soccer

North Korea stun second-string Japan in East Asian Cup

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I guess the promise of a heavy beating and family prosecution if they didn't win was more than a stimulant for N. Korean players...

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Oh for Christ's sake, can't you lose gracefully? People like you give Japan a bad name.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Oh...I can feel it is Christmas....err...Kim-mass in North Korea now!! :D

0 ( +1 / -1 )

“They sent a two-metre-tall player (Pak) on and scored with the two chances they had...."

Here we go! The height difference and fatigue excuses. Japan was the only team that was tired, of course. But as I said the other day, given that it's not an 'official' tournament recognized by FIFA, and that the 'best' players aren't there, the teams that lose and their fans will declare this a "non-important" event and say it has no meaning.

But wow... to lose like that against North Korea! Ouch! The question is, will this, too, be the coach's fault, like everything bad was his predecessors', or will people finally realize that the have just pumped up the Japan (and Asian teams in general) team far too much when it's not actually that good.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I think Halilhodzic under estimated N. Korea, like when he brought out Usami.

Kawamata and Nagai both lacked the technique necessary to maintain the kind of play-style the rest of the team were aiming for (my opinion).

I wanted to see more Asano, I think he's going to turn out to be a key player for Japan in the near future.

Good luck with the other matches!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I saw a bit of this last night. Did not recognize any of the Japanese players. It was like watching a j-league match, except worse.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

But wow... to lose like that against North Korea! Ouch! The question is, will this, too, be the coach's fault, like everything bad was his predecessors', or will people finally realize that the have just pumped up the Japan (and Asian teams in general) team far too much when it's not actually that good.

Exactly. Japanese superior fighting spirit when they win, bigger opponents when they lose

1 ( +4 / -3 )

But as I said the other day, given that it's not an 'official' tournament recognized by FIFA, and that the 'best' players aren't there, the teams that lose and their fans will declare this a "non-important" event and say it has no meaning.

Exactly, there is no point in this tournament. You said this yourself before so why even point this out AGAIN that this tournament itself is a "non-important" event? The Euoropean clubs not releasing their players to participate confirms how meaningless it is. Win or lose, it means didly squat since it has nothing to do with FIFA.

A four-nation round robin tournament? What's the point? Sounds like it's just a chance for one or two countries to boost their egos, or after claim the tournament means nothing if they fail.

or will people finally realize that the have just pumped up the Japan (and Asian teams in general) team far too much when it's not actually that good.

Well, the title says it was Japan's second string team (that everyone was aware of) so your comment is off the mark with this article.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Yumster100: " You said this yourself before so why even point this out AGAIN that this tournament itself is a "non-important" event?"

Because some people argued there was a point for it -- aside from giving the new players a chance -- and that it was a big event (or at least they have done the same in the past). Now those people probably will deny it, if they comment at all. So I was reiterating what I said and, lo and behold, there are already some talking about how 'unimportant' this is now that Japan lost -- and don't kid yourself, THAT is why they are saying it. If Japan won, same as with South Korea (and I have a South Korean friend who is now arguing that it IS an important tournament, just to further prove my point, because South Korea is 1-0), it would be very important indeed.

"Well, the title says it was Japan's second string team (that everyone was aware of) so your comment is off the mark with this article."

Actually, my comment was right on the mark, because also in that comment, which you cherry picked, I talked about how some will say it's not important if they lose because they don't have their best players. Which is, again, precisely what you're doing.

I didn't think they would throw in the "their player was too tall" excuse so quickly, but there you go.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Please tell me where anyone said how big of an event that is, I checked the article and the comments from the previous article and couldn't find anyone that said it. Please don't say how it was from the Japanese around you and not on the comment board since that is an easy escape.

lo and behold, there are already some talking about how 'unimportant' this is now that Japan lost -- and don't kid yourself, THAT is why they are saying it.

Once again, WHO is saying how unimportant this game is NOW that Japan lost? hmm? The only comment made before you were 3 commenters and none said or referred that it was unimportant. Also, I didn't cherry pick your argument, I just reiterated what YOU just said previously! That it's not important! I gave examples of why: 1. not the A team but just domestic 2. Even the European team didn't release the players 3. the competition isn't officially recognized by FIFA.

How is the excuse that "their player was too tall" an excuse that Japan thought this tournament was not important.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Their player was too tall...

Japan has a 2m tall player of its own in Mike Havenaar, though he hasn't been selected recently. I believe his younger brother also plays for the U-21 team

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Whether the tournament was important or not, I think the deeper issue is the seeming lack of depth of Japan. Even though they are not playing their top players, I think they should still be better than they were last night; if this is the future of Japanese football, the future is dim.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yumster100: "How is the excuse that "their player was too tall" an excuse that Japan thought this tournament was not important."

