Japan and China will spearhead Asian challenge
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
History as women to referee men's AFC Cup clash Tuesday May 14 2019 The Asian Football Confederation announced on May 14, 2019 that for the first time an all-female referee team will take charge
History made as women to referee men's AFC Cup clash
LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Liverpool were left to regret two huge missed chances by Mohamed Salah as Everton held out for a 0-0 draw in the Merseyside derby on Sunday (March 3).. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Liverpool held at Everton to surrender top spot in Premier League
LYON (France): Barcelona were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at Olympique Lyonnais in their Champions League last-16 first leg on Tuesday as both sides remained undefeated in this season's
A goal by Michail Antonio ensured West Ham United became the first visiting team to win at Tottenham Hotspur's new stadium as Mauricio Pochettino's third-placed side missed the chance to
Spurs beaten for first time in new stadium; Saints stay up
Cristiano Ronaldo was fined almost €19 million ($21.6 million) for tax fraud on Tuesday but will avoid serving a 23-month prison sentence. The Juventus forward, who played for Real Madrid from
Ronaldo fined, not jailed for tax fraud - theworldnews.net
CARDIFF CITY 0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3 . Jan 1 (Reuters)- Tottenham moved back into second place in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Liverpool, after cruising to a 3-0 win at lowly Cardiff City on Tuesday.
Spurs back up to second after easy win in Cardiff
pembrokeexpress.com/2019/01/03/spurs-back-up-to-second-after-easy-win-in-cardiff/
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock said that early goal was a heavy blow: "When we start off like that we shoot ourselves in the foot". City and Liverpool meet in a huge showdown, live on Sky Sports Premier League, with second-placed Spurs able to sit back and relax after their 3-0 win at Cardiff on New Year's Day.
Spurs back up to second after 3-0 win at Cardiff | Euronews
Liverpool have banked record-breaking revenues in excess of £250million for the 2018-19 season, after their Premier League and Champions League exploits.. For the first time a football club has
The final twist in the Premier League title race Liverpool FC
Goal achieved despite everything going wrong. Cristiano Ronaldo rueing a missed chance in Juventus' 2-1 loss to Young Boys. But they still topped the group as Manchester United also lost.
Goal achieved despite everything going wrong - theworldnews.net
Four untold stories. Four athletes. Who did it their way: The hard way. This is Uncompromising by Budweiser on FOX Sports 1. Kevin Harvick premieres May 14 at 9p ET Kyrie Irving premieres May 26
How Many of these 25 Brain Teasers Can You Solve? | Mental Floss
mentalfloss.com/article/503552/how-many-these-25-brain-teasers-can-you-solve
How Many of these 25 Brain Teasers Can You Solve? BY Chris Higgins. August 17, 2017 I visited the post office to send some packages home. The currency on Bima is called the pim, and the
Sexual Teasing: Who Does It? And Why? | Psychology Today
Poor show but Emery backs Mustafi LONDON • Unai Emery bizarrely insisted Shkodran Mustafi "has been consistent all season" after his abject display against Crystal Palace ensured the top-four race remained wide open.
Unai Emery backs Arsenal's Mustafi ahead of Wolves
UEFA.com is the official site of UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, and the governing body of football in Europe. UEFA works to promote, protect and develop European football
SINGAPORE — Newly-appointed Football Association of Singapore (FAS) technical director Joseph Palatsides believes that Singapore football is a sleeping giant, and the nation's culture of excellence needs to be infused into the sport's structure to revive its fortunes. The 53-year-old
Trust in players crucial: Nazri. Singapore assistant coach Nazri Nasir with the Lions squad during training at Jalan Besar Stadium on Monday. He says his short stint as caretaker coach was a good
Trust in players crucial: Nazri : He will assist new Lions h
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment