19 Feb 2004(Thu)

Yoshito Okubo must be wondering what's gone wrong.

Last Thursday, after making a brief substitute appearance for Zico's Japan against Iraq, he was left out of the Brazilian trainer's squad for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Oman.

Four days later, on Monday, he was surprisingly omitted from Masakuni Yamamoto's under-23 squad to contest the first phase of the final Olympic qualifying round in the UAE from March 1-5.

At the end of last year, Yoshito was the Talk of the Town.

Suddenly, no one wants to know.

At Monday's Olympic team press conference, Yamamoto said he was considering bringing Okubo into the squad for the second phase of games in Japan from March 14-18. He said Okubo needed a rest, and that he was satisfied with the form of his four strikers in the squad.

Still, I am puzzled by Okubo's treatment.

He was kept out of the two Olympic team friendlies against Iran and Russia because he was with Zico's squad, even though he was suspended for the game against Malaysia at Kashima.

Then, with Yanagisawa coming back from Italy straight into the team to face Iraq, Okubo was on the bench.

All the time I thought Okubo--and Moniwa and Ishikawa for that matter--would have been better off with the Olympic squad, working with Tanaka and the new boy Hirayama, and on his team play with the attacking midfielders, be it Yamase, Matsui or Maeda.

It's true that Okubo faces a busy year, but he might not do if Japan don't qualify for Athens.

This is why I am surprised he has been left out for the UAE trip.

In short, Okubo is a match-winner. Explosive and single-minded in his mission for goals.

Even with Hirayama in the squad, I still think the Tanaka-Okubo combination would be dynamite. Their pace, aggressive running and endless energy would give defenders a torrid time.

Now we will have to wait until the Japan series of games to see this.

Hopefully the pressure on Okubo to produce again will not be too great.

Or, indeed, that it will not be too late.

ends