Honda admits to failure before UAE World Cup qualifier

“I do understand people asking how a person who’s not playing for his club should be picked for his country,”

What's to understand? Despite failing and being a failure, Honda's Japan's self-selected golden boy, so regardless of being unable to produce the results his namesake has already been given, he's still given a sense of entitlement by the media and fans here. THAT is why he is in the game, and that is all. Going to be a cold bench in Italy as a result, but that's about all.

He has the guts to admit it's his own failure, I'll give him that, but I'm not really surprised how self-important he thinks it all is.

@Smith

What? He's admitted he's to blame for the criticism he's been getting.

Where is the sense of entitlement? I can't find it. He's been regarded as Japan's best player by many because of his record in international games and in particular his performances in World Cup tournaments.

He himself believed in the hype by the J-media while playing in the backwater Russian league portraying him as the best player in the team when he wasn't. This is a guy who demanded he wear the No.10 when AC Milan recruited him and got into fights with teammates trying to take all free kicks. I am sure these days he would prefer to trade the number 10 jersey for a minute in a game.

"He himself believed in the hype by the J-media while playing in the backwater Russian league portraying him as the best player in the team when he wasn't"

I don't remember AC Milan looking to buy his teammates when he played for CSKA Moscow. I could be mistaken but I don't think so.

Were AC Milan carried away by the hype they read in the Japanese newspapers or what they watched on Japanese TV?

I get the sense they looked at his performances. That's how teams generally choose to buy players.

I think Milan thought it would be a good way to get a foot in the Asian market. I remember thinking how far they had fallen when Honda went there and got the number 10 shirt. Really overrated player. I don't know why he doesn't come back to Japan and play in J1. At least he'd get regular football and the chance to nail down a place in the national squad. He must be one of Milan's biggest flops, based on the media hype beforehand.

I don't remember AC Milan looking to buy his teammates when he played for CSKA Moscow. I could be mistaken but I don't think so.

His teammates won't sell jerseys in their respective countries or have large groups of media following.

I get the sense they looked at his performances. That's how teams generally choose to buy players.

No sometimes, some teams sign with marketing in mind. Remember when Miura moved to Genoa and his salary was footed by Kenwood which happened to be the sponsor of the team at the time. It wasn't because of MIura's performance at the time.

overrated in every way.

Am usually not in favor of NT picking players who spend most of their time on the bench at club level but Honda's situation is a bit different though.

The bloke has always delivered with the NT, has been around for a while, has very good stats plus, let's face it, there is no one else (that I know of) who's head and shoulders above him. So yes I understand why Halhilodzic would want to have him in the squad before 2 crucial games (and see where he's at with his football).

Btw, such dilemmas are fairly common among 2nd tier nations as many have star/promising players warming benches in Europe rather than play regular footy in their lesser domestic league. I think they are usually given the benefit of the doubt and called to national team duty.