A View From A Brit by Jeremy Walker

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

16 Jun 2008(Mon)

June 13, 2008: Tsukasa Umesaki -- What a quick, clever...totally annoying player he is.

A good player, for sure, with the potential, at 21, to be one of the best Japan has produced.

But doesn't he irritate you, the way he goes to ground so quickly and so often?

Against Cameroon at National Stadium on Thursday night, I reckon Umesaki set some kind of Japanese record: He'd only touched the ball six times but already won seven free kicks!

Okay, so I'm exaggerating a bit, but he really does overdo it on the theatrics, expecting the referee to give a free kick every time he falls down.

This is a dangerous assumption by Umesaki, because when the ref waves play on -- and sometimes they do -- he has taken himself out of the game and is no good to his team when he is on the floor appealing or grumbling.

But the boy can play, there is no doubt about that; and against Cameroon he surely secured his place in the Olympic 18.

He set up a wonderful chance for Morimoto in the ninth minute with a low cross from the right, but the striker put it wide of the far post. How costly a miss could that be for Morimoto, who is now struggling to make the squad.

In fact I think Morimoto was extremely lucky to stay on the field after that shocking challenge on the right back, Georges Ndoum. Maybe the ref was lenient on Morimoto because it was only a friendly and it was quite early in the game, 27 minutes, but I thought it deserved a red card at the time and even more so when I watched it again on TV later in the night.

So while Morimoto is doubtful, Umesaki is a certainty.

Going back to the Toulon Tournament, the young Reds schemer scored a lovely header against France, arriving in the box with a late run to meet Okazaki's exquisite cross from the right with a header from near the penalty spot that was perfectly placed inside the far post. The defenders never saw him, and the keeper had no chance.

That was on 16 minutes, and he spent the rest of the game on the floor annoying the French players and bench alike. (In Umesaki's defence, there's actually nothing wrong with annoying the French. I'm all for it really.)

Against Cameroon, he forced a great save from Joslain Mayebi with his clever, side-foot volley, again with a well-timed run into the box to elude his marker.

When Umesaki went off in the 67th minute, Sorimachi gave him an enthusiastic handshake as if to say, "Well done son, you're in!" And he deserves to be because he has a bright future ahead of him.

He is also extremely useful with his delivery at set-pieces; not yet the master of taking free kicks -- but certainly the master of winning them.

ends

12 Jun 2008(Thu)

June 11, 2008: Takeshi Okada has a reputation as a big thinker.

But I hope he does not think too much about how to replace the suspended Okubo for Saturday's match in Bangkok.

Surely the solution is simple -- he just brings in Maki and tries to win this one where Japan are stronger, in the air.

With two set-piece experts in Endo and Shunsuke, right and left foot, respectively, and Nakazawa and Tulio already in the team, the addition of Maki would further boost Japan's chances of victory.

There is nothing wrong with taking a direct route, as Japan proved in the home win against Oman, and I hope they take the game to Thailand from the first whistle on Saturday.

The Japanese are bigger and stronger than the Thais, and quicker, more experienced and more technical; superior in every department, in fact.

The only way they can fail is in their heads; if they allow Thailand to get on top and don't play with the urgency and authority demanded of the situation.

This is why Maki would be a good outlet, occupying one or two defenders with his aerial power and opening up some space for a teammate to exploit, just like Hanyu used to do with JEF United.

The strongest part of Maki's game is his ability at the back post to get up above his marker and head the ball down into the danger zone, where Tamada can capitalise.

Add in the free kicks and the corners, for which the heavy artillery can move up from the back, and Japan should be able to create enough chances to win this game comfortably.

It might not be pretty; it might not be the style of football Okada ultimately wants to produce; but it is practical and logical against such opposition.

No one will care how Japan get three points, just so long as they do -- and, who knows, on the night it might be enough to book them a place in the last round of qualifying with one game to go.

Even if Okubo had not been suspended I still think there was a strong case for adding some muscle up front against Thailand, possibly at the expense of Tamada.

But now, the choices are down to either Maki or Yano up front with Tamada, and Maki's experience gives him the edge.

Japan beat Thailand 4-1 at home in the Saitama snow in February (both Nakazawa and Maki scored, remember), and I don't see why they can't do it again in the Bangkok humidity, provided they play to their strengths: aerial ability at set-pieces.

ends

9 Jun 2008(Mon)

June 6, 2008: The big matches are coming thick and fast at the moment, and the Japan-Cameroon under-23 international on Thursday, June 12, is among them.

It's not big in that the result means much, of course, but it is still important and significant for coach Sorimachi and his Olympic hopefuls.

The last time I spoke with Sorimachi, after a trial game against Omiya Ardija at NACK5 Stadium, he said he would decide on the overage player issue after the Cameroon game.

He did not mean he would announce which overage players he would select, but whether or not he would call up any.

If he does decide to bolster his squad with one, two or three players over the age of 23, clearly he is thinking about the welfare of the clubs, as J1 will be ongoing.

"If I picked Tulio, Keita Suzuki and Takahara, for example, the Reds fans would be very angry with me," he said. "There has to be negotiation between the JFA and the clubs."

My own feeling is that Japan should go to the Olympics without any overage players.

Sorimachi can pick only 18, including two goalkeepers, and there are enough good players at his disposal to select a decent squad.

I am not thinking about medals here, because talk of medals in Olympic football misses the point in Japan's case.

Unlike in many sports, the Olympics is not the pinnacle of a player's career.

They are well down the list, not only light years behind the World Cup but also behind continental championships and club championships, too.

I would rather the JFA pick players for the future, using the Olympics as a stepping stone to the national team and for young players to gain experience.

Even though three overage players would strengthen the team, I wouldn't like to see seasoned internationals brought in at the expense of a talented youngster who could really benefit; for example Nakazawa instead of Morishige, or Shunsuke instead of Umesaki.

In addition to this, the final round of World Cup qualifiers starts in September, so I would prefer to save my international players for this, rather than burning them out in China in August.

Sorimachi has named a squad of 21 for the Cameroon game, and there are others on duty with the national team (Nagatomo, Uchida and Kagawa), plus injuries such as Yasuda.

The job of picking 18 is going to be tough anyway, but maybe it will be a little clearer after Thursday.

ends

5 Jun 2008(Thu)

June 3, 2008: A day that began with apprehension and continued with sadness ended on a triumphant note against Oman at Nissan Stadium on Monday.

This was a big match for Japan after the timid defeat in Bahrain, and as we queued to enter the stadium in the late afternoon, word came of the death of Ken Naganuma.

In an instant, all the debates about Okada's selection and formation were irrelevant, as Japan had just lost a football pioneer.

I recalled the last time I had chatted with the former JFA president, and remember him telling me that over 1,000 children had just taken part in a tournament at Saitama Stadium 2002.

He was so proud and so excited about this achievement, and had a sparkle in his eye -- as enthusiastic about the game now as a young boy putting on his first pair of new football boots.

A moment of silence before the national anthems and black arm bands for the players created a sombre setting, before Japan burst into life and produced a performance to be proud of.

Japan did everything demanded of the occasion, and more.

Forget tactics and personnel; what impressed the most was their hunger, their positive attitude and their authority.

Their status as one of Asia's top teams was under threat, and they responded with a magnificent display to send the crowd home buzzing.

A swashbuckling header from the captain Nakazawa to get things moving; a cool-as-a-cucumber strike from Okubo after Shunsuke Nakamura had picked out Tulio's bustling run from the back; and then a right-foot drive into the corner from Shunsuke after great work on the left from Matsui.

Predictably, all the post-match talk and the TV replays focused on Shunsuke's magic on the edge of the box, but Matsui's contribution must not be overlooked.

The French aristocrat is looking more and more like the finished product -- the performing sea lion of the Kyoto circus has become the lion king of Japan's World Cup qualifying campaign. And how the fans roared on the final whistle!

This was Japan how they can be, how they should be; a blur of brilliant blue.

ends

2 Jun 2008(Mon)

May 30, 2008: All strikers suffer a loss of form when the goals just dry up.

In such circumstances, the player's manager will inevitably say something on the lines of: "I am not worried just because he missed a couple of chances. He can't score in every game. Happens to everyone. I'd be more concerned if he wasn't getting any chances."

Enter Naohiro Takahara.

Had Taka been getting into position in the box and missing chances, Takeshi Okada would have left him in the squad. With a record like Takahara's, it would only be a matter of time before the chances started going in again.

But the problem for the player is that he is not getting any chances at all.

He is not missing a hatful every game; he just isn't in the game.

From Superman at the 2007 Asian Cup, Takahara has become the Invisible Man.

After a recent Reds game, when Takahara was substituted, I had a good chat with Gert Engels about his Boy from the Bundesliga.

"Of course he is worried," Engels said, "but not in a strange way. He has to be worried if he does not score and if he is substituted."

Engels said Takahara and the team were still getting to know each other, and that he was optimistic the goals would come once he learned how to cope with the packed defences Reds faced.

"Of course he is not happy with the situation," added Engels. "I think he is over-working at the moment. He is not cool. You have to be patient. That is the big point."

With Takahara clearly off the pace when he came off the bench against Paraguay the other night (yes, he did come on for Maki on 63 minutes), Okada decided it was best to send him back to Reds in the hope he would find some match fitness...find anything, really, from the Taka of old.

Takahara will be back -- and will be needed for the final round of qualifiers, provided there are no further mishaps in June.

The Invisible Man can change back and still be a super hero on the road to South Africa.

ends

29 May 2008(Thu)

May 28, 2008: If the Kirin Cup was meant to prepare Japan for the Oman game on Monday, Takeshi Okada must have more doubts now than he did a week ago.

What his starting line-up and formation will be is anyone's guess, apart from the goalkeeper (Narazaki) and back four (Komano, Nakazawa, Tulio and Nagatomo).

Of course Shunsuke Nakamura will be in, so that's six.

The rest of the places look far from settled -- and will Japan play 4-4-2 or 4-5-1?

Whatever he decides in the next few days, one thing is clear: Japan must attack hard from the start and try to grab an early goal, because the longer the match goes on without a goal, the more frustrated they -- and the fans -- will become.

Expect Oman to defend deep, as they will be happy with a draw.

This means Japan must get round the back of them, which they struggled to do against Paraguay, and get the ball in the box to create some chances in front of goal.

I want to see them putting Oman under pressure with players running at defenders, players shooting; in general playing at a high tempo.

Against Paraguay there was too much laboured build-up, too much pass-pass-passing in areas that were never going to hurt the opposition.

The Omanis will be happy to sit back and watch that from distance, as opposed to being forced on the back foot from the opening whistle by an aggressive Japan attacking down the wings and through the middle.

For this reason I would play Okubo, as he thinks positively and knows how to win free kicks in the Shunsuke zone.

I'd play Matsui on the left as he has the craft and the speed to get round the full back and send over an accurate cross. Ditto Yamase on the right, although this is not his natural position.

I just want to see some speed and dynamism on the wings, and some width to Japan's attack from the midfield, because they get bogged down with their intricate passing through the middle, and moves break down too easily without a chance being created for all the ball possession.

Suzuki and Konno would hold the team balance in the centre of midfield, and Shunsuke would be allowed to roam free, behind Okubo -- the solitary striker in a Rooney role.

I feel this team has speed, substance, width, experience, balance, height..and, dare I say it, goals -- at least two (and that's only half time!).

My team for Monday (4-4-1-1): Narazaki; Komano, Nakazawa, Tulio, Nagatomo; Yamase, Suzuki, Konno, Matsui; Nakamura; Okubo.

ends

26 May 2008(Mon)

May 23, 2008: If Tadanari Lee was not already on Yasuharu Sorimachi's list of 18 for the Olympic Games, then surely he is now.

Displaying equal measures of industry and adventure, the Kashiwa Reysol striker scored the only goal of the game as Japan beat the Netherlands 1-0 in the prestigious Toulon Tournament for young hopefuls.

Sorimachi, it is true, has not much choice up front, as the forward department is quite bare; so much so that Yoshito Okubo is being tipped as a strong contender for an over-age spot.

But Lee for one has done enough in qualifying, and since then, to book his place.

Although he is quite lightweight for a target man, he has pace and a venomous left foot, and used his skill and strength to get the better of his Dutch marker before striking the ball home with the outside of his left foot. I also like his personality, as there is a spark about him on the pitch and a bit of attitude.

Another player who really impressed for Japan, but in an area where the competition for places is much stronger, was Masato Morishige, who played in the centre of the back four, alongside captain Mizumoto (although the TV feed listed Inoha, who played at right back, as captain).

With Aoyama, Inoha, Mizumoto, Yoshida, Morishige and, back home, Makino all in with a strong claim for a place, I don't understand the talk about Tulio and Nakazawa being needed as a central defender in the Olympics. This is one of the strong areas, although I am not saying the younger players are better than Tulio or Nakazawa.

Sorimachi's formation was interesting: 4-2-3-1, with Lee on his own supported by Mizuno, Taniguchi and Keisuke Honda.

This is a very pragmatic solution to Japan's lack of quality strikers in this age group, and the lone ranger up front is a common trend in the modern game (Rooney and Drogba in the Champions League final, for example)

Taniguchi had scored a couple of fine goals in a trial match at Omiya NACK5 Stadium recently, and Sorimachi used him in a more advanced role than he plays for Frontale in the hope he could hit some shots from edge-of-the-box range.

One last word on Inoha. He was guilty of some blatant shirt-pulling that went unpunished in the early stages, and I hope Sorimachi warns him against this.

Goals might be at a premium for Japan in the Olympics, so the last thing they need is to concede a penalty or a free kick around the box due to this unnecessary sort of foul.

Inoha is good enough to get the better of his striker without resorting to such sly and risky tactics.

ends

22 May 2008(Thu)

May 21, 2008: Those were disturbing scenes at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Saturday.

Objects flying between two sets of fans; fences to segregate them being torn down; 800 away fans being kept in the ground for safety reasons before 10,000 home supporters waiting for them outside could be dispersed, finally, after three and a half hours.

It took me back to the bad old days of the Eighties, where these scenes were commonplace at football in England and wherever the England national team played.

But it is too early to talk of a major hooligan problem in Japan just yet, and the authorities have the opportunity to act quickly.

Whatever sanctions are imposed, and surely Urawa will be fined for failing to control the situation, a vital role must be played by the fans themselves.

Just like in the fight against racism at stadiums in England, supporters are urged to identify people who racially abuse players to security guards.

Hopefully this can apply in the J.League, as when children are hit by missiles thrown by other fans they will stop coming to matches and so will their mothers -- and that would be a massive blow for the reputation and the future of the J.League.

Japanese football prides itself on its family appeal, and quite rightly, too, as I still find the atmosphere refreshing at J.League games after the dangers of attending matches around England in the 70s and 80s.

So if responsible Gamba fans see an irresponsible Gamba fan throw a water balloon, give him (or her) a ticking-off. (I say "her" because at the height of hooliganism in England, the ring leader of Wolverhampton Wanderers was famously a woman).

Give the trouble-maker a piece of your mind, turn him (or her!) over to the authorities if necessary. Do something -- because this self-policing can play a major role in stemming the problem.

The J.League could do worse than bring together representatives of the official fan groups and advise them what action is necessary to avoid an escalation; Reds at Kashima for example, or Reds at Gamba?

Let's hope the scenes at Saitama were not the start of hooliganism in Japan, but the end.

Somehow, though, I don't think it is over yet.

ends

19 May 2008(Mon)

May 16, 2008: No prizes for guessing who will dominate the news in the build-up to the Kirin Cup and World Cup qualifiers.

Naturally it will be Shunsuke Nakamura, whose set-piece expertise and big-match experience were sorely missed by Japan in the defeat to Bahrain.

But it’s another of the foreign legionnaires I am looking forward to seeing the most, namely Daisuke Matsui.

The former Purple Prince of Kyoto has been an outstanding success in France with Le Mans, and could yet become a major influence in Okada’s Japan.

It is not just his play on the pitch that has impressed, but also how well he has adapted to life in France since moving there in 2004.

Let’s face it, France is not the easiest of places to settle. The language is extremely difficult to grasp, and the environment can appear very alien – hostile at times – even to other Europeans.

So Matsui has done tremendously well in making his name in France, whose league is regarded as fifth in the unofficial European table, behind the big four of England, Spain, Italy and Germany.

For those who have followed Matsui’s career since he started with Kyoto in 2000, his success may have come as a surprise. He always had the skill, of course, and the flashy moves that were pleasing on the eye, but he looked a bit of a show-off and a one-man band.

Pim Verbeek for one found the superstar treatment Matsui received at Kyoto quite frustrating – in the same way Philippe Troussier did with Shinji Ono early in his reign in 1998.

So Matsui has had to add some steel and discipline to his game, some substance to go with the style, in order to survive in a league known for its fast and physical African presence.

If Okada plays 4-4-2, Matsui would slot in nicely on the left side of midfield, with a good defender behind him. Pity Koji Nakata is not around.

Perhaps the best formation for Matsui, however, would be 3-4-2-1, so he could play as one of the two shadow strikers, behind the centre forward, and free of defensive responsibilities.

Wherever Matsui plays, he will be in a position to inject some much-needed pace into Japan’s attack.

ends

15 May 2008(Thu)

May 13, 2008: A few seasons ago, Takeshi Okada described how difficult it was for a team to win both the J.League championship and the AFC Champions League in the same year.

It was like a dog chasing two hares, Okada said, during his time as manager of Yokohama F Marinos.

One hare was running in one direction, the other hare was going in the opposite direction, and the dog was in the middle, having to choose the juiciest prize.

Urawa Reds discovered this last season. After catching one hare, namely the AFC Champions League, they set off in pursuit of the J.League title, only to run out of steam and come up just short.

Now, the team that benefited from Urawa's late collapse last term, Kashima Antlers, are feeling the heat themselves.

The J.League top dogs in 2007 have fallen eight points off the pace as they attempt to book their place in the last eight of the AFC Champions League.

Gamba Osaka have already made it, joining Reds in the hat for the quarter-finals, and Antlers are well on course but must clear one more hurdle -- meaning they still need to win their last game, in Vietnam, to hold off Beijing Guoan.

Having beaten Nam Dinh 6-0 at home, it would be a major surprise if they failed to collect three points again, but, nevertheless, they must still go away and win the May 21 match to be safe.

After a recent draw against Omiya Ardija at NACK5 Stadium, Kashima manager Oswaldo Oliviera said ideally he needed two teams to cope with such a demanding schedule.

The travel, the difference in climate and conditions...and then a hungry J1 team waiting for them on their return to Japan.

This was another major factor in the fight on two fronts, Oswaldo stressed, as the J1 team had more time to prepare and focus only on the J.League fixture.

Oswaldo was not making excuses, though, Far from it. He was just elaborating on the Okada theory of trying to catch two hares at the same time.

If Antlers can follow Gamba into the last eight -- giving Japan three teams in the quarter-finals and a chance of three in the last four as they cannot be drawn against each other -- then at least they have time to regroup.

Which hare will Oswaldo try and catch then?

ends

12 May 2008(Mon)

May 10, 2008: Saitama Stadium 2002 is earning a reputation as the graveyard of J.League managers in 2008.

Okay, so it is only two managers who have fallen the next day after losing a match at Saista, but the mood in the corridors of power was eerily similar.

First it was Holger Osieck, who was fired after Reds lost at home to Grampus only two matches into the new campaign.

And this week it was Josip Kuze, whose reign at JEF United lasted only 11 games, which yielded a paltry two points.

The following day, Thursday, JEF announced that Alex Miller would take over, leaving his coaching post at Anfield to try and save the Chiba club from relegation.

Although Miller will have his own ideas, he could do worse than heed the words of Gert Engels, who succeeded Osieck at Reds and has taken them to the top of the table.

Admittedly, the German has better players to work with, and a much bigger and more experienced squad, but, still, his observations can also apply to United.

Engels said his first job was to change the mood of the players, to make training fun so that the players looked forward to match day.

He also said he encouraged Reds to play more direct, more straight, and less across the pitch. One of the first things Miller will notice, and no doubt wince over, is the Japanese tendency to play short passes in dangerous areas, even on the edge of their own box.

When this comes off and a team plays its way out of trouble, it is very pleasing on the eye. When a team has no confidence, however, it is suicidal.

I am sure the first thing he will tell them is to play safe, meaning knocking the ball down the line, out of trouble, instead of across their own box. This may seem a very British trait, but it is also very practical and risk-free in such a precarious situation.

Another Engels point was to find a settled formation, so that all players knew their job and when changes had to be made, the new player was completely comfortable in his role. Echoes of Troussier here.

Kuze tried to play a 4-5-1 formation from the start, but a succession of injuries and strategic breakdowns did not allow him to find a settled team or system.

This is going to be hard for Miller, too, as he will be starting from scratch with a group of players low on confidence and with niggling injuries aplenty.

At least Miller will have some time, though, as the summer break follows the 13th round of games, just two home matches from now.

It will be like JEF's season starting over, four months after everyone else.

ends

8 May 2008(Thu)

May 7, 2008: What a mess JEF United are in at the moment.

Two points from a possible 33, the future of the manager already in the headlines, and with frantic but so far fruitless efforts behind the scenes to try and sign new players.

The one thing that has remained constant is the support from the Chiba faithful.

They were in their thousands at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Tuesday, more yellow in the away corner than used to be around the whole ground at Ichihara Rinkai Stadium during the dark days.

"They are the best supporters I have ever played for," says Australian central defender Eddy Bosnar.

"If we'd had a run like this at Dinamo Zagreb I wouldn't have been able to go out for dinner. No way. But here...they are fantastic."

And really it's the JEF supporters you feel sorry for the most, as the Osim World has crumbled around them and they are left standing in the dusty ruins.

I have to admit I did not think things would be as bad as this at the start of the season, although I was very much in a minority.

Of course it was going to be hard losing five first-team regulars in Mizumoto, Mizuno, Sato, Hanyu and Yamagishi, but a backbone of Saito-Shimomura-Maki remained, fleshed out by Osim era veterans, hungry new recruits, impressive youngsters such as Matsumoto at right back and Yonekura in midfield, and the foreign contingent.

And after seeing them win handsomely at Todoroki in an early Nabisco Cup fixture, I thought they were looking good.

In the league, though, the curse of Fukuda Denshi Arena struck again. I think a pivotal moment in the season came at home to Vissel Kobe when they were leading 1-0 going into injury time, only for a Norio Suzuki rocket to make it 1-1.

Had JEF held on in that game, their fourth in the league, and secured three points, I honestly feel they would have been up and running, and could have built on this.

That early buzz has disappeared now, though, and captain Shimomura was a forlorn figure after the 3-0 defeat against Reds.

The confidence had gone, he said, and compared to last season it felt like JEF were playing with only 10 men when they attacked due to the lack of options for the player on the ball, and with only 10 men when Reds had the ball. As captain, he told of how he had stepped in to break up an argument among players after the 3-0 defeat against Yokohama F Marinos.

