Japan V Colombia World Cup 2014

Japan V Colombia Fifa World Cup 2014

After match synopsis in red!!

Beers: Group C of Beer World Cup: http://thisdrinkinglife.com/world-cup-beer-group-c/

Who is set to win the battle of the beers? Club Colombia V Kirin Ichiban. Who will quench the thirst, set the mood, get me in the right spirit? Click on picture for a preview of the beers.

Get the beer result after, much after!

Kirin Ichiban V Club Colombia: 1-0 to Kirin. Kirin Ichiban was pretty nice and quite drinkable, going down very easy as I was enjoying the football. A pleasant aroma of light grains and malts, with a lovely pale yellow colour on pour and a decent sized head which lasts. Yeah Kirin is a looker alright. But its the wheaty taste I enjoyed the most, with the bitter aftertaste that is kind of creamy. Delicious. Up against Kirin was Club Colombia, a similar enough type of beer. A nice looking body, clear and golden in colour, decent frothy head, a small aroma of corn that was nice and sweet, and a taste of toasted malts. Club Colombia was also a very enjoyable drink. But I give it to Kirin as it had a better aftertaste, and more unique flavours that just about separated the two decent brews. Click on links below for full beer information and reviews.

PreGame:

Colombia can relax tonight, as they have already qualified for the last 16. They have done the hard work in the first two games. They are playing Japan, in a game that shouldn’t be too taxing for them. Might be an opportunity to play some of their unused players, give them some good game time.

Well done to them on qualifying. Colombia play a decent brand of football and are a joy to look at times. They are a team I look forward to seeing in the second round, even if their goalkeeper, Ospina, looked a bit dodgy, a flapper.

Japan have enjoyed a lot of possession in this world Cup, and have had chances in their games, but as of yet they have only one goal to show for all their hard work, scored by Keisuke Honda.

They faced a very poor Greek team and yet still barely got any shots on target. With the sending off Greece were under the cosh in the first half as the Japanese just piled on the pressure. Japan’s Osako had a good game, causing some problems for the Greek defence, but he was substituted in the second half, more than likely the heat had taken something out of him. But for all their effort they just could not score, with Okubo putting a good chance well wide near the end.

Tonight they have to play table toppers Colombia, and they also will struggle to get goals. Honda was a little below par against Greece and if he isn’t clicking then Japan are not going to do well. I cant see who else will get them the goals.

But even if they do score, the result of the other game might make their efforts all in vain. If Ivory Coast beat Greece, and they should, Japan go out irrespective of what they do in this match. The smart money is on Ivory Coast to progress tonight.

A more detailed review on Japan here and on Colombia here

Three games, nine goals. Colombia finished top of Group C in sizzling form as they trashed Japan 4-1 to move into the last 16 of the World Cup.

As the crowd were rocking Colombia put on another masterclass in attacking football. With James Rodríguez pulling the strings, goals were flying in nearly every time they ventured near the Japanese penalty box.

Japan had actually started off this game well enough, as they needed to win to have any chance pf progressing. Nagatomo was pretty effective going forward. But as they went forward they left huge gaps at the back, and they were eventually punished when Yasuyuki Konno’s lunged in on Adrian Ramos in the box giving away a needless penalty. Juan Cuadrado scored, and it looked like that would be that for Japan.

But fair dues to the Japanese team, they are warriors and they pulled off an amazing equaliser when Shinji Okazaki scored with a lovely diving header low into the corner. Goalkeeper had no chance. Japan deserved this goal, and went in at half time still in the game.

That was until the mercurial talent that is James Rodríguez came on for the second half. With Japan continually leaving huge holes at the back as they went for a winning goal, Colombia struck them on the counterattack. Rodríguez got hold of a long ball, weaved in and out at the edge of the box, fainted a shot that took at least four Japanese defenders out of action then squared a lovely pass for his teammate Martinez to coolly slot the ball past the goalie for Colombia to retake the lead. A brilliant goal set up wonderfully by Rodriguez.

Japan’s heart sank and Martinez got another goal, with Rodriguez himself getting on the score sheet late on with a cracking goal to make the final score a comprehensive 4-1 victory for Colombia.

A great end to end game, Colombia can now look forward to meeting Uruguay sans Suarez, while Japan go home deflated and not really ever having shown enough for their fans to get too excited about. Despite Honda, pre tournament, confidently predicting they would make the last eight no problem. Japan do play lovely passing football but they simply do not have a striker, nice football but with no end product. Colombia, on the other hand, have brilliant forwards but a very weak back line, that as of yet has to be punished for their numerous mistakes in games.

Two more final thoughts. The referee, Pedro Proença, was excellent. He let the game flow, and was not paying any attention to the antics of the Colombians who liked a roll or two on the ground. Experience gained in the CL showed here. Not often I praise refs, but you have to give credit where its due. Take a bow Pedro.

And with 5 minutes left, it was a great sight to see the legendary Colombian goalkeeper Mondragón make his final appearance at 43 to become the oldest player at a World Cup finals breaking Cameroon forward Roger Milla’s record. Emotional, and who said sentimentality was gone in this game of ours……take a bow Colombian manager José Pékerman, even if I am not your biggest fan but that was classy.

Music to get you in the mood

The Pillows V Locos Por Juana