Japan’s Vahid Halilhodzic has been experimenting with new players and combinations ahead of the 2018 World Cup.
It was striking in November’s friendlies against Brazil and Belgium that coach Vahid Halilhodzic decided to drop Shinji Okazaki, Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda from the Japan squad.
But in a World Cup year, Japanese fans will be hoping that the superstar trio returns for the next international action in March, just three months before their opening Group H match in Russia.
Here are five Japan football wishes for 2018.
1. Make peace with the big three
Halilhodzic chose to go into November internationals…
Tottenham’s winless run in the Premier League now stands at three matches after Leicester’s star duo led the Foxes to three points at home.
For the first time in over a year, Mauricio Pochettino confirms Erik Lamela could feature in Tottenham’s trip to Leicester.
LEICESTER, England — Three thoughts from the King Power Stadium on Leicester City’s 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
1. Leicester hold off Tottenham
Tottenham threw the kitchen sink at it, but could not find a way back. They had given themselves too much to do, having been undone by spectacular goals by two players that beat them to the 2015-16 title: Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez.
Vardy’s brilliantly improvised volley from Marc Albrighton’s chipped cross from the left flank…
As Keisuke Honda’s dream move at AC Milan came to an end, questions arise whether or not Pachuca is a good fit.
ESPN FC’s Jason Dasey and Dez Corkhill discuss their early impressions of Lukas Podolski at Japanese side, Vissel Kobe.
Japan qualified for their sixth straight World Cup following their 2-0 win over Australia.
Coach Vahid Halilhodzic has told his biggest stars that reputations count for nothing as competition for places in Japan’s 2018 World Cup squad heats up.
Halilhodzic has named his 25-man squad for high-profile World Cup friendlies Brazil and Belgium later this month.
There was no place for Leicester City’s Shinji Okazaki, Shinji Kagawa of Borussia Dortmund and Keisuke Honda, formerly of AC Milan, who now plays for Pachuca in Mexico.
“The names are not relevant when it comes to playing for Japan,”…
Breathless action at the King Power stadium saw Liverpool hang on to beat Leicester City 3-2.
English Premier League: Jamie Vardy (71′) Leicester City 2-3 Liverpool
LEICESTER, England — Three thoughts on Liverpool’s 3-2 win over Leicester at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League.
1. A hard fought win for Liverpool
Liverpool lack consistency, are defensively suspect and waste too many opportunities to turn their possession into goals, but they certainly give the spectator value for money. An extraordinary evening in Leicester brought scores of chances, five goals, a penalty save and a tense finish. More importantly for Jurgen Klopp, it brought three…
ESPN spent a day behind the scenes at Everton to find out why they are the “people’s club.” Just in case you’d managed to forget about him, former Tottenham and Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood emerged from the shadows this week to provide his views on youth football in a television debate show. One of his complaints, among many others, was that too many youth footballers in England consider themselves No. 10s.
This was a particularly peculiar complaint considering one of English football’s failings over the past few decades is the inability to produce talented, creative, gifted No. 10s…
ESPN FC’s Jason Dasey and John Wilkinson look ahead to Japan’s clash against Australia in AFC World Cup qualifying.
Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner hopes to keep Manchester City loanee Aaron Mooy in the newly-promoted side for next season.
They’re two of the in-form players of the Premier League, and will come face-to-face on the international stage when Japan hosts Australia in a crucial World Cup qualifier next week.
But both Shinji Okazaki and Aaron Mooy, with three goals between them in the first two weeks of the English season, may still need to convince their respective national coaches after some underwhelming performances on the road to Russia 2018.
Okazaki has sat on the bench for all but one of Japan’s last five qualifying…
Craig Shakespeare discusses Leicester’s defeat at Arsenal.
Craig Shakespeare discusses Leicester’s defeat at Arsenal.
Leicester City are used to getting vital away wins at the Hawthorns. The Foxes have won 3-2 on their past two trips to the west Midlands — the most notable of which came in 2014-15 at the beginning of their great escape under Nigel Pearson.
This time around, Leicester don’t necessarily need a win — just a point will do to ease any mild relegation concerns. Their 37 points, with a better goal difference to the sides around them, should be enough to secure Premier League safety.
West Bromwich Albion
Leicester City
2:00 PM UTC
Game Details
Home: 13/8
Draw: 23/10
Away: 19/10
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After six straight…
Stewart Robson explains the factors behind Leicester City’s turnaround under Craig Shakespeare.
With Leicester having a remarkable turnaround following Claudio Ranieri’s sacking, the FC crew look at possible rifts.
Antoine Griezmann cautions that Atletico Madrid’s Champions League clash with Leicester City won’t be nice to watch.
Leicester City can all but mathematically secure Premier League safety with victory at Everton — a place they have already won 2-1 at this season in the FA Cup.
The Foxes are hoping to make it seven straight wins in all competitions. Their current victory streak is an astonishing feat and had Leicester found this kind of form a little earlier in the season they might well be challenging for Europe.
City now have significant breathing space after beating Sunderland 2-0 last time…
Leicester’s players have praised the impact of Craig Shakespeare after reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
We explore Leicester’s historic night, Diego Maradona steals the show and more in The Sweeper.
When Leicester City last travelled to West Ham United, they got a surprise 2-1 victory at Upton Park. The Foxes were superb in the first half and it was a sign of things to come on the road as City backed up that unexpected victory with a string of impressive and gutsy away performances.
Leicester now arrive at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday for their first-ever game there in desperate need of something similar as they go in search of their first Premier League away success of the season.
The…
Leicester City were fortunate to grab a late equaliser but an FA Cup replay is the last thing the struggling Foxes need.
Energetic but goal-shy Leicester City left it late to earn a deserved replay. The Foxes weren’t necessarily the most clinical side but they also didn’t deserve to be dumped out at Pride Park. A 2-2 draw was probably a fair result.
Derby County
Leicester City
2
2
FT
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Positives
Leicester looked hungry and far less negative than in their demoralising 3-0 defeat to Southampton at the weekend, but there was still no real cutting edge despite scoring twice. Shinji Okazaki had a bit more freedom and…