25 Aug 2008(Mon)

August 23, 2008: Japan escaped quite lightly on Wednesday night; not at the hands of Uruguay, who won the friendly handsomely 3-1, but by the lack of media interest and analysis due to the focus on the Beijing Olympics.

It was a tame display by Japan, both individually and collectively, and must have caused a few more concerns for Takeshi Okada ahead of the World Cup qualifier in Bahrain on September 6.

As expected, the South Americans were strong physically, too strong for Japan, and showed the home team how to finish; they enjoyed scoring, whereas Japan looked uncomfortable and full of doubt in the same situations at the other end.

Here are a few basic observations from the match.

First, Japan lost too many 50-50s in the middle of the park; they didn't seem to be putting everything into the tackle, which enabled Uruguay to come away with the ball on a number of occasions, especially in the first half.

Second, I noticed Japanese players waiting for the ball to come to them, rather than moving towards it when receiving a pass. Basic stuff, and another open invitation for the South Americans to make an interception and regain possession too easily.

Third, the same common failing, not of not scoring (apart from the own goal) but of not shooting, which is even more annoying for me.

The chief culprit this time was Tamada, who was in a perfect position to let fly with his left foot as he broke through in the inside left channel in the second half. But what did he do? He back-heeled the ball at full speed, and the chance was gone. Shortly after, Okada took him off, which was a good move.

A few weeks ago at Todoroki I saw both Tamada and Ogawa spurn clear openings to shoot for goal while playing for Grampus in a league game against Frontale. Tamada took a touch too much, enabling a Frontale defender to close him down, and Ogawa decided to cross the ball when it was easier just to hit it on his right foot in the second half.

Shortly after Tamada's missed opportunity early in the game at Todoroki, Magnum found himself in exactly the same position. Did the Brazilian need another touch to steady himself before shooting? Of course he didn't, and his blistering left-foot drive flashed into the back of the net.

After the game I asked the Grampus manager, Dragan Stojkovic, about this problem, as the Tamada-Magnum incident highlighted the difference between a Japanese and a Brazilian in front of a goal. Stojkovic said he couldn't do anything about it, as it was the feeling, the sense of the players, that counted at the decisive moments.

Tamada can do something, though. He can dust off his DVD of the Japan-Brazil game at the 2006 World Cup, and refresh his memory of how he scored that magnificent goal two summers ago.

ends