kushiro

Here's a guide to pronouncing his name. Each of the four syllables O-Ka-Za-Ki has the same length, but the Ka should be stressed most strongly. So it's oKAzaki - the stress pattern being just like the word 'adrenaline'.

This headline means 'They're raving about his debut'.

This headline could be translated as 'Outstanding!' or maybe 'The Special One'.

This headline means "'You Played Great!", Ozakaki's team mates tell him.'

Starting what I hope will be a continuing thread about how Shinji is covered in his homeland. Here's a round up of newspaper interviews and comments after the Sunderland game, translated from Japanese: The announcement of “Number 20: Shinji Okazaki” before the match received an especially big cheer. Then Okazaki captured the hearts of Leicester fans by bravely flying into challenges, using his pace to press opponents and showing his skills to set up attacks. In a place where many Japanese players have struggled, the Samurai Striker took a big first step. But Okazaki, who’d scored in the opening game in three of the last four seasons, wanted to see more tangible results, “I only achieved half of what I wanted. Playing well is one thing, but the most important thing is to score goals. If I could have put one of those two chances away, I’d have given myself 70%” With so many rivals for the forward positions, he’s aware his place in the team is not secure. “If we are not winning, it’s my place that will be in danger. If I keep my place the goals will come. I want to give everything I’ve got and see if that’s enough, trying to improve as I go.” His first chance came in the 13th minute. He made his trademark near post run to meet Vardy’s cross with his left foot, but the defender’s block showed the standard of the Premier League. Then three minutes from time he received a pass and cut back on to his left foot, but his shot was blocked again. Reflecting on the second chance, he said, “If I’d shot through his legs it would have gone in.” Okazaki said his game was different to the style he was used to Germany. “It may be a strange way of putting it, but I’ve got to throw away my old style. I stayed up front (in Germany) but here Vardy is quicker than me so it’s better if he stays up top and tries to get in behind them, while I drop back and act as a decoy.” Former England international Paul Merson was raving about Okazaki’s display on TV. “His touch and vision were outstanding”, he said. Four UK newspapers gave him seven out of ten, while the Daily Mirror put him joint top in ‘distance covered’.