That isn't what I said. It's an excuse commonly used when a Japanese athlete or team loses, and you hear it especially in soccer and tennis. Nowhere did I say that was an excuse as to why the tournament is not important. You're confusing yourself.

As for importance, the fact that it exists at all is evidence that some find it important, would you not say? And yes, in the past when Japan has done well it suddenly has more meaning, and I already said it has been said before (you're right, not EXACTLY in the last thread, but still the article talks about the importance). You can see this with the WBC vs. Olympics, WC vs. Olympics, and even sports like figure skating world championships vs. Olympics, and like I said it's not all limited to Japan. When a nation wins one but loses the either, they claim only the one they won is really important, but not the other, especially if the win is over an arch-rival, and the loss is to them.

"Also, I didn't cherry pick your argument, I just reiterated what YOU just said previously! That it's not important!"

Actually, you did. First of all, where is this part: "or will people finally realize that the have just pumped up the Japan (and Asian teams in general) team far too much when it's not actually that good." in my comment? Second, you leave out where I said: "I'm all for games against these teams, but I just don't see the whole need for a 'tournament' between only four nations. I AM glad, though, that it gives the up and coming a chance instead of the stars just coming back for a peeing contest."

So, yes, you cherry-picked.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Hi Smith, you may be interested to know it's actually a 10-team tournament, having had 2 preliminary rounds featuring the might of the likes of Guam, Macau, and the Northern Mariana Islands! (North Korea qualified through the 2nd preliminary round)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Hi "Smith,"

Thank you for your response and I enjoy this debate! Having said that though, please don't confuse the issue: YOU said:

Because some people argued there was a point for it -- aside from giving the new players a chance -- and that it was a big event (or at least they have done the same in the past). Now those people probably will deny it, if they comment at all. So I was reiterating what I said and, lo and behold, there are already some talking about how 'unimportant' this is now that Japan lost -- and don't kid yourself, THAT is why they are saying it.

More specifically:

, there are already some talking about how 'unimportant' this is now that Japan lost -- and don't kid yourself, THAT is why they are saying it.

I'm just asking you to point out WHO the commentors that said that since i cannot find it. Never said that YOU said it. It's a simple question, who the commentor was and copy and paste the exact comment.

As for importance, the fact that it exists at all is evidence that some find it important, would you not say?

Um, I guess. I was agreeing with you regarding how ridiculous the tournament was (which you were implying based on your previous post) and I gave my reasons why.

Next, you're comparing comments from WBC when you should be comparing previous EAST ASIAN tournement regarding soccer (not baseball) and how it's pointless for a "four-nation round robin tournament" for it to be relevant. You did not point to commentors who SUDDENLY decided that this tournament WAS IMPORTANT or that it wasn't important since Japan lost. Stay with the issue or else I wouldn't have called you out on it.

I agreed with you on many parts: 1. that this tournament is pointless 2. it does give opportunities for up and coming players. However, I didn't agree with you where fans/commentors thought this was an important tournament only to change their minds once Japan lost and that Japan (and other nations) pumped up the Japanese team even though they didn't deserve it. This wasn't their A-team! The article mentions that and you can objectively figure this out. So, my argument stands that the results of this game is not the result of Japan national at its normalacy since it is missing their star player. Thus, the result is not indicative of Japan not being good enough than what they are perceived to be. A relevant analogy would be when Japan loses to North Korea with their best players. Otherwise you're shatting on a team that played majority of the substitute and conclude that the result was the best Japan can do. In other words, the argument is flawed.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Wow. The second string really stinks. Heh, heh . . I've always wondered why soccer is popular among young japanese boys, when they're not even 1/2 decent at it.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

It's unimportant as a tournament, but useful training experience for Japan and South Korea, who are fighting with one arm behind their backs due to the non-release of European-based players. That levels the playing field considerably versus North Korea and China, and therefore makes it more of a meaningful challenge for all four. That said, North Korea are not a joke in football, so for Japan's second string to lose to what is presumably NK's strongest team is not a disgrace.

Certainly the assessment of the importance of the tournament should not be affected by whether Japan happened to win or lose a game!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Wc626, so kids are not allowed to play a sport if they are not good at it? What a ridiculous statement.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

No. The statement makes logical sense. Why is soccer so inspirational to Japanese youth, when they know their European and South American counterparts are far more superior & always will be? They failed to bag Singapore (home field advantage) and they just got tossed by the (who?) - The North Koreans. Pathetic-

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

How do you know they "know" other countries will always be far more superior? That's not how you coach kids. By the way, thanks for the thumbs down. I'm glad if giving people a bad vote makes you feel better.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

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