Other mistake: The international dubs (Spanish, Italian, from what I understand even Arabian) have the narrator say that Fujisawa (which is where the international dubs set the story instead of the fictional town of Nankatsu) is renowned for its football teams, plural. That's not true, since the only strong team is Genzo's Shutetsu, and the competing team in the local derby loses 10-0 to them, and the prestige the city has comes from their victory in the previous championship tournament.
Factual error: During the series it's routine for powerful shoots to rip through the net. Needless to say, that can't happen with human strength. In later seasons there are shots that even leave craters in cement walls. Remember, nobody in this series has superpowers. It's supposed to be dramatic and over exaggerated in how the whole pitch feats play out, but those holes in the wall are real.
Character mistake: For being such a football fan, Tsubasa surely keeps poor care of his gear, since he goes everywhere wearing football boots, and the studs are certainly not suited for 24/7 usage on asphalt. Even worse for Genzo, who for no reason walks around the city in his full goalkeeper uniform and boots. He's a professional with a private coach who is very strict. Besides...who would keep goalkeeper gloves off the pitch all the time?
Other mistake: Star keeper Genzo Wakabayashi has a trademark hat with his name and a cool logo. According to his manga character design he was supposed to wear the Adidas logo, but copyright issues arose and the Nankatsu logo is a great substitute visually - sadly it makes no sense, because he is sporting it already at the beginning of the anime and the team with that logo will be properly formed only later in the series.
Continuity mistake: During Roberto's team talk, the keeper is wearing an ordinary jersey at first, then the proper red one. (00:01:50)
Other mistake: After his ankle injury from the previous episode, Ryo writhes in pain touching...his knee. (00:03:00)
Factual error: In this episode we have a random person showing up and being admitted to the team and playing as substitute on the spot, with nobody protesting. He puts on the (sweat-soaked, presumably!) uniform of another player and just goes ahead without any check from the referee or assistants. Given that the match is between two schools without necessarily having the official football federation involved, it is understandable, but they do not even ask the opposing coach if they are OK with something so obviously outside of any established rule. And they are still playing in a packed stadium, with official referees and even a radio commentator! Only in anime.
Other mistake: The linesman's flag as he hands the ball to Taki is unreasonably tiny. (00:18:45)
Audio problem: When Urabe gets in the field to ask to be a substitute, western dubs (verified in the Italian and spanish dubs) have Ryo (or "Bruce") ask him who he is. Ryo knows perfectly well who Urabe is, and they played a friendly match just a couple episodes before too. (00:06:45)
Other mistake: Masaru falls into the river and Tsubasa follows him getting knee-deep and with socks and shoes on, but the moment they step out of the water both are perfectly dry and have no problem or discomfort at all. (00:07:20)
Other mistake: In the Italian dub, Ryo ("Bruce Harper" as he is known in international versions)'s mom yells at him for running away with the football...but Ryo is not carrying any ball. (00:05:05)
Character mistake: Tsubasa runs with the ball from kick-off, which is not allowed. The player who touches the ball first can't touch it again until another player passes it to him. (00:03:45)
Character mistake: Tsubasa takes part in the 200m dash because, as Ryo says "the runner of our team got injured." The runner? There are many athletes taking part in the contest, but both come from just 2 teams. Also needless to say, the race would have also been invalidated, and yet Tsubasa who showed up with no permission and kicking a ball is proclaimed the winner. (00:07:25)
The Football Is My Best Friend - S1-E4
Character mistake: Everyone is making a sincere effort to avoid touching the ball with their hands for the whole episode, even to the point of getting in late at school, but when the kids are waiting in line behind Ryo peeping into the classroom, a few of them have their hands on the ball. (00:06:45)
The Football Is My Best Friend - S1-E4
Other mistake: In the opening shot of the dinner scene, Tsubasa's soccer ball is on the chair next to him and as logic dictates it is below table level. Later though it is much higher. Conversely, Roberto's head in other shots is so low that looks like he's sitting on the floor. (00:04:45)
The Football Is My Best Friend - S1-E4
Continuity mistake: Roberto instructs the players to take their football everywhere. Ryo is the first to do so, but the soccer balls are in different positions from the beginning of the scene when he started the speech, even if Roberto hasn't moved. (00:02:20 - 00:03:20)
Other mistake: Needless to say, having a football on your belly can't cushion the impact with a truck. Even forgiving this obviously cartoonish impossibility, still the way Tsubasa lands looks all kinds of wrong, with the forward momentum instantly halted as the ball touches the ground again. (00:14:25)
Continuity mistake: In the flashback, Tsubasa's father all of a sudden between cuts has his hand on top of the head before realizing that the kid is missing. (00:10:15)
Continuity mistake: Tsubasa dribbles 9 to 11 players in his first sprint, never stops advancing when tackled (he jumps over the offenders), dribbles 5 more, but in front of the penalty area there are at least 8 new guys ready for him. (00:07:05)
Continuity mistake: Tsubasa is athletic and quick and goes straight towards the goal starting from the kick-off spot at midfield, but a couple of opponents he dribbled try to tackle him again, and are incoherently shown as tackling from the front even if they came from behind. (00:07:00)
