Oly Whites vs Japan | Saturday 31st July | 9.00pm | Kashima, Japan

Great half!

Winnie walked through it and is clearly injured, but was still great. How long can he last?

The longer Elliott and Lewis can stay on the park without costing us, the better because we will need fresh legs later. Hopefully Japan don't start targeting them.

Don't underestimate just how much Japan are crapping themselves right now. Favorites, hosts and all. There's no pressure on us.

YoungHeart

Also, I read something about if we win this we're guaranteed a medal? How does that work out? Surely got to win 3rd/4th place match or am I missing something here?

 the boxing works like that too

A couple of lapses early that really should have been put away by Japan thankfully not, since then though, honestly, we've looked fairly comfortable with all things considered. Elliot nervy, lack of match fitness shows but still better than Ingham. Libby has been a little bit suspect the whole tourney apart from his goal to be honest. We missed Reid. Wood should have put his 'offside' chance away, can't miss too many of those.

I reckon we look good.  

Just need another screamer from Cacace and a good finish from Wood and we could knick this

i think libby's been fine tbh. we don't really have any established patterns around him. when he gets the ball there aren't many options

YoungHeart

Also, I read something about if we win this we're guaranteed a medal? How does that work out? Surely got to win 3rd/4th place match or am I missing something here?

 Guaranteed a shot at a medal.

YoungHeart

Also, I read something about if we win this we're guaranteed a medal? How does that work out? Surely got to win 3rd/4th place match or am I missing something here?

 Guaranteed shot at a medal

Garbett's faded but i'm not surprised.  he was really playing as a CAM but was also popping up deep and wide on botth sides of the pitch. plus it's 80% humidity! i'm really impressed with this lad.

Ivory Coast into the semi final beating Spain 2-1

Poco

Ivory Coast into the semi final beating Spain 2-1

Spain equalised 93rd minute so extra time.

oops Spain scored 2-2 some 1 is going to the final but i dont know who

First time I've seen the boys play as I've been working / BBC (UK generally) doesn't give a stuff about men's football.

Anyway am happy to see Reid out there and stoked to see Wood and Waine playing together.  I think we might see that a lot in the next couple of years.

I think the team looks fine, certainly better then the garbage I saw when the AWs last played just before Covid kicked in.

I think the likes of Kosta and Rojas will struggle to dislodge some of these young guys from the AWs.  The best of these lads plus Marinovic, Sail, Smith, Tuiloma, Boxall, Thomas and Singh will be a decent AW side. 

Japan mist have gotten a grilling in the shed as they came out hard.

Fudge, Winnie gone.  Hope its nothing major.

.

is this a diamond midfield?

Brave from Hay to change it up, but I like the move.  Reid is a massive loss, like that we aren't just going to try and shut it down.

Marto

First time I've seen the boys play as I've been working / BBC (UK generally) doesn't give a stuff about men's football.

Anyway am happy to see Reid out there and stoked to see Wood and Waine playing together.  I think we might see that a lot in the next couple of years.

I think the team looks fine, certainly better then the garbage I saw when the AWs last played just before Covid kicked in.

I think the likes of Kosta and Rojas will struggle to dislodge some of these young guys from the AWs.  The best of these lads plus Marinovic, Sail, Smith, Tuiloma, Boxall, Thomas and Singh will be a decent AW side. 

i think you might've just jinxed Reid. 

Reid for McCowwatt. 
Nerves here. 

Arsenal

YoungHeart

Also, I read something about if we win this we're guaranteed a medal? How does that work out? Surely got to win 3rd/4th place match or am I missing something here?

 the boxing works like that too

Boxing is quite different.

In football you do have to win bronze medal playoff.

Japs love the dive

Poco

Japs love the dive

 Been great to watch the ladies without the Olympic diving pool stuff.

Good rugby tackle there

Monto

Good rugby tackle there

Gold meddle wrestling from Stensness. 

Poco

Japs love the dive

haha to be fair it looked a bit like Stensness thought he was in the Judo rather than the football there

Monto

Good rugby tackle there

Unfortunately the sevens portion of the Olympics has come to an end. 🤣 

Poor giveaway in the lead up though.

I missed the first half but so far I think we look good. We are not 2nd best in this game. Some nice passing patterns too.

Love the way we're playing right now, but wasting those set piece chances in the Japanese half.

How was that not a yellow?!

Who is the Sky commentator, think he's really good.

Japanese rugby tackling too.

Marto

Who is the Sky commentator, think he's really good.

Apart from getting Lewis and Elliott confused just now :D

Marto

Who is the Sky commentator, think he's really good.

 Vitor Sobral I think

mccowatt's looking great in a deeper central role

Silly from Garbett

Yellows not wiped?  Or is it after this game?

Why are we getting repeatedly booked but not the Japanese when they have been as bad at times?

Colvinator

Arsenal

YoungHeart

Also, I read something about if we win this we're guaranteed a medal? How does that work out? Surely got to win 3rd/4th place match or am I missing something here?

 the boxing works like that too

Boxing is quite different.

In football you do have to win bronze medal playoff.

Thanks for clearing it up. I wasn't 100% sure based on the article I read, which wasn't overly clear from the outset either.

Imagine how could this team would have been with Singh in the midfield. 

What am I watching? Is this the same team as last week? We look good.