asian cup
i am quite stunned that china is out of the asian cup. but it doesn't mean i am unhappy about it. truth is, i am damn happy about it. i just never expected them to go out in the first round. it is always nice when things that you don't like disappear by themselves like this. but i caught the second half of the game between china and uzbekistan. i have got 2 things to say.
1) being positive, meaning attacking, will reap its rewards, even if it doesn't always work out. china went to defend from the start, apparently. while the uzbeks kept trying to attack. and of course, china paid the price. they took off dong fang zhuo for a dm, and then uzbekistan scored. and when that happens, you know you have no more options on the bench to change things around.
2) one person can ruin everything. the biggest culprit for china must be their keeper. he failed to hang on to the ball twice, and that was how they scored their first two goals. already, his handling was suspect prior to the goals. but the end result must still have been humbling: one man can really make such a big difference. although in this case, it is very, very negative.
so the quarter-finals draw is out:
japan v australia
iraq v vietnam
iran v uzbekistan
saudi arabia v south korea
well, i might have derided australia by comparing a particular organisation to the oceania australia. but that was just it. the truth is that i think australia is the most dangerous team, in japan's pov, in the tournament, especially now that china is out.
i think it is a bad draw for japan, not that they have any say; it was all australia's fault for screwing themselves up. it is a bad draw because australia are rugged, and they can be very physical. and of course they just rediscovered their form in the last game against thailand. at least in terms of result.
japan has shown that they can play very pretty football. they are easily the most impressive team FOR CERTAIN PERIODS of their games. if they play at that level, they are champions. as simple as that. their biggest problem is that they don't, or they can't seem to.
japan has two glaring flaws that contribute to this. first is their mentality. they slip into lapses of concentration and turn complacent more often than otherwise deemed comfortable. well, what to do? all my teams and players have this affliction. i think they are all just not mentally strong/prepared/tuned enough.
the second is that they only have 11 players and so there is no plan b. the subs osim brought on have been less than impressive. and i doubt they can change the game. there must be people on the bench who can change the game. we either hope that there indeed ARE, or we don't ever need to find out.
but australia is the team i really wish to avoid. i hope they dont do a brazil. and in any case, they are the team best suited to expose both of japan's flaws.
it is not going to be easy. but if japan can pull through, i dare say they will be the champions. in fact, i think the winner of this tie will go all the way to win it.
1) being positive, meaning attacking, will reap its rewards, even if it doesn't always work out. china went to defend from the start, apparently. while the uzbeks kept trying to attack. and of course, china paid the price. they took off dong fang zhuo for a dm, and then uzbekistan scored. and when that happens, you know you have no more options on the bench to change things around.
2) one person can ruin everything. the biggest culprit for china must be their keeper. he failed to hang on to the ball twice, and that was how they scored their first two goals. already, his handling was suspect prior to the goals. but the end result must still have been humbling: one man can really make such a big difference. although in this case, it is very, very negative.
so the quarter-finals draw is out:
japan v australia
iraq v vietnam
iran v uzbekistan
saudi arabia v south korea
well, i might have derided australia by comparing a particular organisation to the oceania australia. but that was just it. the truth is that i think australia is the most dangerous team, in japan's pov, in the tournament, especially now that china is out.
i think it is a bad draw for japan, not that they have any say; it was all australia's fault for screwing themselves up. it is a bad draw because australia are rugged, and they can be very physical. and of course they just rediscovered their form in the last game against thailand. at least in terms of result.
japan has shown that they can play very pretty football. they are easily the most impressive team FOR CERTAIN PERIODS of their games. if they play at that level, they are champions. as simple as that. their biggest problem is that they don't, or they can't seem to.
japan has two glaring flaws that contribute to this. first is their mentality. they slip into lapses of concentration and turn complacent more often than otherwise deemed comfortable. well, what to do? all my teams and players have this affliction. i think they are all just not mentally strong/prepared/tuned enough.
the second is that they only have 11 players and so there is no plan b. the subs osim brought on have been less than impressive. and i doubt they can change the game. there must be people on the bench who can change the game. we either hope that there indeed ARE, or we don't ever need to find out.
but australia is the team i really wish to avoid. i hope they dont do a brazil. and in any case, they are the team best suited to expose both of japan's flaws.
it is not going to be easy. but if japan can pull through, i dare say they will be the champions. in fact, i think the winner of this tie will go all the way to win it.
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