What a Game!

[thomas]

The Japanese soccer team deservedly beat the Russian national team 1:0, their first victory in a worldcup game! Teamplayer Inamoto's market value must have increased dramatically, he had already been contacted by Italian clubs after the game against Belgium.

What an exciting game, Nahoko nearly suffered from heart-attack after Nakata missed the goal only by centimeters.

JAPAN TRIUMPHS!

=> http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/20020...fp039000c.html

50,000 turn up to watch game on big screen

=> http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/20020...fp037000c.html

[thomas]

Here's more:

Inamoto goal gives Japan historic 1-0 win over Russia

=> http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content...at=6&id=219353

And finally, here they are, the J-hooligans

=> http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content...at=2&id=219379

Pic snatched from Mainichi:

[deborah gormley]

watched the game, xcellent

[moyashi]

Toda and Miyamoto too will probably be looked into.

Nakata seems to have a problem with shooting on the net straight on.
all I could think of at the time when he hit the crossbar was -- olympics.



Ireland -- was great too though in Lost Time against Germany.

[thomas]

And don't forget Nakayama Masashi, the "veteran hero" of the world cup 98 (veteran - just a year older than myself, heh!) who played briefly in the second half. He had all the sympathies on his side.

What's really sad:

One dead as Moscow fans go on rampage, attacking Japanese

=> http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content...81&display=all

[thomas]

Here's what Pravda ("Truth") reported, not mentioning the attacks on Japanese nationals

=> http://english.pravda.ru/main/2002/06/09/29991.html

Russia's official news agency ITAR-TASS mentions the attacks, but they charge for subscription (njet, won't pay).

[moyashi]

Yeah, Nakayama.

Trousier has something going with Nakayama.
Nakayama got a chance to play but the team effort was changed to basically to defence making Nakayama chances to show off virtually nil.

hmmmm. Tunasia tied Belgium.
I didn't expect this. I wonder if Japan can hold the top spot in the H Group, thereby missing Brazil. Even though Japan has beat Brazil before in the olympics I wonder if they got what it takes to beat Brazil on the World Cup level.

[Jupernia]

I am too, I want Japan to win. By the way do you know what time there next game starts?

[thomas]

Their next game will take place on friday, against Tunisia

=> http://worldcup.japanreference.com/b...05abbf7f1ddcc4

Don't miss Germany - Cameroon today, certainly exciting (the team from Cameroon has a German coach, thus they are called "Africa's Prussians").

[moyashi]

Too bad they didn't score 1 point.
LOL ... yellow cards were going out like a clarence sale.

Ireland got the seed that Cameroon missed.

Honestly I was cheering on the Germans since 2 have the same first name and several are from Leverkusen, my fathers home town. During the game I started to feel sorry for the Cameroon team and was hoping that they'd at least score a point. Oh well ... hopefully next time.

Belgium tieing Tunisia hopefully knocked off any attitude from the Japanese team. That's all they need to do is to go into a game too confident.

[thomas]

14 yellow, 2 red cards, and a lot of scuffles - Germany-Cameroon appeared to be a teutonic skirmish.

Isn't soccer becoming pretty aggressive?

[thomas]

Japan rolls over Tunisia 2-0 to set up 2nd-round clash with Turkey

=> http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content...at=6&id=219729



Wish I could have seen the game...

[deborah gormley]

I missed the game too


wont miss the next one though, My husband said it was a great match and that japan where better than ever and looked really comfortable through out the game

[moyashi]

Heard the first goal on the car radio.

Of course in Japanese with all their mubble and jumble didn't know happened until the announcer yelled "goooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa alllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll llllll" literaly close to at least 30 seconds +. Morishima morshima morishiiiiiiiiiimaaaaaaaaaaaa ....

I was so excited I yelled "yeah!" both hands hitting the car roof. Stupid me I was still driving and got embarassed. Check left and back mirrors for any smirks.

Rest of the game was at my student's house. I made my elementary kids wait their elder sister (also had been a student) watched with us. I mentioned to the ex-high school student what I did. she just laughed and said that her granny did the same thing and said [yatta! yatta!] (did it! did it!) ... hehe I don't fell so bad since granny was by herself in her room.

LoL, I wonder how many people today had the same experience?

[thomas]

Yesterday I heard a report by a psychologist stating that nowadays sport events are the only way of venting patriotic or - as he called it - chauvinistic - emotions. He compared sports to war and called it "evolutionary progress", hehe.

Well, I am not sure, but today I cheered for Japan, yesterday for Mexico, and the day before....., hey I forgot already...

[TomAsInfinity]

The underdogs are really shining through, now that the favourites are out (France, Argentina). Japan's match against Turkey should be very interesting since Turkey are a fairly good team. I feel sorry for S Korea though, because through the luck of the draw they have to face Italy (obviously a very good team). I may just put a bet on for S Korea to win though because the odds must be something high (in the region of 30:1)

[thomas]

True, but don't forget the home support that both South Korea and Japan can rely on (like France in 1998).

Italy didn't play very well against Mexico, so if the Korean team displays the same fervour and proficiency as today, Italy shouldn't be too self-confident.
;)

[TomAsInfinity]

I actually think the fact that they are the hosts made a real difference for them! I mean, take a look at Junichi Inamoto... in Arsenal (UK Football team) he did not get much play and there was that rumour about his purchase surrounding the shifting of more Arsenal shirts in Japan, but in the Japanese national team, he's an outstanding player. He's young, dyed and kicks some ball!

[thomas]

Sorry, one more article on soccer and nationalism, quite interesting:

Flag on the Field
Soccer, the last acceptable form of nationalism.

=> http://slate.msn.com/?id=2067084

[larry_s]

Soccer, the last acceptable form of nationalism? I am not sure if it's still so "acceptable" after that worldcup.

Originally posted by thomas
True, but don't forget the home support that both South Korea and Japan can rely on (like France in 1998).

Home support is ok, but shouldn't escalate. Sad.