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Group Performance
For Japan the group stage was an understated showing of
clinical football. They didn’t drop a point, which can’t be argued with, but
against three World Cup debutants they would have perhaps wanted to produce
some more convincing wins. The Swiss had them on tenterhooks as they held on
for a nervy 1-0 win, Cameroon took advantage of their second-half fade out
to pull back to 2-1 after the Japanese dominated the first stanza and
against the hapless Ecuador everyone expected a cricket score but again Japan
could only get one into the back of the net. They weren’t bad showings but
they weren’t as good as they could have been.
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They’ll beat the
Netherlands because…
They will beat the Netherlands through experience. Japan
have played plenty of big football matches, and will look to take advantage of
this over their Dutch debutant foes. It’s interesting to note that Japan have
only come up against teams playing in their first World Cup thus far. A victory
against the Netherlands is expected and then things should get much tougher.
They’ll be knocked
out by the Netherlands because…
Because if we’re honest, the Japanese have not looked at
their best so far. A little tired and a little slow and prone to fadeouts is
how one could some up their efforts so far. The Dutch will look to come at
them and take advantage of this. Teams in Japan’s situation have it all to lose
as so much is expected of them while for the Dutch it’s a chance to go out and
make a huge statement to the rest of the world. If the Dutch lose this they’ll
be hailed as valiant debutants. If Japan lose, heads will roll.
Can they win the World Cup?
Of course they can and four years ago they did but they’ll
need to come out of their Canadian hibernation soon. It seems ludicrous to suggest
this about a team that is yet to lose a game – particularly one as good as
Japan – but if they want to win they have to get their fluidity back. If it
comes they’ll be there at the pointy end of proceedings.
Best moment of the
tournament so far
The opening 20 minutes against Cameroon had Japan playing at
close to their best and they were two goals to the good just after 15 minutes.
They had also peppered the Cameroonian 'keeper and were generally applying good
pressure but then it stopped. That period of play was what they are capable of and it’s been their best effort of the campaign thus far.
Key Player
Yūki Ōgimi is a formidable talent
for the Japanese and is known for her lethal boot in front of goal. An
experienced campaigner, she was there four years ago lifting the cup but has
spent too long drifting back to the centre of the pitch to help out her
misfiring midfield. If they can get the ball to her regularly she will be
dangerous.
Injuries and suspensions
None and none.