Japan v Poland match thread

[kushiro]

Not sure how many are going to be watching this with the mouth-watering Senegal-Colombia game on at the same time, but here goes. 

 

Here is the front page of Asahi Sports this morning, not a paper given to unfounded speculation - the headline reads 'Muto and Okazaki up front - Nishino's bold starting line up with six changes'.

 

 

Some other media outlets back up the story  - but several other respected sources have Nishino selected an unchanged team. It's confusing. It would seem crazy to make such wholseale changes after the cohesion of the first two games - especially with passage to the last 16 anything but certain. If Poland were to take the lead and word got through to the other game, it would be very tempting for them to play out a draw that would see both Senegal and Colombia through.

 

One thing seems certain. Nishino will stick by under fire keeper Kawashima. At the press conference yesterday Kawashima was the player sitting next to him - like Southgate and Dier. So surely that signals his intention.

 

Lots of talk about how Okazaki wants to match Honda's feat of scoring in three successive World Cups, and of Honda wanting to provide an assist for him to do so. 

 

Bloody hell I am so nervous just typing this - and daren't even think what might lie ahead if they get through.

 

 

Edited 28 June 2018 by kushiro

[shen]

That front page gives me a headache. It looks so busy and frankly ugly. What is with the enlarged heads too?!

 

Anyway, I hope Japan finish the excellent job they've done so far. Would love a Shinji goal scored with the back of his thigh or something

[Rocket-Ron]

Poland are going to win this, and ruin it for everyone.

[ScouseFox]

would love shinji to bag but also want senegal and colombia to go through. such a dilemma. 

[MC Prussian]

Japan will get something out of this and finish either first or second in the group. Okazaki with a goal or two, keeping the team's World Cup hopes alive (not that I see them last for too long in the knockout stages).

 

BANZAIII!!

 

#saveshinji

[KingKoala]

Japan has actually changed 6 players..

That's surprising.

[kingfox]

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Come on Shinji my old son 

 

[Chester Dontlie]

We're done for this WC so for the sake (pun intended) of Shinji and also changes needed in this Poland team & its management I sincerely hope Japan will tear us a new one.

GO SHINJIIIIIIIII 

[MrSpaM]

Close!

[PhillippaT]

Aww...  (Yes, I'm watching this @work - Shh, don't tell anyone!  )

Edited 28 June 2018 by PhillippaT

[Chester Dontlie]

Brilliant save from Kawashima

[Carl the Llama]

Fvck me that's a save and a half.

[PhillippaT]

Just kept it out...  Nice one!

[mancunianfox]

Amazing save. Best of the tournament?

[Carl the Llama]

And was Grosicky calling for play to be taken back to the free kick..?  After taking an opportunity that brought them millimetres from scoring  

[lestajigs]

Refs an utter joke 

[lestajigs]

Poland should be banned from the nx World Cup on this absolute negative performance, what a disgrace

[PhillippaT]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Chester Dontlie]

How about that for a first half, feeling asleep already? Hope Japan will get out of the first gear in the second. Shinji only had one half chance so far

 

[lestajigs]

Poland by a mile the worse team of the World Cup  

[Chester Dontlie]

6 minutes ago, lestajigs said:

Poland should be banned from the nx World Cup on this absolute negative performance, what a disgrace

It's hard to disagree. Watching all this dead wood makes me want to become an arsonist

[Jaspa]

Great save scuttling across to it but his positioning was way off to begin with

[Chester Dontlie]

Oh fuchssake Shinji;s injured

[MC Prussian]

As long as they don't lose, all is fine for Japan.