KERIN CHALLENGE CUP : JAPAN vs JAMAICA – December 28th 2019
KERIN CHALLENGE CUP  :  JAPAN VS JAMAICA DECEMBER 28th 2019
U-22 Japan National Team score 9 goals in win over Jamaica - KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2019

On Saturday 28 December, the U-22 Japan National Team faced the U-22 Jamaica National Team at the KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2019 played in Transcosmos Stadium Nagasaki.

In the final match of the year for the Japan National Team, coach MORIYASU Hajime started YAMAGUCHI Louis Takaji Julien (Extremadura UD) in goal, with the defence line of IWATA Tomoki (Oita Trinita), OKAZAKI Makoto (FC Tokyo), and SEKO Ayumu (Cerezo Osaka). While MATSUMOTO Taishi (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) and NAKAYAMA Yuta (PEC Zwolle) were named as the defensive midfielders, NAGANUMA Yoichi (Ehime FC) and HIGASHI Shunki (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) were positioned in the flanks. It was MAEDA Daizen (CS Maritimo) who was named as the lone striker, with ABE Hiroki (FC Barcelona) and HATATE Reo (Juntendo University) playing beneath him.

The match started with Japan showing great aggression from the early minutes, as the team showed quick ball movements to create opportunities upfront. The opening goal was scored by the team captain Nakayama, when he scored a direct free kick in the fifth minute.

With momentum on their side, Japan took full control over the match, as Hatate converted a cross delivered by Matsumoto in the 16th minute to make it 2-0. Just a minute later, Maeda connected with a cross sent by Naganuma to score the third goal. With Hatate marking his second goal of the match in the 19th minute, Abe converted a penalty kick in the 28th minute to make it 5-0 before halftime.

Japan continued to carry their momentum in the second half, as Higashi’s cross sailed into the goal in the 51st minute to resume the goal spree. With coach Moriyasu utilising his substitutions effectively, the Japanese squad went onto score three more goals, as ICHIMI Kazunari (Kyoto Sanga FC), MITOMA Kaoru (University of Tsukuba), and IWASAKI Yuto (Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo) each scored a goal to give Japan a 9-0 victory.

Following the match, coach Moriyasu mentioned, “The players actively challenged themselves during the training sessions to prepare for this match. Each player managed to showcase their full potential while communicating with their teammates.” The coach continued to praise his players by saying, “Following our match against Colombia in November, the players made great adjustments to play aggressively and showed great determination to win this match.”

Team captain Nakayama also shared his take on the match, “While we are still work in progress as a team, we managed to stay on the same page from the beginning of the match to earn this victory.” Ahead of next month’s AFC U-23 Championship, Nakayama shared his aspiration, “It is important how we improve ourselves from here on.”

With the conclusion of this match, the U-22 Japan National Team will conclude their activity for this year, before restarting ahead of next month’s AFC U-23 Championship in Thailand.

2019 All events National Team Matches
SUPERCLASSICO : BRAZIL vs ARGENTINA – Saudi Arabia – November 15TH 2019

 

BRAZIL 0 – 1  ARGENTINA

Friday the 15th of November sees the most anticipated game in world of football as the five-time world champions Brazil take on their arch-rivals Argentina.

Fresh from winning the Copa America on home soil, Brazil made their intentions clear in the previous international break, calling a star-studded side to face the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Senegal.

Argentina were also impressive in their last two friendly matches and like their neighbours, La Albiceleste used their full squad against Germany and Ecuador. There’s enough evidence that these two sides have started their preparations for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and they will take every match serious if they are to become world champions again.

Brazil

Brazil take on Argentina on November 15 at Riyadh’s King Saud University Stadium, before facing South Korea at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi a few days later.

Saudi Arabian fans have every reason to fill up the stadium as both teams are going all out. Liverpool trio Alisson Becker, Roberto Firmino and Fabinho are all included in the squad, alongside former teammate Philippe Coutinho – now on loan at Bayern Munich.

Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus returned to the national team in the last international break for the matches against Nigeria and Senegal after his two-month ban from international football following his controversial dismissal in July’s Copa America final.

Tite’s men were rather disappointing against the African giants were they drew both matches 1-1 but the results won’t concern the South American champions that much as they are clearly trying out new formations and building for the World Cup.

This team includes Real Madrid’s wonderkid Rodrygo, who was rewarded after his outstanding performances in La Liga and UEFA Champions League where he scored a hat-trick and became the youngest player ever to score three goals in one match. Aston Villa’s uncapped midfielder Douglas Ruiz also earned his first national call-up. The other debut call-ups include Real Betis right-back Emerson and Roma goalkeeper Daniel Fuzato.

Argentina

Since losing the 2014 World Cup final, Argentina haven’t been the same and maybe they have been guilty of using the same team. However, the Albiceleste is still one of the most dangerous and strongest teams in world football and we can never write them off.

Star player Lionel Messi returns from suspension since the Copa America third-place playoff between Argentina and Chile, in which he was sent off. The Barcelona superstar has not featured for his country since.

The last time these sides rubbed shoulders was during the Copa America Semi-Final where Argentina lost the encounter 2-0, courtesy of goals from Premier League stars Gabriel Jesus and Firmino.

That semi-final result was the last time the South Americans tasted defeat. In the last international break, they showed character coming from 2-0 down to force a 2-2 draw against Germany, then going on to thrash Ecuador 6-1 shows this team has improved and are willing to fight for gold come 2022.

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