Excitement builds for England vs Japan football

[Mulboyne]

This game will be played in Manchester on Tuesday as part of a three team tournament including Iceland. Three great fishing nations.

I've seen next to nothing in the press in the way of any build-up but the games are nearly, if not completely, sold-out.

Then again, this is the way the tournament was being covered a few months ago

FA deny England-Japan Euro warm-up

The Football Association have denied that any firm arrangements have been made for this summer's tri-nation tournament despite claims from the Japanese FA that they will play England.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's side will play against two other countries, including one from Europe, as part of their preparations for Euro 2004.
France had been pencilled in as possible opponents but that was ruled out when the two teams were paired in the group stages in Portugal.

And an FA spokesman said: 'We've not confirmed any details about our pre-Euro 2004 preparations other than we are playing a tri-nation tournament.'

Very welcoming.


It looks like Japan is having problems with fitness, though.

Japan striker Takahara taken to hospital with chest pains

Takahara's absence is the latest injury blow to Japan coach Zico, who has already lost captain Hidetoshi Nakata (groin) and Norihiro Nishi (knee) for the Manchester friendlies.

[DjMitch_UK]

First I've heard of it, but that would be immense!!!

No doubt England would win but hey, admire them for trying

Plus it probably won't help when the Japanese support England!

[Mulboyne]

A win for Japan.

Japan battles back to beat Iceland in friendly

The upturn in Japan's form and fortune under Zico's stewardship continued on Sunday with a 3-2 win over Iceland in the opening game of the F.A. Summer Tournament. Two goals from Tatsuhiko Kubo and a second half penalty from Alex illuminated a performance which suggested that the Brazilian coach is beginning to blend his players into a more cohesive team.

Other key Iceland/Japan encounters:

According to This Link, there are EXACTLY 32 Japanese living in Iceland and EXACTLY 32 Icelanders living in Japan.

Iceland/Japan Cat Breeders
Iceland/Japan Data Comparison
-Japan 4x the land area and 400x population.
-Iceland claims higher literacy rate (100% vs 99%)
-Japanese men live about two months longer than Icelandic males.
Whales 'r' Us

ICELAND/JAPAN: Iceland considers exporting whale meat to Japan - report
11 Feb 2004
Source: just-food.com Registration required

Article Summary:
Iceland, which last year sparked international anger by resuming whaling after a 14-year break, is reportedly considering exporting some of its surplus whale meat to Japan.

A word from the Ambassador

In the Fisheries in general, Japan and Iceland cooperate in international efforts to ensure sustainable management of marine resources. A Japanese delegation led by high level officials are attending the Reykjavik Conference on Responsible Fisheries in the Marine Ecosystem this week, organized by the Government of Iceland, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and co-sponsored by the Government of Norway. Both our countries seek to identity future challenges and relevant strategies in order to best cater for the considerations of the ecosystem. But on a more immediate and domestic level, fishery products from Iceland are an inevitable item for the majority of Japanese families who, as you know, consume the largest amount of fish in the world. A large share of the capelin consumed in Japan comes precisely from Iceland.

[Taro Toporific]

.... Japanese families who, as you know, consume the largest amount of fish in the world.[/b] A large share of the capelin consumed in Japan comes precisely from Iceland.

Capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin capelin
Phylum Chordata
Class Osteichthyes - Bony fishes
Order Salmoniformes
Family Osmeridae - smelts
Capelin - Mallotus villosus

[Jushin-Thunder-Liger]

Half time England 1 Japan 0

Jesus Christ, surprisingly selected for England, with the only goal.

[Mulboyne]

uh-oh

53 mins: GOAL England 1-1 Japan
Shinji Ono levels the scores for Japan and it is a fabulous team goal, ending with the Feyenoord midfielder slotting the ball between David James' legs.

[DjMitch_UK]

1-1 draw!!!

I hate it when games turn out as draws

Japan played quite well. Have to say though, it should of been an England game.

I somehow think that Seaman would not have let that in . Mind you I am a Seamans loyalist

James is a great keeper

[Mulboyne]

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

From AFP via The Age

Japan coach Zico rejected suggestions his team had been flattered by a below-par England performance.

"We should not take anything away from Japan. The fact that we were able to create so much space and so many chances was created by the imagination and movement of Japan," the former Brazilian midfielder said.

"Our defence neutralised the threat posed by Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney and I think that was one of the reasons we were able to play so well.

I suppose this gives Zico a bit more breathing space....

[DjMitch_UK]

So many chances for England in the first 30 minutes though!!!

It really was looking like it was gunna be 3 nill England by the first half.

[DjMitch_UK]

England 6 Iceland 1

LOL

[Mulboyne]

...Other key Iceland/Japan encounters:

According to This Link, there are EXACTLY 32 Japanese living in Iceland and EXACTLY 32 Icelanders living in Japan.

Iceland/Japan Cat Breeders
Iceland/Japan Data Comparison
-Japan 4x the land area and 400x population.
-Iceland claims higher literacy rate (100% vs 99%)
-Japanese men live about two months longer than Icelandic males.
Whales 'r' Us


A word from the Ambassador

Sorry if you have clicked on this thread expecting something about football. Instead I've resurrected it to post this Guardian article which extols the relationship between Iceland and Japan.

[quote]Just like God armed with a giant hairdryer, Iceland's financial crisis continues to cause a national meltdown, with the country poised to sink beneath the Arctic sea. Given this state of financial turmoil, it no doubt came as some relief for the Iceland band Sigur Ros that they were able to board the long-haul flight out of Reykjavik and play their Japanese tour, picking up a welcome amount of the currently booming Yen in the process.

Brought over by Creativeman, who, along with Smash, represents the main face of international tour promotion in Japan, Sigur Ros' sold out performance at Osaka's seated Koseinenkin Hall last week meant more to Japanese fans than just an evening's entertainment. With the two islands meeting for a more substantial type of cultural exchange, Sigur Ros' ethereal sonic landscapes threaded through hypnotic projected visuals and an arrangement of floating balls of light that, through their movement, gave the whole event an atmosphere that evoked the conventions of stage theatre. It was nothing like your run-of-the-mill gig. The hushed reverence that filled the venue lobby as the vast crowds quietly filed out after the show was as mesmerising as the performance itself. But though Sigur Ros made a success of their Osaka performance, it was overshadowed by the absence of their credit-crunched comrades the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, who were due to play in the city the following day. It was to complete a weekend's celebrations of Iceland's musical heritage and reaffirm the strong international ties between Iceland and Japan.

Despite being nearly 9,000km apart, Japan and Iceland have many shared interests, mostly thanks to fish. Both are among the world's Top 10 fish-producing countries, and their mutual love of a good seafood banquet saw them forging mutually beneficial trading partnerships. But beyond the business of getting their dinners to the table, strong relationships exist elsewhere, with academic ties and exchange programs running between Reykjavik University and Japan's Kyushu University. Before the economic crash the two countries' both appeared in a list of the Top 5 most peaceful countries on earth, and their respective scientific communities plan to join forces for a research team looking into geothermal/renewable energy solutions.

Then, of course, there's music. Arna Kristin Einarsdottir, concert manager of the ISO, notes the feverish response Japanese audiences have for Icelandic music staples Sigur Ros and Bj&#246]

[Charles]

I swear when I saw this headline come up on my scream, I thought it said "Excrement builds for England vs. Japan football." That is the sort of article I wanted to read. I am disappointed.