Despite all the problems, I still feel JEF are good enough to get out of this situation and stay in J1. They have two home games -- against Kyoto and Oita -- before the long summer break, and six points would keep them in touch.

And if they falter at Fukuare again (and again), it's not a new manager they need -- it's an exorcist.

ends

5 May 2008(Mon)

May 2, 2008: Sir Alex Ferguson says Paul Scholes will be the first name on his team sheet for the UEFA Champions League final against Chelsea on May 21.

But will there be a place for Park Ji Sung, the "made in Kyoto" midfielder who now enjoys cult status at Old Trafford?

On the evidence of the gripping semi-final victory over Barcelona, Park looks to have a good chance of starting the final in Moscow.

Once again he was one of United's unsung heroes, running tirelessly in both defence and attack to keep Barca busy. No wonder you will find words and phrases such as "industrious" and "lung-bursting efforts" in his profile on the official club website.

He really is a credit to the Asian game, isn't he? To Korea, to the J.League and especially to Kyoto Sanga.

He goes about his business in a professional manner, and never forgets the qualities that have taken him to the top.

There are no frills, no tricks; just good solid play, a strong mentality and the ability to make the right decision at the right time.

He has also made the right career decisions, too; first by joining Kyoto in June 2000 without having played for a K.League club, and then by following his mentor, Guus Hiddink, to PSV Eindhoven in January 2003.

After proving himself with PSV, notably against Milan in a UEFA Champions League semi-final, Park was signed by Ferguson in July 2005.

Since then he has continued to improve, despite having to fight back from serious knee problems, and can now look forward to another momentous occasion.

Hopefully the Asian Football Confederation will revise their long list of candidates for the 2008 Player of the Year award, because Park was not even among the 21 names released by the AFC on April 22.

Quite why the governing body in Asia should publish this initial list in April for an award to be presented in November is anyone's guess, as their flagship competition, the AFC Champions League, is only just getting warmed up.

But don't get me started on this AFC awards subject!

With his efforts so far this year, Park would be on my shortlist -- a shortlist of one.

ends

1 May 2008(Thu)

April 30, 2008: One of the big reasons for the Urawa U-turn under Gert Engels is the form of defender turned midfielder Marcus Tulio Tanaka.

At first it appeared a stop-gap solution by Engels, moving Tulio forward to galvanise a struggling team with his energy and his aggression.

But it's working out so well that Tulio looks set to remain in central midfield for the considerable future, especially with a weakened Keita Suzuki recovering from a virus and several kilos lighter.

Reds needed a lift early in the season and Tulio provided it with his leadership, his ability to coax the best out of other players and, on a more practical note, his power in the air.

Against Consadole Sapporo at Saitama Stadium on Tuesday, Tulio was outstanding in his team's roller-coaster 4-2 victory.

Consadole manager Toshiya Miura singled out Tulio as Reds' most dangerous player, ahead of Takahara or Edmilson, and the man any team must shackle if they are to stop Reds.

"No matter which defender marked him man to man at set pieces, Tulio was always too strong," said Miura.

"This is one of the big differences between J2 and J1. In J1, the delivery of corners and free kicks is more accurate, and every team has a player who is very good in the air...Yano at Niigata, Tashiro at Kashima and Tulio at Urawa."

Against Consadole, Tulio notched his fifth league goal of the campaign, bulldozing his way through the visiting defence to head home Umesaki's left-wing corner at the far post, which Consadole had left unguarded.

But it was the one that got away, the effort that was disallowed in the 19th minute with Reds trailing 1-0, that continued to be discussed long after the final whistle.

Again it involved a perfect delivery from Umesaki, who shaped to shoot with a free kick but then changed his angle to pick out Tulio at the far post. A prodigious leap enabled Tulio to nod it back into the middle for Takahara to pounce in a red blur. A wonderful goal, or so everyone thought, including the scoreboard operator who flashed up 1-1, and the stadium announcer, before it was ruled out for offside against Tulio.

There is much more to his game than his heading prowess, of course, and former manager Holger Osieck once likened his range of passing, with either foot, to that of German full back Andreas Brehme.

Engels is convinced Tulio can be equally effective in this midfield role at international level, although he stressed this was not his business.

It is the business of Takeshi Okada, whose plodding team also needs shaking into life after losing their way in Bahrain.

Tulio for central midfield for Japan? It certainly gives the national coach food for thought before the Kirin Cup.

ends

28 Apr 2008(Mon)

April 25, 2008: The last thing Yasuharu Sorimachi needs is another good wide player forcing his way into the reckoning for the Olympic squad.

But that's exactly what he's got in Hokuto Nakamura, whose career is back on track after one and half years of injury problems.

Sorimachi had a good look at the 22-year-old Fukuoka flyer in the Olympic trials on Wednesday, when Hokuto (everyone calls him by his given name) played in the second of two full-scale practice matches, against Omiya at NACK5.

It wasn't quite the Hokuto of old -- the dynamic, marauding right back from Avispa's last J1 campaign in 2006 -- but he still has three months to sharpen up before Beijing.

I asked Sorimachi specifically about Hokuto, who was one of my favourite young players in the J.League before he suffered that serious knee ligament injury in October 2006.

"He's not 100 per cent," Sorimachi replied. "He can do more, but his performance was not so bad."

Then there was a pause, before he added: "We have many good side players..."

At this stage, Hokuto is fourth in line for a place on the right flank, if Sorimachi plays 3-5-2, behind Uchida, Mizuno and now Nagatomo.

If the coach plays a back four, he would be third choice, behind Uchida and Nagatomo, and this is not nearly enough to win a spot in the 18-man squad, including two keepers.

It is a tall order for Hokuto, who played only three league games in 2007, but all he can do is keep going, build up his match fitness and hope for the best.

It was certainly good to see him back in action on Wednesday, at right back in a four-man defence, and Omiya's experienced left flank of Hato and Fujimoto gave him a good work-out.

As well as being a robust overlapping full back, he is also known as a strong man-marker. This has produced the nickname "Suppon" -- the Japanese snapping turtle that bites and won't let go.

In English football jargon we'd probably call him a terrier -- a tough little dog snapping at your heels and refusing to leave you alone.

Turtle or terrier, one thing's for sure: Hokuto will not let go of his Olympic hopes after forcing his way back into the picture when all seemed lost.

ends

24 Apr 2008(Thu)

April 23, 2008: Some games make you despair for the future of football.

Take, for example, the Albirex Niigata-Kyoto Sanga match at the Big Swan on Saturday.

Basically, I thought the match was a disgrace, a terrible advertisement for not only the J.League but for the current state of the modern game. It was the kind of footballing fare that makes you want the J.League to gather together the captains/coaches of all clubs and ask them to simply play honestly, cut out the gamesmanship and try to give the football public in Japan a decent, attractive product to watch.

Naive, I know, but this was desperate stuff.

As you all know by now, Kyoto had three players sent off, followed by their manager, Hisashi Kato. In keeping with the club's main colour, "Kato-Q" went purple with rage at the series of dismissals and decided to redesign the technical area with some rather nifty footwork.

And no wonder he was angry, after seeing Sidiclei, Ataliba and Masushima all sent to the dressing room early.

So was it a dirty game? The card count suggests it was, but this was not the case at all.

It was more down to the high level of simulation and feigning injury -- and inexperienced refereeing -- that led to Kyoto finishing the game with only eight men and no manager on the bench.

Sidiclei, the captain, was sent off for two yellow cards in the first half, fouls on Alessandro and then Yano; Ataliba was shown a straight red for an off-the-ball incident with Yano that the TV cameras failed to pick up; and Masushima was sent off for two yellows. The first was for dissent after being penalised for a foul on Yano, and the second was for another aerial challenge on...yes, you've guessed it, Yano.

I have seen Kyoto play three times this season, and Masushima has impressed me on each occasion with his power in the air, the timing of his jump.

And he is not exactly built like John Terry, is he? More like a member of SMAP -- and it would be interesting to know exactly what Kyoto veteran Morioka said to Yano as he lay on the floor during the card chaos.

Albirex won their first league game of the season, but surely no one can take any satisfaction from a shambles like this.

ends

21 Apr 2008(Mon)

April 18, 2008: Takeshi Okada has never been afraid to give youth a chance.

Remember Shinji Ono and Daisuke Ichikawa in early 1998, although the latter would be one of three players cut from the final 22 for France.

Among Okada's squad for the April 21-23 training camp is another very interesting youngster, 21-year-old full back Yuto Nagatomo of FC Tokyo.

According to club sources, Nagatomo has already established himself as a leader on and off the pitch, despite this being his debut season out of Meiji University.

At a fan festival in Shinjuku in February, for example, Nagatomo taught fellow newcomer Emerson how to bow and say the right words of greeting to the supporters.

And even on Saturday, after FC Tokyo had won a rip-roaring derby against Verdy, Nagatomo hung around long after the final whistle to show goal-scorer Hanyu how to perform the rousing victory ritual in front of the Tokyo fans at the away end.

Not that Nagatomo had scored himself, though; just that his presence in the Verdy box, in injury time, to meet Konno's header into the danger zone had resulted in an own goal by Verdy sub Shibasaki.

Like Komano of Jubilo Iwata, Nagatomo is a tough defender and difficult to shake off, as Verdy's Hulk discovered during the Tokyo derby.

Although he plays at left back for Tokyo -- the right back slot being occupied, of course, by Tokunaga -- Nagatomo can also play on the right flank. Indeed, right wing back was his position in the recent under-23 friendly against Angola, from where he supplied the cross for Toyoda to score Japan's goal in a 1-1 draw.

With a call to Okada's squad, the chances of Nagatomo making Japan's 18 for the Beijing Olympics have increased significantly.

Even though Olympic team coach Sorimachi has some experienced wide players in Uchida and Mizuno on the right, Yasuda and Honda on the left, Nagatomo's versatility makes him a good bet for the 18.

More rewards may come further down the road, but an appearance in the Beijing Olympics would be the perfect start so early in his professional career.

ends

17 Apr 2008(Thu)

April 15, 2008: Amusing or offensive? Part of the game or over the top?

What is your take on "The Saitama Incident"?

I am talking, of course, about the ribald message from the Antlers fans to their Reds rivals before the big match at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Sunday.

It was meant to say "F**k You Reds", in three rows of large letters, but it never quite came together as the letters were passed up one by one over the crowd and assembled like a giant jigsaw puzzle.

The best they could manage was "F**k" on the top line (the two missing letters were correct -- congratulations), a sad and solitary "Y" on the middle line and a rather jumbled "R EOU" on the last line, with "D" and "S" floating near by.

This pre-match entertainment was actually more absorbing than the first half, as we watched the letters move up and down, across and back. In fact it was so entertaining I think the Antlers fans should construct a message before every game -- and offer a prize to the first person who gets it right.

When it finally became obvious what the message was intended to say, it told us two things: That the bitter rivalry between these two clubs had just taken an irrevocable turn for the worse; and that there is a serious shortage of English teachers in Ibaraki Prefecture, perhaps because everyone studies Portuguese so they can talk like Z**o.

Undeterred, the Antlers fans had another go at half time, abandoning the three-line message to settle for a more brutal "F**k Reds".

A colleague suggested wittily that they should have held up only the word "F**k" at the final whistle, having lost 2-0, but after Nagai's second goal the Antlers fans were in no mood for humour.

The reaction from media people close by was mixed.

One said it was "great" because it highlighted the fierce rivalry between the clubs, with Urawa the Manchester United and Kashima the Liverpool of Japan.

Another pointed out that the Japanese did not fully appreciate the impact or the severity of the "F" word, and that it was intended to provoke fun, not hostility.

After the game, Reds manager Gert Engels said he was happy he had not seen the message. "It is offensive. It has nothing to do with the franchise, with the team. It is not classy," he said.

On this point I have to agree with Engels.

I thought it was offensive, provocative, too much. I am all for intense rivalries between teams and fans as a Japanese football culture develops, but you wonder what the next step could be after The Saitama Incident. Hopefully it will just involve banners.

I think, therefore, that Kashima should offer a sincere apology. They should bow deeply to the Reds fans, say they are extremely sorry for offending the Asian Champions League winners and give them all free posters of Z**o. Or Nozawa.

And what would be Reds' reply?

I reckon it might just start with an "F"...

ends

14 Apr 2008(Mon)

April 12, 2008: The so-called "Zico Derby" in Japan is off, but there is still a lot very much on in the Champions Leagues of Asia and Europe.

The Zico Derby?

That was going to be Fenerbahce against Kashima Antlers in the FIFA Club World Cup in December, had the Turks won the UEFA Champions League and Antlers the AFC Champions League.

The chances were always remote, of course, and so it proved when Chelsea recovered from their first-leg defeat to eliminate Zico's team at the quarter-final stage on Wednesday night.

But it was an intriguing possibility all the same, and now Japanese fans will have to settle for one of Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United or Barcelona coming here in December. Not a bad trade at all.

As for Kashima, they are still in the thick of the battle to win the AFC Champions League, as are Gamba Osaka -- and, remember, Urawa Reds, who have not even played yet but are already in the last eight.

I will never understand how the Asian Football Confederation thinks, but giving the defending champions a bye into the quarter-finals seems crazy to me, missing out on all the publicity and marketing opportunities. But that's another story.

With both Antlers and Gamba leading their groups at the halfway stage, there is a good chance Japan could provide three of the eight teams in the quarter-finals -- and then three in the last four, as clubs from the same country cannot be drawn together in the quarter-finals.

The Antlers-Beijing Guoan match on Wednesday was not a pretty sight. Cold, windy, only 6,487 fans trying to motivate the players...it was a struggle for the home team, and therefore a great three points from a 1-0 victory.

They always say it is the sign of a good team when you can win without playing well, and Antlers did that. Sogahata was my man of the match, not just for his penalty save from the left-footed Tiago, but for his concentration right to the end.

Sogahata's save, with his feet, from left winger Martinez at the death could be crucial, as the group winner will be decided by the head-to-head record of the top two teams if they finish equal on points after six matches.

Let's hope the J.League in Asia can follow the English Premier League in Europe, and provide three of the semi-finalists in the Champions League. The J.League was always stronger than its record in Asia suggested, until last season, and now they can prove it beyond doubt.

ends

10 Apr 2008(Thu)

April 8, 2008: For students of the art of defending, Kyoto Sanga FC put on a master class at Todoroki Stadium on Saturday.

Led by the 35-year-old Sidiclei, who had an outstanding game in the Sanga back three, Kyoto rejected everything Kawasaki could throw at them. Frontale huffed and puffed but could not blow the house down, and trudged off disconsolate from a 1-0 defeat.

It was Kyoto's first away win of the season on their return to J1, and much credit must go to manager Hisashi Kato.

His defence was so well-drilled, and his counter-attack so deadly, that a Japanese version of the old Italian "catenaccio" system came to mind. Let's call it Katonaccio.

This is not meant to be a criticism of Kyoto or of Kato in any way, as the catenaccio (meaning 'door bolt' in Italian) perfected by Argentine coach Helenio Herrera with Inter in the 1960s was the epitome of everything negative about the game.

Far from it; it is just to compliment the way they defended as a team against a dangerous opponent possessing pace (Juninho) and power (Chong) up front, width (Mori and Yamagishi), height (Terada) and midfield craft (Nakamura and Ohashi).

The Kyoto defenders stayed on their feet and watched the ball in the tackle; they did not dive in recklessly and take themselves out of the game. They also stayed goal side of the forward, providing a wall to block shots and crosses. It was absorbing to watch, and had a sting in the tail at the other end.

Sidiclei's work against Juninho was a lesson for all defenders, while Masushima on the right and Teshima on the left matched the veteran's discipline and concentration. When Teshima had to leave the field early in the second half, Morioka came off the bench and turned the clock back with a commanding performance in the centre, as Sidiclei moved to the left.

In the centre of midfield, Ataliba stayed deep but Yuto Sato was like a jack-in-a-box, jumping out to surprise the Frontale man in possession before returning to his lair.

And, in true "Katonaccio" style, Kyoto broke and grabbed a winner through Yanagisawa midway through the second half to complete the perfect "catenaccio" victory -- 1-0!

ends

7 Apr 2008(Mon)

April 4, 2008: Dragan Stojkovic certainly enjoyed himself on his first visit to Omiya Ardija on Wednesday night.

He was happy with his Grampus team, who fought back from 1-0 down at half time to win 2-1, and he was happy to be involved in a match at the new-look NACK5 Stadium.

"It's fantastic," he said. "It is a stadium made for football. There is a great atmosphere, and the pitch is so good you could play snooker on it, no problem."

The renovations to the stadium, which already enjoyed a picturesque setting on the edge of Omiya Koen, have given the club one of the best grounds in the J.League. The fans are close to the pitch, and the steep tiers behind the goals have increased the noise volume all round.

"It is English style," added the Grampus boss.

"It is very good for the coach and also for the players because we are really close and we can give instructions easily. Everything was good."

Stojkovic was always interesting and amusing to watch as a player, with his extravagant skills on the ball and his gestures off the ball.

As a manager he is very calm, but still treated the fans to a classic burst of passion during the first half, punching the ball into the ground for his left back, Shohei Abe, to take a throw-in.

What was all that about, I asked him.

He laughed: "I said to him to throw the ball down the line as far as possible, because sometimes they throw it into the middle and they can lose it easily and allow the other team to counter-attack. I was telling them to wake up because we were 1-0 down."

In a thoroughly entertaining match, which passed very quickly, Abe chose a good time to have an impressive game -- in front of national coach Takeshi Okada.

One moment Abe was clearing Leandro's header off the line, perfectly positioned on the far post to safeguard against such events, and the next he was breaking forward to help his attack.

One pass in particular stays in the memory, when he jabbed his left foot under the ball to produce back spin that even Tiger Woods would have been proud of.

Not the tallest of defenders at 1.71 metres, he also won some great defensive headers down the line in the second half, attacking the ball in the air in the same way Komiyama does for Marinos.

"Abe...he is a very interesting player," said Stojkovic, borrowing a favourite Troussier line.

"Even though he is not so tall he has a very good jump and very good timing, which is very important for defenders. He also has attacking blood and always tries to go up and overlap and make a cross."

Okada, I am sure, will have noted that.

ends

3 Apr 2008(Thu)

April 1, 2008: After a shaky start to the new campaign, this team really needed to get their act together at the weekend.

And they did just that, not only winning for the first time this season but scoring three goals in the process. Their loyal supporters must now feel their season is finally under way and they can start moving up the table.

Yes, that was an impressive performance by...Tokushima Vortis (sorry, did you think I was talking about Urawa Reds?)

With no J1 games on Saturday, Shonan Bellmare-Tokushima Vortis had the makings of a good day out. Indeed it was, especially for the travelling fans in a crowd of 4,474 at Hiratsuka Stadium. There weren't many of them, but they stuck with their team when the going got tough and were able to celebrate a 3-2 victory.

Among their numerous banners was one that read "Share good times and bad times", and this was clearly one of the good, thanks in no small measure to the dynamic play of a certain Seydou Doumbia.

Having failed to make the grade with Kashiwa Reysol, the 20-year-old forward from the Ivory Coast is now the toast of Tokushima after his match-winning display against Bellmare, scoring once and setting up the other two for Jun Tamano and Yutaro Abe.

The best of the bunch was Abe's goal after 76 minutes, which proved to be the winner. As Bellmare pushed forward, Doumbia led a Vortis counter up the right flank. Using all his pace and power, Doumbia left the former S-Pulse stalwart Toshihide Saito in his tracks before sending over an inviting cross. Abe, who had only just managed to keep up with Doumbia's raid, hurled himself at the ball and hit the target with a flying header.

There was still some defending to do, though, before Vortis could celebrate three points, and I would like to take this opportunity to praise the Tokushima captain, Shogo Nishikawa, for a piece of fair play and sportsmanship.

The 90 minutes were almost up and Tokushima were hanging on to their 3-2 lead when a visiting defender went down after an aerial duel with Bellmare captain Jean Witte. At first it looked like the defender would stay down, pretend he was hurt, ask for the trainer to come on and waste some time, but Nishikawa signalled to his teammate to get up and get on with it.

I know it is not much, but nevertheless it was a refreshing sight in the current climate. My fair play award, therefore, goes to Shogo Nishikawa.

ends

31 Mar 2008(Mon)

March 29, 2008: One short comment from Bahrain's head coach, Milan Macala, said it all: "Japan had nothing."

Ouch! That hurts, doesn't it, coming from the Gulf veteran who knows Japanese football so well from his previous engagements.

But it was a fair assessment on Wednesday night, when Japan lost 1-0 in Bahrain to put themselves under a bit of pressure for the four-game group finale in June.

Japan looked slow and weary and lacked leadership and experience, particularly in the middle of the park. With Bahrain quick to press the man in possession, Japan could not get hold of the game or find any rhythm.

Even so, the "nothing" as stated by Macala looked like it was going to be good enough to get "something" -- meaning a point from a 0-0 draw -- until the blunder by Kawaguchi 13 minutes from time. Bahrain accepted the gift and no one could argue with the final result.

For all their lack of control and creativity, Japan could still have snatched one at the other end on two occasions in the second half.

Before Bahrain's goal, Okubo failed to connect with a superb Komano cross from the right, and after Bahrain's goal Abe did the same. These were two great heading opportunities that went begging, and it points to a lack of confidence rather than technique.

I wonder if the poor performance and result led to the low turnout (12,718) at National Stadium for the Japan Under 23-Angola friendly the following evening?

Those who did attend at least saw some energy and ambition from the Japan team in the face of a big, strong opponent.

Once again I was particularly impressed with the central midfield pairing of Hosogai and Toshihiro Aoyama, and they must have gone a long way towards securing a place in coach Sorimachi's 18-strong squad for Beijing.

They chase and they scrap, and keep the team ticking over with their ability to win the ball and move it on to the more creative, attacking players around them. In the closing stages, Hosogai played like Tulio in disguise with his swashbuckling efforts in the opposition box.

It is a pity Japan could not hold on for the win, but at least they could leave the field with their heads held high and the supporters feeling some pride.

This was not the case in Bahrain the previous night.

ends

27 Mar 2008(Thu)

March 26, 2008: Japan's World Cup qualifier in Bahrain on Wednesday night will surely be a tough test for Takeshi Okada's team.

Of the six games in this third round of Asian qualifying, this always looked like the hardest assignment for Japan.

Under the circumstances, a draw would be a decent result to add to the three points Japan took at home to Thailand in the Saitama snow.

Even if Japan lose they would still have four matches to clinch one of the two qualifying places to advance to the 10-team, two-group final round. After Bahrain away, those four remaining games all take place in June, starting with Oman at home on the 2nd, Oman away (7th), Thailand away (14th) and Bahrain at home (22nd).

To prepare for this sequence of matches, Japan will have two Kirin Cup games in late May, so Okada will have plenty of opportunity to integrate the players he needs from Europe.

On the subject of which...I am still disappointed Okada did not call up Shunsuke Nakamura for this match.

