Japan Football Fans – The Land of the Rising Sun

ARSENAL JOIN SPURS IN TOMIYASU RACE

Published on July 16, 2021 by index

Japan international TakehiroTomiyasu has been made available for a transfer by his Italian Serie A team Bologna and two North London clubs are now vying for his signature according to the newest reports in the Italian media. It was revealed by Sky Sports Italia that Arsenal have initiated a move for the Japan national team player. Tottenham Hotspur were the first North London team to show an interest in the defender and their failure to agree a deal for the player has allowed the Gunners to launch efforts to sign the Japanese international.

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Bologna defender Tomiyasu has impressed a great deal in multiple roles since signing for his Italian Serie A outfit two years ago. His versatility is a major reason why Arsenal and Spurs want to sign the Japan international. He can function well as a right-back or a centre back. Tomiyasu has also played for Bologna at left-back during his time at the Italian Serie A club.

MINAMINO SET FOR CRUNCH LIVERPOOL TALKS

Published on June 15, 2021 by index

Japan national team player Takumi Minamino will reportedly sit down with Liverpool to discuss his future at the club this summer. According to media portalHampshireLive, the attacking midfielder from Japan is determined to play regular first team football as from the start of next season even if it’s not going to be at parent club Liverpool and that desire will lead him to talk with manager JurgenKlopp and other Liverpool officials about his future at the club.

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Liverpool signed Minamino at the start of last year and he was unable to break into the starting XI at the club in one year before he was farmed out on loan to fellow Premier League team Southampton at the start of this year. The Japan international moved to the Saints on a short-term loan until this summer and they arelikely to sign him permanently.

JAPAN: 2022 WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN EXAMINED

Published on May 5, 2021 by index

Asian football powerhouse Japan were one of the teams given a free pass into the second round of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) section.

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12 teams contested the first round via the popular home and away leg. At the end of proceedings, six teams emerged to join Japan and the other 33 teams drawn bye into the second round. The 40 teams at this stage of the qualifiers were then drawn into eight groups of five teams each.

LIVERPOOL FANS SLAM KLOPP FOR DECISION

Published on February 7, 2021 by index

Several Liverpool fans were not happy with the team selection from Jurgen Klopp during last night’s league encounter with Burnley at home. The Liverpool fans complained about the omission of Japan national team player Takumi Minamino from the XI that started the Burnley game at Anfield last night. The Reds faithfuls wanted the petite Japan international attacker to start the game against the Clarets but they didn’t get their wish despite the fact that the Liverpool boss made several changes into the starting line-up with the likes of XerdanShaqiri, DivockOrigi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming into the XI.

Ahead of the game, Liverpool had gone four matches without a win after the Premier League encounters with West Brom, Newcastle United, Southampton and Manchester United. Liverpool picked up three points from those four games and that saw them drop to fourth position and six points off the summitpresently occupied by arch rivals Manchester United.

JAPAN UNBEATEN RUN ENDED BY MEXICO

Published on December 12, 2020 by index

Former Asian champions Japan had gone three games without a single defeat on the international friendly scene before they faced Gold Cup champions Mexico in their last game as far as the just concluded November international break was concerned. Japan and Mexico faced off last week Tuesday at the Liebenauer Stadium in Graz, Austria.

Japan came into that friendly game on the back of a three-game unbeaten run, while opponents Mexico have not tasted defeat on the international friendly stage since the thumping 4-0 loss to Argentina last year.

Japan to Play Friendly with Cameroon

Published on October 9, 2020 by index

Asian superpower in football, Japan is scheduled to play Cameroon in a friendly next month. Like all sporting activities, this match too will be played in a bio-bubble without any spectators due to precautions being taken as a result of the Corona virus pandemic.

Japan goes into this match at the back of 4 wins in their last 5 international outings. Before international football was halted due to the pandemic, Japan had won all their 4 matches in the FIFA World Cup Asian qualifying matches. They got the better of Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Myanmar last year. Each of those wins was achieved in convincing fashion. Scoring 13 goals in the 4 matches the Japanese did not concede a single goal. The most resounding victory was against Mongolia in October, a 6-0 scoreline.

Clubs to Receive Financial Support

Published on May 27, 2020 by admin

Kozo Tashima, the President of the Japan Association for Football, has said that all the national athletes should focus on how to prevent further infection. It is important for them to stay indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic. He got affected and recently recovered from COVID-19.

Tashima said that he has high hopes that the restrictions in Japan will continue to curb further spreading of the virus. A state of emergency is going on in certain parts of the country. He added that they are citizens first, and then athletes. He is hoping that all associated with sports will be conscious to battle against this virus and the country will soon be able to come out of this situation.

KLOPP PICKS MINAMINO OVER COUTINHO

Published on March 4, 2020 by admin

Reports say Liverpool manager rejected the chance to resign Phillipe Coutinho when it became clear his marriage with Barcelona was over. Ernesto Valverde never trusted Coutinho enough to give him the kind of freedom Neymar enjoyed while he was at the Camp Nou.

In signing Japan international Minamino, Klopp reveals he will rather go for an unproven player than take back a traitor whose love for the greener pastures made him ditch an Anfield crowd that loved him like shark love blood. A major faction of the crowd will only forget him once their current squad clinches the title they thought they couldn’t lift without Coutinho.

JAPAN PROGRESS IN U17 TOURNAMENT

Published on November 19, 2019 by index

Japan progressed to the round of 16 of the FIFA U17 World Cup with a 1-0 defeat of African nation Senegal. The match which was characterized by a flurry of chances saw Senegal rest their key players after securing qualification with two wins in a row.

The Japanese were on the offensive and were in control of the game in the opening stages testing the opposition stopper from range. The changes to the team affected Senegal who could not create many opportunities to get a foothold on the game.

KAGAWA LEAVES BORUSSIA DORTMUND FOR SPAIN

Published on September 19, 2019 by index

Japan international Shinji Kagawa has joined Spanish division two outfit Real Zaragoza according to a statement by Borussia Dortmund. Kagawa had struggled for playing time last season under manager Lucien Favre and spent the second half of the season on loan at Turkish outfit Besiktas.

Kagawa has enjoyed a starring career after breaking through with Borussia Dortmund in 2010, the Japanese won back to back Bundesliga titles. He earned a dream move to Manchester United in 2012 but failed to truly express his abilities at the club.