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The summer time break within the Japanese soccer season is a time when some fly-by-nighter European groups like to come back into Japan to play some video games and attempt to steal some cash off punters within the nation. Not my phrases however these of J-Speak Podcast host Ben Maxwell. I do truly agree with him on the entire, and do make gentle of such cash spinning pleasant matches…..however after slagging them off I then inevitably find yourself going to 1 or two!
Three English groups are in Japan this summer time for a complete of 5 matches towards native opposition. Newcastle United and Brighton every face a few sides while Tottenham Hotspur got here to city final Saturday evening for a single match towards Vissel Kobe earlier than occurring to Korea. I’ve no actual delicate spots for any of the groups concerned however this appeared like essentially the most fascinating one of many 5. The truth that the bottom priced most cost-effective tickets for all of the matches had been this one additionally helped too as did the placement and kick off time which slot in nicely my working schedule beforehand.
There have been one or two individuals in Spurs shirts on the practice journey as much as Shinjuku after which increasingly more appeared as I took the Sobu Line one cease to Sendagaya (the closest station to the stadium) which was stuffed with locals in shirts. Who knew there have been that many Spurs followers in Japan?! Japanese individuals don’t put on soccer shirts as leisure put on so it’s actually arduous to get an thought of how many individuals like which groups!
Or possibly they’re simply new followers who get on board with the entire European-team-visiting-Japan factor and wish to get the shirt in addition to all the opposite merchandise accessible at these matches.
Earlier than the match I met up with my former colleague Tim who I hadn’t seen for about 16 years since working collectively on Saturdays.
This was my third time at Japan Nationwide Stadium within the final couple of months however the first one for watching soccer.
My seat has been within the North Stand every time because it’s the closest finish to Sendagaya station so higher for a barely fast getaway submit match. Unbeknownst to me this time, my seat was on the finish of a row however I entered from the opposite aspect and needed to bypass everybody else in seats the place the foot house is admittedly restricted. What a plonker!
Tottenham’s supervisor Ange Postecoglou is not any stranger to those shores having managed Yokohama F. Marinos earlier than taking over the submit at Celtic which then led to his appointment at Spurs two seasons later. In truth his transfer to Spurs final summer time got here simply earlier than Celtic had been set to play Yokohama F. Marinos so followers of the latter had been disadvantaged of the possibility to see their former coach within the opposition dugout.
Spurs’ opponents for this pleasant had been the 2023 J-League champions Vissel Kobe who’ve made worldwide headlines in recent times resulting from some huge signings like Andres Iniesta, Lukas Podolski and David Villa however they’re one of many J1 golf equipment I’ve seen the least! My mother and father and spouse have truly seen them as many instances as me as they had been with me on the one event we noticed them at their house stadium in Kobe again in Might 2016!
Vissel had been gifted an early purpose within the eighth minute however Spurs hit again shortly simply seven minutes later with a stunning transfer and end by Pedro Porro.
One man I used to be excited by seeing in motion was former Leicester midfielder James Maddison who I by no means received to see play for us throughout his few years on the membership. That’s the lifestyle although for us foxiles, and there are sadly many huge names from the final decade I’ve by no means seen play.
Maddison takes a nook kick!
Maddison made some elegant and great passes as Postecoglou’s aspect performed some pretty soccer at instances. He was changed at half time together with about ten different gamers and, as is the way in which, they had been all introduced in Japanese and English over the PA system while the second half was underway and it took an eternity to get by means of all of them!
Korean famous person Son Heung-min delighted the gang with a cool end only a few minutes into the second half to make it 2-1 and he obtained a rapturous spherical of applause from the gang when he was subbed on the hour mark. I imagine that he’s the best Asian participant of all time however do surprise if that’s simply because I’ve seen his impression within the Premier League whereas I haven’t seen different contenders for the title as a lot resulting from not watching different European leagues a lot. Anyway, I’ve to say I used to be fairly stunned by the love given to him by a nation which doesn’t have such good relations with it’s Asian neighbours.
Kobe equalised on 63 minutes due to the fast ft of Jean Patric and some extra probabilities adopted in a reasonably entertaining recreation. Because the match went into the ultimate jiffy of regular time I believed I’d go away. Moments later Spurs made it 3-2 and that was my second to make an exit.
Little did I do know however had the match been tied there would have been a penalty shoot-out to resolve the winner. Many of those modern-day friendlies are performed for a trophy so had that occurred that I woud have missed it and possibly been fairly irritated!
Loads is usually made about Spurs not having gained a trophy since their League Cup victory in 2008 however I feel they did get offered with a J-League World Problem silver plate on the finish of this match. Spurs lifting a trophy is definitely a uncommon factor however I’ll simply need to dwell with having not witnessed that precise second!
Bonus: It wasn’t simply the Tottenham first group squad that was in Tokyo but additionally their Below 15’s group who performed in an academy match the evening earlier than. After I turned up (late!) for this match I believed there can be lower than 100 current so think about my shock after I noticed practically 2000 individuals taking over three sides of this stadium.
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