I have been reading that the player was overlooked because of "club commitments" with Celtic. What, on Wednesday?

Nakamura played for Celtic against Gretna on Sunday, and will be in action in the Old Firm derby against Rangers on Saturday, but that does not rule him out of the Bahrain game.

It is not "club commitments" that is keeping him out; it is because Okada wanted time to prepare his team, and didn't want Nakamura joining the camp a couple of days before the game.

I have already given my reasons why I think Okada should have selected Nakamura, regardless of whether or not that Gretna-Celtic match went ahead, so will not do so again.

Suffice to say that Nakamura will be sitting around in Glasgow on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with nothing much to do, while Japan are playing a World Cup qualifier not too far away, and other players are flying round the world in an international week to play for their country.

In fact, I am surprised a Japanese TV station or newspaper has not flown Shunsuke to Bahrain to be a celebrity analyst!

A prediction for tonight? I will go for 0-0.

Both teams won their opening game in the group and are regarded as the two most likely to qualify. The priority, therefore, may be not to lose to their main rival so early in the group.

ends

24 Mar 2008(Mon)

March 21, 2008: Who would have thought that after three games in league and cup Frontale's Fab Four would not have a goal between them?

Juninho, Chong Tese, Kazuki Ganaha and Hulk have so far drawn a blank, with Frontale's only two goals to date coming from midfielders Mori (against Verdy) and Ohashi (Vissel). Ohashi's goal was a little gem, by the way; just a pity they were 4-0 down at the time.

The latest disappointment came against JEF United at a cold, wet and windy Todoroki Stadium on Thursday afternoon, when the Chiba defence held firm and their counter-attack produced two goals in a classic smash-and-grab raid.

It was interesting to see that Frontale manager Sekizuka had already abandoned his three-pronged strikeforce -- a commitment to all-out attack that suggested a name change may be appropriate: Kamikaze Frontale, perhaps?

Against Chiba, Sekizuka went back to the Frontale roots and played a 3-5-2 formation, with Ganaha and Juninho up front, Chong on the bench and Hulk injured. A close Frontale observer said it was, in fact, Hulk's heart that was injured...no goals, no longer the king like he was at Verdy, no confidence.

Could it be true? Has the Incredible Hulk turned into the Incredible Sulk so quickly?

I must admit I thought Frontale would do well this season, with no AFC Champions League commitments and a variety of explosive options up front to build on the solid base already in place.

They still might have a great season, of course, because there are 96 points to play for in the league and five more Nabisco Cup group games to overhaul Chiba.

Against JEF, though, they did not look like the big, bad bullies of old, battering teams into submission with their speed and power inside their Todoroki torture chamber.

Ganaha was off the pace; his replacement, Chong, was put in his place by a crunching Bosnar tackle on the left wing; and 19-year-old JEF substitute Yonekura was left to dance through the Kengo-free Frontale midfield to orchestrate the second-half counter-attacks.

Interesting player Yonekura. Same shirt number (22) as the departed "Goi Galactico" Hanyu, same high school as Hanyu, same position (attacking midfielder), but a rather different physique.

Whereas Hanyu buzzed around like a one-man ekiden team, Yonekura is more sturdy and robust, enabling him to win some physical battles in crucial areas of the pitch.

On the other hand, Frontale's most dangerous moments were the inswinging corners of Ohashi, who used the swirling gusts of wind to great effect and kept Tateishi on his toes.

ends

20 Mar 2008(Thu)

March 18, 2008: After the unrest of Saturday and the turmoil of Sunday, Monday was just like any normal day at the Ohara training ground of Urawa Reds.

With Holger Osieck now history, ruthlessly fired the previous day, Gert Engels was the man in the spotlight -- again.

In his fluent Japanese, clipboard in hand, Engels was attempting to put the team back on track after the chaotic start to the new campaign.

He didn't have too many players to work with, as the squad was depleted by national team call-ups and injuries, but the foundations of the team for the Nabisco Cup were clearly in place.

The highlight of Monday's session for me was the set-piece expertise of new signing Tsukasa Umesaki. He was whipping over some wicked free kicks from the left flank, struck with pace and swerve and causing havoc for the keeper on each occasion. Has he been studying the technique of David Beckham? It certainly looked like it.

After training, Engels held two informal press conferences, first in Japanese and then in English, and was looking remarkably relaxed after his sudden elevation to manager of Asia's champion club.

There was a human touch, too, in his recollection of the dizzying events of the previous day, as he said his morning promotion and afternoon preparation for the official news conference at 4pm had scuppered his plans for a kickaround with his two children after training!

"I spoke to my kids and told them what had happened," he said.

"The first thing they asked was, 'What about Holger?' That was quite sweet of them, because they knew how I felt when it happened to me. I just said that business is like this."

On a more practical front, it is going to be an enormous help having a Japanese speaker in charge of the training; no need for an interpreter to try and get the message across on the practice ground, in team meetings and on the pitch.

And Engels is going to make sure that the players air their grievances to him rather than to the media, as criticism of Osieck from senior players led to the breakdown in communication.

"They know there is nothing to hide," said Engels.

"They can speak to me directly or to a coach who will then speak to me. I am available 24 hours a day for them."

It is highly unlikely there will be any criticism of Engels, though, as it is time for the club to put its house in order. Besides, the new manager is regarded as a good, all-round guy who has the respect of the players.

He has had setbacks with the closure of the Flugels and being fired by JEF United and Kyoto, but has proved he is a survivor -- all the way to the top of Japanese football.

ends

17 Mar 2008(Mon)

March 14, 2008: There were a few talking points at JFA House in Tokyo on Friday afternoon when the squad list was handed out for the Bahrain away game on March 26.

Inamoto in -- generally welcomed as Japan need some muscle in central midfield.

Tamada in -- why not now he is fit? Who will ever forget his brilliant strike against Brazil in the World Cup?

Shunsuke not in -- now this prompted mixed feelings, but mostly negative.

Some reasoned that Nakamura would be playing for Celtic on March 15, March 18 and March 23 -- the last game, away to Gretna, just three days before the World Cup qualifier. Why should Okada pick him amidst this hectic schedule and when he will be able to train with Japan for a maximum of two sessions, maybe only one?

The other school of thought was that Okada should have called him up, as Shunsuke is in good nick and playing well, and it's more convenient to travel from Glasgow to the Gulf than it is to Japan.

I certainly feel that Okada should have picked Nakamura for this game, despite the tight schedule.

It is not as though Japan's midfield is in dazzling form, is it? While Inamoto will toughen them up and give them a bit of drive through the middle, surely there was still room for Shunsuke.

This is going to be a tough game, and one moment of magic from Nakamura could be the difference -- a brilliant free kick, a corner right on to Nakazawa's head, a slide-rule pass for Tamada to race on to, round the keeper and slot into an empty net...

In addition to this, the 21-strong squad will not be together from day one, so preparation is going to be patchy.

The bulk of the squad will leave for Dubai on Monday, but the five who play for Gamba and Antlers will not join them until Friday, after AFC Champions League games on Wednesday. Inamoto plays for Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday, so the squad will be assembling in dribs and drabs over the course of a few days.

Given all this, and the importance of the game, I think Okada is making a mistake not calling up Shunsuke on this occasion. Good enough to play against Barcelona, but not against Bahrain, it seems.

ends

13 Mar 2008(Thu)

March 12, 2008: It was the Orange Derby at Omiya on Sunday, but the Yellow Peril won it for Ardija.

With his dancing feet and his flashy yellow boots, Pedro Junior proved to be the difference between the two teams, sending Albirex tumbling to a 2-0 defeat.

The 21-year-old Brazilian forward was much too quick and clever for the Albirex defence, scoring the first goal himself and setting up the second for Daigo Kobayashi with another jinking run and shot.

Trailing 2-0 at the break, Albirex battered away at the Omiya defence early in the second half, playing toward their massive following behind the goal, but when they could not break through in that initial onslaught the result looked safe for Omiya.

All in all, then, a perfect start for Ardija at the rebuilt NACK5 Stadium, and their fans must be quietly confident about the season ahead. Not only because they have their own home ground from the start of the season, rather than touring Saitama prefecture for their home games, but because they may have finally sorted out their overseas signings.

Although this is Omiya's fourth season in the top flight, they can hardly be described as an established force in J1, as their finishing positions have been 13th, 12th and 15th.

And anyone who follows the team closely knows the main reason for this is their poor record in the overseas transfer market, which has always been a handicap in J1.

Toshiya Miura used to complain about it when comparing his foreign players with the likes of even Oita's, and so did Robert Verbeek last season. Anyone remember Alison, Enilton, Salles? Enough said...

Leandro, however, was a rock at the back in 2007, and started well again this time, while both Pedro Junior and Denis Marques joined the club last August.

Denis Marques made more of an impression than Pedro Junior in the second half of last season, but was on the bench against Albirex after an impressive pre-season by Pedro Junior.

Starting the season with a bit of stability in the foreign player department should be an enormous help for new manager Yasuhiro Higuchi, who has inherited an experienced squad in general.

In their opening match, Pedro Junior lifted Omiya to a higher level with all that dazzling dribbling in his yellow boots, and Ardija fans will be hoping he has a "knack" for scoring spectacular goals -- especially at NACK5.

ends

10 Mar 2008(Mon)

March 7, 2008: It is never easy to predict the champions of the J.League, even on the last day of the season.

So on the eve of a new campaign?

Almost impossible, but "impossible is nothing" as they say these days, and surely the 2008 champions will emerge from the J1 Super League.

I would say the Super League membership stands at four, led by Reds, Gamba and Antlers and with Frontale as the dark horse.

Apart from those four, I cannot see anyone else challenging -- unless Shunsuke Nakamura returns to Marinos in the summer and transforms his old team, Ogasawara-style.

My tip for this season, though, is Urawa, despite the fact they have lost the goals of Washington, the midfield craft of Hasebe and the extravagant skills (usually off the bench) of Ono. In addition to this, the injured Alex and recovering Robson Ponte will be out for a good few weeks yet, so the new-look team needs a good start.

Reds have bought well in the winter, and I am sure Takahara and Edmilson will work well together and share the goals out, rather than it being a one-man Washington show.

Umesaki is another fine signing, a bright and busy attacking midfielder who can operate all across the pitch behind the front line and help link midfield to attack.

I know Hasebe was a firm favourite of the Reds supporters with his surging runs from deep, but I always felt his potential was never quite fulfilled at Urawa. He had the ability to get hold of a game by the scruff of the neck and really dominate it, and his departure will be more than compensated by the combination of Abe and Suzuki in the engine room.

This gives Reds an altogether tougher centre, not only protecting the defence but providing a solid platform for the attack to function.

Reds have two players for every position, and, unlike Gamba and Antlers, have no AFC Champions League group commitments until they enter at the quarter-final stage.

Frontale, disappointing in the league last season, should be strong enough to maintain a serious challenge this time. The explosive Hulk will give them a new dimension, and the addition of Yamagishi will tighten up the left side of midfield. With the stability and continuity from recent seasons, Frontale are a genuine threat this time.

But I'll go for Reds -- a year after tipping Gamba...

ends

6 Mar 2008(Thu)

March 5, 2008: In near flawless English, Antlers manager Oswaldo Oliveira is a quote machine for the media after every match.

He was in particularly fine form on Saturday after the Xerox Super Cup, or the Xerox Super Mess as one English-language newspaper so fittingly described it the next day.

Amongst Oswaldo's cutting observations was the role of television in such controversies; or, rather, the lack of it -- a subject I have written about before as the approach of the TV stations here differs vastly to England and, presumably, most other countries.

Oswaldo pointed out that controversial incidents were often "passed over" and the coverage simply "jumped" to the next moment. No slow-motion replays. No analysis. No debate. Who was right? Who was wrong?

In Saturday's match, the sports news shows had a feast of fouls to dissect and devour, from the red cards to disallowed goals, from the penalty award to the retaken kicks (on both sides) and, of course, the rare pitch invasion.

Wouldn't it have been entertaining, educational even, to see those moments replayed and replayed from different angles in the weekend football shows; not just to show the referee may have been wrong on occasions (Kubo's penalty), but also to show he or his assistant was right, such as Tashiro's disallowed goal in the first half when clearly the flag was up for offside against Araiba before he crossed the ball. It wasn't Tashiro who was offside.

Many decisions look wrong or harsh on first viewing, but replays often prove the officials to be right. On a few occasions this season, for example, I have heard the colour commentators on the English Premier League apologise to the ref and admit he did, in fact, make a great call.

The controversies came so thick and fast on Saturday that it was difficult to understand what was going on, so a thorough debate and analysis by the TV pundits would have shed some light.

It never came -- and the repeat of the match I saw on the G+ Channel in the early hours of Sunday morning ignored the post-shootout melee to focus on a hero interview with Hisato Sato, completely missing the drama and the theatre unfolding behind them.

Oswaldo was trying to be fair to both sides in his assessment, saying he thought the red card for Sanfrecce was unfair, too, while pointing out that the Sanfrecce keeper had advanced off his line more for the penalty misses of Danilo and Motoyama than Sogahata had in saving from Stoyanov and Saito.

Ideal topics for debate and for conclusions, but they were "passed over" -- as Oswaldo would say -- on everything I saw later on Saturday and Sunday.

ends

3 Mar 2008(Mon)

March 1, 2008: One of the highlights of the football season is over before a ball has been kicked.

The J.League's "Kick Off Conference" took place at the Tokyo Prince Park Tower Hotel on Friday afternoon, and featured the manager and a player from all 33 clubs, among them Okubo, Iwamasa, Keita Suzuki, Shimomura, Tamada and Tokunaga.

One J.League executive described it as a "one-stop shop" for the media regarding season preview work, and 700 media took advantage of this lavish public relations exercise.

I can't remember anything like this at all back in England, other than the Player of the Year award in London at the end of the season, organised by the Football Writers' Association.

At those events, players and managers were out in force, but, apart from the official business, it was all "off the record", and a chance to relax and chat over dinner.

The situations in England and Japan, of course, are very different.

English football does not need to provide such an organised pre-season event because the game is part of everyday life and the media attention never wavers. The media will turn up no matter how squalid the facilities, how hostile the reception, or how uncooperative the managers and players on occasions may be.

The J.League, on the other hand, had to woo the media in the early days, and hang on to them in a sporting establishment steeped in the history and tradition of baseball and sumo.

And the J.League has done a fantastic job in this aspect, as evidenced by the massive turnout on Friday and the ocean of information available at the 33 colourful club kiosks.

The main theme of the official part of the programme was the J.League's aim to attract 11 million fans in season 2010.

Last year the figure was 8.8 million, and it will need an increase of 7 per cent each season to achieve that goal. The target this year is 9.5 million for J1, J2, Nabisco Cup and the home games of the three clubs in the AFC Champions League, and this looks well within reach.

Clearly the J.League is firmly established in Japan's sporting world, but I cannot imagine the day when the authoritires here take the media for granted and scrap this glittering "one-stop shop".

ends

28 Feb 2008(Thu)

February 27, 2008: First impressions can be misleading, especially before the start of a long campaign.

But there was something about JEF United Chiba at Fukuda Denshi Arena on Sunday that suggested this season might not be the struggle predicted by many after losing half their team in the winter.

There was an energy and a vibrancy about their play in the Chiba Bank Cup at home to Reysol, as if the players were out to prove a point.

Rather than the end of an era, it was more like the start of a new team, with opportunities for fresh faces.

After the game, new coach Josip Kuze acknowledged this factor, and reassured JEF fans that there was no danger of his team being at the bottom.

It might take some time, he said, but he had some good young players with a lot of potential and enough experience to build a "serious" team.

And, as anyone who was there could not fail to notice, they also have Eddy Bosnar.

At 1.91 metres and 88 kgs, the shaven-headed Australian central defender is a formidable sight, and packs a ferocious free kick with his left foot.

He endeared himself immediately to the JEF faithful in the crowd of 12,933 with some crunching tackles that seemed to surprise the Reysol players, and it will be interesting to see how referees react to his robust style this season. I hope they can differentiate between a foul and a hard tackle, and base their view on the challenge rather than the reaction of the rival player.

JEF, who have lost Mizumoto at the back and the midfield quartet of Mizuno, Sato, Hanyu and Yamagishi, will need Bosnar to paper over the cracks at the start of the campaign, as well as their experienced players such as Saito, prodigal son Sakamoto, the new leader Shimomura (my JEF MVP last year) and, when he is fit again, Maki.

In Maki's absence on Sunday, Kuze played a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Nakajima playing very deep in front of the back four, and Reinaldo the lone striker. One player Kuze has high hopes for is Kota Aoki, the Yasu High School product who started on the left side of midfield before moving up front.

Aoki, as we know from his days with Yasu and occasional J1 appearances, has a lovely left foot, and Kuze thinks he has the potential, at 20, to be a "great" player.

This is always the silver lining with JEF. Stars leave but their places are filled quickly, although admittedly not at the current rate of five at a time.

However, on the evidence of Sunday, when JEF missed six or seven injured players, the early signs are positive.

ends

25 Feb 2008(Mon)

February 23, 2008: Japan were winners on two counts against China in the East Asian Championship on Wednesday night.

First the result, a 1-0 victory away from home; second, the way Japan conducted themselves in a provocative, occasionally violent, environment.

The worst incident, of course, was the terrible foul by keeper Zong Lei on Michihiro Yasuda early in the second half. Immediately it happened my thoughts went back to 1982, and the brutal assault by West Germany keeper Schumacher on Frenchman Battiston in that epic World Cup semi-final.

The situation was very similar, as the player raced down the middle and flicked the ball past the onrushing keeper before being flattened.

Schumacher's was much worse, as it involved his whole body crashing into the player, and his reaction did not help as he waited, hands on hips, to take the goal kick, showing no concern for the stricken Battiston.

At least Zong was shown the yellow card, but surely if the referee deemed it a foul it must have been a red card. The Chinese keeper clearly aimed a mid-air kick at Yasuda with his right foot, the ball having already gone past him. It was deliberate and dangerous, and the Japanese camp had every right to be furious.

There were others, too, notably on Narazaki, who showed admirable restraint and sportsmanship to get up and get on with it when he could have reacted angrily or stayed down for several minutes after clumsy challenges by the Chinese.

Again I thought of Schumacher in that 1982 World Cup semi-final, when French winger Didier Six had the audacity to challenge him for a loose ball and felt the wrath of the arrogant German keeper. (On the subject of Harald 'Toni' Schumacher, his autobiography "Anpfiff", or "Starting Whistle", is an entertaining read, and highly recommended to Japanese fans and football historians).

Under the trying circumstances, with the Chinese players losing the match and losing their cool, the Japanese players emerged with credit for continuing to play the game, although they were guilty of the occasional theatrics.

All in all, though, it was a poor advertisement for football in general, and for football in this part of the world in particular.

Fortunately, a few hours later, our faith in the game was restored when switching on TV for the Celtic-Barcelona Champions League game. Now wasn't that a treat after the nonsense of Chongqing.

ends

21 Feb 2008(Thu)

February 20, 2008: Full marks to the Asian Football Confederation for punishing several national football associations for fielding overage players in an age-group competition.

North Korea, Iraq and Tajikistan have been fined and disqualified from this year's Asian Under-16 Championship following the results of MRI tests during qualifying, while five others who did not qualify -- Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan and Macau -- were fined.

This is a step in the right direction for the football authorities, but they have an impossible task to stamp it out completely due to the systematic abuse of the regulations.

It all reminds me of an incident during the Asian Under-19 Championship in Jakarta in 1994, when Japan lost in the final to Syria.

Behind the scenes, everyone was talking about which teams were "clean" and which ones were not playing by the rules; and it was clear from the physical appearance of several players that their passports did not tell the whole story.

I remember conducting an interview with a Syrian player after they had won their semi-final. We were sitting in the main stand of the vast national stadium, with an interpreter helping us out.

The interview went smoothly back and forth until I came to my last point, a routine check on the player's personal details.

"Can I just get your date of birth," I asked, with absolutely no ulterior motive.

For the first time the interview stalled, and the interpreter became involved in a discussion with the player. Clearly there was some doubt about it, and the pair were beginning to look uncomfortable.

Then I realised why, and I think they could sense my embarrassment. The interview had gone well, they were very friendly and cooperative, so I ended the matter by digging in my bag and finding a team list, complete with the date of birth of all players.

"Here it is," I said. "Is this right?"

They nodded enthusiastically before we shook hands and went our separate ways; crisis averted.

The Japan team, by the way, was captained by the playmaker Suguru Ito, who would go on to join Nagoya Grampus Eight.

Koji Kumagai, whose career with Kashima Antlers would be dogged by injury, was named Best Defender, despite playing in central midfield, and Susumu Oki was up front.

Oh...and there was someone else I remember vaguely on Japan's right wing who looked pretty decent. Now what was his name? Hidetoshi something...

ends

18 Feb 2008(Mon)

February 16, 2008: These are still early days in the Takeshi Okada reign, and the East Asian Championship in China will give him the chance to learn more about his players and test his ideas in a competitive environment.

One area he will want to address is finding a natural left-footer to bring balance to the team, especially at the back.

So far he has been using Komano at left back, but the player is clearly more comfortable and more effective on the right.

Okada is not short of options on the right side, however, with both Uchida and Zico favourite Kaji available; so Komano finds himself on the left.

I am a big fan of Komano's, admiring his tenacity and his positive approach, and his robust frame makes him an awkward customer for opponents to deal with.

But he still looks like a temporary solution, a compromise, on the left, and the late call-up of 20-year-old Yasuda will give the coach another option.

Yasuda has risen quickly from youth team to Olympic team to national squad, and will surely win his first senior cap in China, where Japan will play three matches in seven days.

In Okada's 4-4-2 formation, the two full backs are expected to provide the width going forward, rather than the midfield players, so it is imperative that the left-sided player can ping over an accurate cross on a consistent basis.

Komano's delivery with his left foot is erratic to say the least, and if Yasuda can supply this it will add another dimension to Japan's attack and make them much more dangerous in the box.

There are other candidates, too, such as Alex when he regains full match fitness at Reds, and Komiyama at Marinos.

Another player with an excellent left foot is Seiji Koga at Vissel Kobe. Now 28, Koga was an inspired signing from Avispa midway through last season by his old boss Matsuda.

Depending on the team performances in China, if Okada is looking for an experienced stop-gap to bring a natural balance on the left flank, he could do worse than check out the former Marinos man Koga when the new season starts.

ends

14 Feb 2008(Thu)

February 13, 2008: It was good to see two players in particular in Japan's Olympic squad so early in the season.

The first was Kazuhiko Chiba of Albirex Niigata; the second Shinichi Terada of Gamba Osaka.

Neither player was a key during Japan's tense qualifying campaign, but both are in a position now to force their way into the final 18 over the next few months.

Although Chiba is listed as a defender, he can also play in central midfield and certainly knows the game. This is clear in his every move, and his versatility is a big advantage with places so limited.

