LONDON • Among the five teams to represent Asia at this year's Women's World Cup in France, Japan and China are likely to have the continent on edge as they seek to advance far in the tournament.
The Japanese team who were world champions in 2011 became a symbol of the nation's recovery from the devastating earthquake and tsunami earlier that year, as well as an inspiration for women's football around the globe.
A number of younger players from the 2011 generation have matured to provide the current side with leaders in every area, including defenders Saki Kumagai and Aya Sameshima, midfielders Mizuho Sakaguchi and Rumi Utsugi, plus forward Mana Iwabuchi.
They are joined by a new crop with plenty of international experience, such as Moeka Minami in defence, Yui Hasegawa and Hina Sugita in midfield, and Rikako Kobayashi up front.
Japan have a style of play underpinned by hard work and good technique, demonstrating an ability to punish opponents with patient build-up and coordinated pressing.
But in a modern world where tactical trends are increasingly homogenised, Japan no longer possess the kind of qualities to stand themselves apart.
The 25-year-old forward Kumi Yokoyama is a real threat to defences however, capable of dribbling through tight spaces.
The Guardian predicts that Japan will reach the round of 16 at least.
For China, runners-up in 1999, they were just one step away from their first Asian title since 2007 in the Indonesian Asian Games last year, before being beaten by a last-minute Japan goal in the final.
The young generation of the Iron Rose are attempting to restore the team to their former glory, yet they are still some distance from the peaks they reached in the 1990s.
The defence, led by captain Wu Haiyan, is pretty settled but the line-up of the rest of the team depends on where the key forward, Wang Shuang, plays. She often has a free role and is expected to be firing on all cylinders after a largely successful season in France with Paris Saint-Germain.
Having reached the quarter-finals four years ago in Canada, coach Jia Xiuquan has said he would love to go one step further in France. But given the quality of the team, another appearance in the last eight might be more realistic.
South Korea, who reached the last 16 in 2015, will count on Chelsea midfielder Ji So-yun's experience of playing in Europe.
Nicknamed "Ji Messi" by fans who regard her as the female equivalent of the Barcelona great, she is their record scorer with 54 goals in 115 appearances.
Australia will be led by captain and striker Sam Kerr, 25, as they hope to improve on their quarter-final exit four years ago.
Thailand did not make it past the group stage in 2015 and will seek a better finish this time round.
THE GUARDIAN, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane will be sidelined until March after suffering ankle ligament damage in Sunday's defeat against Manchester United. Kane sustained the injury to his left ankle
Tottenham's Harry Kane out until March with ankle injury
Mourinho humiliated by fall at Russian hockey league face-off
Football: Liverpool's TV income may top record £250 million
Tottenham will christen their brand new stadium against Crystal Palace, hoping that a change of home will usher in a change of form. They've not won since 21 February and have only collected 1 point out of a possible 15 since that win.
Tottenham Hotspur's New Stadium | Designed by Populous
Football: Sanchez haunts Arsenal as Man United maintain
Warnock hails Cardiff's heart as Bluebirds win again for Sala Kenneth Zohore snatched a dramatic winner after Southampton had equalised in stoppage time.
Warnock hails Cardiff's heart as Bluebirds win again for Sala
Anti-Semitism in Britain No room for complacency. Britain is better for Jews than some parts of Europe, but anti-Semitism is still a worry
No room for complacency | The Manila Times Online
Sanchez: Spurs squad can cope without Kane and Alli. Ireland's Browne confident he can make his mark at international level. Charlton boss Bowyer takes a Leed from finest team he ever played in.
Lucas Moura's hat-trick shows Tottenham can cope without
Paul Pogba strikes twice as Manchester Utd win on Solskjaer home debut AFP 26th Dec 2018 21:07:06 GMT +0300 Manchester United's Paul Pogba and interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the match.
Pogba strikes twice as Man Utd win on Solskjaer home debut
Shiotani's rocket ensured Japan finished with a perfect nine points at the top of Group F as they beat Uzbekistan 2-1, despite changing 10 players from their previous game. Eldor Shomurodov opened the scoring with a fine individual goal but the Uzbek lead lasted only three minutes before Newcastle United forward Yoshinori Muto's header made it 1-1.
Shiotani fires Japan past Uzbeks, Qatar's Ali downs Saudis
England captain Harry Kane insists the Three Lions' squad are too united to be divided by the tension of club rivalries surrounding the Premier League title race and upcoming Champions League ties.
Football: Kane insists club rivalries will not split England camp
Brazil soccer star Neymar accused of committing rape in Paris Need to report the video? The King of Football | Rising With Soccer - Duration: 18:58. Rising With Soccer 13,631,336 views.
Brazilian football star Neymar accused of raping woman in
Japan national team captain Maya Yoshida warned his young teammates that they will need to handle the pressure that comes with being Asian Cup favorites as the four-time winners prepare to open
Japan come up short in Asian Cup final - gulfnews.com
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen