Back to basics

Let's get back to the basics of soccer!

Looks like someone said the players need bigger balls, and Zacc took it too literally.

Looks like pregnancy gymnastics.

GANBARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JAPAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too much focus on drill-style regimentation -- more concentration on creativity, flow, play-making and on taking immediate advantage of serendipitous attack would be of greater benefit.

This is the problem. Japanese soccer basics are fundamentally wrong. They don't teach children here how to move, trap and kick the ball using their correct muscles, so many players instead of pushing with their hamstring muscles rely on pulling with their thigh muscles. They take extra steps to trap and pass and to kick and they don't have good balance, so they are weak under pressure and often fall down. Honda is a good example. He has some skills, but his movement is not top class. We could see that especially in the second half of the game. If you watch how he walks you can see that he is thigh and not hamstring dominant. He pulls his legs, bending and raising his knee too much.

In the game against Cote d'Ivoire we could see how in the first half, when Japan defended in numbers they were OK, but in the second half, as players tired and the defence was forced to go one-on-one with the more physically agile Cote d'Ivoire, it was no contest.

Wow, I don't even like soccer, but that last comment was interesting and informative, Thanks!