Sports
Related: About this forumThe old Will Pitt trick of reading the losing city's paper the day after
isn't that useful this time, unless, of course, you speak Japanese.
But soft! What light through yonder monitor breaks? Why, I do believe it is an English-language news site from Japan!
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/07/06/soccer/womens-world-cup/sasaki-pays-tribute-heartbroken-nadeshiko-players/
Japans six-match winning streak at the tournament ended in brutal fashion as the Asian champions conceded four goals in the first 16 minutes, including a hat-trick by U.S. captain and Golden Ball winner Carli Lloyd.
My players have given their all in every match, and overall theyve had a great tournament here in Canada. Today, though, the Americans were simply too strong, Sasaki said.
In the first few minutes, it seemed as if every shot ended up in the back of the net. But we never gave up fighting for our supporters in the stadium and back home in Japan.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/07/06/womens-world-cup/nadeshiko-fans-unbowed-5-2-loss-u-s-world-cup-final/
Sawa means a lot not only for our city but also Japan. She gave us a lot to cheer for, said Daisuke Kofuji, who grew up with Sawa in the Tokyo suburb of Fuchu. If she is physically well, I want her to continue to play (in the next World Cup). But it is her decision.
More than 120 fans gathered at the Fuchu Shinmachi Culture Center on Monday morning to take in the tournament final, which was played in Vancouver. The cheers turned to sighs every time the U.S. scored a goal, but they never stopped cheering for Nadeshiko, as the womens national soccer team is known, until the end.
The crowd shouted Nippon when the team sank to a 4-0 deficit within the first 16 minutes of play, and chanted Ogimi as Yuki Ogimi scored the teams first goal in the 27th minute.
ProfessorGAC
(65,078 posts)And, there is no shame in finishing 2nd in the world when the #1 team on the planet is the one that beat you.
Somebody has to finish second. And that's pretty good!
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)ProfessorGAC
(65,078 posts)I had been hearing for 2 weeks that the US was favored to win this thing? Rankings aren't something i keep up on, but the experts all seemed to think the US was the best team
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)The US was favored against Japan yes.
ProfessorGAC
(65,078 posts)I started watching the analysts on TV even before the event began. While some liked Germany, it seemed the consensus was building that the US was favored overall.
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)and their favored status plummeted among analysts after the group stage with many stating that GERvsFRA would be the real final.
Their change in formation/strategy in the knockout phase changed everything.
Aside from that I was just pointing out that were not the #1 team in the world.