Japan earns Olympic soccer berth

The two goals were crackers- really well hit. But the team "team" still looks like they need more time playing together.

@smithinjapan

Zacch is the head coach of the national team, not the olympic team. They have a Japanese guy coaching the olympic team.

They played convincingly and with energy, but Bahrain is nothing like the stiff competition they'll face in the Olympics.

Why are you creating problems when there's none. Every team wins and loses. They are under 23 years old kids, there's always room for improvement. Congrats to them, they can only do better than the previous generation.

Hide: "Zacch is the head coach of the national team, not the olympic team. They have a Japanese guy coaching the olympic team."

Thank you for pointing that out. They still won't last if thee don't improve, and that's neither the Olympic nor the National team's coach's fault. The players need to work better together, on the field, and no amount of instruction will help with that until they help themselves. It works when they win, but not until, and they can't depend on a victory to cement on before it happens.

A rather rocky road to the berth, but as expected they got it. SK looks quite strong, although a draw with Qatar (good for them, given they are getting the WC later!) isn't all that great. I agree the Samurai Blue still need better cohesion as a team if they want to do well in London, but all the same, congrats.

Now, are they going to praise Zacch for the win since they chided him and blamed him for the losses?