JFA breaking character with big World Cup risk
Rumors that Vahid Halilhodzic was on the brink of being fired as Japan manager dogged the Bosnian for almost as long as he was in the job, but it was still a major surprise to see the Japan Football Association push him over the ...
Halilhodzic leaves door open as World Cup draws closer
Japan's squad for this summer's World Cup appears to be taking shape, but don't bet against manager Vahid Halilhodzic ripping up the blueprint before he submits it in time for the June 4 deadline. Japan plays its first two games of the year over the ...
East Asian tournament provides few clues for World Cup
National team manager Vahid Halilhodzic may have learned a great deal from last week's E-1 Football Championship, but it is open to question how much it will benefit him at next summer's World Cup in Russia. Japan finished second at the four-team regional tournament held ...
Frontale worthy J. League champions despite Antlers' slip-ups
Kawasaki Frontale captain Yu Kobayashi said he believed his team was "cursed" when it lost to Cerezo Osaka in last month's J. League Cup final, but that must have made the club's first-ever J. League title all the sweeter when it arrived last weekend. Frontale ...
Urawa Reds ready for new chapter after ACL victory
Urawa Reds have gained an unwanted reputation for choking on the big stage in the 10 years since they first won the Asian Champions League, but that tag may have to be re-evaluated after they reclaimed the title with a series of composed performances ...
Competition heats up as Japan prepares for top-class tests
National team manager Vahid Halilhodzic demanded strong friendly opposition to help prepare Japan for next summer's World Cup, and this coming week's two fixtures certainly fit the bill. Japan faces five-time world champion Brazil in Lille, France, on Friday before taking on European heavyweight Belgium ...
Podolski's Japan adventure in danger of turning sour
Things are not going well for Lukas Podolski. The German World Cup winner made global headlines in March when he agreed to join Vissel Kobe in July, spurning advances from wealthy Chinese clubs to give the J. League its most high-profile signing in years. Upon arriving ...
Moriyasu can leave Sanfrecce with head held high
It was probably in the best interests of everyone at Sanfrecce Hiroshima that Hajime Moriyasu stood down as manager on Tuesday, but that should not obscure the debt of gratitude that the three-time J. League champions owe him. Moriyasu, who led Sanfrecce to three titles ...
Gambler Halilhodzic hoping chips keep falling his way
National team manager Vahid Halilhodzic's willingness to take risks has worked out well in recent months, and Japan will be hoping that his instincts continue to pay off in its upcoming World Cup qualifier against Iraq. Japan takes on Syria in Tokyo next Wednesday in ...
Japan playing for high stakes in World Cup double-header
Only one point separates the top four teams at the halfway stage of Japan's final qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup, and the coming week could make or break the Samurai Blue's bid to reach a sixth successive tournament. Japan takes on the United ...
Japan may have to wait for more Club World Cup heroics
Kashima Antlers showed how far Japanese soccer has come when they gave Real Madrid a mighty scare in the Club World Cup final last Sunday, but it may be some time before a J. League champion gets to take advantage of Japan hosting the ...
Kashima's J. League title win a fitting end to flawed format
There was always a danger that the J. League's ill-fated introduction of a playoff championship format in 2015 would produce a deeply unsatisfying result somewhere down the line. Kashima Antlers' coronation as champions on Saturday night duly delivered it. Antlers beat Urawa Reds on away ...
