Confederations Cup: Italy 4-3 Japan – Game Of The Tournament So Far Provides Dramatic Comebacks And Iffy Penalties A-Plenty! (Photos & Highlights)

Chris Wright

20th, June 2013

5 Comments

By Chris Wright

Brazil Soccer Confed Cup Italy Japan

Due to a slight editorial mix-up on my part we haven’t featured an awful lot of the 2013 Confederations Cup on Pies over the last week or so, but rest assured that’s about to change – with round-by-round reviews from the skilled quill of our good friend Greg Evans about to come at you thick and fast. Until then you’ll have to make do with my inane rambling.

Anyway, last night came the game of the tournament so far as Japan and Italy went at it in true ding-dong style, with the Azzurri somehow coming out as 4-3 victors despite being on the back foot for roughly 82.333…% of the match.

It all kicked off when Gigi Buffon conceded a penalty (wrongly, we should coco) despite clearly getting some of the ball in the act of cleaning out Shinji Okazaki in an attempt to mop up Mattia De Sciglio’s limp backpass. As far was we’re concerned: no foul, no penalty. Gigi was suitably bewildered by the decision, hopping around the referee with his eyes bulging out of his head.

Keisuke Honda stuck away the spot-kick with Shinji Kagawa adding a beautiful second as Japan dominated the first-half, before Daniele “one sleeve” De Rossi thundered a header in to make the score 2-1 just before half-time.

The Azzurri came out of the traps and pulled back another couple of goals in the first eight minutes of the second half, with Atsuto Uchida own goal and another wrongly-awarded Mario Balotelli penalty putting Prandelli’s men 3-2 up with an hour or so gone.

Japan got their arses in gear again and levelled through Okazaki’s header, hitting the woodwork twice in two seconds before Italy’s two late substitutes Sebastian Giovinco and Claudio Marchisio combined for the 86th-minute winner – the Atomic Ant steering home a tap-in from five yards out.

Wow.

Photos…

Brazil Soccer Confed Cup Italy Japan

Brazil Soccer Confed Cup Italy Japan

Brazil Soccer Confed Cup Italy Japan

Brazil Soccer Confed Cup Italy Japan

Brazil Soccer Confed Cup Italy Japan

CORRECTION Brazil Soccer Confed Cup Italy Japan

Brazil Soccer Confed Cup Italy Japan

Brazil Soccer Confed Cup Italy Japan

Brazil Soccer Confed Cup Italy Japan

Brazil Soccer Confed Cup Italy Japan

Brazil Soccer Confed Cup Italy Japan

Selected GIFs, starting with Buffon’s debatable penalty concession…

buffon-penalty

Kagawa’s lovely on-the-spin goal…

kagawa-italy

Japan agonisingly hit the post and crossbar within seconds of each other…

japan-woodwork

Full highlights…


J_I footyroom.com by footyroom

(Photos: PA)

Posted in GIFs, International football, Newsnow, Videos

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5 Comments

  1. Greg says:

    This game probably deserved its own article anyway.

  2. JT says:

    Probably one of the most entertaining games I’ve seen in a while! Japans passing was brilliant at times

  3. porcelain sandwich says:

    Definitely the best game I’ve seen in 2013. Absolutely awesome stuff from Japan; I was on my knees praying to Zeus, Jesus, Odin, Shiva and whoever else would listen that Japan would win. Felt so gutted for them but I can see them doing very well in the World Cup.

  4. xluciusx says:

    My heart skipped TWO beats during the post/crossbar moment!

  5. Tony D says:

    Again the Italians were very lucky. Japan were the better team and unless the rules have been changed just prior to this tournament Barzagli should have been red carded against Mexico and Buffon against Japan for denying clear goalscoring opportunities.

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