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© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.U.S. beats Nadeshiko Japan 4-1
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NetNinja
This was a really bad day for the USWNT. For Japan this was a research game. It's only intention was to see who's in the American line-up and discover mismatches. If it should come down to the Gold medal, Japan's coach will use this information to his advantage.
It's always nice to see America win but this game wasn't The Big Show so...we'll see what happens in London.
Mirai Hayashi
This is the result of too many TV shows, commercials, media appearances, etc and not enough dedication to the sport.
Hide Suzuki
@Mirai Hayashi
What do you expect them to do ? Female soccer players make very little money, many players on Japan's national team have a second job and their career as a soccer player is very short.
If a TV show and commercials pay them more than working at a supermarket, good for them, they can spend more time practicing soccer.
ogtob
The goal difference could have been worse if it weren't for some good saves by Kaihori.
alliswellinjapan
Don't know how much time Japan had for team practice and strategic discussions in preparation for the game, but it seemed their defense was far from organized, frequently leaving the opponent's offense open and voluntarily giving a lot of free space to them. Looked very different from the team that triumphed at the WC. Have to give the US team credit nonetheless for their organized offensive work and Morgan's speed.
nandakandamanda
Nadeshiko probably could not get used to playing in the resounding stadium silence.
USNinJapan2
NetNinja
You do have a point but I seriosuly doubt that the match progressed as the Japanese side had planned. They shouldn't have and did't have to allow four goals to just get a feel for the US side.
smithinjapan
"For Japan this was a research game. It's only intention was to see who's in the American line-up and discover mismatches."
Geez... it can never just be a 'good game' with one team performing well. There always have to be those that come on with the excuses as to why one team did not win.
Hide Suzuki: It's true that the women are not paid enough, and it's not just limited to women's soccer in Japan, either. Many athletes of many sports that are expected to represent their nation in the Olympics are forced to work regular jobs because they don't have the sponsors or government money to allow them to train properly. However, I think what Mirai was talking about was the media hype -- not actual sponsorship money. Lest we forget, these women were (and still are) heroes after winning the women's WC, and we never heard the end of it. I think what Mirai is hinting at is that it got to the women's heads a little too much and the result of this match is one of the signs.
RowanM
I really wish that JT online would change it so that articles like this reference the sport in question in the RSS feed. I can never tell what sport an article is about unless I click through or unless there's a name I recognize and it's really annoying.
USNinJapan2
I second RowanM's sentiment. Pretty annoying sometimes.
Moderator
The name Nadeshiko Japan tells you instantly that it is women's soccer.
Hide Suzuki
@Smith san
I agree that some of the players might have put their focus on TV appearances more than they should but you know what, I'm totally ok with it. They deserve the money and attention they are getting compared to say AKB48 :)
Besides, the depth of talent pool of the US team can't even be compared to Japan, where soccer was considered a boy's sport until recently. So losing to #1 ranked team in the world is really not that bad. At least now they know they need to bring their A game just to have a competitive game against the US.
yasukuni
For someone not really into soccer, all I can say is that it's totally different for me watching a game like that in a mostly empty stadium. But maybe it's just as well. There would have been a lot of sad Japanese if it was in a full stadium in Japan.
Mirai Hayashi
@Hide Suzuki
If you are doing it for the money, then you are in the wrong profession. They should be doing it for the love of the sport, that's what makes a true athlete.
Having said all this, I think the media tends to spoil athletes by showering them with too much money and gifts for guest appearances in return. The athletes then become spoiled and arogant, stop practicing their sport, and as a result, they don't do as well as they did before their instant fame. This is what happened to Kameda brothers, Ryoko Tani (Judo), Naoko Takahashi (runner) and so many other athletes in Japan. If they had stayed pure and true to their sport, they would have continued to been good at with they do.
TorafusuTorasan
@Mirai "spoiled and arrogant"
I think you are unfairly lumping all those athletes together. All fighters, especially the Kameda brothers, are arrogant. Some soccer players may be, but Nadeshiko don't strike me as spoiled or arrogant in their appearance or words--what did they say or do besides celebrate winning the World Cup that fits your terms?
What happened to Ryoko Tani? You left out marriage, childbirth, and becoming a politician. Fact of life: athletes grow older, Olympics are only once every four years, and nobody stays in their prime forever. Runners like Q-chan should be commended for winning the gold even once, considering the millions of competitive distance runners out there.
Moderator
Back on topic please.
HansNFranz
As long as Honda is regarded as a bigger star and better football player in Japan than Shinji Kagawa, I can't take Japan's sports media serious.
