19 Jun 2008(Thu)

June 18, 2008: The Grampus connection, the excellent left foot, keen interest from national coach Takeshi Okada...

We could be talking about Takashi Hirano back in 1998, when the former Grampus midfielder was in Japan's 22 for the World Cup in France, but 10 years on it's all about Keisuke Honda.

With their place in the last Asian qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup already secured, Okada is setting about addressing the weaknesses in his squad.

And, without doubt, one of these remains the lack of a left-footed player to patrol the left flank.

Hence the fact that Okada has promoted Honda from the Olympic squad and recalled the fit-again Yasuda for Sunday's match against Bahrain at Saitama Stadium.

I have said before that I am a fan of Komano's, but on the right side, not left.

Although he can ping over a decent cross from time to time, it's hit and miss whether he will make clean contact with his left foot -- and one miss in a critical area could prove costly against top opposition in the final round of qualifying.

This is why it's vital Okada bolsters this area, and why he will have a look at Honda in training this week and possibly against Bahrain.

Like Hirano before him, Honda is a natural left-footer and has a good physique. Although he is essentially an attack-minded player, he can work much deeper on the left flank, even at left back in a four-man defence.

Another selling point for Honda is his set-piece expertise.

He showed with the Olympic team again the other night against Cameroon that he has a wicked free kick which swerves and dips and makes life uncomfortable for defenders and keeper alike. Has Honda been studying the explosive free kick technique of Rivelino? Looks like it to me.

In the end, Japan's win in Bangkok was very straightforward.

It didn't take long for the heavy artillery (Tulio and Nakazawa) to blast through the Thai defence, but I still felt they needed more punch up front in open play when the ball was worked into wide positions. There was no target to aim at.

Now, with the job done, surely it would make sense to give Shunsuke a rest.

With stronger motivation, which Japan would have at home after their timid defeat in Manama, they should be able to beat Bahrain without Shunsuke.

Give him a break. Let his right ankle heal. Let him build up his fitness in summer training with Celtic and then take him back for the serious business in September.

I just can't see the point in risking him against Bahrain, even with all this talk of revenge.

ends