23 Jan 2006(Mon)

January 21, 2006: As the J.League players prepare to assemble for the first national team training camp of the year, at Miyazaki from January 29, the game to pick Japan's 23 for Germany is underway.

I call it a game, because it is for the likes of you and me. It's fun exchanging ideas and views, and debating which player should be in and which should be out.

But for the players, of course, it's deadly serious. Selection for the World Cup is a life-changing experience, and a player who has been included in a World Cup squad can enjoy that extra bit of recognition for the rest of his career and his life.

The first name on my list would be Hidetoshi Nakata, who made the news last weekend for being sent off against Blackburn Rovers. But, according to reports from England, this has actually increased Nakata's popularity among the Bolton fans.

It showed his commitment to the cause, and that he was prepared to "get stuck in" against his midfield rivals. So a red card is not necessarily a bad thing, provided it does not happen too often (like Alpay, for example).

The more I watch Nakata these days, the more I have come round to thinking that Zico needs him in the centre of midfield, in the "volante" position.

Nakata is naturally an attacking player, but as he has matured and developed I now see him as the fulcrum of the team.

Whether Zico picks a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 system, I would have Nakata in the centre of midfield, directing the traffic and organising the team.

His experience will be vital against the likes of Australia and Croatia, and he can influence the game more from that deeper position.

If he plays further forward, I fear he may be cut off from the rest of the team, which would then lack direction in the most important area of the field.

With the likes of Shunsuke, Ogasawara and Daisuke Matsui, Zico has plenty of other attacking options, but he does not have the same luxury in defensive midfield.

No one knows whether Shinji will be fit, or how match-fit Koji Nakata will be. The good news is that Inamoto is now getting more playing time for West Brom, so he should be sharp and ready for Germany.

There will be more time to discuss everyone's World Cup 23 in the near future, but for now I have pencilled in Hidetoshi Nakata in central midfield.

Mmmm, now for the other 22...

ends