7 Jun 2004(Mon)

Zico has been in charge of the national team for almost two years, and recent results in Europe are very encouraging.

I wonder why?

Personally, I think it's because he has been forced to abandon his "golden quartet" midfield and has opted to change his defensive strategy.

With a 3-5-2 formation, a system used by Takeshi Okada at France 98 and by Philippe Troussier from 1998 to 2002, the team has more balance, more organization and more confidence.

Under Zico's 4-4-2, he had defenders who could not defend, and a jumble in midfield which confused Japan's own players rather than the opposition.

Here's a few benefits of 3-5-2.

1) By playing three central defenders instead of two, Zico can actually pick Japan's best defender: Nakazawa. With 4-4-2, Zico preferred Tsuboi and Miyamoto.

2) Alex is no longer at left full-back, where his defensive deficiencies were highlighted and his natural attacking instincts were inhibited.

3) With a five-man midfield, the team has much better shape, with Kaji on the right, Alex on the left, Ono and Inamoto in the middle, and Nakamura as the playmaker. The injury to Inamoto is very cruel for the player, and came at a delicate stage of his career.

4) The two forwards, Kubo and Tamada, are match-fit, because they play every week in the J.League rather than sit on the bench in Europe. Zico has learned from this, too. Against England, eight starting members were from the J.League.

5) Only one player, Nakamura, has some freedom, within the structure of the team.

In other words, I think Zico's team is now almost the same as Troussier's, with three at the back, five across midfield and two up front.

Of course the defense is not a "flat three" relying heavily on offside and synchronisation. It is more like Okada's back three, with a libero (Miyamoto/Ihara) and two stoppers (Nakazawa/Akita and Tsuboi/Nakanishi). Personally, I prefer this style of back three, rather than the risky "flat three."

Overall, I am much more optimistic about the national team after the two European tours.

Provided, of course, that Zico has learned his lessons?

I still don't know, because it would not surprise me at all if he returned to 4-4-2 when Hidetoshi Nakata is available again.

I think that would be a massive mistake.

ends