Japan versus South Africa

The Blue Samurai are getting acquainted with South Africa early and will play a friendly against the South African "Bafana Bafana" squad tomorrow. Hopefully, the Japanese players are scoping out the local food joints so that they'll know where the best deals on shrimp scampi are when they're back in town next year. I also think that they are tuning their ears to the incredibly hilarious English spoken by the South Africans. Please, if you are South African, do not take offense. I mean "incredibly hilarious English" in the best way possible.

Actually, there have been reports coming from the Japanese media that the players are on lock down with a "be in bed by sundown" curfew as South Africa has been known to have a high murder rate, vampire to human ratio, and District Nine. The South Africans were, of course, offended by these reports, claiming that the country is reasonably safe as long as you walk around carrying a loaded gun with silver bullets to deter the werewolves.

Its reasonable that the South Africans would show disdain for a Japanese contingency too afraid to dance in the moonlight. As they are hosting the biggest sporting event in four years (maybe the Olympics are bigger?), the country does not want to highlight its dangerous side in the wake of a massive immigration of the World's best football teams, their fans, and most importantly -the money and tourism boost they bring along with them.

Apparently, the Japanese players are suggesting the rumors of a curfew were fabricated. I'm not sure, and think it could just be a ploy to save face; but what does any of this matter? Let us move on to why you are really here. Football Talk.

Japan Squad:

Keepers:
Eiji Kawashima (Frontale)
Shusaku Nishikawa (Trinita)

Defenders:
Yuji Nakazawa (Marinos)
Yuichi Komano (Jubilo)
Daiki Iwamasa (Antlers)
Atsuto Uchida (Antlers)
Yasuyuki Konno (Tokyo)
Yuhei Tokunaga (Tokyo)
Marcus Tulio Tanaka (Urawa)

Midfielders:
Shunsuke Nakamura (Espanyol)
Yasuhito Endo (Gamba)
Daisuke Matsui (Grenoble)
Yuki Abe (Reds)
Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg)
Keisuke Honda (Venlo)
Junichi Inamoto (Rennes)

Forwards:
Keiji Tamada (Grampus)
Hisato Sato (Sanfrecce)
Yoshito Okubo (Vissel)
Shinji Okazaki (S-Pulse)
Takayuki Morimoto (Catania)*

*Doubtful due to injury

What we are looking at here is essentially the same squad that we have seen in recent matches, but with a few major differences. On defense, we will be without sideback Yuto Nagatomo. Most likely, we will see Yuichi Komano filling in as he has played very nicely in the opportunities that he has been awarded when either Nagatomo or Uchida have been missing. In midfield we lose Kengo Nakamura to injury. While Kengo Naka has played very consistently well, it would be a far stretch to claim that he is in-expendable, as midfield is very deep for Japan. Expect Keisuke Honda to get the call up in his place. Takayuki Morimoto is nursing an ankle injury and is doubtful to play this match. Probably the most disappointing news of all, Mori looked so promising in the last couple matches that I'm sure all of Japan's fans have been salivating to see more.

Probable Formation:

Barring Okada going mental and reverting back to his ineffective 4-5-1 formation, I think he has learned his lesson and will stick with the 4-4-2.

Kawashima

Uchida ------ Nakazawa ------ Tulio ------ Komano

Hasebe ------ Endo

Honda ------ Nakamura

Okazaki ------ Tamada or Okubo

A decent line up for Japan. Obviously if you could substitute Morimoto's name for Tamada/Okubo the team would seem much more threatening in attack. Still I would say that this is very close to the starting eleven for next year's World Cup with question marks at keeper which could go back to Narazaki, side back: Komano or Nagatomo ftw, and striker opposite Okazaki as we discussed previously.

Bafana Bafana:

The South Africans will hopefully put up a better fight then their African compatriots Togo did in our last 5-0 thrashing. You can never count out the importance of home field advantage, and the 12th man will surely play a factor in this match.

Still, the Bafana Bafana have reason to worry as they have won only one of their last 8 matches, and face a Japan team that has been steam rolling opponents as of late. They have much to prove in front of their home fans.

Playmakers and Everton midfiedler, Steven Pienaar has been scratched from the squad due to injury. Probably the most signifiant blow to South Africa, they will have to look for other players to step up to fill the void. One such player could be Benni McCarthy, striker for the Blackburn Rovers. McCarthy, at only 27 years of age is South Africa's all-time top goalscorer and second most capped player. His caps lag only behind captain and defender Aaron Mokoena of Portsmouth. These two have had plenty of experience playing in the English Premier League and will not be intimidated by a team of mainly J. League status.

My Prediction (for what its worth):

Japan have been playing far too well lately to expect any less. I say Okazaki continues his hot streak by netting once. Also, I say that Nakamura inspires us with a great set piece either from a free-kick or he finds the head of Tulio or Nakazawa. Benni McCarthy does his thing and finds paydirt but its not enough for Japan's possession midfield.

Blue Samurai 2 - Bafana Bafana 1