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© Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Neymar nets penalty as Brazil beats Japan 1-0 in friendly
By STEPHEN WADE TOKYO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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John Noun
Wow.
No way. Japan were so so so second best. It was like a training match for Brazil
Paustovsky
There is nothing to be read into an exhibition game like this. Some people saw Neymar in the flesh. Pure marketing exercise.
Compare this game to Sweden v Norway in the UEFA Nations League.
Jimizo
Not sure if that’s justified. The teams from the Asian federation have performed badly overall in the last few World Cups.
I hope that changes this time around but I’d be surprised if it did.
A fully fit Son on the kind of form we saw last season with Spurs may give South Korea some hope.
Lepyon
As expected Brazil used the match as an exhibition for fitness and to experiment with some lessor players. Had they gone full out, it could have been 5-0.
kokontozai
With the handicap of Nagatomo, Japan fought well. It was like Japan was playing with 10 men against Brazil. The coach is Japan's biggest obstacle.
Jimizo
I wouldn’t read too much into a friendly.
The big one is tonight with your Aussie boys taking on the UAE in a WC qualifier.
Best of luck, sport. Honestly hope you make it.
Fighto!
Quality performance against one of the top teams from Samurai-Blue as gaffer Moriyasu eyes combinations for Qatar.
I was really pleased to see Celtics Japanese Bhoys in action - Kyogo starting and leading the line well against Marquinhos and Eder Militao - as well as the non-stop Daizen looking busy and hungry when he came on.
Promising signs for the Samurai Blue and their gaffer!
NOMINATION
It was a friendly, not a World Cup qualifier or World Cup match. So essentially this was a training match for both teams.
Fighto!
It's a tough ask and a perilous road to Qatar for gaffer Graham Arnold's lads. The Socceroos, should they get past UAE, have Peru waiting for them next week in a do-or-die match to get to Qatar. Without talisman Rogic who declined to play, the task is even harder.
I fancy the Socceroos' fellow Asians Samurai-Blue and the Taegeuk Warriors much more in hopefully dazzling the stadia of Qatar. The more AFC teams, the better though, that's for sure.