penalties

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eWc8tVWjaQ

i was watching the penalty shootout between australia and japan again.

i can't help but feel fascinated by yasuhito endo's no-look pass into the goal. too bad they showed the reactions of the aussie coach and osim, rather than a close-up replay of the penalty. it would have given me a clearer picture of what he really did.

and i guess there was just way too much pressure on naohiro takahara. his miss was reminiscient of roberto baggio's in 1994. thankfully, it didnt cost japan the semi-final berth. although i did for a second wonder if it was going to be a penalty shootout drama in favour of the aussies.

but for the match itself, it exposed japan's lack of plan b and lack of depth. i took a look at the saudis. their attack seems to be pacey. but their defence looks shaky against the direct approach of the uzbeks. which doesn't say anything for the japanese, because they don't play like that. perhaps it would be another tactical game.

but although i think the saudis look better than the aussies, i still think that the aussies were more dangerous. maybe because you think they could have raised their game a notch or two, while what you see of the saudis is probably the best you can get.

so i am predicting a japan-korea final.