I remember last season Chiba having a fine game for Albirex against Reds at Saitama Stadium 2002, man-marking the man mountain Washington and emerging with great credit, despite his team's 1-0 defeat to a late Ponte cracker.

Washington was an expert in winning free kicks and penalties, as well as scoring goals, but Chiba stuck to his task, played with concentration and focus, and refused to be bullied by the burly Brazilian.

In short, Chiba showed some attitude to go with his talent, in the same way Mizumoto did for JEF when marking Juninho at Todoroki last season. This is always good to see in a young Japanese player, especially against an experienced and accomplished Brazilian striker.

As for Terada, I think he is a terrific prospect. He is quick, incisive and adventurous, with two good feet and an eye for goal. Gamba coach Nishino will demand more consistency from Terada this season as he tries to win a starting place in the silky smooth midfield, but his quality is not in doubt.

I feel that both Chiba and Terada have what it takes to jump from fringe member in 2007 to Olympian in 2008.

Regarding the national team for the East Asian Championship in China, it is the four strikers who have everything to play for.

With Okada's top three forwards -- Takahara, Okubo and Maki -- all missing, Bando, Yano, Maeda and Tashiro have the chance to impress.

Personally I hope Bando gets among the goals; he deserves to for wearing a short-sleeved shirt and no gloves when coming off the bench against Thailand in the Saitama snow last week...

Now that's what I call the Samurai spirit!

ends

11 Feb 2008(Mon)

February 9, 2008: Keisuke Tsuboi's decision to retire from international football was a big suprise.

The 28-year-old defender with 40 caps felt he had no future in the national team under Takeshi Okada so announced on Friday that he was going to concentrate solely on his club, Urawa Reds, from now on.

I watched Tsuboi training with the national squad at Inage in Chiba Prefecture last Saturday and he seemed in high spirits, but was left out of Okada's 18-strong group for the Thailand match on Wednesday.

The coach stuck with the Nakazawa-Abe partnership in the centre of defence, and preferred Mizumoto on the bench to either Tsuboi or Iwamasa.

One problem for Tsuboi is that Okada is playing with a back four, whereas the Reds defender is much more at home on the right side of a back three. In that position he can use his strengths, which are speed and his man-marking ability.

When Reds are on the attack there is no better player than Tsuboi to hold back and keep an eye on the opposing striker waiting to counter. With his pace and his anticipation in one-on-one situations, Tsuboi is very effective at cutting off those counter-attacks when danger threatens.

In this respect he offered something different to the national team -- but the rise and rise of Mizumoto has shunted Tsuboi further back in the queue for a place in Japan's defence.

Another Reds player not going to China for the East Asian Championship is Takahara, who has not been at his best in the Japan blue so far since his return from Germany.

But this will not be a concern for Okada as everyone knows what Takahara is capable of when he is in top condition, and the three matches in China will give the coach a chance to try a few combinations with his five forwards: Maki, Yano, Bando, Okubo and Maeda.

ends

7 Feb 2008(Thu)

February 6, 2008: Now here's an interesting one for Japanese football fans, particularly Yokohama F Marinos supporters.

Who is the better player, Koji Yamase or Shunsuke Nakamura?

Thailand's coach, Chanvit Phalajivin, has no doubt. He thinks Yamase is better, and picked out the Marinos schemer as one of Japan's top players during a pre-training chat with a handful of media at Nishigaoka Stadium on Monday afternoon.

When asked which Japanese players impressed him the most, Chanvit gave the backbone of the team: Nakazawa, Suzuki and Takahara.

"But I also really like the player who scored two goals in their last game," added the Thai coach.

Yamase, pointed out the media.

"Yes, Yamase," said Chanvit. "I think he's better than Nakamura. He's young and has time to develop."

Which Nakamura, Kengo or Shunsuke?

"The one in Scotland," confirmed Chanvit.

Interesting...and quite a confidence-booster for Yamase.

I wonder what Takeshi Okada thinks? We will find out pretty soon as the World Cup qualifying campaign progresses and Nakamura (Shunsuke, not Kengo) returns to full match fitness with Celtic.

Chanvit made another interesting point regarding his own players, saying that many of them dreamed of playing in the J.League.

This would motivate them in the match against Japan, Chanvit said, hoping their talent would be recognised by J.League scouts.

It is a noble thought, and you would like to think there is a chance of a Thai player adding some spice to the J.League, but don't hold your breath.

As much as I would like to see more variety in the transfer policy of the clubs, what can a Thai player do that a Japanese can't?

ends

4 Feb 2008(Mon)

February 2, 2008: Coaches can often be led to an improvement in their team due to unforeseen circumstances.

Take the example of the Japan-Bosnia match the other night, when an early injury for Maki led to the introduction of Yamase in the 33rd minute.

Yamase was quick to make his mark, adding some zip and zest to Japan's plodding midfield. Sure enough, in the second half Japan went on to win 3-0, with Yamase setting up the first for Nakazawa and scoring the next two himself.

Surely the Yokohama F Marinos schemer has played himself into the starting line-up to face Thailand on Wednesday, probably at the expense of Kengo Nakamura on the right side of midfield. This would leave Suzuki as the lone "volante", Endo on the left and Okubo at the top of the diamond, behind Maki and Takahara.

I was very happy to see Okubo in the starting line-up against Bosnia, albeit in a deeper role behind the forward line. I wasn't sure if Okubo would be as effective in this position, as his chances against Chile had come by playing as an out-and-out striker.

But Okubo made some very good runs from deep against Bosnia which took him beyond the back line, and he was unlucky not to connect inside the box.

Certainly, with the workhorse Maki charging around after anything that moves -- he set up the clear shooting chance for Takahara against Chile, remember, by doing just that -- and with Takahara looking for space in the box, opposition defenders have plenty to keep them busy even before calculating Okubo's darting runs.

I also thought Yamase lifted the mood of the team and of the fans by being confident and aggressive, and by being prepared to shoot. Okada pointed out after the match that Japan had been too casual in the first half by trying to score the picture-perfect goal. Endo and Uchida were both guilty of declining to shoot when the goal was in front of them, instead opting to pass the ball and with it the responsibility.

This is not a new problem for Japan teams, but is still irritating and frustrating to say the least. Okada can get even tougher on this point by simply substituting a player in the future, or dropping him. Yes, I think it is that important at this level!

Looking ahead to the opening World Cup qualifier, Japan can win comfortably against Thailand if they play in a professional, business-like manner from the start. They must be aggressive. They must shoot. They must take an early chance and not let up.

This is the team I expect Okada to turn out: Kawaguchi; Uchida, Nakazawa, Abe, Komano; Suzuki, Yamase, Endo, Okubo; Maki, Takahara.

ends

31 Jan 2008(Thu)

January 30, 2008: One of the biggest decisions facing Takeshi Okada is what to do with Shunsuke Nakamura?

Will Okada make him a key player, as Zico did, or will he phase him out?

Will he be prepared to carry Nakamura for long periods of a match in exchange for one moment of brilliance that can win a game?

It is going to be very interesting how Okada uses Nakamura in the coming months, but first the player must return to full fitness.

Against Falkirk on Sunday, Nakamura looked anything but fully fit -- but then provided the cross that enabled Scott McDonald to head the only goal of the game in first-half injury time.

It was typical Shunsuke. He had been a passenger until this point, hardly touching the ball in his position out on the right of midfield.

Then, in the three minutes of stoppage time, he found space on the right side of the box, shaped to cross with his right foot but, of course, checked back on to his left, and then picked out McDonald's run with a gem of a cross.

"A perfect delivery for an easy finish," purred the commentator. In the second half, Nakamura teased the Falkirk defence with "an enticing free kick", and the commentator then hailed his "telling contribution" on being substituted on 67 minutes.

Still on the comeback trail from his injury lay-off, Nakamura looked rusty in open play and off the pace, but all he needs is one moment of quality to change a game.

This is what Okada must balance, but not for the moment as what the player needs most of all is match fitness. The Kirin Cup at the end of May and the four World Cup qualifiers in June, two home and two away, will give the coach the perfect opportunity to address the situation.

Staying with Celtic, the Mizuno transfer from JEF United has been completed finally -- and the No. 29 shirt with the famous green and white hoops is already available on the official website, at a big discount, too, seeing as we are halfway through the season.

With a three and a half year deal, Mizuno has time to settle and establish himself in Scotland. Who knows, by the time his contract finishes he may be able to work out the Glaswegian accent!

ends

28 Jan 2008(Mon)

January 26, 2008: If Japan's players can replicate the performance of Takeshi Okada in his press conference on Friday evening, then things are looking good for the national team.

Here was a man who meant business. He was serious and determined, but relaxed enough to share a joke on occasions, and with the confidence to declare that he was very much his own man and would be doing things his way.

Clearly his break from the game has given him a fresh focus, and he looked an altogether tougher character than the former assistant coach who was in the right place at the right time when Shu Kamo was fired in 1997: Oka-chan the friendly salaryman has become Okada-san the company president.

It was clear from the training, too, that Japan will have a go, and be prepared to take the game to the opposition -- another change from the more conservative approach in his previous reign.

Okada has already said that he wants to create a new brand of football, a style that will make an impact at the 2010 World Cup, and to do this he will demand speed, stamina, aggression and, above all, team work from his players.

One player in particular who appears to have caught Okada's eye early is Mizumoto, the Olympic team captain and likely partner for Nakazawa in the centre of defence, should the coach play four at the back.

Mizumoto improved and matured rapidly at JEF United last season, playing so well that Gamba decided it was time to take him on board, and he has the character and personality on the pitch that Okada is looking for.

The same can be said of Okubo, a player with a bit of fire and attitude. Okubo has always been better than his scoring record for Japan misleadingly suggests, and hopefully his goals against Egypt at the end of last season will liberate him and lead to many more from now on.

The relationship between coach and players looks extremely professional, too, built on trust and mutual respect, and it is hard to imagine Okada tolerating any dissent in the ranks; or even confronting any.

Yes, Okada looks like a man in total control; a man who knows what he wants and with the plan to get it. As he said himself on Friday, at least he has some time to work things out before the opening World Cup qualifier against Thailand on February 6. This match, of course, is the first target, and the friendlies against Chile and Bosnia will point him in the right direction.

ends

24 Jan 2008(Thu)

January 23, 2008: Keisuke Honda is choosing a good time of his career to try his luck abroad.

The left-footed midfielder is still only 21 years old and, having signed a two and a half year contract with VVV-Venlo, has plenty of time to settle and develop in the Dutch league.

If he does well, he can expect to move to a bigger club in Holland, or to a bigger league in Europe.

And if it does not work out he can return home and rebuild his career in Japan, in the same way Umesaki did after his spell with Grenoble.

At 1.82 metres and 72 kgs, Honda has a good physique to cope with the Dutch league. He will find it more physical than in Japan, the tackles and aerial duels more robust and combative.

There is a saying back home that teams have to earn the right to play football -- meaning first they must dominate their opponents by playing harder, running more and being more aggressive. Only then can a team expect to turn on the style and play more attractive football.

This is the first lesson Honda will have to learn, and adapt to this new mentality and discipline, both tactically and technically.

On the technical side, there is no doubt Honda has a fine left foot. Who could forget his incredible free kick against Hong Kong in an Olympic qualifier, when his shot from the right swerved and dipped and flew into the opposite corner, leaving the Hong Kong keeper stranded.

This quality, of course, is a bonus, because there is much more to Honda's game than his set-piece expertise.

He was one of Sef Vergoossen's favourite players at Nagoya with his work on the left flank, and I remember the Dutch coach complaining bitterly after losing a league game last season when Honda was absent on Olympic duty -- and having every right to complain in my opinion.

With the emergence of Yasuda at Gamba, Honda is no longer an automatic choice for the Olympic team. But this should not concern him for the moment. His priority and his goal must be to establish himself at VVV-Venlo and be a success in Europe. Beijing can wait for the next few months.

ends

21 Jan 2008(Mon)

January 19, 2008: The other day I wrote about JEF United being the "crisis club" of Japan.

The equivalent in England, though for different reasons, was Newcastle United. All that changed, however, with the appointment of Kevin Keegan as manager for the second time -- the "third coming" in total of the so-called "Geordie Messiah".

For Japanese students of English football and culture, a Geordie is a person from Tyneside. Keegan is not a Geordie as he was born nowhere near the River Tyne, and many Newcastle fans are not Geordies, either.

But Keegan is a hero for the Geordie masses, and his return has put a smile back on the faces of Newcastle fans around the world -- including me! The Magpies were a laughing stock at Old Trafford last weekend, losing 6-0. They were a parody of what is expected from a team wearing the famous black and white stripes, but now there is pride and hope again.

I actually remember Newcastle losing 7-2 at Old Trafford in a League Cup tie in the mid-1970s, but at least they were competitive in that particular game and the fans had no reason to feel embarrassed. (The result is still referred to in a Newcastle chant to this day: "We hate Man U, 'cos they beat us 7-2!")

On the subject of Keegan and Japan, I wonder how many Gamba Osaka fans were at the match against Newcastle at Banpaku in the summer of 1996. Keegan was the manager at the time, "Sir Les" Ferdinand scored a wonderful header in a 3-1 defeat, and the manager of Nagoya Grampus Eight, a certain Arsene Wenger, was watching from high in the stands.

I was reporting on the game for The Journal, the morning newspaper in Newcastle, and it came at the end of a three-match tour that started in Bangkok, continued in Singapore and ended at Suita City.

I must admit I was expecting a laidback assignment following the mighty Magpies around the Far East, and arrived at the team hotel in Bangkok to see Keegan rushing through the lobby, chased by fans. I introduced myself, but Keegan had more pressing business. "I'm sorry, I haven't got much time at the moment," he said. "We've just signed Shearer. We'll chat later."

Yes, Newcastle had just broken the world transfer record with a 15 million pound deal for Alan Shearer -- and he would be joining his new teammates in Singapore.

So much for my leisurely summer assignment!

ends

17 Jan 2008(Thu)

January 16, 2008: When will the torment end for fans of JEF United?

The new season is still over seven weeks away but already JEF "Disunited" are being talked of as relegation candidates after a winter of discontent between the two main backers, Furukawa and JR East.

Mizumoto (Gamba), Mizuno (Celtic), Sato (Kyoto), Yamagishi (Frontale) and Hanyu (FC Tokyo) are either going, going or gone, and the return of the versatile Sakamoto from Albirex is the only bright spot.

JEF are used to losing good players -- Yamaguchi, Chano, Murai, Abe -- but never on this scale, and to describe them as the J1 "crisis club" even in January is hardly an exaggeration.

Well, at least they have a new manager in Josip Kuze, the Croatian coach who led Gamba in 1996 and 1997, but how many players he will have when they report back for training is anyone's guess.

It is truly a sorry state of affairs for JEF, as everything seemed to be going so well with their two Nabisco Cup titles and one of the best stadiums in the league, Fukuda Denshi Arena, near Soga Station.

I remember chatting to one of the club officials outside the ground last season and he told me the number of season ticket-holders had jumped from 1,800 at Rinkai Stadium to 5,000, which was a remarkable feat for the club. And JEF were taking as many fans away as used to attend the home games at distant Goi.

With an attractive team to watch and some exciting players, JEF were on the up and up. But now it has fallen apart, and the departure of Hanyu to FC Tokyo is the latest bitter blow.

Hanyu has been an outstanding player for United, a player who typifies the Japanese qualities so admired by Osim. But his talent and potential were spotted long before that, by a former coach, Jozef Venglos, in 2002. This was Hanyu's first season at United out of Tsukuba University, and while the media buzzed about Abe, Venglos told me he had never seen a player improve day by day, match by match, as quickly as Hanyu. What a shame, Venglos said, Hanyu had been lost to university football for so many years before joining a professional club -- in his opinion six years too late.

Happy memories -- and that's all JEF fans have at the moment.

ends

14 Jan 2008(Mon)

January 11, 2008: So Koki Mizuno is "the new Shunsuke Nakamura" is he?

Must have missed that comparison in the years I have been watching him for JEF, but inevitably this is how the Scottish media have been describing him recently over the Celtic connection.

I can't think of anything the two players have in common, other than that they are Japanese.

There again, I remember receiving a call from a newspaper in England a few years ago asking me if it were true that Akinori Nishizawa was as popular in Japan as Hidetoshi Nakata. The call was from the evening newspaper in Bolton, and they were very disappointed when I informed them that no, Nishizawa was not as popular as Nakata -- Hidetoshi or Koji (the joke was lost, I am afraid).

Mizuno is far from the new Shunsuke, although, admittedly, he is definitely Japanese.

Koki is essentially a right winger; a player blessed with natural speed and who likes to take his man on down the wing and ping over a cross. Sometimes he will go it alone, cut inside and have a shot himself, with left foot or right.

He can also play a more central role, buzzing about behind the front line and running at defenders through the middle.

So no, Mizuno is not at all the new Shunsuke. He is an altogether different player but who still has a lot to offer. In fact, if Celtic boss Gordon Strachan is looking for typical Japanese qualities, then Mizuno is more Japanese than Shunsuke, who is not quick but who, given time and space to operate, is a beautiful passer of the ball, and a set-piece specialist. During his time coaching in Japan, Steve Perryman once told me that "Nakamura could open a can of beans with his left foot" -- and this is probably true (but I would not like to taste them).

Nakamura's passing could work quite well with the pace of Mizuno down the right wing, should the deal go through.

More bad news for the suffering JEF fans, though.

ends

10 Jan 2008(Thu)

January 8, 2008: True to form, Gamba Osaka have been busy in the transfer market for an overseas player – but they have not gone far to sign him.

On this occasion their target – and their catch – was the experienced striker Lucas, all the way from FC Tokyo.

Like other imports before him, Lucas represents no risk for Gamba as he has played in the J.League for four seasons and is a proven, consistent goal scorer.

His haul of 48 in 120 league games is a solid record, and he should work well alongside the powerful Bare next season; Bare, himself, of course, signed from Ventforet Kofu.

Lucas is the replacement for Magno Alves, who left in disappointing circumstances, but Gamba went back to Brazil for the man to fill Sidiclei’s boots at the back, Mineiro from Internacional.

But back to the Gamba policy of signing successful foreign players from other J.League clubs. They monitor their record, they check their character on and off the field – and then they offer them more money and the chance to challenge for titles. Easy really, isn’t it?

I was debating this issue with a Japanese colleague the other day, but he took a very different standpoint.

He thought it was bad for Japanese football that clubs did not go overseas and sign new foreign players to boost interest in the league. He thought it would be more attractive for fans if they were constantly being offered new faces from exotic lands (meaning Brazil, of course, such is the lack of imagination of most clubs).

I found this view hard to understand, as surely it would mean clubs wasting even more money on players (and their agents) they knew nothing about: Premier League wages for non-league players.

In this context, therefore, I find Gamba’s policy quite reassuring and good business – and if other clubs complain they have “stolen” their best foreign players, they should give them two- or three-year contracts at the outset; although that, admittedly, is a massive gamble and expensive risk.

I cannot see how anyone can question Gamba’s policy.

ends

　

7 Jan 2008(Mon)

January 5, 2008: Takeshi Okada is not exactly holding back in his comments since returning as national coach.

First he told the players his target is to achieve Asia's highest ever finish at a World Cup, meaning third place at South Africa in 2010.

Then, in his interview for New Year's Day, he said he wanted to play a brand of football that would leave its mark on the world game, in the way that the Dutch team of 1974 did with their Total Football.

My reading of those comments is that he is not trying to copy the tactics of master coach Rinus Michels, as this would mean Okada having to unearth a Cruyff, a Neeskens, a Van Hanegem, Haan, Krol, Rep.....the names still roll off the tongue and conjure an orange-hued dream, don't they! Rather, he wants Japan to play a unique style of football, based on speed, movement, passing, fitness and organisation. In other words, to perfect the style started by Osim and which was glimpsed on occasions at the Asian Cup.

This is bold and ambitious talk from Okada, setting the scene for an interesting year ahead during which Japan will face some tough tests on the long road to South Africa (a minimum of 14 matches to qualify, maximum of 18).

Against Thailand, Bahrain and Oman, Japan will have to take the initiative away from home as well as at home and force their football on their opponents. Not only this, they will have to add a sharper edge to their play, and be more ruthless and single-minded when the opposition goal beckons instead of passing the ball to death. This is why I feel Okubo could emerge as a major player this year, and why the news of Takahara's imminent return to the J.League, with Reds, is a massive bonus for Okada and the national team.

After all, why should Takahara -- or any other Japanese player for that matter -- waste their time on the bench in Europe, putting their international career in jeopardy, when they could be playing in front of 50,000 every home game at Saitama, or in packed grounds around the country? I am sure the return of Takahara will add a couple of thousand to every Reds away game, too, and the player will be under the nose of the national coach, his schedule in sync with the commitments of club and country.

It is a sensible move by Takahara, one that will benefit Japanese football as a whole in this critical year ahead...a year of Total Japan.

ends

4 Jan 2008(Fri)

January 2, 2008: After the Antlers-Sanfrecce final on New Year's Day, a lot of the talk surrounded a player who wasn't even playing. Such is the stature of one of Japan's most exciting prospects, Yosuke Kashiwagi.

With relegation to J2, should Kashiwagi stay with Sanfrecce or accept a lucrative offer and move on? Kashiwa Reysol want him, and surely others, too.

Would his chances of progress in the Olympic team and national team in 2008 be damaged if he played in J2?

Naturally, the Three Arrows are hoping he will stay, as Kashiwagi is not only important on the field but off it with his marketability.

After the final, which Sanfrecce lost 2-0 without the suspended Kashiwagi, I had a chat with the club's managing director, Toyoharu Takata.

His view was that Kashiwagi should stay and play a full season in J2 -- 42 matches next season in the expanded 15-team division -- so that his game becomes more consistent.

"He is still very young so naturally his performance can be up and down," Takata said of the left-footed midfield wizard, who turned 20 on December 15.

"If he stayed with Sanfrecce I am sure he could close that gap over the course of next season so that his performance level is more constant."

There is logic and pragmatism in Takata's stance, and evidence that a season in J2 is not necessarily a backward step.

Just ask Gert Engels, the former Kyoto manager and now No. 2 at Reds, how much Park Ji-Sung improved during his season in J2 with Purple Sanga. The heavy schedule exposed the young Korean to competitive match situations on a Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday basis almost every week, Engels says, and gave him an edge that training could never do. PSV Eindhoven and Manchester United would agree.

The situation for another Hiroshima hot property, wing-back Yuichi Komano, is different to Kashiwagi's, as he is already established in the national team. Vissel Kobe are keen to take him.

Takata, however, insists that national team coach Takeshi Okada has made it clear he would still pick Komano, and others, if they were playing in J2.

It's been a long fight for Sanfrecce in 2007 -- and they are still scrapping to keep their top players for J2. How many of these contests can they win?

A 1-1 draw looks a good bet.

ends

31 Dec 2007(Mon)

December 29, 2007: The signing of spark-plug Tsukasa Umesaki by Urawa Reds from Oita Trinita had been on the cards for several weeks, and it became official on Wednesday.

Still only 20, Umesaki certainly stands out with his quick and clever playing style. He can also play in a number of attacking positions, increasing the options for the coach in the same way Yuki Abe did at the back and in central midfield after his move from JEF United a year ago.

Although Reds have a policy of not revealing the transfer fee they paid, the figure I read for Umesaki was around 200 million yen. This is a decent price for Oita, who should be able to bolster their squad in all departments for next season and stay out of relegation trouble.

So expect a good deal of transfer activity at Oita in the coming weeks, and also at Urawa, who are surely far from finished in the market.

At a recent Emperor's Cup match between Gamba and Trinita at Chiba I was chatting with a prominent Japanese agent who said Reds had money to burn this winter following their success in the Asian Champions League and huge crowds in the J.League. He believed their top three targets were Umesaki, Konno of FC Tokyo and Kashiwagi of Sanfrecce, as Reds were preparing for the departure of Hasebe and possibly Suzuki to Europe either during the January transfer window or next summer.

Other names linked with Reds are Komano from Sanfrecce and Edmilson from Albirex to replace Washington, so clearly there is a lot more business pending at Saitama.

Umesaki is a good start, though, and can add some zip and creative flair to the Reds attack. He has a similar build to Okubo, and makes things happen as he roams across the pitch, behind the forward line, looking for an opening. The injury to J.League MVP Robson Ponte gives Umesaki a chance to win a place in the starting line-up for next season, but he accepts it will be a challenge to make his mark at such a big club.

And don't rule him out of the Olympic squad yet, either, as I feel Sorimachi's team will continue to evolve in the run-up to Beijing.

ends

27 Dec 2007(Thu)

December 25, 2007: One of the biggest surprises of the 2007 J.League season was the relegation of Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Looking through their list of players, they had enough youth and experience to stay up, but lost in the play-off to Kyoto Sanga.

So full credit, then, to the Three Arrows for finding a second wind and winning their way through to the Emperor’s Cup semi-finals.

Whatever happens from here, at least they have regained some of their pride and given their supporters something to cheer after the bitter disappointment of relegation.

I must admit I did not expect Sanfrecce to be involved in the relegation dogfight, let alone go down to J2, due to the amount of quality players throughout the squad.

A team backbone of Stoyanov at libero, Toda and Aoyama in the centre of midfield, and Ueslei and Sato up front, was fleshed out with Kashiwagi behind the front two and Komano and Hattori on the flanks. Add to this the experience and craft of the Morisaki twins, national youth team captain Makino at the back and Shimoda in goal, and it is hard to work out where Sanfrecce went wrong.

Overall, they were probably one good defender short of being a mid-table team – and their relegation is further evidence of the rise of the J.League.

Two other examples of this in recent months was the success of the under-22s in qualifying for Beijing, and the almighty struggle Reds had in trying to close out the league championship.

Sorimachi’s Japan lacked the individual stars of yesteryear, but played well as a team toughened up by regular J.League football. The JEF United duo of Mizumoto and Mizuno spring to mind immediately.

As for Reds, they looked home and dry at one stage, but failed to win any of their last five matches: drawing three on the trot before losing the last two, at home to Antlers and away to Yokohama FC. Again this proved the depth in the top flight, with Grampus, Frontale and S-Pulse all taking a point off Urawa on the home stretch.

Sanfrecce have paid a big price, too, but can still end the campaign with a trophy.

ends

24 Dec 2007(Mon)

December 21, 2007: Official or not, nobody can take away the achievement of Zico and the brilliant Flamengo team that crushed Liverpool 3-0 in the 1981 Toyota Cup. Not even FIFA.

However, that is what the world governing body is trying to do by refusing to officially recognise all previous winners of the forerunners to their own FIFA Club World Cup.

Zico is not happy about the decision, saying that “people sitting in an office” are taking away the history of the game from the players, fans and media; although I am sure Liverpool will be happy to find out that the match never took place officially as far as FIFA is concerned.

I remember very clearly watching the match at home in England. Although Zico did not score, he was named Man of the Match as Flamengo inflicted a rare, heavy beating on a powerful Liverpool team.

I even remember a surly post-match interview with the Liverpool and England central defender, Phil Thompson, who refused to give any credit to the Brazilians. Liverpool had not been outplayed at all, he insisted.

It also stirred an interest in Japan, as I remember the incessant drone of the supporters’ horns, the winter sunshine of Tokyo and the big crowd packing the National Stadium. It was a great and exotic spectacle from so far away.

However, during the recent Club World Cup in Japan, FIFA said they would recognise only the four events organised by themselves, and that the other editions, played over two legs and then just as one game for the Toyota Cup, were not official competitions.

So be it, but the memories cannot be removed, and Flamengo will surely still count the 1981 Toyota Cup among their official achievements, with or without FIFA backing.

The match also gave a taste of things to come at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, where Zico was among the legendary four golden men in Brazil’s midfield, with Falcao, Socrates and Toninho Cerezo.

I have to say a great midfield, but not a great team, as they could not defend when they really needed to against Italy (losing 3-2 to a Rossi hat trick) and had a bungling centre forward in Serginho. I once interviewed Toninho Cerezo about this during his time at Kashima, and he shook his head and conceded Brazil 1982 could not be considered a great team. After all, they did not even reach the semi-finals.

Zico, though, should not be too concerned about the FIFA ruling, because anyone who values tradition and history knows only too well the impact and significance of that Flamengo-Liverpool match in 1981.

ends

20 Dec 2007(Thu)

December 19, 2007: At times on Monday night at the J.League Awards, it was hard to remember that Kashima Antlers had actually won the championship this season.

Five Reds players in the Best XI; three from Nabisco Cup winners Gamba; Robson Ponte the Player of the Year; a special award to Reds for winning the AFC Champions League and finishing third in the FIFA Club World Cup...

But then all you had to do was look at the face of Oswaldo Oliveira and his beam told its own story: Antlers were the champions and he was still in a state of shock.

It was over two weeks since Antlers had beaten S-Pulse 3-0 and Reds had lost 1-0 away to Yokohama FC to enable Kashima to leapfrog Urawa and claim a fifth league title and 10th major trophy overall.

Despite this incredible achievement, including a run of nine straight wins to end the season, I was surprised to hear that Oswaldo was not signed up for next season.

"In the next two weeks it should be sorted out," he said.

Antlers fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that there are no late hitches, as Oswaldo did a fine job in his first season without the playing resources or the money available to previous championship-winning Antlers managers. Every player he brought in did his job, and the coach moulded a strong team spirit after a shaky start.

Regarding the subject of the Best XI, Oswaldo thought Kashima may have had two or three more players in there, notably Sogahata, the goalkeeper, and Uchida, the young right back, but was not overly concerned.

My choice for MVP, a player who typifies the heart and soul of the championship-winning team, had been Iwamasa, and he was the only Antlers player in the Best XI. When I asked Oswaldo for his choice of MVP he said Juninho, the Frontale striker, but thought he had not been picked because he had won the top scorer award with 22 goals.

And the Antlers player Oswaldo could not speak highly enough of in terms of natural talent and potential? Well, it was Nozawa, scorer of that beautiful, and critical, goal at Saitama Stadium which beat Reds in the penultimate round of games.

An Antlers league and cup double, of course, is still very much on the cards, as they play Honda FC in the Emperor's Cup quarter-finals on Saturday. Before looking ahead to next season, Oswaldo's Antlers are not quite finished in this one yet.

ends

17 Dec 2007(Mon)

December 15, 2007: Attention, Reds fans! A couple of things to discuss.

Yes, you have made a big impact in the Asian Champions League and in the FIFA Club World Cup, supporting your team in large numbers around the continent.

You have even managed to bring some atmosphere to the Club World Cup/Toyota Cup, which usually resembles a training match when the calls of the players can be heard over a silent, theatre-like audience.

But booing a legend like Paolo Maldini!

What's that all about?

Really, Maldini is a role model in his attitude, loyalty and professionalism; a gentleman and a brilliant footballer.

So when a player of his stature comes on for the last 10 minutes against your own team, he should be treated with the respect his career has earned. Maldini is class. Booing him, just because it is expected, is not -- and Reds fans should try to differentiate between the two.

Booing Tsuchiya because of his foul on Tatsuya Tanaka, or booing the former Olympic coach Yamamoto when he went to Saitama Stadium with Jubilo, is one thing; and Reds fans will feel their actions on these specific occasions were justified. As a football fan, I do not have a problem with that. It is part of the game, and the targets must learn to live with it.

But Maldini?

Wouldn't it have been wonderful for the game if Maldini had been greeted by thunderous applause around the ground, rather than just from the many Japanese fans of Milan at Yokohama. Even the Inter fans don't boo Maldini.

Maybe Reds fans can learn some humility from FC Tokyo fans over at Ajinomoto Stadium. I remember once being very impressed with the Tokyo fans when Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi returned as goalkeeper for Jubilo Iwata.

On a smaller scale, Yoshi is a legend, too, a gentleman, a great ambassador for the game, and the Tokyo "ultras" behind the goal gave him a standing ovation as he ran towards them.

Having been brought up in the hooligan years in England, I half-expected the cheers and the applause to turn to catcalls and "V-signs" when the keeper acknowledged the reception...but no, the Tokyo fans showed their class.

Booing Maldini? Come on Reds fans, you can do better than that.

ends

13 Dec 2007(Thu)

December 12, 2007: The hardy souls who made it to Fukuda Denshi Arena on Saturday were treated to an entertaining game and another eye-catching individual performance from a player who is rapidly becoming a major force in a major team.

The match was Gamba Osaka against Oita Trinita in the Emperor's Cup fifth round, and the player was Gamba's Shinichi Terada.

I have written about Terada before this season, and expect to do much more in the future.

He is still only 22, a lively and intelligent attacking midfield player, and a product of the club's admirable youth set-up.

Not only did he score two fine goals in Gamba's 3-1 win, the first with his left foot and the second with his right, he produced a 90-minute display of confidence and creativity with his well-timed runs from midfield.

His first goal was a left-foot snap shot from the edge of the box, taking everyone by surprise with its venom and accuracy, and his second was a right-foot curler into the far corner -- the kind of goal Shinji Ono scores in his sleep. It was clear what Terada was going to do when he received the ball in such an inviting position, as he made room for himself and opened up the angle to caress the ball inside the far post. A match reporter would describe it as "an exquisite finish" or "a sumptuous finish", both words doing justice to this "Ono-esque" piece of skill.

The disappointing crowd of 3,285 was hardly surprising, and highlighted once again the dwindling interest in the Emperor's Cup.

Gamba Osaka v Oita Trinita at Soga, Chiba Prefecture, anyone? Makes no sense in this day and age: Not to the two teams at the end of a long season, the fans of the two teams, or even to the Chiba public, who would prefer to watch their own team, JEF United, thank you very much.

Clearly the JFA must make drastic changes in the timing and the format of the competition, which is now in its 87th edition and struggling to retain the glamour and serve the noble principles of a bygone era.

But more of that subject later...

ends

10 Dec 2007(Mon)

December 8, 2007: It must have been a tough call for the Australian Football Federation in their choice for a new national coach.

The two final candidates were well known to Japanese fans: Philippe Troussier and Pim Verbeek.

In the end, Verbeek got the job, his target to take Australia into the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Troussier, meanwhile, must wait to try and rebuild his career, because not a lot has gone right for him since he left Japan in 2002 after a successful and entertaining four years.

I must admit a few years ago I contacted the Scottish Football Association when Troussier was said to be on a shortlist of two, the other being Berti Vogts. Of course the SFA would not admit it was down to Troussier or Vogts, but I said that Troussier would do a great job in rebuilding the Scottish national team -- identifying talented young players and fitting them into a system from age group football through to the senior national team; just like he had done in Japan. And he would be pretty funny along the way...

But back to Pim. He is truly one of the game's nice guys, as anyone who has had dealings with him in recent years will testify.

He led Omiya in J2 in 1999 and Kyoto in J1 in 2003, and worked with Hiddink in the build-up to the 2002 World Cup and with Advocaat for the 2006 World Cup.

He popped over to Japan on a regular basis during his time in Korea to check on the Koreans playing here, and it was always refreshing to catch up with him for a coffee and a chat.

He knows the game inside out in this part of the world, and his knowledge of the Japanese and Koreans in particular will come in handy on the long road to South Africa (a minimum of 14 qualifying matches for Japan, a maximum of 18 if they finish third in the final round and must face two play-offs).

Although most of Australia's top players are in the English Premier League -- very convenient from Holland -- Pim says he will be based in Australia and assemble a squad of A-League players. This makes total sense, of course, because it is easy to follow the form and the condition of the players in Europe, but not so in Australia.

He will be going there at an exciting time, too, with the game enjoying a high profile; and the fact that he will be able to communicate in English after so many years in Japan and Korea must also be a huge barrier removed.

I am sure everyone in Japan wishes Pim the best -- once Japan have qualified, of course!

ends

6 Dec 2007(Thu)

December 5, 2007: The shock defeat of Urawa Reds and incredible championship success of Kashima Antlers threw everything into confusion regarding the J.League MVP for 2007.

Even though there are some outstanding individual players around the league, I believe the MVP should always come from the championship-winning team.

Had Reds hung on, then Robson Ponte would have been a strong contender, as would Keita Suzuki and Yuki Abe. Who knows, come the official awards night on December 17, one of these players may well win it.

But my choice would come from Kashima, and again I have narrowed it down to three candidates.

The first would be Marquinhos, a J.League journeyman who has had a fantastic season in his own right and in his work for the team by leading a frequently young and inexperienced forward line. He has quick feet to take him past defenders and has scored some spectacular goals.

The second candidate would be Mitsuo Ogasawara. Yes, I know he played only half a season after returning to the club from Italy, but would Antlers have won the championship without him? Would they have matured and developed so much as a team and won nine straight games without the contribution and the influence of Ogasawara?

The answer to both questions would surely be "no", but this does not mean I would choose Ogasawara as MVP for the season.

Which brings us round to the third candidate, and the player who would get my vote. It is Daiki Iwamasa.

The big centre half is my type of player -- a tough competitor who leads by example and plays with all his heart. In other words he is a natural successor to Antlers legend Akita -- who has announced his retirement at Kyoto this season but whose spirit lives on at Kashima in the form of Iwamasa.

There is no bigger compliment to Iwamasa than that, and I think he has typified the fighting qualities of Antlers this season and their determination to keep going in difficult times.

Both Nakazawa and Tulio have won the award in recent seasons, proving that defenders are rightly recognised, too. Iwamasa would be my choice this time.

ends

3 Dec 2007(Mon)

November 30, 2007: Safe and logical are two buzzwords in the coaching philosophy of the ever pragmatic Takeshi Okada.

And that was my reaction to the news that Okada – barring any late snag – will succeed Ivica Osim as coach of the national team. It is a very safe and logical appointment by the JFA.

Okada, of course, has been there, done that and got the World Cup T-shirt, from France 1998. He has had a long break from top-level coaching so should be refreshed and ready for battle when Japan start their campaign in February to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

In 1997, Okada was assistant coach to Shu Kamo – and was promoted when Kamo was fired during a two-game swing in Central Asia. He revived the team, recorded a crucial win in Korea, and then steered Japan past Iran in the play-off on that unforgettable night in Johor Bahru.

This time he is also taking on a job that was half-finished, but in much more traumatic circumstances than before after the stroke that felled Osim.

Osim was well on his way to rebuilding the team and creating a new style of play when tragedy struck, and Okada’s job will be to maintain that creative momentum while adding his own touches in terms of team structure and personnel.

And Okada, of course, knows everything there is to know about the J.League players and those overseas from his days of plotting campaigns with Yokohama F. Marinos.

Yes, he is a logical and safe choice, and there was absolutely no need for the JFA to look outside of Japan when there were a couple of other candidates who would also have been sound appointments: Nishino and Osieck, the latter supported by his Japanese-speaking assistant coach Engels, thereby doing away with the need for an interpreter on the training pitch and in the meeting room.

Under the tragic circumstances, though, Okada fits the bill at a time when the JFA was thrown into shock like the rest of the football world.

ends

29 Nov 2007(Thu)

November 27, 2007: Who would have thought that the J.League championship would still be on the line on the last day of the season?

It looked as though Reds would wrap it up early and be able to take a breather before the FIFA Club World Cup in the second week of December.

But here we are, in the final week of the season, and Reds still have to win one more game to guarantee a second straight championship.

On paper, of course Reds should beat Yokohama FC at Nissan Stadium on Saturday, but we have seen in the J.League that anything can happen on the last day of the season -- especially at that ground. Just ask Tatsuhiko Kubo!

Look at the match from the perspective of Yokohama FC. It is a wonderful opportunity for them to end a miserable season on a high note, and give their fans something to celebrate over the winter months before they return to J2.

They have nothing to lose, whereas Reds have everything to lose in terms of the championship and indeed their pride. After all, the fact that they won the Asian Champions League has made them an attractive target for all rivals, and this is additional pressure the Reds players will have to learn to live with.

It could have been even worse for Reds if Washington had been sent off against Antlers on Saturday. After being booked for a late challenge on Araiba in the first half, Washington went flying over Sogahata in the second half as they chased a loose ball.

It was touch and go whether he would be booked for simulation – sorry, for diving – and I would not have been surprised at all if the referee had shown him the yellow card, followed by red. There is no doubt Washington tumbled theatrically, twisting in the air, but what saved him probably was that he did not appeal for a penalty. I think he came to his senses as he hit the deck and decided to get up and carry on, realizing that if he pushed his luck a little too far it might backfire on him.

Anyway, it was good to see the angry reaction of the Antlers players. I must admit I love it when players are furious with rivals who dive and try and win penalties or free kicks. I don’t think there is enough of this in Japan (angry reactions I mean; there is plenty of the other).

If a player feels an opponent is trying to con the referee and trying to get someone booked or sent off, give him a piece of your mind! Tell him he’s a cheat. Let everyone in the ground know he’s a cheat. Embarrass him. Humiliate him. Then maybe he won't do it again -- well, at least until the next game.

About the Reds-Antlers match in general: a thoroughly professional performance by Antlers, just like the good old days. Lovely goal by Nozawa. Good spot by the referee for Tulio’s handball. Looked harsh at first, but the decision was spot on.

But why, oh why didn’t Soma shoot on his favored left foot in the second half instead of trying to pass to Washington inside the Antlers box?

ends

26 Nov 2007(Mon)

November 23, 2007: It is usually quite easy to identify the stars of a successful team.

But in the case of Japan’s under-22s, where do you start?

As Philippe Troussier would have said proudly, “the team is the star” -- because that is so true of this generation of players, whose qualification for Beijing must be regarded as a major triumph.

While there may not have been any stars – is this a bad thing? -- there are certainly several unsung heroes who deserve praise.

One player in particular I would like to mention is the Sanfrecce midfielder Toshihiro Aoyama.

I thought he made a major contribution to Japan’s 1-0 victory at home to Qatar a few weeks ago when he came on as a substitute. He shows great awareness and anticipation, breaking up opposition attacks with a well-timed tackle or an interception. Nothing flashy; just good concentration and tactical discipline.

On Wednesday night, of course, he saved the day with that marvellous goal line clearance when the Saudis seemed certain to score. Had that gone in so early, then the match would have been very different.

I would have expected it to degenerate into a farce, with more gamesmanship and play-acting than anyone could tolerate as the Saudis held on to their lead. The stretcher would have been on every five minutes, and the goalkeeper would have stayed down after every corner and free kick sent into the Saudi box.

This is why it was so crucial for Japan not to concede the first goal – and why Aoyama’s contribution not only saved Japan but also saved the match from descending into chaos.

I also thought Hosogai had a fine game alongside Aoyama in the midfield engine room, giving Japan a bit of steel, experience and dynamism. He came into the game with confidence surging through him due to Reds’ successful season – and didn’t it show!

While their qualification for Beijing is a big success, this team is far from complete, and no one knows this more than Sorimachi.

But the coach has the basis of a well-organised, hard-working team, and a team that matured and toughened up considerably as the campaign went on.

This is enough reason to celebrate, without the need for individual stars.

ends

22 Nov 2007(Thu)

November 20, 2007: The Olympic Games in Beijing are just one win – or one draw – away for Japan, ahead of their match against Saudi Arabia at Kokuritsu on Wednesday night.

Yes, it is tantalizingly close, but far from a formality as the Saudis know they will qualify with a victory.

This all makes Wednesday’s match a tense, fascinating contest, all these months of qualifying reduced to what amounts to a cup final – winner takes all, or a draw taking all in the case of Japan.

After their defeat in Qatar, Japan got it exactly right in Vietnam and won handsomely with a performance full of authority, experience and goals.

Coach Sorimachi was rewarded for his attacking line-up with four goals, two for Reysol’s lively Lee, one for Honda from the penalty spot and the last for Hosogai with a superb header.

Sorimachi took a risk by playing only one defensive midfielder in Aoyama of Sanfrecce, and pairing him with the attack-minded Kashiwagi, his teammate at Hiroshima.

With Mizuno on the right and Honda on the left giving the midfield balance and width, Lee and the strong-running Okazaki led the attack.

While the first goal was dreadful defending at a set-piece, the second was thanks to Honda’s industry and wonderful cross, met firmly by Lee for his second goal of the night.

On an off the pitch, Lee has character and personality, and is learning his trade well under the guidance of Franca, one of my favourite players in the J.League.

Japan, of course, hold the advantage going into Wednesday’s “final”, but it would be suicidal for them to defend and play for the draw. I am sure they won’t – as the first goal will be absolutely crucial.

Japan must play very cleverly and maturely, striking a balance between controlling the game but not pushing too much to win it and, in the process, leaving themselves open to the counter.

ends

19 Nov 2007(Mon)

November 16, 2007: Everything went to plan at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Wednesday night when Urawa Reds finished the job and became Asian champions.

And if everything goes to plan at the FIFA Club World Cup next month, then Japan will stage one of the most attractive games in the history of football in this country.

On Thursday, December 13, Reds could be facing Milan at Nissan Stadium, Yokohama, in the semi-finals of FIFA’s revamped club world championship – and wouldn’t that be a treat for the nation!

A proper match involving a Japanese club against a top world team; a match that means something from a competitive standpoint instead of another dreary tour/training game; a match that will be watched around the world; a match that will put Japanese football in the spotlight.

The Reds-Rossoneri fixture is not fixed yet, of course, because Urawa must first beat the winners of the play-off between Waitakere United of New Zealand and Sepahan of Iran. Anyone remember them?

Even before the AFC Champions League final took place, the Iranians were already guaranteed a return trip to Japan for the Club World Cup. Win the Champions League and they would qualify as Asian champions; lose, which they did, and they would enter the play-off as the “host” team – due to the FIFA rule forbidding two clubs from the same football association taking part.

Sepahan will surely defeat the Kiwis, who won the Oceania title by beating Ba of Fiji on the away goals rule after a 2-2 draw.

But just because Reds beat Sepahan in the Asian final does not mean they are certain to do it again. The carrot of playing Milan in the semi-finals would be a huge incentive for any club team, so Reds will have to do it all again when they play Sepahan or Waitakere at Toyota Stadium on Monday, December 10.

I am sure the Reds fans will travel in their thousands to Nagoya – and I am sure also that the Reds “brand”, following their ACL success, will have started spreading around the country; meaning strong support from that region, too.

It may be mid-November, but there is a long way to go yet before this football year is out.

ends

15 Nov 2007(Thu)

November 13, 2007: With all these mega matches around these days, it is difficult to know where to start this column.

So let's start at the top -- the top of J2, that is.

Under the former Omiya Ardija manager Toshiya Miura, Consadole Sapporo are approaching the finishing line of the long, long race for promotion.

After 46 of the 48 matches, Consadole have 87 points, two more than Verdy in second place. Kyoto Sanga FC are third with 81 points from 45 games, followed by Vegalta Sendai (80 from 45) and Cerezo Osaka (78 from 45).

The top two go up, the third-placed team plays the 16th-placed J1 team in the playoff, and at Sapporo Dome on Sunday, No. 1 meets No. 3...Consadole against Kyoto.

I caught up recently with "young Toshi" at Consadole's picturesque training ground at Miyanosawa. With Tudor House and the pink chocolate factory of (troubled) sponsor Ishiya on one side, mountains and even a windmill in the distance, it really is a lovely setting, especially in the bright sunshine of an early Hokkaido winter.

No wonder the manager was looking relaxed, despite the fact that his team resembles a marathon runner who has hit the front early, opened a huge gap and is now hanging on for dear life as the chasing pack breathes down his neck.

"I like living up here, you don't feel the stress," he told me, after the training session had finished and before he went on his daily 8-10 kilometre run round the pitch.

"Okada-san liked it as well," he added, referring, of course, to Takeshi Okada, who sought sanctuary in Sapporo after the madness of 1998.

Before the season started, I must admit I didn't think Consadole would be among the promotion candidates, with the likes of Verdy, Kyoto, Sendai, Cerezo, Bellmare and Avispa around.

"Me, too, I am surprised," said Toshi. "I thought maybe third or fourth would be good in the first season, and then next season we would be in a position to challenge. But we have been at the top since May and the players have handled it so well. They work hard every day."

They will need to keep working hard for a little bit longer. After Sunday's game against Kyoto, Consadole have a break until the last day of the season, December 1, when they are at home again, to bottom club Mito Hollyhock.

ends

12 Nov 2007(Mon)

November 9, 2007: Gamba Osaka know when they are on to a good thing.

They have proved this with their foreign signings, taking tried and trusted players who have made their mark at a previous club in Japan – Sidiclei, Magno Alves and Bare. No risk there.

Now comes the news that they have agreed a two-year contract extension with their manager, Akira Nishino, taking him through to the end of the 2009 season.

This is a smart move by the club, a two-year deal rather than one; not least because if the JFA comes calling for Nishino then at least Gamba will be able to negotiate a decent settlement to release him.

This is, of course, if the wheels fall off Osim’s Japan. I am not saying they will, because I think Japan are on the right track under Osim, but you never know what will happen in this game, as Jose Mourinho would tell you. Nishino, I am sure, would be at the top of the JFA list next time around.

The club is very settled and established at the top now, having won the league championship in 2005 and now the Nabisco Cup.

There is a strong youth policy and they do not waste money on players who cannot add something to the squad. The rumours flying around at the moment, of course, have FC Tokyo talisman Konno lined up for a winter move to Suita City – which would not go down well with the Tokyo faithful but would be an excellent signing for Gamba.

Konno is very much in the Myojin mould: solid, dependable, giving everything he has got for the team and constantly driving them forward.

Philippe Troussier once paid the ultimate compliment to the former Reysol star by saying that his perfect team would include eight Myojins and three others who could add something a bit extra. Myojin would give you a merit mark of seven out of 10 every game, never six, the Frenchman said, and I think Konno does the same -- and frequently more. In fact on some occasions I have given Konno 10.5.

At the start of the season I tipped Gamba to win the league. With four games to go their chances are remote, but this is more down to the resolve and depth of Urawa than a failing on Gamba’s part. Gamba acknowledge this, too, hence the new deal for Nishino.

ends

8 Nov 2007(Thu)

November 6, 2007: What a weekend for Michihiro Yasuda!

What a season, actually, as the 19-year-old left back/wing back has really emerged for club and country, at least at the age-group level.

Surely it will be only a matter of time before Ivica Osim promotes him to the senior ranks, as the national team needs a natural left-footer in there. At the moment Osim has two solid right-backs, Kaji and Komano, but the latter has been forced to play on the left due to the lack of an outstanding candidate.

I still like Komiyama at Marinos, and think he would be worth looking at, but Yasuda has come through the ranks at Gamba and through the national teams, playing for the under-20s in Canada this year and now in the under-22 squad pushing for Beijing.

Yasuda plays at a high tempo and likes to push forward, like many left backs. Roberto Carlos and Ashley Cole spring to mind, but the player he most reminds me of is the former England left back Graeme Le Saux -- there is the same "buzz" about him as he forages up and down the left flank.

Going back to the Japan-Qatar Olympic qualifier in Tokyo a few weeks ago, I thought the match was set up perfectly for Yasuda to come on in the second half -- not to replace Inoha at left back but to help him out further forward; bringing some balance to the team and forcing the Qatari right flank to retreat, as they were swarming all over Inoha. (Japan won 1-0 with 10 men, so Sorimachi was proved right in the end with his own selections.)

With three points now needed in Hanoi, maybe Sorimachi will put the in-form Yasuda in his starting line-up. After all, his confidence must be sky-high after being named New Hero of the J.League Nabisco Cup, and then MVP after his match-winning goal in the final.

He had a solid game on the left flank, going head to head with Frontale fruitcake Mori, who can be extremely dangerous when he is in the mood -- and dangerous to his own teammates when he is not.

For the goal, Yasuda, now pushing forward, was in the right place at the right time, just in front of Mori, to slide in and meet Bare's low cross from the right.

ends

5 Nov 2007(Mon)

November 1, 2007: At this late stage of the season, many teams have nothing to play for in terms of winning a championship, winning promotion or avoiding relegation.

One such club is Vissel Kobe, but manager Hiroshi Matsuda still has a target he wants to achieve.

“Our aim is to finish in the top nine,” he said, after a 3-1 victory at Kashiwa had helped his cause considerably.

“There are two halves in J1 – the top nine and the bottom nine -- and our target at the start of the season was to be in the top half. This is what we are aiming for now, and we are close to it.”

Indeed they are, as they stand 10th with 41 points from 30 games, only two points adrift of ninth-placed Yokohama F Marinos with four games remaining.

Vissel are always busy in the transfer market, and a couple of mid-season recruits were on view at Kashiwa: the left-sided midfielder Seiji Koga and defensive midfielder Jun Marques Davidson.

As I touched on in an earlier column, Koga looks a fine acquisition, not only because he brings balance to the left flank but also because it allows captain Okubo to play up front. Okubo never looked right on the left side of midfield, did he, because he is first and foremost a goal-getter, a single-minded striker who is much more effective running at the heart of the defence and shooting.

Matsuda told me that Koga had been one of his favourite players at Avispa, and that he had tried to sign him and centre half Chiyotanda at the start of the season.

“He is a natural left footer, the first at the club,” Matsuda said of Koga.

As for Davidson, he did well for Omiya before falling out of favour with previous manager Toshiya Miura towards the end of last season, but his transfer to Albirex did not work out at all and he never got a kick.

Davidson came on for the second half at Kashiwa to anchor the midfield – anchor being the appropriate word in the watery conditions. His long-term future is still up in the air, but at least now he is getting some playing time.

ends

1 Nov 2007(Thu)

October 30, 2007: Who said a penalty shootout was a lottery?

Well, you weren't at Kashiwa Hitachi Stadium on Saturday afternoon for Reysol's home game against Vissel Kobe.

Now that's what I call a lottery!

It wasn't football as we know it, that's for sure; more like waterball on a pitch that was unplayable.

I arrived at 12.30pm, 90 minutes before kick-off, and the hardy Yellow Monkeys were already in place behind the goal, sheltering beneath makeshift blue covers. Very resourceful. The heavy rollers were fighting a losing battle trying to clear the deluge, and the floodlights were on for kick-off under heavy skies and heavy rain -- and getting heavier.

Even though the match would have been postponed in many other countries, my thought was...well, why not play? The conditions were the same for both teams, there were almost 9,000 fans in the ground, the TV feed was organised, and the logistics of a postponement for a mid-table game did not bear thinking about.

In fact it was quite interesting watching the game unravel. A good pass became a bad one, and a bad pass became a good one. The players had to think, adapt to the conditions and revise their technique -- the only danger they faced was drowning.

In the end, Vissel -- maybe they should be renamed Vessel Kobe for the way they mastered the water -- adjusted better, particularly Leandro. The Brazilian forward quickly worked out that you could actually pass to yourself, chasing down a ball that would stop in a puddle before the defender could react.

Leandro's first goal was a neat header to an excellent cross from Seiji Koga -- what a good signing he is by Kobe manager Hiroshi Matsuda, as it brings balance on the left flank and allows Okubo to play through the middle -- and his second was a wonderful finish under the circumstances, chipping the ball beyond Minami without breaking stride.

You had to feel sorry, though, for Reysol's Brazilian forward Franca -- an artist trying to paint another masterpiece on a soggy canvas that had been left out in a typhoon.

ends

29 Oct 2007(Mon)

Tokyo, October 26, 2007: How significant was Urawa Reds’ win over Seongnam in their AFC Champions League semi-final on Wednesday night?

According to industry sources, it was one of the most important results in the last 15 years in terms of Asian football development.

There is no doubt that Japan drives Asian football, off the pitch in terms of sponsorship, marketing and television, and on the pitch with the J.League and the various national teams.

However, one thing has been missing since the Asian Football Confederation merged the old Asian Club Championship, Asian Cup Winners’ Cup and Asian Super Cup (which was contested by the winners of the first two competitions) into the AFC Champions League in 2002. That, of course, was a successful Japanese club.

All that has changed now Reds have booked a place in the Champions League final against Sepahan of Iran, and the marketing men feel that this has raised the profile of the competition to a new level overnight.

“Japan’s Asian Cup triumph in 1992…the launch of the J.League in 1993…Japan’s victory over Iran in 1997 to qualify for the France World Cup…and now Urawa Reds reaching the final of the Champions League. That’s how significant this result is,” said Nick Mould, Hong Kong-based president of World Sport Group’s North Asia operations.

This conversation took place in Tokyo the evening after events at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Wednesday night, when the formal proceedings finally ended at 10 minutes past 10.

The match had everything, didn’t it, and was played in a terrific spirit, despite the intense rivalry between the two countries and what was at stake.

When the match kicked off the atmosphere resembled a national team game, and my thoughts drifted back to 1997 and the World Cup qualifier between Japan and South Korea at National Stadium. At one point it looked like the result would be the same, too, as the Japanese squandered a one-goal lead and trailed 2-1.

On this occasion, though, Hasebe rescued Reds and the Japanese (and Brazilians, coached by Germans) came through in a penalty shootout.

Germans…a semi-final penalty shoot-out…how could Reds lose that one?

ends

25 Oct 2007(Thu)

October 23, 2007: No matter how inevitable relegation may be, it still hurts when the time finally comes.

That time came early for Yokohama FC, a 3-0 defeat at Kobe on Saturday condemning them to a swift return to J2 with five J1 matches still remaining.

Statistics don't lie, and they show that last season's J2 champions have been completely out of their depth in the top flight, winning only three times in 29 outings, scoring only 17 goals to date, and being stuck on a meagre 11 points since August 18.

Reysol, who came up behind them in second place last season, and Vissel, who won a play-off against Avispa to clinch promotion, have both fared much better than Yokohama FC, thanks to bigger budgets, a stronger balance of Japanese players and better foreign imports.

In J2, an ageing, wily Yokohama FC made few mistakes and played with control and consistency to cross the finish line first in the marathon season. But teams need a bit more than that in J1, and Yokohama simply did not have the pace or the depth in quality to make an impact. In short, they had come as far as possible, and there was nowhere else to go except down.

Not even a change of manager, Julio Leal for Takuya Takagi, could turn things round, or give them fresh impetus for a while, and relegation was confirmed as early as October 20.

At the start of the season it looked so promising for Yokohama FC, didn't it?

New recruit Kubo scored an early candidate for goal of the season with his blockbuster in a 2-1 defeat at Saitama Stadium on the opening day, and then came that incredible match at Mitsuzawa Stadium when the minnows beat the Marinos 1-0. There was a real derby feel to that game, and the contrast in the mood of the two sets of fans snaking their way down the hill from the ground to Yokohama station after the game was a true football moment.

That seems like a different year now, though, and it will be interesting to see how Yokohama FC react to the reality of relegation in their next match -- a massive one for the visitors to Mitsuzawa on Saturday, Omiya Ardija.

ends

22 Oct 2007(Mon)

October 19, 2007: It is a time for belated celebration, a time for quiet optimism, and a time for Yoshito Okubo to finally start making an impact at the highest level.

His two fine goals in the 4-1 defeat of Egypt on Wednesday were long overdue, coming in his 21st appearance for the national team since making his debut on May 31, 2003.

Admittedly, several of those appearances were restricted to only a few minutes as a substitute, but the pressure was building on him to deliver with each cap he received.

And now -- just like the public bus service in England -- you wait a long time, and then two come at once.

So good news for Okubo, who has improved overnight from no goals in 20 games to two in 21 -- an altogether healthier strike rate!

They say that one goal in three games is a decent return for a striker at this level, and Okubo is good enough to climb to that mark next year. Hopefully these goals will liberate him and he will continue to be aggressive and single-minded in his search for more.

It was Zico, of course, who gave Okubo his first chance, and talked him up a lot in 2003. But the goals did not come and he fell out of favour, missing his chance to make the 2006 World Cup squad.

Osim, too, was well aware of his qualities, but has made Okubo work and wait for his chances in the new set-up. Okubo started to repay that faith on Wednesday night and has put himself in the frame for a permanent place in the squad, but there is still tough competition in this department with the likes of Tatsuya Tanaka, Hisato Sato and Ryuji Bando.

Okubo fans, however, will feel that this is another part of the Osim jigsaw completed, another piece that fits the style and personality of the team. Apart from the result, then, this was a bonus at the end of the international year for Japan.

ends

18 Oct 2007(Thu)

October 16, 2007: As soon as news broke that Dragan Stojkovic had resigned as president of Red Star Belgrade, his next destination seemed obvious.

Surely it would be Nagoya, due to his strong ties with the club and the fact that he is still regarded as a hero by the long-suffering Grampus fans.

Shortly after, it was out: Grampus had indeed approached "Pixie" about succeeding Dutch manager Sef Vergoossen, who had indicated he would be stepping down at the end of the season.

In football, one and one does not always equal two, but on this occasion the instant reaction to the Pixie story has, in fact, a lot of substance.

Hopefully the deal will be done and Stojkovic will return to Japan, as he is an extremely interesting and entertaining character, respected worldwide.

On the pitch I often thought he got a raw deal from referees, who would over-react to his explosive nature and show him a yellow card for next to nothing. His reputation went before him, and he could not let off a bit of steam without getting into trouble. And then more!

I wonder how he will be on the touchline? Calm and controlled, mature and responsible, or maybe like Buchwald and inclined to throw his suit jacket to the turf in frustration, disgust, anger, or all three?

One thing is for sure: the Grampus fans will adore him and regard him as the saviour, and the players will respect him and be inspired by him. All in all it makes sense for Grampus, who, let's face it, are desperate to be a force in the J.League year in, year out.

On a few occasions Vergoossen looked like he was on the right track, only for the team to take two steps backwards. He has had rotten luck with injuires, of course, especially to his defenders, but the season has fallen away badly after such a bright start.

In fairness to Vergoossen, he always said a top five finish would be good for this team, but they are unlikely to climb that high, while being well away from the danger zone.

Can Pixie turn it round? The club thinks it is a gamble worth taking -- and one guaranteed to boost the profile of the club on and off the pitch.

He would be a welcome return to the J.League, not just to Nagoya.

ends

15 Oct 2007(Mon)

Tokyo, October 12, 2007: The Kawasaki Frontale debate has been – and still is – an interesting one.

Were they right to rest most of their first-choice players for a league match at Kashiwa in between the two legs of their Asian Champions League quarter-final?

Or should they have fielded their strongest side against Reysol as a duty to their fans and to the rest of the J1 teams?

To me the answer is obvious.

Frontale were absolutely within their rights to do what they did, and no one should be telling them who to pick for any match.

In a way it is an insult to the Frontale players who did play to suggest they were not up to the required standard, as they are on the list of professional players and, therefore, available for selection.

In fact, looking through the Frontale team at Kashiwa on September 23, it is still a strong side, and would probably be good enough to stay in J1 if they played every week: Kawashima; Sahara, Kawamura, Ito; Igawa, Yabu, Taniguchi, Francismar, Ohashi; Ganaha, Kurotsu.

This is a good team, even though they lost 4-0 in a second-half collapse. If they had won, or drawn, would anyone have been complaining?

For me it showed how seriously Frontale were taking the Asian Champions League, something some other J.League clubs have not done in the past, contributing to Japan’s poor record.

And it is not as though Reysol were at the top of the table challenging for the title, or at the bottom fighting against relegation. In those circumstances, rival clubs may have had the right to complain. But, still, that is not Frontale’s problem.

They were doing what they thought was best for the club, and trying to win the Asian Champions League, so they should not be put in the dock for this.

end

11 Oct 2007(Thu)

Tokyo, October 9, 2007: Anyone doubting the resolve of Gamba Osaka to keep the pressure on Urawa Reds should have been at Hitachi Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

With the injured Bare off at half-time, and a goal down just six minutes into the second period, things looked bleak for Gamba.

But they managed to regroup, fight back in style and win 2-1 to collect another three points in their pursuit of the defending champions. After Reds won on Sunday, the gap between first and second remains at six points, but with six games remaining the title can still be won and lost.

Two of the three goals at Kashiwa on Saturday were top quality; first as Franca fired Reysol into the lead with a sumptuous, first-time right-foot shot which curled inside the post. Great work, too, from Tadanari Lee, cutting inside from the right flank before laying the ball off for Franca to strike home. These two work well together, and Lee could not have a better teacher in the art of the deep-lying centre forward.

Gamba’s equalizer was also a beauty, as Bando rose to meet Kaji’s pinpoint right-wing cross and send a powerful header past Minami.

As for Gamba’s winner? Well, it looked a harsh penalty call for me as Terada swept into the box and tumbled under challenge, and an unnecessary yellow card for Ryo Kobayashi, the right back.

Endo allowed the rumpus to die down before scoring another of his trademark penalties. He makes it look so easy when, of course, it is not, but it needs nerve, self-confidence and a sound technique to succeed with such a nonchalant approach.

The Gamba player who really impressed me on this particular afternoon, though, was the aforementioned Terada. Yet another product of the club’s youth system, the 22-year-old attacking midfielder stepped up a gear in the second half and popped up all over the place, be it crossing, dribbling or shooting. I thought he was the driving force of the Gamba comeback, and his more established teammates responded to his adventurous play.

ends

8 Oct 2007(Mon)

Tokyo, October 5, 2007: A few weeks ago I bumped into Washington in Omiya one evening and had a quick chat.

I asked him who were the most difficult Japanese defenders he had come across, and he said Nakazawa first and Iwamasa second.

Now, there is a good chance he would add Kazuhiko Chiba of Albirex Niigata to the list.

Chiba had a fine game for Albirex against Reds at Saitama Stadium 2002 recently. Still only 22, he was asked to man-mark Washington in his own back yard – not the most pleasant of tasks on a Sunday afternoon.

And Chiba did just that in a performance that really caught the eye.

As we know, Washington did not score because he came up against an opponent who showed a lot of character and fight, as well as concentration in treacherous playing conditions.

Like Mizumoto, Chiba has a lot of personality as a player, and is not prepared to be intimidated by a high-profile Brazilian striker.

Like Inoha, Chiba plays with a maturity and composure beyond his years and inspires the players around him with his cool authority.

Like Abe, Chiba looks good at the back or in central midfield, where I saw him earlier in the season against Omiya at Komaba.

In short, Chiba is a natural football player, already with experience in Holland but still establishing himself in the J.League following his debut for Albirex in May 2006.

At 1.83 metres and 74 kgs he has a good physique, two good feet, a good footballing brain and a bit of attitude to go with it. One minute he was displaying his skills by bringing the ball out of defence; the next he was denying Washington with a fearless, perfectly timed block.

In these Osim days of versatility and adaptability, do not rule out Chiba from forcing his way into the national coach’s plans.

ends

4 Oct 2007(Thu)

October 1, 2007: Recent victories over Reds at Saitama Stadium and now Marinos at Nissan Stadium suggests a team challenging for the championship.

But no; we are talking about Omiya Ardija, who, despite these two eye-catching results, occupy the second automatic relegation place of 17th with just 24 points from 27 games.

When asked what his target was to guarantee safety, manager Satoru Sakuma said 40 points -- meaning five wins and a draw from the last seven games.

This is a big ask of his players, but Ardija's opponents include fellow strugglers Sanfrecce at home, Yokohama FC away, Oita at home and Kofu away.

What's more, they will finally have their own home stadium at Omiya Koen back on line for the November 11 clash with Trinita, following redevelopment.

One thing is for sure, Sakuma will be glad to leave the Komaba cow field behind, and play on greener pastures.

"Many of my players are small and technical. This is why we can win at Saitama against Reds and at Nissan Stadium against Marinos, on good pitches. At Komaba you cannot play football because of the pitch. It is just a physical battle," he said.

After the previous week's 1-0 debacle at home to JEF, Omiya lifted their game and their motivation several notches to score two excellent goals and win 2-0 against Marinos.

J.League journeyman Takashi Hirano -- one of the original Nagoya Grampus Three bad boys -- was roundly jeered by the Marinos fans before kick-off, and he provided the best answer with a flying header at the far post. It was Hirano's second appearance for Ardija, whom he joined on May 21 but suffered a knee injury on his first day of training and was out for two months.

"Good personality, experienced professional, gives 100 per cent in training every day. I believe in him," was Sakuma's assessment of the former Marinos man.

Yoshihara scored the second, cracking a right-foot shot on the run past a startled Enomoto -- and continuing his run all the way to the Omiya fans behind the goal. At the vast Nissan Stadium, that is approximately two kilometres, so full credit here to the referee, Joji Kashihara. He allowed Yoshihara his moment of glory, all the time looking at his watch but not showing the yellow card. Commonsense refereeing this.

Funnily enough, in the four minutes of stoppage time, Yoshihara got himself booked anyway for pulling back Nakazawa!

Well, you can't win 'em all...

