16 Aug 2004(Mon)

Phew! It's hot out here!

It is now Friday afternoon, and the excitement is growing ahead of the opening ceremony.

For Japan, however, the Olympics have already started, and there were vastly contrasting moods at Volos on Wednesday and at Thessaloniki last night (was it only yesterday?)

First, Volos.

Did you watch the "Girls in Blue" (well, white and gray actually, as they wore the 'away' strip) beat Sweden 1-0?

It was a fantastic night, very proud if you're Japanese (or even English living in Japan).

They played with a lot of discipline, heart and skill to beat a very talented Swedish team, who, to me, all looked like members of the pop group Abba, although I am sure Abba at their peak was before most football fans in Japan were born!

Sweden's No. 10, the forward Hanna Ljungberg, is a very interesting player. Perugia once tried to sign her to play in Serie A, and, with her blue shirt and fantasista number, I was often reminded of Francesco Totti.

The biggest difference between the two players was that Hanna did not go round spitting on opponents, but Totti has much nicer hair.

Japan played so well that Hanna was substituted in the second half.

For Japan, I really admire Kobayashi on the left side of midfield. Her pass to release the inspirational Sawa in the first half was a real gem, struck with the outside of her right foot to slice open the Swedish defense.

Sawa could not finish, though, and I was worried at halftime that Japan might pay for their missed chances.

My fears proved groundless, and head coach Ueda, as well as the few hundred Japanese fans, lifted the players' concentration as they began to tire.

It was a great result for Japan, and JFA president Saburo Kawabuchi hugged the players after the game (what a lucky guy! I guess this is one of the perks of being president).

Kawabuchi-san also received a warm handshake from his beaming wife, which was a nice moment.

The next day I took the bus up to Thessaloniki, but what an anticlimax.

Nasu suffered from stage fright, and two schoolboy errors gave a tough and fast Paraguay two goals in the first half, enabling them to turn around 3-1 up.

Takamatsu justified his place in the starting lineup by winning two penalties, both of them converted by Ono, but honestly I thought the referee was very generous to award both spot-kicks.

At halftime, several of us, bewildered by the display, discussed the changes Yamamoto-kantoku might make. I thought it would be a good move to bring on the Otani-Arakawa combo up front, and maybe even Kobayashi on the left wing.

The coach changed only Nasu, sending on Matsui and moving a few players around to get a better balance.

The men's chances?

For me, Ishikawa must play on the right wing. He's so good he could almost get in the women's team. I'd have Tokunaga at right defense, alongside Tulio and Moniwa, and I'd also find room to play both Okubo and Tanaka, who are so dangerous.

It was a miserable night in Thessaloniki, after so many vibrant ones in Japan with the under-23s.

The Olympics will always be full of surprises, good and bad.

ends