Indeed, they are both quite toothless in front of the goal. One could have expected that from Japan, but from Belgium it's strange. Both teams also lack precision.Some poor shot decisions fro Belgium.
Perhaps...Japan have no one with the presence of Dzyuba but he only had 7 goals this year.I don’t think that Japan has a center forward of Dzyuba quality. Then there are also Dzhikiya, Kokorin, and Igor Denisov, but they couldn’t make the WC for different reasons (ACL injury for the first two and “bad blood” between the player and the coach for the latter). Moreover, I think that the Russian 3rd string goalie is better than the Japan’s starting goalie. This is where Russia has always had great depth. So if there’s an overall advantage in talent for Japan, it’s marginal at best.
The one domestic player (Shoji) is actually quite good.
If you want to win the game you have to play that way. They wait for the counter, the can't pull back completely.Japan for me seems way too open, you can't play Belgium in such a way that Belgium has numbers on you going forward because you actually push up with 8 players when in possession. Eventually that's gonna bite you in the you know what.
This is because he didn’t play much. He was on the bench with Zenit at first, and then he was loaned to an average club. But this World Cup is showing how good he can really be.Perhaps...Japan have no one with the presence of Dzyuba but he only had 7 goals this year.
Muto had the best strike rate but they've gone with Osako.
Japan has done ok here.
Yeah I’m sure they would look the same against SpainI don't know about the talent differential, but Japan is a hell of a lot more fun to watch than Russia.
Belgium is a better team than Spain this year. Spain has been a mess.Yeah I’m sure they would look the same against Spain
Not the style of play. Japan would be without the ball 70% of the time just like RussiaBelgium is a better team than Spain this year. Spain has been a mess.
They are not looking like that against Belgium.Yeah I’m sure they would look the same against Spain
Yes, I didn’t like how we played, but I don’t know if we could’ve gotten this outcome had we played any different with the players we had.They are not looking like that against Belgium.
Kudos to Russia, I'm honestly happy for the host, but that game was not pretty.
By the way, Spain was absolutely perfect in qualifiers. Perhaps the coach change had its effect on the teamBelgium is a better team than Spain this year. Spain has been a mess.
It absolutely did. They are loaded with talent at an individual level, but that was not a good team in the World Cup.By the way, Spain was absolutely perfect in qualifiers. Perhaps the coach change had its effect on the team
That's not saying much. That's like saying someone smells less than dog shit.I don't know about the talent differential, but Japan is a hell of a lot more fun to watch than Russia.
Agreed with that as well. In the end, you have to play to win. And results matter, but that Spain could have been pressured more. I see where they are coming from, given their performance right before the world cup. You are on home turf, you don't want to be embarassed.Yes, I didn’t like how we played, but I don’t know if we could’ve gotten this outcome had we played any different with the players we had.