3 Jul 2008(Thu)

July 2, 2008: Some advice for good young players in Japan: If the JFA asks you to captain the Olympic team on the road to London 2012, don't accept.

For Keita Suzuki in 2004, read Masahiko Inoha in 2008.

Just as Suzuki, the captain in qualifying for Athens, was axed by coach Yamamoto when it came to the crunch, the same has happened to the talented Antlers player Inoha.

Although Inoha was no longer the captain of the under-23s, having been succeeded by Mizumoto during qualifying, I still can't believe he has been left out of coach Sorimachi's provisional 20-man squad.

Along with the Sanfrecce midfielder Toshihiro Aoyama, Inoha can count himself extremely unlucky after playing such a key role in getting Japan to Beijing.

Inoha looked a certainty for selection when the team played with three at the back, as libero with Naoaki Aoyama on the right and Mizumoto on the left.

When Sorimachi switched to four at the back, Inoha's place in the starting XI was under threat; although he is also a good right back, Uchida is ahead of him for club and country.

Then along came Morishige and Yoshida, two more central defenders with big potential, and Inoha has lost out altogether.

I am very disappointed for Inoha as he is an intelligent, versatile player, and plays with so much maturity and authority. Keita Suzuki bounced back, and Inoha can, too.

As for Toshihiro Aoyama, obviously the inclusion of Endo as an overage player did not help his cause, but this is not the only reason.

Although he was not a regular starter in qualifying, I thought he made a big contribution when the pressure was on down the stretch.

And who can ever forget his incredible goal line clearance against Saudi Arabia, enabling Japan to qualify with a goalless draw.

I actually liked the Toshihiro Aoyama-Hosogai combination in central midfield; not the most creative pairing, admittedly, but they tackled and scrapped and could break up the play of the opposition.

With Sorimachi listing Hosogai as a defender, and with Toshihiro Aoyama out of the picture altogether, the coach's 4-2-3-1 formation is taking shape.

It looks like he will rely on Endo and Kajiyama as the midfield "2", with Umesaki, Taniguchi and Keisuke Honda the "3" supporting the lone striker, surely Lee.

Is this playing to Japan's strengths?

ends