awww.

oh well. Japan is out.

That was expected anyway, how could they have even dared to even dream to be able to beat Brazil. But they dreamt anyway and for a fleeting moment there it seemed wildly possible. Tamada's goal was good no doubt bout that, but Brazil totally dominated the game la. Anyway Japan didn't really play as well this time round if u ask me. But again i don't know much bout football haha.

Think kawaguchi, Japan's goalkeeper definitely deserves some credit.
He's got talent la remember the tremendous saves in the first half of the Australia match and the unbelievable blocks. 5 in a row! By not just anyone but the terribly dangerous Brazilian stars. But the thing with goalkeepers is, you cannot afford to make any mistakes. Guess he committed one too many. Esp in the australia one. After that 1st mistake everything just fell apart.

aNyway kawaguchi's only 31, he may still come back in 4 yrs time hee hee. if japan qualify.



















(photo originally from FIFA)


Overall I think Japan was quite a disappointment. :( Brazil totally destroyed them and i still think the Australia match was a disastrous mistake. Hopefully we'll see these guys again:















Goalless one this was. But I guess Nakata did ok in the croatia one. Much better than the 1st.
Thank God he's only 29 should be able to see him again. yay!

Nakamura was good too poor thing didn't get a shot for man of the match and again, tamada's goal was superb laa. Inamoto hmm, did he even play this time? REally didn't hear bout him at all :(

Ganbate! Japan's got a LOONG way to go.


and the REAL heartbreaker comes in the south korea - switzerland match. It looked as if they had REALLY good chances to go through. But I guess anything can happen.

As opposed to Japan i seriously think Korea has IMPROVED. But without the home ground advantage and luck on their side (ok maybe a bit with the france game) this was as far as they could go. Loved their never-say-die spirit (except after that OBVIOUSLY offside goal the flag was raised CLEARLY la). I don't blame them though, they did their best. and its so sad would really have wanted to see more of them korean players.

Lee Woon Jae, the goalkeeper and captain was good if u ask me haha. He's very steady. He's 33 this yr i really hope he'll be back next time round.





















Think he did great as a captain too.

Anyway good goalkeepers are old right? hee hee. Isn't oliver kahn ancient already.
















And Park Ji Sung was good in that France match. That equaliser was really crucial. But I dunno he seemed kinda invisible otherwise. He never lacked stamina that's true but really would've liked to see more of him.















Okay. Apart from the fact that he's one of the VERY few cute guys on the korean team, I think he deserves credit too. Ahn Jung Hwan the super sub. Will never forget his heroic goals against italy and this time, the winning one against togo. Think he really has that drive. Should let him play more ma. haha. Again, he's ONLY 30. REally really hope he'll make it next time round, and hope he improves n gets a place in the starting 11.















this guy is really what Korea needs more of!! LEE CHUN SOO.
He was relentless in all the matches especially that last long drawn battle against switzerland. He was the one pushing forward and being erm potentially dangerous. And let's not forget he did score the equaliser against togo. Poor thing i think he would've gone far and he deserves way more credit than what he has now. But again he's only 29. Will really really hope to see him next time round (:

There are also others like Lee Young Pyo, Cho Jae Jin and Kim Nan II who did well too if you ask me. Ok Cho Jae Jin had this really sulky face all the time and it was kinda irritating haha. But Kim Nan II is a good defender haha. Another relentless one.

Ooh and that kid Park Chu Young. Poor thing i really think he could've done more if given time. He's still young la and i really hope there's more to come from this so called football genius. His world Cup debut this time round wasn't that impressive. But i have faith for more.

Aiya anyway. So so sad.

bUt maybe that's God saying 'meiyan you gotta study!!' haha. Oh well no more korea n japan matches, one less distraction, can study more :P