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 Andrew MCKIRDY

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Andrew MCKIRDY
Andrew McKirdy is a sports writer for The Japan Times. His main beat is soccer, but he has also covered rugby, tennis, volleyball, golf and even tug-of-war. A native of the Scottish Borders, he has written for The Scotsman newspaper and organized filming for a program on Japanese soccer for ITV television.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Dec 17, 2016
Antlers aim for historic triumph over powerful Real Madrid in Club World Cup final
Kashima Antlers midfielder Gaku Shibasaki is ready to make dreams a reality by toppling mighty Real Madrid and lifting the Club World Cup when the two teams meet in Sunday's final.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Dec 17, 2016
FIFA boss backs bigger World Cup
FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Saturday claimed there are "no down sides" to expanding the World Cup to 48 teams and "no taboos" in discussing changes to soccer's flagship competition.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Dec 16, 2016
Zidane questions video reviews after Madrid's Club World Cup semifinal win
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane voiced concern that FIFA's new video review system "could cause confusion" after guiding his team to the Club World Cup final on Thursday.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Dec 15, 2016
Real Madrid blanks Club America, books spot in Club World Cup final
Real Madrid scored injury-time goals in each half to set up a Club World Cup final showdown with J. League champions Kashima Antlers after a 2-0 win over Mexico's Club America on Thursday.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Dec 14, 2016
Real Madrid focused on winning Club World Cup crown
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane believes four-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo is capable of adding more awards to his bulging trophy cabinet and will prove it this week in Japan at the Club World Cup.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Dec 8, 2016
Antlers' Kanazaki provides winning header against Auckland City in Club World Cup opener
Mu Kanazaki came off the bench to score an 88th-minute winner as J. League champions Kashima Antlers beat part-timers Auckland City 2-1 on Thursday to advance to the second round of the Club World Cup.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Dec 7, 2016
Kashima's J. League title win a fitting end to flawed format
There was always a danger that the J. League's ill-fated introduction of a playoff championship format in 2015 would produce a deeply unsatisfying result somewhere down the line. Kashima Antlers' coronation as champions on Saturday night duly delivered it.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 4, 2016
Paris organizers confident they can avoid Tokyo's Olympic mess
The head of Paris' bid for the 2024 Olympics has branded Tokyo's original 2020 Games proposal "a fairy tale" and believes the French capital can avoid the kind of after-the-fact revisions bogging down Japan's organizers.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Dec 4, 2016
Kashima lives up to championship pedigree by stunning Urawa for J. League crown
Kashima Antlers midfielder Gaku Shibasaki hailed his club's winning DNA after capturing a record eighth J. League title against Urawa Reds on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Dec 3, 2016
Kanazaki's two-goal performance carries Antlers to title over shocked Reds
Kashima Antlers claimed their record eighth J. League title after coming from behind to stun Urawa Reds 2-1 in the championship final second leg on Saturday and win on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 1, 2016
Tokyo Olympic chiefs weigh private-sector venue funding
Tokyo 2020 Olympic organizers are entertaining the idea that venues built for the games could be financed and run by private-sector companies.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 30, 2016
Urawa shakes off rust to claim advantage in J. League Championship final
Urawa Reds manager Mihailo Petrovic hailed his ring-rusty players for shaking off the cobwebs of almost a month on the sidelines to claim a 1-0 win over Kashima Antlers in the first leg of the J. League Championship final on Tuesday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Nov 29, 2016
Reds prevail over Antlers in first leg of championship final
Urawa Reds moved a step closer to winning their first J. League title in a decade after beating Kashima Antlers 1-0 in the first leg of the championship final on Tuesday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
Nov 23, 2016
Antlers reach J. League final
Mu Kanazaki struck in the 50th minute to send Kashima Antlers into the J. League Championship final against Urawa Reds with a 1-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale on Wednesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 18, 2016
World baseball chief plays down Fukushima Olympic fears
The president of world baseball's governing body on Friday played down fears that the sport's top stars will refuse to play in Fukushima if the nuclear disaster-hit prefecture hosts games at the 2020 Olympics.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Nov 16, 2016
Halilhodzic sends warning to frozen-out stars after Japan's win over Saudis
National team manager Vahid Halilhodzic has warned his Europe-based stars to play regularly for their clubs or face a spell in the international wilderness after dropping Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki for Tuesday night's 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Saudi Arabia.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Nov 15, 2016
Japan triumphs over Saudi Arabia as Halilhodzic shakes up lineup
Japan put itself right back in the mix for 2018 World Cup qualification with a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Nov 12, 2016
Honda sweats on place in World Cup qualifier against Saudis
National team manager Vahid Halilhodzic has warned star player Keisuke Honda that he is not guaranteed of a starting place when Japan takes on Saudi Arabia in a crucial World Cup qualifier next Tuesday.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Nov 11, 2016
Japan's Osako delivers two-goal performance in rout of Oman
Yuya Osako scored a double on his return to the national team as Japan warmed up for next week's World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia with a 4-0 friendly win over Oman on Friday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Nov 9, 2016
Japan looking to build on recovery in crucial Saudi clash
Vahid Halilhodzic appears to have weathered the storm that threatened to cut short his tenure as national team manager last month. But the Bosnian will be anxious not to slip back into the danger zone when Japan takes on Saudi Arabia in a World Cup qualifier in Saitama next Tuesday.

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