world cup

Japan fans curse 2 nightmarish minutes and Drogba

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“We lost without expressing our style of football on this pitch."

So why didn't you express your style of football on this pitch? I'd say both teams expressed their style quite well, but one team always has to lose.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

Simply put, the Ivorian team was better. The players are bigger, tougher, stronger. Trained differently under different circumstances. Skilful and smart, outsmarting the Japan team by quickly picking up the latter's strategy. I think it was a good match.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

As the Ivorians adjusted to the Honda, Kagawa and Okazaki around the box, they began to cover them pretty easily, and Japan lacked a Plan B by the look of it. Hoda's goal was a cracker, but he was also very wasteful with overly casual passes and tricky little flicks that handed possession back to the IC at the point of attack. I also felt that Japan really lacked urgency in the push for an equaliser. Not desperate enough.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

sport should be taken as a sport , when the media creates such a hype the fans and specially the children get hurt when the result comes otherwise. every body love to see the national team as a winner but in sport you also appreciate the hard work and the talent of the opposite team. Japanese team have talented players and they can comeback with a better strategy and the fans should encourage them to show their best talent.

Defeat Is Not When You Fall Down, It Is When You Refuse To Get Up.

“Never stop just because you feel defeated. The journey to the other side is attainable only after great suffering.”

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Every game has a loser. Everyone wants to win. Do your best, and don't be cry-babies when you lose.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

I'm just a casual world cup fan, and I thought the pass that set up Honda was impressive. Drogba two head shots were incredible. Way to use your head.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Enthusiasm was GREAT in the first half after Honda's goal. Ivory Coast's substitution gave the Blue Samurai too much to think about as they tired. Good luck in the next game!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@Sir_Edgar "Cote d'Ivoire is ranked 23, Japan is ranked 46. Do the math."

Japan should take a tip from Scotland. Scotland are currently ranked 27. This is no doubt because they have never been beaten in a World Cup finals game since 1998. Prior to that, between 1974 and 1990, they crashed out at the group stage of every tournament. We were laughed at, humiliated, and had to take the usual stick from our southern cousins. It seems we have learned that to avoid humiliation, it's better not to take part.

Should Japan take the same approach? Of course not. Every Scottish football fan would give their left testicle (or their husband's) to see Scotland in the world cup finals again. And who cares if we are laughed at when we crash out. To see Japan taking stick for losing is great. That's part of the game. Dreams of winning the world cup colour the thoughts of every football player from age seven upwards. But the most important game is always the next one. And so I envy the Japanese fans.

I hope some of the above made sense. I suspect I've been influenced by the Colombian game, or perhaps just the native amber bead.

@Sir_Edgar, sorry, my post had nothing to do with what you said. But just so you know, I agree with you totally.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

How is it devastating? It's just 2-1. My god. Get over it.

1 ( +12 / -11 )

He was keeping the faith, however. "I believe they will definitely win the next two matches".

Classic Lesson: Don't believe your own hype.

For the sake of the kids, I hope the the media and fans here can be gracious losers if their team returns without winning a single match.

I'm a supporter of Japan but when I see how hyped up and overconfident the media and fans get about intl sports events, I do feel a bit of schadenfreude when Japan loses badly.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

calling Cote D'Ivoire poor is first irrelevant to this competition and second won't change anything at your defeat. Be fair play and stop hating.

You read too much in it, what he meant is that's nice to see a country win, which is torn by a civil war. This team is made up of both groups.....so yeah I wished that the Japanese would have won, but secretly also rooted for the other team. A poor country in a civil war! Good sportsmanship @victory Nippon!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Japan played stupidly. They chased the ball like children running all over the field instead of trying to build a good offense. If this is a reflection of this coach's ability to command his team, he should quit. Drogba was put in later in the game. Honda and/or some other key players should have been used sparingly and put in later as well, once this was realized. Japan ran themselves ragged. So please, no one say anything about Drogba or any other reason for Japan losing. They beat themselves.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

they were completely dominated by the africans.

Africans? So Africa is a country now? Since the way you say it sounds quite rude, I give you the proper word. People from Ivory Coast are called Ivorians. Simple, right?

No need to thank me, you learned something today.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@Victory Nippon @Dutchdyck Competitive sports should be separated from sentiment, and as such, the poverty level of a country is irrelevant in the present discussion. And no, there is no civil war going on in Cote d'Ivoire at the moment.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Tough lose.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Classic Lesson: Don't believe your own hype.

Just to be able to enter the World Cup should give teams some sort of hype. I don't recall a single Japanese player or coach saying in public that they were going to 100% win this game and the entire World Cup. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having excitement, confidence or hope when entering a World Cup game.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@Victory Nippon,

calling Cote D'Ivoire poor is first irrelevant to this competition and second won't change anything at your defeat. Be fair play and stop hating.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

I was expecting much more from Japan in the game last night here in Brazil. But only one team played and it was Costa do Marfim.

