20 Oct 2003(Mon)

There is no doubt that Yokohama F Marinos are strong enough to win both stages of the J.League this season, just like Jubilo Iwata did last year.

If Takeshi Okada's team can complete a two-stage sweep, the East Asian Football Federation and Zico would all be happy, because this would mean all J.League players would be available for the East Asian nations championship from December 4-10.

If a different team wins the second stage, then the players of Marinos and the second-stage champions would not be available for the East Asian championship, as the two-leg playoff will be held on December 6 and 13.

The J.League, naturally, wants a two-leg playoff, as it will bring lots of cash and exposure to the league.

Chairman Suzuki said last year that the league lost 700 million yen in projected revenue last season because Jubilo did the double. That's a lot of money, even for you rich Japanese!

The league cannot appear to favour any club, of course, but the perfect scenario for them would be this: Urawa Reds to win the second stage, and face Marinos in the playoff.

A full house of 70,000 at International Stadium Yokohama...another full house of 63,000 at Saitama Stadium 2002...the colour and the spectacle would look magnificent on television, and give local football a very high profile at the end of a year dominated largely by baseball: the rise of the Hanshin Tigers and Matsui at the Yankees.

Looking ahead to the East Asian championship, Zico will probably not have any of his leading players from Europe, as the dates are not on FIFA's international calendar, so the clubs would not have to release them.

Without these players, plus the players of Marinos and Reds if they win the second stage, then Zico will have to spread his net wider and call up some new faces.

I think this will be a good test for Zico, too, as he would have to give them a more solid game plan.

Instead of picking the best individual players and leaving captain Nakata to give the orders on the pitch, Zico would have to employ firm tactics and strategy with the players available for tough matches against China and Korea, and an easy one against a weak Hong Kong.

Reds winning the second stage, Zico having a look at some fresh faces...sounds perfect to me.

ends