7 Feb 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (February 5): Zico, it seems, has finally learned his lesson.

And this can mean only good news for the national team ahead of Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against North Korea at Saitama.

His 24-strong squad, which was announced on Thursday, includes only two players based overseas.

These are Shunsuke Nakamura and Naohiro Takahara, although, according to the list, Koji Nakata is playing for Marseille, but has not yet started his career there.

After two satisfactory friendly games against Kazakhstan and Syria, Zico has decided to stay loyal with his J.League players. They will relish the responsibility.

So this means no place in the squad for players whose condition is not 100 per cent, physically and mentally, and who would have faced a long journey home.

The most notable absentee is Junichi Inamoto, who was expected to be recalled from Cardiff City, as Hidetoshi Nakata, Shinji Ono, Atsushi Yanagisawa and Yoshito Okubo were always an outside bet to win a place.

This is a major change in policy by Zico, and a big step forward regarding team harmony and chemistry.

This time last year, Japan were looking ahead to playing Oman at home in their first World Cup qualifying match after beating Malaysia and Iraq in a couple of tune-up games.

But the Oman game was poor. Nakamura was not fit and missed a penalty and an easy chance in the second half, and the team was a shambles.

Only Kubo's injury-time goal, after the ball had pinged about on the edge of the Oman penalty area like a game of pachinko, saved Japan.

But now, what Zico is admitting, is that the J.League players are perfectly capable of representing Japan, provided they are fit and focused.

This squad is both of those, and there will be minimum disruption to the team pattern with only Nakamura and Takahara coming back.

Of the two, I would say Nakamura is the most likely to start. He is a Zico favourite, and his left foot can unlock any defence, especially from a free kick.

This is a vital quality to have in the modern game, as so many matches at the highest level can be decided by a set-piece movement.

Takahara?

I'm not sure whether he should start. I believe Tamada deserves to keep his place alongside Suzuki, and Takahara would be a useful substitute if needed to run at a tiring North Korean defence.

Playing in a balanced 3-5-2 formation and with the team settled a week before the big match, Zico can now concentrate on next Wednesday without worrying too much about when his European players will return, how fit they will be and how much worthwhile training they can do together.

This approach, especially for the home games, is sure to produce rewards.

ends