For Sakuma, five out of seven will do nicely.

1 Oct 2007(Mon)

September 28, 2007: Hopes of an all-Japan final in the Asian Champions League have been dashed with the elimination of Kawasaki Frontale at Todoroki on Wednesday night.

I must admit I feared the worst before the penalty shoot-out, as everything pointed to a Sepahan win. Frontale had dominated the match but failed to capitalise on several clear-cut chances, while the Iranians would have settled for a shoot-out even before the second leg kicked off.

Under such circumstances, Sepahan had nothing to lose, while Frontale were now under more pressure to finish a job they had started in Iran but could not quite manage at home.

So full credit to Sepahan. They had ridden their luck, and survived due to a combination of fine goalkeeping from Abbas Mohammadi and some wasteful finishing from Frontale, notably Juninho. Against the big, strong, occasionally violent and frequently cynical Irainian defenders, Juninho looked much smaller and lightweight than usual, but his speed and eye for an opening still got him into some decent scoring positions as Frontale poured forward.

With the swashbuckling Jong Tae Se (or Chong Tese if you prefer) alongside Juninho up front, it is not hard to see why Ganaha cannot get a look-in at the moment, and must settle for a few minutes off the bench.

A few words in defence of Jong/Chong.

In extra time, several Iranian players accused him of using his elbow in an aerial duel with centre half Hadi Aghily. He didn't. It was his head. He was a little bit late into a challenge, but it was not malicious, it was just...well, Korean.

From the theatrical reaction of Aghily's teammates, the blood must have been flowing freely, and they urgently beckoned the doctor/physio/stretcher bearers to come on.

This is when the referee is in a difficult position. Is the player really hurt, or is he faking like many of his teammates before? On this occasion he was hurt, but who could blame the ref for waiting a while because the Sepahan team had cried wolf so many times?

The Iranians accused Jong of using his elbow, and were trying to stir up trouble, but he didn't -- and, in his own defence, he pointed to his head when confronted by an irate Sepahan defender on the resumption of play.

So, in the absence of Frontale, good luck Reds!

In terms of fan base, Reds have an incredible success story to tell Asia and the world, and hopefully they can do it in the Champions League to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup, regardless of where they finish in the J.League.

Even Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was impressed with the sheer volume of Reds fans, commenting that, outside the top 10 teams in the Premier League, Reds had as good a following as anyone in England.

Top 10? So many?

ends

27 Sep 2007(Thu)

Tokyo, September 25, 2007: Two strange games at the weekend.

On Saturday I headed for Urawa Komaba Stadium and the Ardija-JEF United match. Played on a poor surface, the game was a terrible advert for Japanese football.

It was hard to believe that Omiya were fighting for their J1 lives, as the match resembled a pre-season kickabout or an end-of-season affair with nothing at stake for either team.

JEF won 1-0 with a goal from Saito, but their failure to add a second against 10 men in the second half was a major concern for manager Amar Osim. In the end JEF had libero Nakajima to thank for the clean sheet, first with a timely interception in his own goal mouth, and then with a fine tackle just outside the box.

But overall it was a poor spectacle, with too many passes going astray and few moments of inspiration or coordination.

Sunday at Ajista was much, much better, FC Tokyo against S-Pulse.

There was only one team in it for a while – and it wasn’t the home team.

S-Pulse, one of the biggest Japanese teams I have seen, started really well, looking bright, confident and well-organised.

Then suddenly they were 2-0 down.

The first Tokyo goal was an own goal, scored by the unlucky Kazumichi Takagi as he met Ishikawa’s cross from the right with a diving header into the far corner. All credit to Ishikawa, though, as his cross, clipped in early and on the half-volley, was a beauty.

As was the finish shortly after by Akamine, who drilled a left-foot half-volley inside the near post after an incisive run into the box from Fukunishi.

From being in control of the game, S-Pulse were now in trouble and staring defeat in the face. It was incredible how quickly the game had changed, and Tokyo never looked likely to let them back into it thanks to the driving force of Konno.

Konno, happily back in central midfield after his stint alongside Fujiyama in the centre of defence, is always my MVP – and that is before the game even kicks off. It is up to someone else to play better than Konno to win my vote, and it is rare that anyone does.

ends

24 Sep 2007(Mon)

Tokyo, September 21, 2007: Both Japanese clubs achieved satisfactory results in the first leg of their Asian Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night.

Reds won 2-1 at home to Jeonbuk, Motors, while Frontale came back from Iran with a 0-0 draw against Sepahan.

Reds were the better team for long periods against the Koreans, who looked uncharacteristically sluggish and distinctly second best in all aspects of the game.

Until, that is, Robson Ponte went off with 10 minutes to go. This is when I thought Reds lost the initiative and the momentum, and Jeonbuk were able to raise their game and snatch one at the end against a Reds team that had started to panic.

Still, as manager Osieck said, Reds won the match – and he insisted they would be aggressive in the second leg. Even though a 1-0 victory for the Koreans would be enough to get them through to the semi-finals on the away goals rule, Reds surely have enough firepower to score again.

As for Frontale, they still have a lot of work to do against Sepahan at Todoroki.

A goalless draw away from home in the first leg was a good result for Frontale – but it must be remembered that it was not a bad result for Sepahan, either.

In the first leg, the home team did not concede a goal, and this could prove crucial in the return.

While Frontale will start as favourites, the Iranians remain extremely dangerous because if they score once, then Frontale will need two. The first goal at Todoroki will be vital, and Frontale must be careful they do not get caught on the counter if they try and kill the game too quickly.

It will be interesting to see Frontale’s tactics; whether they go for broke from the start and risk conceding a goal, or whether they play patiently and conservatively in trying to unlock the Sepahan defence. As I said before, a 0-0 draw at home for Sepahan in the first leg is far from a bad result, as the pressure will be on the home team in the second leg to force the pace.

On the face of it, the first-leg results looked good for Japan – but a lot can still happen in the second 90 minutes.

ends

20 Sep 2007(Thu)

September 18, 2007: The match is deep into injury time; the visitors are winning 2-1 and have made only two substitutions.

Guess what happens next?

That's right. There is movement on the visitors' bench, the board goes up and they want to replace the No. 11, a left winger, with No. 2, a central defender.

The No. 11 walks off as slowly as possible, eating up a few more precious seconds, and the No. 2 runs towards his own goal, where his team is defending a corner.

The ball comes over, the heads go up, the net bulges and the home team has grabbed a dramatic equaliser for 2-2. The away team kicks off and the full-time whistle blows.

Was the away team just unlucky, trying to bolster their defence for the corner?

Or did they get their just deserts for blatantly running down the clock and trying to spoil the rhythm of the match by making a meaningless substitution?

However you may view this "tactic", I feel that the move by Oita Trinita manager Chamusca backfired on him big-time against Kawasaki Frontale at Todoroki on Saturday evening.

The match was 1-1 as we entered three minutes of additional time, but Oita substitute Teppei Nishiyama quickly changed that by shooting home left-footed into the bottom corner for 2-1. Cue mayhem from the Oita fans behind the goal, the players and bench, who celebrated as if they had won the World Cup.

Frontale, naturally, pushed for a second equaliser, and forced a corner on the right. At this point, Chamusca tried to change Shingo Suzuki (11) for Takashi Miki (2), but the referee waved play on.

Oita defended the corner, but in doing so conceded another, this time on the left flank. Now Oita made the change. Ohashi, a Frontale substitute, swung over the kick, and Igawa, another Frontale sub, headed home with the Oita defence all at sea; 2-2. Restart. Final whistle. Cue Oita players dropping to the Todoroki turf Doha-style.

I can't help thinking that Chamusca shot himself in the foot with that late move. His team were focused, they were defending what was surely Frontale's last chance, and they were ready to attack the corner and clear their lines.

Then everything stopped for a few seconds as the change was made. Did they lower their guard and lose concentration, handing the initiative to Frontale?

I think this played a part in the equaliser, so the change actually worked in Frontale's favour rather than Trinita's.

Looking back, I am sure Chamusca must wish he had just kept playing and trusted his team's ability to hold on.

ends

18 Sep 2007(Tue)

Tokyo, September 14, 2007: That was a vital win for Japan against Qatar in their Olympic qualifier on Wednesday.

An impressive one, too, considering they had a man sent off after 68 minutes and were up against a fast, strong and determined opponent.

Although I was not confident of Japan qualifying for Beijing in the early stages of the campaign, there is no doubt they are improving and looking more dynamic, more united and more business-like.

Now, with seven points from three games, they are in a good position to win the group, even with two away games coming up next.

Once again Sorimachi is going to have to make changes, because Takuya Honda is suspended for the next game and Kajiyama is injured. That rules out the coach’s first-choice pairing in the midfield engine room, so what is he going to do?

The first move is simple: He brings in Toshihiro Aoyama to replace Honda as the midfield anchor. I thought Aoyama made a big contribution to Japan’s 1-0 victory on Wednesday after coming on for Kajiyama in the 56th minute, particularly with his interceptions and tackles as Qatar surged forward.

I wonder, then, if Sorimachi might move Inoha into the center of midfield, giving Japan a very solid base for the two away games. After all, Keisuke Honda will be available again after missing the Qatar game through suspension, and he could easily slot into the left side of the new-look four-man defence.

Inoha found himself in the eye of the storm in the second half against Qatar, and was hanging on for grim life in his unaccustomed role of left back. I thought Sorimachi might bring on Yasuda and play him in front of Inoha to bolster Japan’s left flank, as the more attack-minded Ienaga was drifting and offering little protection.

Instead, the coach took off Mizuno and switched Ienaga to the right flank, where he played exceptionally well in the closing stages by keeping the ball and leading the counter-attack. This was the best passage of play I have seen from Ienaga, as he cut out the crowd-pleasing flicks and the show-boating and played solid, percentage football when the team really needed him to.

Another substitute, Kobayashi, was sent on to strengthen the midfield, although I have no idea why he preferred to roll around on the ground holding his face in the closing stages when he should have jumped up immediately and helped his team defend their slender lead. Did he expect the game to stop just for him? It didn’t, and Kobayashi had no option but to get up and run back, rather sheepishly.

This is a really bad trend at the moment, and something coaches should stamp out among their own players -- especially when they are already down to 10 men.

ends

13 Sep 2007(Thu)

Tokyo, September 11, 2007: One point gained or two points lost?

That is the question being asked after Japan’s 0-0 draw away to Saudi Arabia in their Olympic qualifier on Saturday.

Before the game, a goalless draw would have been regarded as a good result, but when the Saudis were reduced to 10 men on 63 minutes, the tide turned in Japan’s favour. Unexpectedly, Japan now had a good chance to take all three points.

They could not manage it, but this does not mean the 0-0 result should be taken as two points lost.

I still regard it as a satisfactory result away from home, and sets Japan up nicely for a crack at Qatar on Wednesday night.

Teams having a man sent off can often lift their game. They feel hard done by, they run more for each other, they move up a gear in motivation as they will be regarded as heroes if they can hold on to what they’ve got, or do even better.

I thought the Saudis did this, and played well with 10 men, but they will still view the match as two points lost, not one point gained at home.

Sorimachi’s selection was interesting, not just for dropping Hirayama but also for bringing in Uchida on the right flank and moving Mizuno further forward, alongside Ienaga and behind the lone striker Morishima.

Uchida played well, as he has done all his career at Kashima, but Mizuno was less effective in this more central role. I must admit I prefer to see Mizuno bombing up the right flank, taking defenders on his with pace or cutting inside and letting fly from distance.

It was reassuring to see Inoha back from injury at libero, although Sorimachi retained Mizumoto as his captain. The back three of Aoyama, Inoha and Mizumoto must be as good as it gets in this final stage of Olympic qualifying, and the problems for Japan lie further forward; not in scoring goals but in controlling the midfield.

Sorimachi must now decide whether to restore Mizuno to the right flank at the expense of Uchida, and bring in a second striker alongside Morishima for the home game against Qatar.

Japan are still on course for Beijing with four points from two games, but they need all three against Qatar at Kokuritsu with their next two matches away from home.

ends

10 Sep 2007(Mon)

September 7, 2007: There can't be many Japan teams who have gone into a World Cup fresh from a 2-1 victory over Brazil.

But that is the case of the women's team, "Nadeshiko Japan", who open their FIFA Women's World Cup campaign against England in Shanghai on Tuesday, September 11.

Thanks to the generous support of Kirin, Japan were able to play two warm-up matches in recent days, against Canada at Kokuritsu and against Brazil at the home of JEF United, Fukuda Denshi Arena.

I attended them both -- but, sadly, the crowds were sparse -- less than 2,000 at National Stadium on a Thursday evening and just over 4,000 at Fukuare on a lovely Sunday afternoon.

The fans who did turn up, though, were really into it, and there is a very positive vibe around the women's team in general.

It's also a good time to be a member of the women's football scene in Japan, as the JFA is clearly sparing no expense in the development of this area of the game.

In his programme notes for the games against Canada and Brazil, JFA president Saburo Kawabuchi says: "Of all Japan's national squads, only Nadeshiko Japan can be considered close to achieving world-class status. Make no mistake -- Nadeshiko Japan's breakthrough will have a significant and lasting impact on other Japanese national teams."

Strong words indeed from the Captain, who states the target for the 2007 World Cup and 2008 Olympics is the semi-finals, and long-term to be in the world's top five by 2015. (They are 10th at the moment).

This is a big ask by Kawabuchi and the JFA, especially for this World Cup and next year's Olympics, and I hope it will not be regarded as a failure if they don't make it.

Several people have been asking me about the strength of Japan's first opponents in the Women's World Cup, England. I have to admit I haven't got a clue.

I like women's football but I don't go out of my way to see what's happening in England. I couldn't even name you one big girl who plays in the England team -- apart from Emile Heskey.

As luck would have it, I stumbled across a dusty copy of the pocket-sized football bible "Playfair Football Annual 2004-2005" the other day. Under the category of "Other Football" there was a whole chapter on "Women's Football". Well, not a whole chapter actually, but the bottom half of Page 329, under news on the English FA Academy Under 17 League.

Arsenal had won the women's league in 2004, one point clear of Charlton Athletic, and Arsenal won the cup, too, beating Charlton 3-0 in the final at Loftus Road, home of QPR. The crowd was over 12,000, and Fleeting scored all three for the Lady Gunners -- a headline writer's dream if ever there was one.

The women's game is growing around the world, and Japan is determined not to be left behind, so good luck to them in China next week.

I am looking forward to their matches against England, Argentina and Germany in Group A, and I hope many others are too.

ends

6 Sep 2007(Thu)

Tokyo, September 4, 2007: What a difference a goal makes, especially when it comes in the fourth minute of injury time in a local derby.

The clock was almost on 94 minutes when Cho Jae Jin stooped to meet the expertly taken free kick of Jungo Fujimoto and head the only goal of the Shizuoka derby at Ecopa on Saturday.

The goal sparked wild scenes of celebration, as Cho removed his shirt and threw it into the S-Pulse fans behind the goal. That was a great sight to see – and the tattoos were pretty impressive, too.

The repercussions were severe. Jubilo’s manager and former defensive anchor, Adilson, resigned in the wake of the 1-0 defeat, and the club must once again try to recapture the glory of yesteryear under a new manager, Atsushi Uchiyama, an in-house promotion. But not this season, as Jubilo are in J1 no-man’s land, ninth place with 34 points.

As for S-Pulse, they just won’t go away will they?

Kenta Hasegawa is doing a fantastic job with limited resources, and his team is packed with exciting young talent in all areas of the field. In central midfield, Ito – rated the best midfield player in Japan by Steve Perryman all those years ago -- holds it all together; there is Brazilian flair in the extravagant skills of Fernandinho, plus the strength and quality of Cho up front.

Although S-Pulse lie fourth with 44 points, eight behind Reds, they cannot be regarded as title challengers just yet. Not even dark horses, as that tag must surely belong to Kashima Antlers, who were simply irresistible in crushing Frontale.

But with another season of experience behind them, S-Pulse should be ready in 2008 to have a crack at the championship.

Their regional rivals Jubilo, meanwhile, must start again – again.

As I said, what a difference a goal makes.

3 Sep 2007(Mon)

Tokyo, August 31, 2007: FIFA president Sepp Blatter is always talking about football being a game of passion and emotion.

Sef Vergoossen, the forthright Dutch manager of Nagoya Grampus Eight, showed plenty of this the other night at Todoroki – and was promptly dismissed from the dug-out.

Personally, I felt Vergoossen was hard done by, not once but twice.

First, his left-winger Honda was extremely unlucky to be shown a yellow card for a perfectly legitimate attempt to get to a loose ball in the Frontale box. I thought Honda had every right to challenge for the ball, and even a free kick for a foul would have been debatable.

But a yellow card?

And it was Honda’s second of the night, so out came the red and he was off after 68 minutes.

Vergoossen, with his team leading 1-0 and looking good, was furious with the decision – and let everyone know. I am not sure which language he was using, but it didn’t really matter. It could have been Swahili and the message would have got through.

So Honda is off, the match is back on, and we could all sit back and watch Frontale try and equalize and watch Grampus invent even more ways to waste time.

Wrong.

One of the linesmen thought it necessary to draw the attention of the referee to Vergoossen’s colourful language, and the referee responded loyally by sending off the coach. This only exacerbated the problem, and prompted a fresh round of abuse and another delay when everything seemed to have settled down.

Fair enough, Vergoossen laid it on as thick as his moustache – more passion and emotion than Blatter could shake a stick at.

But surely a more appropriate course of action for the linesman would have been just to ignore it, let the game go on and maybe feel a bit of sympathy for the coach considering he had just lost one of his best players in dubious circumstances. It would have all died down, at least until the final whistle, but now it all flared up again.

I know the match officials have to endure way too much abuse in football, but there are occasions when they can cut someone some slack in the heat of the moment.

30 Aug 2007(Thu)

Tokyo, August 28, 2007: Even without suspended goal machine Ueslei, Sanfrecce Hiroshima were a good match for Yokohama F Marinos in a 2-2 draw at Nissan Stadium on Sunday evening.

I particularly liked their midfield four of Komano on the right, Toda and Aoyama in the middle and Hattori on the left.

Komano and Hattori not only provide natural width going forward, they also cover the flanks for the three-man defence, which was anchored by the former JEF favourite Stoyanov.

With Toda, in his 2002 World Cup position of central midfield, and current Olympic team player Aoyama alongside in the engine room, the team looked compact, balanced and flexible in their 3-4-2-1 formation.

The “1” was Hisato Sato, whose running into the channels behind the Marinos back four caused problems all night for the home defence. Sato really is a bright and inventive player, a natural finisher in the box but much more than that around the pitch.

Thanks to the four players strung across the middle, Kashiwagi and Koji Morisaki could feel free to support Sato in attack – and both of them scored a goal by doing exactly that.

Kashiwagi is making his mark in Japan this season, graduating from the youth team to the Olympic team and establishing himself in the top flight. He is still only 19, though, and cannot be expected to turn it on match after match, even though fans look forward to his next goal celebration.

I wrote recently about his left-footed masterpiece in open play from the edge of the box against Vissel Kobe, as that goal marked him out as a player with special talent. Let’s hope he keeps working hard, keeps growing and keeps a smile on his face, as he is a breath of fresh air in Japanese football.

Even though Sanfrecce are only five points clear of the play-off place of 16th, I cannot see the Three Arrows being dragged into the relegation dogfight on the evidence of Sunday night.

ends

27 Aug 2007(Mon)

August 24, 2007: Japan coach Ivica Osim and fans of the national team could not have asked for much more from the first game since the Asian Cup.

A home win against a good team, a couple of excellent goals, and no signs of any post-traumatic stress disorder on the return from Vietnam.

Perhaps it was significant that both goals in the 2-0 victory against Cameroon were scored by players who were not in the Asian Cup squad: Tulio because he was injured and Koji Yamase because he was not selected.

Tulio was sorely missed in the Asian Cup, and showed exactly why with his clever first-half header. The big central defender makes things happen, rather than waits for them to happen.

Too often in Hanoi I thought Japan were too passive -- with the emphasis on "pass" -- and did not force the pace, especially in the opening game against Qatar. This is why Tulio's return was so noticable, and I would still like to see Osim appoint him captain because of these leadership qualities and his ideal position on the pitch to influence the team.

As for Yamase, he has been on fire this season for Marinos, and his return to the squad was widely predicted. His goal was a gem, and brought a big smile to the face of Osim. Not only did he have the confidence and the will to shoot first time from the edge of the box, he also had the technique to pull it off. The result was a spectacular strike that drew gasps of admiration from the fans watching the match on the big screen at the National Stadium in Tokyo, before the Japan-Vietnam Olympic qualifier.

Without the Europe-based players, and with a few fresh faces around, it definitely looked like the start of stage three of Osim's rebuilding programme. There was more pace, solidity and energy about the team, as the likes of Okubo, Maeda and Tanaka tried to make their mark. Yamase certainly did, with his wonderful goal.

23 Aug 2007(Thu)

August 21, 2007: The final qualifying round for the Beijing Olympics is about to start, and for me there is only one option for Japan – keep it simple.

Japan’s strength is out on the wings, with Mizuno on the right and Honda on the left, and the aerial power of Hirayama at center forward.

Readers know that I still have great reservations about Hirayama in general, and whether he is good enough to make the grade even in J1, but there is no doubt he is good in the air at the age-group level.

So while a direct style of play may go against what Osim is trying to achieve with the national team, I believe it represents Japan’s best chance of topping a group that is completed by Vietnam, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The priority must be to get the ball out to the wings, and get crosses into the box for Hirayama to wreak havoc. Primitive may be; predictable may be; but also pragmatic.

What I don’t want to see is Japan trying to pass the ball too much and either losing it in dangerous areas or squandering chances to shoot, which this Olympic team has been guilty of in previous games, despite their successful record.

This does not suit Hirayama’s style, and clearly coach Sorimachi has decided the Athens Olympian is going to be his main man in attack, hence the omission of the more refined, mobile and technically superior Bobby Cullen.

I think Japan’s defence is good enough, but where the team struggles is in the center of midfield. I do not think they have the quality to dominate a game in this area, but they can stretch opponents on the wings and provide a supply line to Hirayama in the middle. Then it is up to the second striker and the attacking midfielders to get up in support of Hirayama and be first to the knock-downs and the scraps in the box.

Like I said, not particularly pretty, but I think it’s Japan’s best chance. There is not much point trying to involve Hirayama in intricate passing moves across the line. Better to just keep him in the middle, tell him to watch for offside, and let the wingers or full backs, depending on the formation, just knock it into him.

I still think Japan can win this group, but only if they play to their strengths, persistently and unashamedly.

ends

20 Aug 2007(Mon)

August 17, 2007: When he's playing he's big news.

When he's injured he's big news.

When he's scoring free kicks he's even bigger news.

There is no end to the David Beckham story -- and no end to the amusing list of headlines which have followed him to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

They are all, naturally, based on the hit movie "Bend it like Beckham" and have included the following:

On the subject of Beckham missing another match because of his ankle injury: Bench it like Beckham.

