup. Moriyasu Japan tore them apart! Win 1 more game, and another Asia Cup, undefeated!! Go go Moriyasu-Japan!!

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Dominant performance against Iran, a team many were calling “best in Asia”. Lol! Osako, unbelievable form in this Asia Cup. Moriyasu Japan tore them apart! Win 1 more game, and another Asia Cup, undefeated!! Go go Moriyasu-Japan!!

Japan look the best team in Asia although Asian football is in a bit of a slump in terms of quality. Australia is a perfect example.

Let’s hope for an upturn in the next few years.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@ Jimizo - Japan upset the highest ranked team in Asia, Iran (29) through brilliant play and excellent defense. Most people predicted Iran to win the cup. A bit of credit please for Moriyasu-Japan if they win the silverware, rather than just saying “quality in Asia is in slump”.

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

Well done Japan, definitely peaking at the right time! Great to see plenty of Iranian men & women (veiled or not) together on the terraces.

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Jimizo - Japan upset the highest ranked team in Asia, Iran (29) through brilliant play and excellent defense. Most people predicted Iran to win the cup. A bit of credit please for Moriyasu-Japan if they win the silverware, rather than just saying “quality in Asia is in slump”.

I’m not knocking Japan. As I said, they look the best team in Asia but it is undeniable that Asian football isn’t in the best of shape. My Aussie mates look honestly at your home side and are disappointed at the quality.

I’m disappointed too. I want to see a country from outside of Europe and South America capable of challenging the very best from those continents.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Well done Japan! Iran had no response once the first goal went in, though they were the better team in the first half and the penalty was a bit soft. Japan well positioned to win the tournament now.

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ganbare Japan: "@ Jimizo - Japan upset the highest ranked team in Asia, Iran"

And? Asia's not exactly the top on the world stage. In fact, they are more like the bottom. Japan should be dominating, not squeaking by on bad calls all the time (not saying this game was that, but past games have been).

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Congrats to Japan!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

"Asia's not exactly the top on the world stage"

Canada is a footballing super-power.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Asia's not exactly the top on the world stage"

Canada is a footballing super-power.

Asian football isn’t in great shape at the moment. The state of Canadian football is irrelevant.

Do you think Asian football is in good shape?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

"Asia's not exactly the top on the world stage. In fact, they are more like the bottom"

Being at the bottom means Canadian football is superior.

Therefore my statement is both accurate and relevant.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Excellent game from both sides, with real concentration and energy. Really enjoyed watching this, until half-time when I headed off to lala land..

0 ( +0 / -0 )

When did Canada move to Asia?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"When did Canada move to Asia?"

?!

That's the answer to your question.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Asia's not exactly the top on the world stage. In fact, they are more like the bottom"

Being at the bottom means Canadian football is superior.

Therefore my statement is both accurate and relevant.

We are talking about the weakness of a football confederation, not an individual nation. Comparing Canada’s confederation ( CONCCAF ) to Japan’s ( AFC ) makes sense. If you want to compare nations, compare nations. If you want to compare confederations, compare confederations. We are talking about confederations.

Your comparison of a football federation to an individual nation is flawed and useless. Would you say the Oceania Football Federation isn’t the weakest because New Zealand are stronger than San Marino?

Please make some sense.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Being at the bottom means Canadian football is superior.

Therefore my statement is both accurate and relevant.

The above makes sense to me!

Comparing Canada’s confederation ( CONCCAF ) to Japan’s ( AFC ) makes sense

Nope! Neither COCCAF nor AFC can play soccer! Either Canada or Japan can. Your argument is completely flawed because you made a false generalization, which is too inclusive and inaccurate. AFC has about 50 members, many in good shape, may others aren't. AFC itself? Well, be specific to make sense! UEFA in good shape or bad shape? Bad question! France and Croatia are in good shape, but Italy Germany aren't. The defending world champions were defeated by an AFC's member not long ago.

