Finish it like Juninho
August 15, 2007: When Jean Carlo Witte was at his peak with FC Tokyo, I used to think he was the ideal defender for Japanese youngsters to study.
Jean offered a 90-minute lesson in how to defend. Combative and aggressive in the air and on the ground, he knew when to clear the ball, when to pass the ball and when to break forward to help his attack.
Turning to the forwards, another Brazilian provided a coaching master class on Saturday, this time in the art of scoring goals.
Juninho's hat trick in Frontale's 3-1 defeat of JEF United at Fukuare was outstanding in its simplicity and execution. No long, mazy runs through the JEF defence, no thunderbolts into the top corner from 30 metres; just three precisely-taken and very different goals.
The first, from close range after Tateishi could only parry the ball, was about anticipation and positioning. He was in the right place at the right time, and was ready for such a moment. The goal looked easy -- but only if you were in position to score it in the first place.
The second was about confidence and improvisation. It was a toe poke, with the minimum of back lift, and reminded me of Romario or Ronaldo. It happened in the blink of an eye. One moment he was in the box with a couple of defenders on him, the next the ball was in the corner of the net. Ronaldo against Turkey in the 2002 World Cup semi-final at Saitama?
The third was my favourite, as he took a pass in his stride in the inside right channel. Instantly he swept it low into the opposite corner, giving Tateishi no chance again.
This was goal-scoring of the highest calibre, and a lesson for players of all ages, including fellow professionals.
Not so much "Bend it like Beckham" but "Finish it like Juninho."
ends
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