Wow, the Japanese really know how to do free kicks. 
World Cup 2010 - South Africa Thread
- Thread starter Jax
- Start date
Got to love Japan. But will they bring on Shinsuke Nakamura? 
Oop - goalie Kawashima was certainly not happy following the Danish penalty.
But sub Okazaki's responded shortly afterwards with what is surely the Japanese winner.
Oop - goalie Kawashima was certainly not happy following the Danish penalty.
But sub Okazaki's responded shortly afterwards with what is surely the Japanese winner.
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Who the fuck is this Honda guy? Might be the most brilliant footballer I've never heard of until this World Cup.
Wasn't he around in the last World Cup, too?
ETA: No, he wasn't. He plays for ZSKA Moscow.
The Japanese played really well. I wonder what it means that the two Asian teams advance while nearly all of the African teams are out.
ETA: No, he wasn't. He plays for ZSKA Moscow.
The Japanese played really well. I wonder what it means that the two Asian teams advance while nearly all of the African teams are out.
An effervescent display from Japan there. 
Also, only the second time they've ever escaped the group stage at a World Cup. Their next challenge - an on-form Paraguay - will be interesting.
Also, only the second time they've ever escaped the group stage at a World Cup. Their next challenge - an on-form Paraguay - will be interesting.
I'm hoping the two Asian advancements are at least partially the result of the World Cup in Korea - more practice, more exposure leading to Korean and Japanese players in European leagues, etc. Improvement across the board, meaning (I hope) that the same thing can happen for African teams in the next four years.
Whatever happens in the Japan vs Paraguay match, there will be one team at this World Cup making their quarter-final debut, always a good sign. There's also potential for more, Ghana particulaly, and semi-final debuts for several nations still look doable.
This is a very exciting round of 16. Ghana, Slovakia, Uruguay, South Korea, Paraguay, Japan, and probably Chile joining them along with the surviving big guns. Very unpredictable.
This is a very exciting round of 16. Ghana, Slovakia, Uruguay, South Korea, Paraguay, Japan, and probably Chile joining them along with the surviving big guns. Very unpredictable.
I really doubt that.
Can't really compared the two.
For one thing Africa is a huge continent. The games are in South Africa which will have very little impact on the rest of Africa.
Secondly African teams in this tournament already have a lot more players in Top European leagues than either Japan or Korea.
For example Cote d'Ivoire has 5 Premier League players, 4 Ligue 1 players, 2 Bundesliga players, and 3 La Liga players.
I agree that African teams already have several players working in European leagues, and that does muddy up the analogy. On the other hand, I didn't claim that all African nations would gain by simply being adjacent. Korea and Japan had success at the last World Cup, and that translated into more attention to their home leagues and it meant more players went not just to Europe but to big clubs (Man United). I guess I was thinking South Africa, more than any other nation, might benefit. The South African keeper (plays for Kaizer Chiefs) is getting some attention.
The African teams have been at it for a while now, without much success. I guess, infrastructure and an absence of nepotism and corruption in the respective football associations is just as important for a team's success as having players in good leagues.
Well, mild nepotism and corruption, then. 
This should've been the headline after we beat Ghana..
Typical Yanks. Don't show up until the last minute and leave England to take on the Germans.
Typical Yanks. Don't show up until the last minute and leave England to take on the Germans.
All we need to complete the WWII analogy is a Japan VS U.S.A. match before the WC is done.
^ Well we did already have the French surrendering early.. 
As is Mphela.
Nice to see South Korea and Japan make the next round. Even nicer they did it without the help of horrendously inept and corrupt refereeing this time
What's funny is that we see those kind of free-kicks every week, yet thanks to this stupud ball we're more fascinated by them than ever! Honda is quality though - he had a few good games in the CL last year too. Let's hope Japan can do it again in the next round, because that was seriously entertaining.
^ Well we did already have the French surrendering early..
Gnagnagna...
I must highlight the solidarity between the 2006 finalists.