world cup

Japan bidding to make World Cup history, says Nishino

16 Comments
By Ryland JAMES

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2018 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


16 Comments
Login to comment

Belgium-Japan 3-0

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Japan bidding to make World Cup history, says Nishino

In other related headlines:

Japan in for a tough game, says Nishino.

Japan will do it’s best, says Nishino

It’s a game of two halves, says Nishino

If Japan loses, it will not progress to the quarters, says Nishino

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Japan bidding to make World Cup history, says Nishino

You already made that history in the last match, the only way you can undo that is by playing creative and real

football, best of luck.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I will say this, though... most of the "top teams" are out, with underdogs going through like never before. Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Germany... all gone. Instead we have Russia, Croatia, and a few others that don't usually get through. France and England are still in it, of course, but not many other heavy-weights. I think that's good. And since that's the case, Japan may well have a chance as another of the underdogs. They just have to actually try to play with some skill and honour, instead of relying on luck and committing shameful play.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

By what, spending more time avoiding moving forward and trying to win through shame? I think they already broke that record and brought a shameful history to the nation. Well done, Nishino, well done. No surprise you had to apologise and spend heaps of time trying to justify it.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Not to brag but I am back in the U.S. now for a week so the game will be on at 11am here. I feel bad for people in Japan that have to watch the game at 3am and screw up their sleep schedule.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It also doesn't help when the referee for the match is from Senegal.

Oh boy, unless Japan pulls some epic miracles, I don't think they'll be able to proceed to quarterfinals.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Maybe Belgium feel the tournament is starting after their three wins, but I'd like to feel we are on a par with them.

On par???? ON PAR???? 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss vs 3 wins.

But okay, Ill give you the benefit of the doubt. Lets see what Japan can do. They tied 2-2 back in 2002 and lost 1-0 in 2017. So either way, it is going to be exciting. Too bad it starts are friggin 3 AM.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Japanese are suckers for soccer matches, doesn’t matter if it’s 3am, shibuya and sports bars everywhere will be alive till morning. Just hope there’s something exciting to see from samurai blue and not get trashed by belgium in first two minutes. Btw, some companies even shoulders hotel and nomikai expenses for their company workers during international matches. like this.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"From here on, there is a lot of pressure and expectation..."

Very strange statement. As always Japanese putting pressure on themselves - there shouldn't be any and nobody expected they are out of the group stage in the first place!

Japan are the underdogs and they have to use this to their advantage with some careful defense and bursting creativity upfront. Whish them success!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Madden: "We haven't really seen the true strength of the Japanese team, the coach never put them all on the field, which was incredibly risky but I suppose now we'll see what the team can really do."

Had they put Honda in on the last game, Japan might be out. Or maybe they would have won, or drawn. The only thing we know is that Honda was not on the field, nor were the other "true strength" players you speak of, and they advanced. You can't say you haven't seen the true strength without it being equally possible you haven't seen their real weakness.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Belgium have the players to win the tournament but not the experience and probably not the manager.

Even so, Japan will have to play much better than they have so far to get this to extra time. Their chances would have been higher had they played to win, with a full strength team, against Poland and got England instead.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japan will be destroyed by Belgium. They scraped by 10-man Colombia, had a decent tie against Senegal and were an absolute joke against Poland. Belgium will be the first really tough team they will face. Hard to root for these guys after that last performance.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

tokyo_joe: "Hard to root for these guys after that last performance."

Agreed. The sad part is that the coach probably won't take the rightful blame, because people are happy it's a Japanese coach, and instead the new players will take the fall. They can't blame the veterans, most of whom were on the bench.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Even so, Japan will have to play much better than they have so far to get this to extra time. Their chances would have been higher had they played to win, with a full strength team, against Poland and got England instead.

True, with veterans like Honda they would have had a better chance against England.

I predict 3-0 for Belgium but when 'the gods' may decide otherwise I would hail the blue samurai for the sake of football :)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Hard to say what will happen, the World Cup has been full of upsets. We haven't really seen the true strength of the Japanese team, the coach never put them all on the field, which was incredibly risky but I suppose now we'll see what the team can really do.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites