Greece-Japan

[OCFP]

Can't stress the importance of this game...

[philipas]

Yes, and can't stress the importance of not under-estimating Japan. They are fighters and will not hand victory to Greece on a platter. Look how they dealt with Russia in the last world cup...
This game won't be easy and Greece better be ready for a tough game...

[Refeto]

Yeah Japan is not a though cookie!

EDIT: I meant to say Japan is a though cookie!

[PAO_HELLAS]

Sure the game is not easy. Neither the game with Mexico is easy. They are not 'bad' teams in the Confederations cup.

Japanese are hard workers and our biggest mistake will be underestimate them. That is what I am afraid of.

[SiN]

i think u guys shud be able to win this one...but again good luck!! :D

[Fener_05]

I think Greece shouldn't be dissappointed about their last game and just go out their confidently and do their best. Brazil is just unstoppable and will win the world cup.
Good Luck!

[SiN]

I think Greece shouldn't be dissappointed about their last game and just go out their confidently and do their best. Brazil is just unstoppable and will win the world cup.
Good Luck!

yer ur kinda right...hopefully they are unstoppable or else we are all screwed

[ARBANITAI]

yer ur kinda right...hopefully they are unstoppable or else we are all screwed

No they are not unstoppable France beat them and won the worldcup 98
ARGENTINA beat them in the qualification match by 3-1 only that to beat Brazil you must train hard and have a very good team.. :silly: :thumbsup:

[PAO_HELLAS]

No they are not unstoppable France beat them and won the worldcup 98
ARGENTINA beat them in the qualification match by 3-1 only that to beat Brazil you must train hard and have a very good team.. :silly: :thumbsup:

I don't think 98 is a good example. I guess he means about current Brazil's National team.

[ARBANITAI]

I don't think 98 is a good example. I guess he means about current Brazil's National team.

I have to say that a team like Greece cant made any problems for Brazil
you see how fast they are and how they scores you guys had a few chances but not to cause big problems to the keeper Dida unless the only chance you had which was very close to score and let brazilians out of this anyway the ball position and all that was all in brazilian hands you simply was not a prob for brazil but good try i wish you good luck in other games

[PAO_HELLAS]

I have to say that a team like Greece cant made any problems for Brazil
you see how fast they are and how they scores you guys had a few chances but not to cause big problems to the keeper Dida unless the only chance you had which was very close to score and let brazilians out of this anyway the ball position and all that was all in brazilian hands you simply was not a prob for brazil but good try i wish you good luck in other games

If you are talking about the ball pocession it was something like 50-50. Of course Greece in no way can reach Brazil so quickly because we won European championship, but I was satisfied of how we played yesterday. The problem I saw was at finishing as I said again.

[Gennadios]

I am going to wax my ass if we don't win.

[wolverine]

I don't think that u guys need to get depressed about this loss. Pao Hellas & OCFP I've got nothing against Greece but I was not kidding two days back when I said that the only way Brazil would not win is if they experiment drastically.
Did u guyz seriously expect to beat a full strength Brazil ??? The current Brazillian NT is compared to the one in the '70s and as of now the only team
that can stop Brazil is Argentina.

But the group is still open. I think that anyone can still take the 2nd spot. All the best for the matches against Japan and Mexico. And do not underestimate Japan. They are a pretty solid side (though not currently the best from Asia).

[Milos_]

good luck i dought i will see the game because stupid ass canadian television thinks the hockey lockuot and golf are more important

[MegaPrime]

I don't think that u guys need to get depressed about this loss. Pao Hellas & OCFP I've got nothing against Greece but I was not kidding two days back when I said that the only way Brazil would not win is if they experiment drastically.
Did u guyz seriously expect to beat a full strength Brazil ??? The current Brazillian NT is compared to the one in the '70s and as of now the only team
that can stop Brazil is Argentina.

But the group is still open. I think that anyone can still take the 2nd spot. All the best for the matches against Japan and Mexico. And do not underestimate Japan. They are a pretty solid side (though not currently the best from Asia).

I wouldn't be so hasty to talk if I were you. If Greece wins there next 2 games they will still qualify for the playoff round. And by then hopefully they will learn from their mistakes (as stated in greece vs brazil thread by me) and become stronger in the playoffs.

If this happens and they meet brazil in the playoffs then we can have an even match with them if not beat them.

[MegaPrime]

If we play with intensity and go hard throughout the game than we can beat Japan.

This is a must win game against Japan, if we can not win then our NT has serious issues and needs to be evaluated from top to bottom again.

[plato-ny]

Rehhagel banking on more ear-splitting support

LEIPZIG, Germany, June 17 (Reuters) - Greece coach Otto Rehhagel is banking on another show of patriotic fervour to inspire the European champions in the Confederations Cup.

Greece's national anthem was sung at full volume by 40,000 Greek expatriates in Germany on Thursday but world champions Brazil outclassed Rehhagel's side 3-0.

Greece can still reach the semi-finals of the eight-team tournament next weekend with wins against their remaining two Group B rivals Japan and Mexico.

"There are so many Greeks in Germany and there are so many Greeks all around the world," Rehhagel said.

"The Greeks are just such enthusiastic people and they cheer us on with such great intensity. It's a special feeling. I would have loved to give them something more against Brazil.

"This isn't the great big championship tournament but we want to take advantage of our chances and if we can win on Sunday against Japan it will set up a very special match against Mexico.

"We know Japan is mentally very strong and physically very good so it won't be easy," added Rehhagel, the German coach who became immortal in Greece after taking the outsiders to the European title at Euro2004. "But we know we can beat them."

Despite the ear-splitting support and the stirring mass chorus of their national anthem from 40,000 of Germany's 300,000-strong Greek community on hand, Greece could not stop Brazil the way they throttled Portugal, France and the Czech Republic en route to the European title a year ago.

"We weren't able to take their game away from them," said Rehhagel. "We wanted to make it more tense right to the end but didn't succeed."

Rehhagel admitted he enjoyed watching Brazil but said his focus was on qualifying for the 2006 World Cup finals. Greece are in danger of not making it to Germany because they are below the cut-off in third place in their qualifying group.

"I've really got other worries -- Brazil doesn't interest me anymore," Rehhagel said when asked what he thought of Brazil's sparkling performance.

"I like to watch Brazil play soccer. But I have to concentrate on our current situation. We have a very important match in September against Kazakhstan and after that against Denmark and Georgia. That's the issue facing us."

We need the Greek support to help our team out...

[Panellinios]

as for Brazil vs. Greece, every team loses by a lot. those who really know and understand the game will agree with me. EVERY TEAM gets their asses handed to them. i'm confident Greece can beat Brazil, it just wasn't happening on Thursday. Brazil was too strong for us that day.

as for today's Brazil being compared to the one from the 70s, well, Greece had played Brazil once before. and that was in 71 or 72 in Maraca, Brazil, and the game ended in a 0-0 draw. since our present team is a more accomplishing team, ur comparison doesn't say much.

as for Japan, NEVER EVER underestimate ANYBODY. these days, soccer has become a 2way sport where the favorites lose aswel. Asian football is very unconsidered and kind of ignored, even more than African football. i don't even know wut to say about Japan, i've only watched them twice or 3 times back in 2002. not enough to make any comment now in 2005. Greece have to step their game up for these games and patch up the holes in the wheels in order to gather a winning streak that can carry through to the World Cup qualifyers against Kazakhstan, Denmark and Georgia, which are wayyy more important than this tournament.

[ionikos rule]

when does the game start in adelaide

[PAO_HELLAS]

when does the game start in adelaide

In Greece it starts at 19.00 so you calculate.

[Raijin]

Japan wins one - nil to Greece. Japan, in my opinion played a better game than Greece did and had many more shots than Greece. Good job Japan!

[wolverine]

I am going to wax my ass if we don't win.

Good luck mate !!!!!!

I've said this b4 ... Group B is just abt who'll take the 2nd spot behind Brazil. Mexico, Greece and Japan are evenly matched sides (maybe mexico has got a slight edge). Greece being in Europe (or being euro champs) doesn't make any difference. As these are evenly matched sides no one has got any edge and who plays better on that day wins. Today it was Japan and full credit to them.

But hoping that Brazil beats mexico and japan, u guys could still qualify on goal difference if u beat mexico.

Pao Hellas I agree abt ur comments on Asian football. But I would say that asian football has not yet reached the standards of African football. IMO Iran is the best in Asia now. But expecting Greece to beat a star studded Brazil is next to impossible. They are toooo toooo good !!!!!!

[Fener_05]

Unlucky Greece.
3 in a row. Not doing very good.

[wolverine]

Unlucky Greece.
3 in a row. Not doing very good.

Even worse is that Mexico is leading Brazil with 4 mins to go. If the score stays then Mexico might top the group and Brazil gets 2nd !!!

[plato-ny]

Japan strike late for Confed Cup win over Greece


FRANKFURT, June 19 (Reuters) - Substitute Masashi Oguro pounced with 14 minutes to go to give Japan a 1-0 win over Greece on Sunday and keep the Asian champions in contention at the Confederations Cup.

Japan had looked set to pay a high price for bad finishing, with strikers Atsushi Yanagisawa and Keiji Tamada guilty of a series of appalling misses in a one-sided game.

But Zico's team showed patience as well as masterly technique and they took the lead when Oguro ran on to a pass from Shunsuke Nakamura and tucked the ball past Antonis Nikopolidis.

Angelos Haristeas brought one good save from keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi with six minutes to go but otherwise Japan were untroubled by a disappointing Greece display.

"We were asleep today," said Greece's German coach Otto Rehhagel. "You couldn't win a pot of flowers playing like that."

Victory gives Japan three points from two Group B matches, while Greece are left without points.

Brazil and Mexico, with three points each, were due to meet in the late game in Hanover.

"It's very satisfying to beat the European champions," said Japan coach Zico. "We created a lot of chances quite easily."

Japan's midfield carved through the Greek defence with the same panache shown by Brazil in their 3-0 win over the European champions on Thursday.

Japan do not possess a centre-forward of the calibre of Adriano, however.

Greece, missing the influential Theodoros Zagorakis in midfield, stuck to a clear gameplan at the start, launching high balls up for Haristeas and Zisis Vryzas.


BEMUSED GREECE

That tactic had caused Japan problems in their 2-1 defeat by Mexico but they defended much better this time and were soon troubling Greece on the counter-attack.

Tamada was too eager to shoot after being put into space on the edge of the area in the eighth minute and five minutes later he blasted wide from an even better position on the right.

Kaji Akira sent a fierce shot into the side netting in the 19th minute and two minutes later Tamada shot tamely wide after popping up on the left.

Greece abandoned all thoughts of attacking themselves for the remainder of the half and concentrated instead on trying to blunt their opponents in midfield.

They were almost entirely unsuccessful, as Nakamura and Hidetoshi Nakata ripped through their defences.

Tamada was set running on goal with another precise pass from Nakamura but his shot was well wide.

A couple of minutes later, it was Nakata setting up Yanagisawa with a clever ball but the forward's chip was weakly struck and Angelos Basinas was able to clear.

Chances continued to come thick and fast for Japan in the second half, with Greece remaining utterly bemused as to how to cope with their precise passing.

Oguro came on for Tamada in the 64th minute and he showed a far cooler head than his colleague when exchanging passes with Nakamura before supplying a calm finish under pressure.


Another dissapointing loss. Even though its an exhibition tournament, Greece did not play well today or against Brazil. Euro champs they are, but not playing like it. Even though they have injuries and fatigue, Greece could have done better. No goals in the last 4 games. Cant score. We're already eliminated. Rehhagel must do a lot of analyzing and see what needs to be changed. Now, we play Mexico on Wednesday.

The commentator best described what is happening now:

"Where is the team we know from the Euro? No team spirit, no organization. Where is their organized play with a rock hard defense and their patience to start concentrated attacks?"

But it is good this is coming now, in a tournament that has no real meaning, instead of during our next crucial WC qualifers.

[poutismalakas]

I dont care what people say these exibition matches COUNT!!!
Greece has LOST 3 matches in a row!!! :boo: :boo:
They NEED to get their heads out of their asses, if they expect to qualify for the World Cup!! Losting this many consecutive matches in this manner can only hurt their self-esteem and overall play!! I am really starting to get worried!

[plato-ny]

I dont care what people say these exibition matches COUNT!!!
Greece has LOST 3 matches in a row!!! :boo: :boo:
They NEED to get their heads out of their asses, if they expect to qualify for the World Cup!! Losting this many consecutive matches in this manner can only hurt their self-esteem and overall play!! I am really starting to get worried!

Asians finish off the European champions


What happened on this match only proven that Greece has nothing to do on Confederations Cup and that they are in a really disastrous state. The European Champion from 2004 suffered the same faith of their ancient hero Alexander the Great who’s conquest was stopped and defeated in Asia two thousand years ago, just this time the Easterners humiliated Greeks on neutral soil.

For the beginning of the match we could say that it was more or less equal considering that at that time the Greeks who clearly lack stamina and speed had some chances from which they could have scored and so did Japan.

In 5th minute Georgios Karagounis done well and stole the ball from Hidetoshi Nakata at the mid of Japan’s half and the 28 year old who doesn’t have a jolly time in Inter Milan has made a run towards his opponent box from where he fired a powerful shot which flew couple yards away from the left post. Almost instantly, or a couple minutes later to be exact Japan threatened back when Alex passed the ball for Keiji Tamada to shoot from the edge of Greek box but his attempt was way of the target.

Before the twenty minute mark both teams had one more chance and Karagounis once more showed that he was the only player among the European Champion squad worth speaking of in a good way as he forced Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi to tip the ball off to corner. On the other end Atsushi Yanagisawa who impressed many scouts and journalist with his performance in a match against Mexico, wasted a great opportunity for Japan by shooting the ball over the goal instead of passing it to one of his teammates, the Asian’s national coach Zico was furious with this reaction and his anger didn’t wear off until his side scored.

Players like Yanagisawa and Tamada plus Shunsuke Nakamura and Mitsuo Ogasawara made Greek life a lot harder until the interval but still they couldn’t crack open Antonios Nikopolidis’s net.

Eight minutes after the break Greece was slightly… or maybe greatly damaged when in a controversial situation Hidetoshi Nakata tripped Angelos Charisteas inside Kawaguchi’s area but the referee Herbert Fandel just waved for the game to continue.

And then the goal, in 76th minute after some fine technical play in the midfield by Japanese the ball came to Masashi Oguro who played a double pass with Nakamura at the edge of the box after what the half time substitute succeeded to accept the pass while he was entering the area with two Greek defenders around him but still got to tip the ball in the left lower corner for 1:0 lead which at the end got to be the final score.

Even after that despite the numerous Japanese half chances, the Greeks somehow could have got an equalizer but Charisteas who escaped Makoto Tanaka and fired a shot between him and captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto failed to beat Kawaguchi who was well placed.

And in 91st minute it could have been 2:0 if Dimitrios Papadopoulos didn’t block the ball at the goal line after Koji Nakata fired the shot from just seven yards after Oguro’s backheel pass tricked Nikopolidis.

This maybe looks like an equal challenge, but it was not. Japanese were really great in the link and Kaji Akira, Hidetoshi Nakata together with Nakamura, Oguro and Yanagisawa controlled the flanks and central offensive midfield very well but out of their 22 shots on goal only 7 ended up to be going towards the goal and just one went in. On the other side Greeks just had three shots towards Kawaguchi and eight gone wide while the only players that could receive a “passable” mark is Karagounis and Charisteas.

Japan – Greece 1:0 (0:0)
Goals: Oguro 76’.

Japan: Kawaguchi, Tanaka, Miyamoto, H.Nakata, Ogasawara (Endo 74’), Tamada (Oguro 66’), Nakamura (K.Nakata 89’), Yanagisawa, Santos, Fukunishi, Kaji.

Greece: Nikopolidis, Tavlaridis (Tsiartas 31’), Kyrgiakos, Basinas, Giannakopoulos, Charisteas, Fyssas, Vryzas (Gekas 46’), Karagounis, Katsouranis, Lakis (Papadopoulos 59’).

[bitsakos]

I am going to wax my ass if we don't win.
***k!

[ros]

It was a very dissapointing game. It seems if the opposition can avoid giving away corners or free kicks than it seems there is no plan B. I hope they can pick up their game against mexico because we definetely need a confidence boost before the wcq's. I hope that rahhagel has the courage to experiment in any young talent that he has available.

[Refeto]

What did I say? So do you guys still thing we(Turkey) won the 3rd place in World Cup by beating easy teams??? Im not trying to make a argument, dont get mad at me! Im just pointng out what you guys have been telling us! I told you Japan wasnt easy team!

[Refeto]

I am going to wax my ass if we don't win.
Gen, you have to do it now! :D :D

[ForcaMadrid]

I am going to wax my ass if we don't win.
Are you going to keep your promise Gen.

JK

[Toke-E-Yo]

hahaha Genn, we won!

Now people will see that Japan are better than ppl think and that Asian Football is up and coming!


PS. If your gonna wax your ass, hurry up, Im waiting...

[philipas]

Japan certainly played better than Greece and deserve to have won. Greece are not playing with the same determination we saw them at the Euro; I hope they improve for the WC qualifiers.
Many Greeks said it wasn't going to be easy playing Japan and yes Asian football is a force to be reckoned with...The gap between the established teams and the up and comings is narrowing quickly...
Well done to Japan...

[PAO_HELLAS]

Our team played a very bad game and deservedly lost.

I believe the big problem is that the team has not many solutions. The team of Euro 2004 was based in 11-14 players. Now that Zagorakis, Dellas, Kapsis and Seitaridis were out, the substitutes of them, have not used to play this tactic. The performance of Greece was very bad. We are lucky that Japanese didn’t knew how to shot, otherwise we could lose 5-0 :robot: .

OK, we must not see the early elimination as a big problem. Greek fans must not be so disappointed. All Rehaggel has to do now is try new tactics with the other players in the team, and probably call some players of the under 21 team, so we can hope in something good for the three remaining games in WC qualifies.

[SiN]

wow i was sure that greece was gonna win..what happend i havent seen the match yet so i dont know nething about it!! what was the end score?

dont worry guys i am sure u will rise up and win some important matches in WC qualifers...hopefully not too much as i want turkey to go thorugh not greece...:D :D

[philipas]

Why are there so many Turkish 'opinions' in a Greek thread??
Is it because you love to see us lose or is it because you are still envious of Euro 2004?
Do you see us in your threads being provocative??
Please, show some respect...

[philipas]

OK, I'm not trying to start an arguement, but can someone answer these questions, civily...cheers

[nachi88]

Japan certainly played better than Greece and deserve to have won. Greece are not playing with the same determination we saw them at the Euro; I hope they improve for the WC qualifiers.
Many Greeks said it wasn't going to be easy playing Japan and yes Asian football is a force to be reckoned with...The gap between the established teams and the up and comings is narrowing quickly...
Well done to Japan...

Finally I see people can accept defeat graciously without namecalling. My salutes to you and PAO. :thumbsup:

Also, I do not think you should be so dissapointed. You didnt have dellas, zagorakeris for the match. Now that Greece is out for sure, they will play without pressure, and the mexican who will like to secure first place in the group will be happy with a draw even. I expect Rehaggel to attack in this match and the game to end 1-1 or a 1-0 win to Greece.

All the best for qualifiers

[plato-ny]

What did I say? So do you guys still thing we(Turkey) won the 3rd place in World Cup by beating easy teams??? Im not trying to make a argument, dont get mad at me! Im just pointng out what you guys have been telling us! I told you Japan wasnt easy team!

First of all, this is an exhibition tournmanent, not an official cup tournament.

Secondly, when Turkey played Japan, in an official cup game, WC 2002, Japan was ranked 32nd, a lower ranking than now and a team that 2 years before won the Asian Cup.

Finally, this Japan team is ranked 18th, a significant improvement from 3 years ago and a team that won the Asian Cup just a year ago.

[plato-ny]

hahaha Genn, we won!

Now people will see that Japan are better than ppl think and that Asian Football is up and coming!


PS. If your gonna wax your ass, hurry up, Im waiting...

You guys played better and deserved to win...

[Refeto]

First of all, this is an exhibition tournmanent, not an official cup tournament.

Secondly, when Turkey played Japan, in an official cup game, WC 2002, Japan was ranked 32nd, a lower ranking than now and a team that 2 years before won the Asian Cup.

Finally, this Japan team is ranked 18th, a significant improvement from 3 years ago and a team that won the Asian Cup just a year ago.
I think you are forgetting that when we played with Japan we were ranked 25th!!!!
Why are there so many Turkish 'opinions' in a Greek thread??
Is it because you love to see us lose or is it because you are still envious of Euro 2004?
Do you see us in your threads being provocative??
Please, show some respect...
Philipas, All I said was you guys were making fun of us when we said we have bronze medal in WC, all Greeks were saying we beat easy teams such as Japan. I told them that those teams werent easy teams. I pointed what you guys said about Japan. This is not jealousy. Im pointing out what you said! If I think the way you think, that means when you guys tell us that we beat only easy teams, that would be jealousy too! What do you think? IM NOT MAKING OF FUN OF YOU GUYS, IM POINTING WHAT YOU GUYS SAID ABOUT JAPAN!

By the way, SIN didnt say anything wrong!!!

[OCFP]

I hope teams start underestimating us again and saying that Euro was a fluke.. I dont care i would rather they say that. It makes winning a lot easier and I love seeing them cry at the end of games...(France,Portugal, and Czech). the backbone in defence is Della and Kapsis. When there out and midfielders have to play more Defence its our disadvantage.. Im not worried. With a complete roster we are in the top 10 and proved that...

[philipas]

I think you are forgetting that when we played with Japan we were ranked 25th!!!!

Philipas, All I said was you guys were making fun of us when we said we have bronze medal in WC, all Greeks were saying we beat easy teams such as Japan. I told them that those teams werent easy teams. I pointed what you guys said about Japan. This is not jealousy. Im pointing out what you said! If I think the way you think, that means when you guys tell us that we beat only easy teams, that would be jealousy too! What do you think? IM NOT MAKING OF FUN OF YOU GUYS, IM POINTING WHAT YOU GUYS SAID ABOUT JAPAN!

By the way, SIN didnt say anything wrong!!!

Cool! :thumbsup:

[Aryan]

Yeah, Japs were better and deserved to win. At least you didn`t lose from fukin Azerbaifukinan (or what the fuk their name is) like we did. :thumbsup:

[SiN]

i didnt mean to start nething guys i was just simply aking about the result of the match which i kno now...and i was wondering about ur opinions on the match...why wud i be jealos of uz? i am happy for u guys on ur 2004 win really i am...:D :D

peace

[philipas]

i didnt mean to start nething guys i was just simply aking about the result of the match which i kno now...and i was wondering about ur opinions on the match...why wud i be jealos of uz? i am happy for u guys on ur 2004 win really i am...:D :D

peace


Cool :thumbsup:

[Panellinios]

Japan played better, we played so pathetic, i don't even want to discuss it.

although we were missing Zagorakis, Dellas, Kapsis and Seitaridis which are SOOOOOO important to us, we HAVE to learn to replace these guys. how come teams like Brazil and Argentina are so good even when missing key players? because they got skilled replacements who are capable of the challenge.

we need to bench Vryzas. that is one change i want to see. he is old and skillless. and i bee saying this since the Euro aswel. we need Gekkas and Papadopoulos to get in there and start gaining experience cause they are the future along with Charisteas.

Karagounis, who is my favorite player in the Greece Team, has to stop getting yellow cards aswel. he missed the Russia game in Euro and the final against Portugal aswel. he missed a few qualifyers and now he is gonna miss the game against Mexico. he is so important to us, that he's got to stop getting these cards that force him to sit out.

WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR HEADS UP AND STEP OUR GAME UP.

[PAO_HELLAS]

Sure we played 'so pathetic'.

If we play like we did with Japan in a game with Brazil or Argentina, the score could be 6-0 and I am not overracting.

[Panellinios]

^^ u might even be under-reacting.

[dimtsak]

Visit www.soccerbase.gr

[dimtsak]

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