Before calling somebody else's comparison "flawed and useless," make yours flawless and useful. Here's a rule of thumb relevant to both elementary school kids and adults: when comparing a sport performance, use a subject that can play that sport or that you can play the sport with.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Nope! Neither COCCAF nor AFC can play soccer! 

Hair-splitting, pedantic, elementary school silliness. We are talking about the standard of the teams in those confederations. This is quite common. After the last World Cup, many talked about the poor state of African and Asian football in particular, and the strength of European football. It is clear to people with half a brain that we are talking about the standard of teams in those confederations. Of course there are weak teams but these generalizations are both useful and instructive.

UEFA in good or bad shape? Bad question!

I don’t think so. The 4 semi-finalists of the last World Cup were all European. 6 out of 8 of the quarter finalists were European. I’d say European football is in rude health. Germany were a disappointment but European teams are clearly strong.

AFC has 50 members, many in good shape

Japan were the only team from the AFC to reach the last 16 of the last World Cup. Many teams are in good shape? List them for us.

Your post is hair-splitting, inane and pointless.

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"Your comparison of a football federation to an individual nation is flawed and useless."

Actually, you're the only one making "flawless and useless" comparisons!

Where in my post did you read/see comparisons between a Confederation and and individual Nation (that you, out of your own volition decided it was Japan)?!

I'm/was talking about Asia Federation versus CONCACAF, where Canada "lives", yet it's still nothing but a pile of dung, as far as football is concerned. Then we have a Canadian passing judgement on other's Federation!!!!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Where in my post did you read/see comparisons between a Confederation and and individual Nation

Here

Smith: Asia's not exactly the top on the world stage. In fact, they are more like the bottom"

You: Being at the bottom means Canadian football is superior.

Smith was talking about the standard of a confederation ( AFC ), you were talking about the standard of an individual nation ( Canada ). You did not mention CONCACAF, you mentioned Canada.

Please post some sense.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

1) Asian football is at the bottom;

2) Canada is not part of the Asia Confederation;

3) Everyone, except you know Canada belongs to the CONCACAF;

4) Given that Asia is at the bottom, CONCACAF must necessarily be stronger;

5) There is something called Syllogism; try learning about it sometime. The Aristotelian way.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

I don’t think that being a Canadian excuses one from offering an opinion on another federation, coming from a Brit.

As for the AFC, I don’t think it is the weakest, but it isn’t faring so well when it comes to showing its strengths either.

As loathe as I am to use them as an indicator, the FIFA rankings can help to show us how differently the federations are performing. If you look at the top 50 teams on the list, you can break down how many representatives there are from each one:

UEFA: 31 teams

CONMEBOL: 8 teams

CAF: 5 teams (strongest is Senegal at 23rd)

CONCACAF: 3 teams (ranked 17th, 25th and 36th)

AFC: 3 teams (ranked 29th, 41st and 50th, which is Japan)

OFC: 0 teams. Their highest performer being New Zealand which sits pretty at 122nd.

This is just my opinion but if you put the 3 teams from CONCACAF and AFC in a tournament (Mexico, USA, Costa Rica, Iran, Australia and Japan) my money would not be on Japan to win. As for how they could improve, they need to try and get more players out into the stronger leagues around Europe or South America, where the football is much more competitive and of a higher quality. Otherwise there will always be a limit to how far the Japanese national team can go.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Two or three comments on-topic above.

Enough of the schoolyard brawl, though. OK, Asian football is not the best in the world right now. Gotcha!

Looking forward to the final.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Two or three comments on-topic above!

OK, nandakandamanda: that's the point! Other federations were irrelevant to this article. This is not the World Cup. We were enjoying the Asia Cup, and the tit-for-tat deviation  started off when the guy, who is always talking s.it about Japan sneaked in, manipulating the joy into belittling the country with the generosity of sheltering his existence. I don't know where he is from or what kind of biological form he is in; he seems to have the privilege of being harbored in Japan but apparently shows utter ingratitude to the land: he is S.it in Japan, since he is always talking s.it about Japan no matter what.

And yes, looking forward to enjoying the final of the Asian Cup!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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