21 Aug 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, August 19, 2006: The Japan-based players, quite rightly, are the focus of attention at the moment as new head coach Ivica Osim begins the massive job of rebuilding the national team from the ruins of Germany.

But the players in Europe will not be forgotten by Osim, as some of them will have a part to play as the team development continues.

Who and when is another matter, and those questions will be answered in the near future.

The only name I keep hearing, though, is that of Daisuke Matsui.

I saw some highlights of a Le Mans game on TV last Sunday night and Matsui looked in great form. He was fast, confident and dangerous, dribbling past two or three players on a couple of occasions and very much looking the part of the creative midfield player. In fact he reminded me of one of my favourite England and Newcastle United players, Peter Beardsley, who once formed a dynamic strikeforce for the Magpies alongside Kevin Keegan and Chris Waddle, and also supplied many of Gary Lineker's goals for England.

Beardsley was a quick and clever player, with lovely balance and control, and tough for a little guy...similar to Keegan, in fact, but with more natural talent than KK.

Matsui, of course, was overlooked by Zico for the World Cup, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. I thought his omission was something of a surprise at the time, but the inclusion of Maki provided the main news.

Osim, I am sure, has not abandoned all the players based in Europe -- only most of them -- and Matsui must be top of his list. His game has matured since his J.League days, and he plays with more discipline and responsibility. In short, he plays for the team and not for himself, and has learned some valuable lessons in France.

Japan's next tests are away to Saudi Arabia and Yemen in early September, and they will provide stern examinations of the new-look Japan. Personally, I would like to see Osim continue with the J.League players, and let the team build its own identity and character. After those two away games he will know what is lacking -- in fact he probably knows already -- and can then address the situation with the Euro players.

It's only a matter of time before Matsui is recalled.

ends