17 Nov 2003(Mon)

Have you been following the women's volleyball World Cup on Fuji TV recently?

Yes, so have I, and it makes for gripping viewing I believe.

When the tournament started two weeks ago I was able to attend two matches at Yoyogi Gymansium, and was particularly impressed with Japan's victory over South Korea.

What always stands out for me is the behaviour of the Japanese players on the court.

There seems to be a great team spirit, but, more than that, all the players are constantly encouraging one another, shouting advice, listening to instructions.

At one point, the head coach came to the side of the court and his captain could not hear him due to the noise, even though they were standing next to each other.

OK, so I am supposed to be writing about football!

Well, the point of this is that Zico compared the two sports at a press conference Monday to announce his squad for the game against Cameroon at Oita on Wednesday.

One reporter raised the subject of lack of communication in the Japan football team, and Zico said basically that his players could learn from the volleyball. Zico himself had attended the Cuba-Brazil match at Sendai and had been impressed with the level of communication.

I totally agree with Zico on this point (maybe this is the first time I have agreed with him!)

Two days later, on Wednesday, I went to National Stadium for the Japan-Australia under-20 international. Japan lost 1-0 to a penalty kick early in the second half, but could have gone behind much earlier.

On several occasions in the first half, there was clearly no communication between goalkeeper Kawashima and his defenders when a long ball was played over the top.

Both the keeper and a defender went for the same ball, creating confusion, and a sharper team would have capitalized on this weakness.

Back in my playing days in England, only on a Sunday morning in a local pub league, there was more communication than in the Japan under-20 team.

In a situation like that, my goalkeeper would have been heard on the other side of the park, maybe the other side of the town, as he raced off his line, shouted "Keeeeepeeeer" to make sure everyone got out of the way, and then he would either pick it up or clear it.

It was basic football, with communication at the heart of it. I feel the Japanese players must be more outgoing, more passionate and more emotional on the field, and tell each other what's going on.

Just like in the women's volleyball.

ends