Japan was tatically bad positionated and they were completely dominated by the africans. I could see fear in all the japanese playing there.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

I don't know why anybody is shocked at this result. Cote d'Ivoire is ranked 23, Japan is ranked 46. Do the math.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

there is a civil war in Cote D'Ivoire now?Educate yourself please while we celebrate. :D

I did, and that's why I am happy they/you won :D

0 ( +0 / -0 )

“I believed for the first 60 minutes that Japan would win,” Hiroshi Tsujita told AFP at the stadium. “It ended in such a disappointing way.”

This guy must have been watching a different game than I was. After their initial issues -- too much individuality and not enough team work -- which lasted about 25 minutes or so, The Ivory Coast clearly outplayed the Japanese, and all the stats showed that. They had wide margins in shots, shots on goal, time of possession, etc. In the World Cup you need to have more than one really world-class athlete -- Honda. The Ivory Coast's size, speed and athleticism was just too much for the Japanese to handle for 90 minutes.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

the mistake was not to close the game, go japan Italy with you

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Dont see the connection with Drogba. Ivorians were applying constant pressure and I couldnt see them not scoring. Maybe Japan will take some points off Greece but Columbia are a considerable step up from Ivory Coast and its beyond me why anyone thinks they will qualify.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The wife, my family and I enjoyed watching the game. Both teams played well. However, as the game went along, you could tell that Cote d'Ivoire started to wear down the Japanese with their size.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I thought the game was not half bad. But after the first goal by the Ivory Coast, it seems like the Blue Samurai totally lost their mojo. When the second one happend, they all seemed asleep.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Guy Fawkes: "...you could tell that Cote d'Ivoire started to wear down the Japanese with their size."

Here we go again. Yeah, it was their size that won, not their skill! IC didn't outplay Japan, the Japanese players are just smaller and were tired, etc. etc.

Did you watch the game? Where did I insinuate Cote d'Ivoire doesn't have any skill? As the game went on, Cote d'Ivoire made crisp passes, beat Japan to the ball, pressured the defenders and, yes, used their size AND skill to wear down Japan. After a while, it takes a toll.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I wanted Japan to win but it's also nice to see a poor country to win too. Good job to both teams !

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

The game was a very good example of Blue Samurai style. Same style they showed against Korea during the Olympics.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

And after all the hype from Honda, Zac, et al what a disappointment. No Japan, you aren't gonna win the World Cup. The real test will be against Greece. If they don't win this then bye bye.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Japan is lame in soccer. What a great result.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

but it's also nice to see a poor country to win

I wish I was as poor as Drogba. He is anly making 4 million euro this year.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I knew Japan was going to lose in the second half. They kept losing possession of the ball and their defense was really weak. Their passes were just bad and the only reason why Ivory Coast didn't score in the first half was that luck was on the Japanese side but with another 45 minutes to go, I really doubt they can really push their luck that far. I support Japan but Ivory Coast deserved to win this one.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Here in Brazil we have a simple rule that, in my opinion, Japan must learn: it says that one can not let the other team stay with the ball because by doing that the other team will start to like the game.

So, I'm sure it is not related to size... Japan stayed behind and permitted that only Cote d'Ivoire play the game. The africans started to like the game and attacked Japan. It was a matter of time to see an ivorian goal. Japan did not play the entire game, only stood behind. It is an elementar error of soccer and Nippon, the japanese, payed the price.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Group C will end with the current standings - Colombia on top and CDI as the runner-up. It was a pretty uneventful match until some minutes into the second half. The Japanese looked tired. They will have to get a bit more energetic if the want to get anywhere in this World Cup. Personally, I don't think they have a chance...

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Japan choked

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Jp got one goal and played only half the field thinking they could win with one goal they never attacked just settled in until they tell behind and got desperate. I say don't blame the coach blame the players

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I wish I was as poor as Drogba. He is only making 4 million euro this year.

Japan, you are rich. Buy Drogba for us!

Go Japan!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I see the mistakes. Believing your own hype.

Looking at another country thinking they are poor when in fact God gave them so much more ability than Japanese.

I thought they were nice not to send Drogba in for the full 90 minutes. Imagine the score if they had.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

@Dutchduck

there is a civil war in Cote D'Ivoire now?Educate yourself please while we celebrate. :D

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Japan guys suck in football, only Yamato Nadeshiko!

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Guy Fawkes: "...you could tell that Cote d'Ivoire started to wear down the Japanese with their size."

Here we go again. Yeah, it was their size that won, not their skill! IC didn't outplay Japan, the Japanese players are just smaller and were tired, etc. etc.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

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