I've been watching France Ligue highlights, and noticed that the referees wear headsets -- does anyone know what that's for? Is that to communicate with the linesmen?
Just wondering...haven't seen that in any other league.
Just wondering...haven't seen that in any other league.
For those of you who are wondering what the JFA has planned for the national team during the preparationg months next year, here is some news.
There was an announcement today, that Japan and Germany will play a friendly right before the World Cup starts.
EEEK.
Germany? As in the hosts? Right before the Cup starts?
Yes.
I don't know which is better -- playing a middle-of-the-range team and using that as an opportunity for Japan to iron out last minute issues. Or playing a thunderous team like Germany, and hosts no less....and if we fall completely flat on our faces, is that good for the team ahead of the Cup? And if we do well, is that peaking too soon? Of course, if we end up in the same group as Germany in December's draw, the whole thing will be cancelled. Ending up in the same group as Germany isn't that yummy a prospect either. Hmmm. What do you think?
We may need the services of Ronmel (I'm not sure if that's the right spelling), the unofficial national team dog -- he belongs to one of the top brass at the JFA (head of public relations), and has gotten the reputation (from back in the Troussier days) for bringing good luck to the national team whenever he attends pre-game practices. Though he is usually not allowed to actual games/stadia, he did get to "sneak" in in this past game against Honduras, where Japan came back after being 2 goals down to win 5-4. Ronmel is well-known in the inner sanctum, and has been given a number of thankful pats on the head from Zico. Will they take him to Germany?
Okay, back to the topic... there is some talk coming from the JFA that Japan will head to the United States for a training camp in February. There, they hope to play some friendlies with South American teams -- since we are still struggling against the South American style of football. It could end up that the U.S. plan will come to nothing, and change to South America, or maybe Europe. Or maybe the whole plan will be nixed if the scheduling becomes a problem. But with so few chances to play together, I really hope something gets planned.
The National Team will first go through their domestic boot camp in January, though, as usual. Here, all the players are made to run run run, and when they are done, run some more. But the February camp will be a great opportunity for the team to their game legs back after their break from the league.
The only problem is that the European-basec players will not be called -- the respective clubs are not happy about having the players (like Nakamura, et al) travel distances for friendlies, so the JFA is compromising. These Europe boys will be called for the games against Latvia and the Ukraine, but will not be called for most of the games that require long travel.
Speaking of the JFA, I will head over there to the JFA House tomorrow, to take a look around and do some shopping for friends (they have a store and a rather interesting football museum I hear). I've never been (blasphemous!), so I figure I might duck in and take a look. Will take loads of photos of exhibits and post on this blog.
If you have a request for me to take photos of certain things, or watch out for certain things, please leave a comment before tomorrow afternoon Japan time!
There was an announcement today, that Japan and Germany will play a friendly right before the World Cup starts.
EEEK.
Germany? As in the hosts? Right before the Cup starts?
Yes.
I don't know which is better -- playing a middle-of-the-range team and using that as an opportunity for Japan to iron out last minute issues. Or playing a thunderous team like Germany, and hosts no less....and if we fall completely flat on our faces, is that good for the team ahead of the Cup? And if we do well, is that peaking too soon? Of course, if we end up in the same group as Germany in December's draw, the whole thing will be cancelled. Ending up in the same group as Germany isn't that yummy a prospect either. Hmmm. What do you think?
We may need the services of Ronmel (I'm not sure if that's the right spelling), the unofficial national team dog -- he belongs to one of the top brass at the JFA (head of public relations), and has gotten the reputation (from back in the Troussier days) for bringing good luck to the national team whenever he attends pre-game practices. Though he is usually not allowed to actual games/stadia, he did get to "sneak" in in this past game against Honduras, where Japan came back after being 2 goals down to win 5-4. Ronmel is well-known in the inner sanctum, and has been given a number of thankful pats on the head from Zico. Will they take him to Germany?Okay, back to the topic... there is some talk coming from the JFA that Japan will head to the United States for a training camp in February. There, they hope to play some friendlies with South American teams -- since we are still struggling against the South American style of football. It could end up that the U.S. plan will come to nothing, and change to South America, or maybe Europe. Or maybe the whole plan will be nixed if the scheduling becomes a problem. But with so few chances to play together, I really hope something gets planned.
The National Team will first go through their domestic boot camp in January, though, as usual. Here, all the players are made to run run run, and when they are done, run some more. But the February camp will be a great opportunity for the team to their game legs back after their break from the league.
The only problem is that the European-basec players will not be called -- the respective clubs are not happy about having the players (like Nakamura, et al) travel distances for friendlies, so the JFA is compromising. These Europe boys will be called for the games against Latvia and the Ukraine, but will not be called for most of the games that require long travel.
Speaking of the JFA, I will head over there to the JFA House tomorrow, to take a look around and do some shopping for friends (they have a store and a rather interesting football museum I hear). I've never been (blasphemous!), so I figure I might duck in and take a look. Will take loads of photos of exhibits and post on this blog.
If you have a request for me to take photos of certain things, or watch out for certain things, please leave a comment before tomorrow afternoon Japan time!
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