Hide Suzuki
@Mirai Hayashi
"If you are doing it for the money, then you are in the wrong profession. They should be doing it for the love of the sport, that's what makes a true athlete. "
They need to make a living just like everyone else, they are not making million dollars if you don't know. Anyone can play any sport for any reason, they don't need to fit your opinion of athlete.
Who are you to say that they are spoilt and arrogant just because they lost to the #1 ranked team in the world ? Only certain players from INAC get TV appearances, (which is not bad at all in any way), most other players don't get any TV coverage.
tmarie
If it should come down to the Gold medal, Japan's coach will use this information to his advantage.
Is that a joke? The Japanese played a shockingly bad game. They have very little control - it seemed like they wanted to get rid of the ball as soon as they touched it - their defense was horrific. Sawa looked like a child running after everything but unable to control anything she actually got. The only good thing about Japan was the keeper who made some great saves. Their endurance was weak, their passes were horrible and their speed.... The US ran them down for nearly every ball.
Loki520
If this was a "scouting" game, imagine how lame they will be vs. Australia in mid-July...
nath
Hide SuzukiJun. 19, 2012 - 12:45PM JST
@Smith san I agree that some of the players might have put their focus on TV appearances more than they should but you know what, I'm totally ok with it. They deserve the money and attention they are getting compared to say AKB48 :)
Yeah, way to go... showboating in Japan is what it'a all about... not the sport.
This is the problem with japanese sport and why it's going nowhere on the international stage. Big in japan. as you well know, means zilch by international standards and even big in Japan is only mantained for the Japanese by ethnic glass ceilings and regulations. Watching Japanese sports news in the morning is hysterical.
Unfortunately Ai Miyazato is the exception, rather than the model. She perfects her sport, rather than her hairstyle or smile for the TV cameras.
DentShop
Nadeshiko still play soccer?
I thought they had become full-time tv commercial actresses.
Kreza23
Was only able to catch the second half yesterday, but that was a great showing by the US. Japan looked completely gassed for the last quarter of the game.
Dog - This is the problem with japanese sport and why it's going nowhere on the international stage. Big in japan. as you well know, means zilch by international standards and even big in Japan is only mantained for the Japanese by ethnic glass ceilings and regulations. Watching Japanese sports news in the morning is hysterical. Unfortunately Ai Miyazato is the exception, rather than the model. She perfects her sport, rather than her hairstyle or smile for the TV cameras.
Japanese sport is nowhere on the international stage, other than Ai Miyazato? They're the reigning world champions, and Sawa Homare was the recepient of the Ballon d'Or last year. And not to take anything away from Ai Miyazato, but she has plenty of her own commercials and has been on a lot of shows in Japan as well. Not that I think there is anything wrong with that. I think this idea that because an athlete is on TV, they're not training hard enough is nonsense. The Nadeshiko players are on club teams, and they're not skipping practices to make these television appearances. Besides, Japan isn't the only country where athletes appear on TV programs. I also don't see how them being on TV is any worse than all of these athletes and celebrities in North America (and perhaps Europe, although this is admittedly just an assumption because I don't know anybody who does this for sure) checking and using Twitter all day to tell people what they're up to.
Hide Suzuki
@Dog
"showboating in Japan is what it'a all about... not the sport."
Not sure how to tell you this but I do see plenty of American athletes, from Michael Phelps to Abbey Wambach on TV all the time.
Maybe you should open your eyes and see what goes on in other countries as well instead of being a Mr. Know It All.
Regarding the game, I agree with most, the US dominated the game, I'm just glad that there is still some time until the olympic.
Clément Delestrade
Funny what can a loss to provoke ... Was the USWNT criticized this way when they lost to Japan the last two times they faced ? That's dumb. They lost, they will learn from their mistakes and try to do better next time. Don't burn what you used to love.
yasukuni
You know guys, I've been watching sport for a long time. Sometimes you don't win. And sometimes you even play badly.
Noliving
US loss one and tied one. So this year the US are 1-1-1 against Japan.
lostrune2
It should also be noted that the US team only had 1 day of rest for this match - just 2 days prior, they beat Sweden 3-1.
Here's the telling stats how this match was:
Statistical Summary: USA / JPN
Shots: 19 / 9
Shots on Goal: 11 / 2
Saves: 1 / 7
Mirai Hayashi
Not very well if they are losing to Americans
Exactly my thoughts, but don't let the Nadeshiko fanboys hear you say that.
Hide Suzuki
"Not very well if they are losing to Americans"
"Americans" are ranked #1 in the world in the FIFA ranking. Obviously you don't know the difference between men and women's soccer.
There is nothing wrong wtih losing to them.
LostinNagoya
Good job girls. I love watching women's soccer, much funnier than men's.