On the amount of Beckham merchandise being sold in Los Angeles and beyond: Vend it like Beckham.

On Beckham's recovery from the ankle injury: Mend it like Beckham.

The headlines are an interesting sideshow to the events on and off the field, and you have to wonder how long the editors can sustain their output.

Here's a few more to be going on with:

David wins an award for his gardening skills at his Beverley Hills mansion: Tend it like Beckham.

David joins another club on loan/rental: Lend it like Beckham.

David finishes his England career by scoring a hat trick of free kicks: End it like Beckham.

David changes position from right wing to right back: Defend it like Beckham.

So you see, Japanese readers, there are many opportunities out there to expand your vocabulary through football, especially with corny Beckham headlines.

See if you can come up with any more...

On the subject of Beckham and England, I cannot understand why Steve McClaren is talking about bringing him back to England to play a friendly against Germany when he knows he is far from fully fit.

Don't you think the Osim approach would have been better? Leave him alone, let him recover fully, select only 12 players including two goalkeepers...

Funny isn't it, how McClaren now needs Beckham for a friendly when he wouldn't have touched him with a barge pole a few months ago for European Championship qualifiers.

ends

16 Aug 2007(Thu)

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

13 Aug 2007(Mon)

August 11, 2007: Watch out for Kashima Antlers!

This must be going through the minds of Gamba Osaka and Urawa Reds as J1 prepares to resume after the lengthy break.

Even though Antlers are 11 points behind Gamba, the return of Ogasawara from Messina should make them a different team.

And with Yanagisawa back from injury, they certainly look good enough in all departments to mount a title challenge over the last 16 games of the season.

They can’t afford to lose more than a couple of those games, though, as they have already lost four times compared to just once for Gamba and Reds – and draws won’t be much good either if they are to close the gap.

No, Oswaldo Oliveira knows there is only one way to make up this lost ground, and that is to attack and win. All of which should make for some exciting but also tense matches involving Antlers from now on.

The presence and influence of Ogasawara will make the players around him better, and there is plenty of depth in the squad, too.

One of my favourites at Kashima is Iwamasa, the successor to Akita as the defensive rock. I was chatting with Reds forward Washington recently and asked him which Japanese defenders were the most difficult to play against.

He said Nakazawa first, followed by Iwamasa, as he was big and strong and played like a defender should do – rugged and uncompromising. If Washington rates him that highly, his opinion must be respected.

Apart from Antlers, I also think Kawasaki Frontale cannot be ruled out just yet.

They went off the boil in the league after qualifying for the Asian Champions League quarter-finals, but anyone who saw their incredible Nabisco Cup victory over Kofu at Kokuritsu will know that the hunger and spirit is back.

Frontale have 28 points, 13 behind Gamba, and, like Antlers, must go for broke and hope the top two slip up.

As a Newcastle United fan, teams have been known to throw away big leads…

ends

9 Aug 2007(Thu)

August 7, 2007: JFA president Saburo Kawabuchi does have a good point in the Osim debate; that he thinks the coach should watch the penalty shoot-out and not waddle off down the tunnel.

I have to say I agree with the Captain on this one -- Kawabuchi, I mean, not Kawaguchi.

Even though it was always on the cards that he would head for the dressing room before the shoot-out with the Socceroos, given his track record with JEF United, I was still surprised he refused to watch the Korea climax.

After the Aussie game he said he didn't want to die of a heart attack on duty with Japan, so the only thing I can think of for the Korea game was that he didn't want to die of boredom.

If ever there was a time for Osim to change course and stay to watch the shoot-out, this was it. After all, it couldn't get any worse, unless Shunsuke had tripped over his boot laces on his run-up, fallen head first and headed the ball into the arms of the Korean keeper; or Endo had actually crossed it from the penalty spot.

With Japan having lost the shoot-out, Osim now has no excuse that he is a jinx for his own team -- so next time (in South Africa 2010 of course), please stick it out with the boys.

Apart from watching Osim disappear down the tunnel, another amusing sight was seeing him join in the team huddle. As big as two Hanyus, possibly three, he didn't exactly look comfortable performing this rather namby-pamby bonding exercise.

Whatever happened to the old, stiff-upper-lip style of Alf Ramsey, with his Churchillian address before extra time in the England-West Germany World Cup final of 1966.

"You've beaten them once, chaps. Now go and do it again," Ramsey told his players (although I am not sure he actually said "chaps" -- but he should have done.)

By the way, did anyone try counting all the Japanese players and staff in the team huddle? There were hundreds of them! Who were they all? Agents? Hairdressers? Manicurists?

No wonder the JFA needs all these friendlies.

ends

6 Aug 2007(Mon)

August 4, 2007: If you are having problems fitting in all this football, spare a thought for the J.League fixture-makers.

The Asian Football Confederation announced the dates and qualifying process for the 2010 World Cup on Friday, and Japan may have to play as many as 18 games to get to South Africa.

And with the next Asian Cup scheduled to take place in Qatar in January 2011, Japan will have to qualify for that, too, after finishing only fourth in the last one.

It all adds up to more football than anyone knows what to do with, so good luck to the fixture planners in their efforts to keep everyone happy.

As everyone knows by now, Japan were seeded fourth of the 43 teams in the Asian qualifying competition for the 2010 World Cup, behind Australia, South Korea and Saudi Arabia, and ahead of Iran.

These top five teams all received a bye into the third qualifying round, where they will be joined by 15 qualifiers in five four-team groups. The top two in each group advance to the fourth round, meaning six matches for Japan between February 6, 2008, and September 10, 2008.

The remaining 10 teams for the fourth round will be split into two groups of five, giving Japan (presuming they are still around) another eight games between October 15, 2008, and September 9, 2009.

The top two in each group qualify for South Africa. The two third-placed teams play off home and away, and the winner then faces the Oceania champions over two legs for the last spot in South Africa.

If Japan finish third in their fourth-round group they will need 18 games to qualify, the last four of these taking place between October 10 and November 21 – just when the 2009 J.League championship is reaching its climax.

In those circumstances, how on earth the qualifying games for the 2011 Asian Cup would be fitted in, too, is anyone’s guess – as is the likely physical and mental condition of the Europe-based players Japan will need to get to South Africa.

For any Japanese player with the chance of moving to a club in Europe, this must be a big consideration for the next couple of seasons.

ends

2 Aug 2007(Thu)

July 31,2007: The less said about the Japan-Korea match the better.

But here’s a few words before it is consigned to the history books – and I am sure the JFA would strike it from all records if possible.

I thought the match was a shambles and, at times, an embarrassment for Japanese football. The harder they tried, the worse they got – and the referee put everyone out of their misery by blowing his whistle to end extra time.

Neither side wanted to be there, but unfortunately there were two important reasons why the match was worth winning.

First, it was Japan against Korea.

Second, the winner would book a place in the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar – one of six automatic qualifiers, note – and therefore do away with the hassle of qualifying during World Cup year in 2010.

Despite this, I am still surprised Osim made only one change to the team, a midfielder, Yamagishi, for a forward, Maki, leaving Takahara on his own again up front.

This formation did not work against Qatar, and it did not work against Korea as it left Japan short on numbers in a crucial area. No wonder they rarely looked like scoring.

I thought Osim should have made wholesale changes to freshen up the team and give the regulars a rest before returning to their clubs. Had Japan lost in those circumstances it would have been more palatable, but to lose, albeit on penalties, with his top team undid a lot of the good work that had gone before.

I was feeling quite positive after the group stage, after the win against Australia and even after the defeat against the Saudis.

But Saturday’s game was one too many. As the match progressed, everything pointed to a Korea win. The point-blank block by Lee from Nakazawa; the red card for Kang, giving the Koreans every excuse to retreat; Hanyu’s shot striking the defender, who wasn’t even looking; the smooth penalty-taking of the Koreans…

So it was left to Hanyu to join the long list of grief-stricken players who have missed in a penalty shootout.

He should forget about it as quickly as possible, while the rest of Japan should try and forget that this play-off ever took place.

ends

30 Jul 2007(Mon)

July 28, 2007: The FC Tokyo-FC Seoul "pre-season match" at Kokuritsu on Thursday evening was well worth the visit.

Not for the football, which was grim and goalless, but for the chance to get a few words with Senol Gunes.

A former goalkeeper and captain of Turkey, Gunes is the man who steered the Turks to their third-place finish at the 2002 World Cup, beating Japan and Korea in the process.

UEFA's Coach of the Year 2002 has been in charge of FC Seoul for six months, and had some interesting things to say on football in this part of the world.

Basically, he said, the Japanese had better technical skills and the Koreans were stronger physically, but both sets of players needed more than this to be a success at the highest level. In short, they needed to think more and think quicker.

"For the World Cup, the mentality must improve because the players cannot arrange the game, cannot manage the game easily," he said, through an interpreter.

"Technique and physique are not enough in football, so they have to get some good mentality so they can arrange the game, can manage the game in all conditions.

"The two countries' players should decide more quickly. That is the problem. When the ball comes to them, before they kick the ball they have to decide everything; they have to decide the next step."

One Japanese player who did this, of course, was Hidetoshi Nakata. You could always see him planning his next move before the ball had reached him. Add to this his skill level and robust frame -- the two qualities talked of by Gunes -- and it is clear why Nakata stood out among his Asian peers.

How Osim needed a player of Nakata's stature to lift his tired team against the Saudis, who were well worth their 3-2 win on Wednesday night. Japan came back twice but could not do it a third time, as the explosive Malek proved too hot to handle in the air and on the ground for Abe, Nakazawa and Kawaguchi.

Credit to the Saudis. After all, they have qualified for the last four World Cups. The result was not a surprise. A disappointment, but not a surprise.

ends

26 Jul 2007(Thu)

July 24, 2007: There were many positive aspects of Japan's victory over Australia, but there were some negatives, too, which Ivica Osim will be eager to rectify.

The positives included the calm, assured way in which New Japan controlled the game; how they came back to equalise quickly with a great goal from Takahara; and how they kept their concentration and discipline right to the finish.

These are all signs of a team that is mentally and physically strong, one that believes in itself and its coach.

However, the performance was not without its more frustrating moments, some of which I noted after the opening 1-1 draw with Qatar.

I still think Japan are not shooting enough when the goal is in range. One example was Nakazawa in the first half. He collected the ball deep in his own half and broke forward, and when no one came towards him he continued to break forward.

He was looking confident and determined and I was hoping he would let fly from 25-30 metres out with absolutely nothing to lose, but he seemed to doubt himself and, instead of shooting, attempted to find Takahara on the left edge of the box. The move broke down, and Nakazawa had to race back.

This was just one example, and an aspect of Japan's play that Shunsuke Nakamura has pointed out on several occasions in Hanoi. At one point in extra time, against 10 men, I thought Japan's tactics were to pass the ball so much that the Aussies would fall asleep, and then someone might actually think about scoring.

One of Maki's strengths is his ability in the air, especially at the far post (I am sure JEF fans, and the Gamba defence, will remember his prodigious leap to set up a goal for Arai at Fukuare this season). But against Australia, Japan seemed reluctant to cross the ball into the middle, and dithered too often around the box.

When Shunsuke knocked one deep, Maki did his job at the back post, Milligan did not do his in the middle, and Taka switched from right foot to left and scored another fine goal.

I think Japan need to find a balance between when to keep the ball and when to step it up and find that explosive, unpredictable element. (I am still pushing Yoshito Okubo for this role!)

But the style and identity of New Japan is set -- and Osim is well on course in his mission.

ends

23 Jul 2007(Mon)

July 20, 2007: Manchester United were magnificent ambassadors for...well, Manchester United, when they came to Tokyo at the beginning of this week.

Press conferences, charity work, training, playing, signing autographs; they were busier than the Vietnamese keeper against Japan.

On Tuesday evening, the Red Devils played the Red Diamonds, English champions against Japanese champions, and over 58,000 turned out to watch on a dank evening. In fact it was so wet, miserable and slightly chilly out there in the Saitama countryside that it reminded me of driving over the Pennines to Old Trafford (a different one) to watch cricket, only to be denied again by a Mancunian summer.

United's tour, of course, had come under fierce criticism from both the Asian Football Confederation and from FIFA. The general feeling was that big European clubs like United came to the Far East just to take, take, take and not give anything in return; and were showing disrespect by touring when the Asian Cup was being held in Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand (have I missed any?).

This was absolute nonsense all along, and Sir Alex Ferguson gave the perfect reply when asked about it.

He said it was unfortunate that the tour clashed with the Asian Cup, but they had to take the window of opportunity when it was open, as players were committed to the European Championship and World Cup every second year. Fergie spoke of the charity work and the soccer schools, and insisted United were not trying to "steal" fans from other clubs.

"It is not about us taking. We also give," he said.

The match ended 2-2, and United's charity included a goal for Hideki Uchidate, who embarrassed Edwin Van der Sar with a Cristiano Ronaldo-style strike that swerved and dipped on its way into the net. Reds' second was a touch of genius from Shinji Ono, proving again that you can lose some of your physical fitness but you can't lose class.

After the game, Fergie picked out Yamada and Ono for special praise.

"I think number six (Yamada) did very, very well. I like him. I think he's a clever footballer and very mobile," said Sir Alex.

"And the number eight (Ono) in the second half, took his goal very well. A clever goal."

Rio Ferdinand also spoke of Ono -- this time by name -- and said he "always thought he was a very talented footballer -- and he showed that again tonight. I liked him at Feyenoord."

Oh, Shinji! What might have been...

ends

19 Jul 2007(Thu)

July 17, 2007: The Asian Cup is not the only cup in town for Japanese players and fans at the moment, as there was a domestic treat during the storm-lashed weekend.

The four Nabisco Cup quarter-final second-leg ties yielded a total of 23 goals, with seven at Gamba Osaka-Urawa Reds (5-2), six each at FC Tokyo-Yokohama F Marinos (2-4) and Kawasaki Frontale-Ventforet Kofu (4-2), and four at Kashima Antlers-Sanfrecce Hiroshima (3-1).

On Saturday I took in Tokyo-Marinos at Ajista, and on Sunday Frontale-Ventforet at Kokuritsu, and both games were crackers.

Although Marinos won through only 4-3 on aggregate, they were 4-0 up in the second leg thanks to a dynamic performance by captain Koji Yamase. He was on fire in the soggy conditions, scoring the first goal with a lovely right-foot finish into the top corner and then chasing down a loose ball and crossing perfectly for Oshima to head the second.

I wondered if Yamase had a personal grudge against FC Tokyo, as he was on a one-man crusade to sink them. Plagued by injury during his career, he is still only 25 and has never looked sharper or more effective.

Another player who is impressing for Marinos is the 22-year-old left back Komiyama. He is bright, busy and plays at an intensity that appeals to national coach Osim. He has two good feet and does not hold back in the air, launching himself at anything that comes his way and winning some thundering headers.

On Sunday, Kofu striker Sudo was the unluckiest player around, scoring all five of his team's goals over two legs but still finishing on the losing side, against Frontale.

This was a fantastic match for the 10,000 fans who had defied the typhoon warning to trail to the capital. It was a true cup-tie played at beakneck speed with goals galore, one team in control then suddenly the other, and packed with incident such as the heated exchanges between Kofu teammates Akimoto and Inoue, and the wrestling match between Kofu defender Ikehata and Frontale striker Chong Tese.

Overall, Komiyama took my vote as Nabisco Cup New Hero for players aged 23 and below.

ends

16 Jul 2007(Mon)

July 14, 2007: Now that was a whole lot better, wasn't it?

Not only did Japan beat UAE 3-1, they played with a much more professional and business-like attitude.

They added some steel and bite to their game, especially in the last third of the field, and had the victory wrapped up by half-time thanks to the extremely generous penalty award.

Still, it was worrying that UAE managed to pull one back with only 10 men, and there are clearly communication problems through the middle with the Kawaguchi-Abe-Nakazawa combination.

So Japanese fans must not get carried away, as the team only has four points and faces a last group game against the host nation. This will be a unique experience for the Japanese players in an incredible atmosphere, and they will have to tame the home team quickly in order to take control and avoid an embarrassing upset.

With their superior skills, experience and height advantage, though, Japan should be able to come through, but they will have to scrap furiously against Vietnam in the opening exchanges.

Against UAE, the presence of Maki opened up more space for Takahara, who produced two expert finishes to underline Japan's superiority.

But the player I was most pleased with was Komano. Very early in the game he cut in from the left wing and shot for goal, and soon after Endo ran through the middle and tried to score alone. This was great to see from Japan, players taking responsibility, and set the tone for the evening.

I hope they retain this positive attitude for the rest of the tournament instead of passing the ball to death on the edge of the box and refusing to shoot when they are in a good position.

Osim must encourage them to shoot, and encourage them when they miss the target, just like Komano did shortly after.

Taka's two goals put Japan well in control with less than a third of the match completed, and the penalty ended the game as a contest.

I must admit I could not believe it when the ref penalised the keeper for catching Endo, who had lofted the ball to the far post. But this is not Japan's concern, and Shunsuke brushed aside the controversey and scored convincingly from the spot.

Late in the game, Osim sent on his JEF United ekiden team of Hanyu and Mizuno to join Maki and old boy Abe -- further evidence that "JFA" stands for JEF Football Association -- in order to maintain an attacking tempo, and resting key players for the battle ahead.

Monday will be mayhem, and Japan's job is far from finished -- but this was much better.

ends

12 Jul 2007(Thu)

July 10, 2007: No wonder Ivica Osim was furious after Japan's 1-1 draw with Qatar.

I was angry, too, as I am sure many Japanese fans were around the country.

Japan, of course, should have won this game comfortably. They dominated possession and were in a different class to their opponents in terms of individual quality and big-match experience.

But without that second goal there was always a chance Qatar would come back and draw level, which is exactly what happened to ruin the night.

I was not so much annoyed with Abe for the foul that led to the goal, or for the failure to put away one of the clearcut chances that came Japan's way.

Abe was clearly waiting for Kawaguchi to come out and clear the ball, and when the keeper was not there he panicked and gave away the free kick. Abe's body language after his mistake told its own story -- that the equaliser was on its way.

As for the chances, the two that most spring to mind were Yamagishi's left-foot half-volley over the bar from Takahara's lovely header, and Hanyu's late effort that curled round the far post.

No, these were frustrating moments, but not the chief source of my anger.

I was annoyed because Japan would not shoot when the goal was in sight, notably Endo, who looked like he was aiming for the Assist King award. Japan were trying to walk the ball into the net with a series of intricate passes instead of letting fly from distance. I think they needed -- and need -- to be much more direct in their approach and play with more dynamism and aggression in the last third of the pitch.

For this reason, once again, I would play Maki alongside Takahara and sacrifice one of the midfielders -- but not Keita Suzuki, who was my man of the match.

The presence of Maki and Takahara would open up more options on the ground and in the air. If Maki is not scoring he is doing something, working hard for the team and being a constant menace to the defenders.

The result against Qatar could have been worse, but Japan will be in real trouble if they do not beat UAE on Friday the 13th.

ends

9 Jul 2007(Mon)

July 7, 2007: During the second half of Japan's goalless draw against Colombia on June 5, I felt convinced that Japan were good enough to win the Asian Cup.

After surviving a shaky first half, Japan had come back into it in the second period and were playing some good stuff against the Colombians.

You could sense the unity, the purpose and the goal of the players under Ivica Osim, and they were playing a brand of football that could brush aside Asian opposition.

One month on, the Asian Cup is about to start, and I think Japan will play well.

I am not saying they are going to win it, but I think they will show enough to suggest they are on the right track to qualifying for South Africa 2010 and putting on a good show in the next World Cup; something they did not do in 2006.

Osim, of course, is in a no-win situation in Vietnam, as his two predecessors, Troussier in 2000 and Zico in 2004, both steered Japan to the continental crown.

If Japan do not win for the third time in a row and fourth in all, I hope fans don't start saying Osim is not as good as Troussier or Zico, because this is clearly not the case.

Osim is giving out mixed signals about his targets. On the one hand he says that World Cup qualification is the priority ahead of winning the Asian Cup, but his selection contradicts that theory.

If he had been thinking of the future and not the present, he would have picked more Olympic players in his final 23, such as Honda for the left flank, Ienaga for attacking midfield and Inoha for central midfield/libero. Inoha has since been called up, of course, due to Bando's injury, and he can offer more options for Osim.

Even without Tulio and Mizumoto, a back three of Tsuboi, Abe and Nakazawa is good enough to win the Asian Cup, as is a back four of Kaji, Nakazawa, Abe and Komano. I really liked the Abe-Nakazawa partnership against Colombia, and Inoha is the perfect understudy for Abe at libero or in central midfield and a player who can only benefit from his time with the seniors.

To sum up, I think Japan can win the Asian Cup -- but it will not be the end of the world if they don't, provided there are signs that the Osim method is taking root.

ends

5 Jul 2007(Thu)

July 3, 2007: I don't know about you, but that was quite a strange experience watching Japan beat Scotland 3-1 in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

The result was impressive for Japan, but the environment was unusual to say the least.

All those people walking around as the game was in progress; all the tents; and the near silence of the large crowd providing a training ground atmosphere for the players.

It looked as though the players were walking through a cow field to the stadium pitch, and that the football match was just part of a summer show. I was wondering what would be next on the entertainment programme, the sack race for boys or the egg-and-spoon race for girls? Or maybe it was time for the Victoria Vegetable Society to display their spring onions?

Whatever, it was a very surreal backdrop to the match -- and the situation deteriorated when the Mexican Wave began in the second half.

Sorry to be a kill-joy, but the Mexican Wave should be outlawed by FIFA at all football grounds, with anyone found guilty of starting it escorted to the nearest exit and banned for life. Rather than showing how much everyone is enjoying themselves, it reveals boredom and is disrespectful to the players trying their hearts out at a potentially career-changing moment.

Just think...a young player with stars in his eyes finally pulls off the Cruyff trick he has been practising in his back garden for two years, and half the audience are looking the other way, preparing to raise their arms and cheer.

Football is not about fun! "It is not even about life and death -- it is much more important than that," to paraphrase the late and legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly.

Against the big Scots, Japan won well in a confident team display (notably Umesaki) marred slightly by Japanese players feigning injury (Umesaki) and taking the ball into the corner (Umesaki) a good five minutes before full time.

The Canadian neutrals, brought up in the rough-tough world of ice hockey, did not appreciate the theatrics and were quick to boo and jeer the "injured" players. Good on 'em!

But please no Mexican Wave.

ends

2 Jul 2007(Mon)

June 29, 2007: Losing Ivica Osim; losing GM Ubagai and captain Abe; sliding down the table; now losing Stoyanov...

It has not been a good 12 months for JEF United Chiba.

There was, sadly, no other conclusion to the Stoyanov issue than the club terminating his contract.

He had come out in public and criticised head coach Amar Osim, and with it the club as a whole.

When Stoyanov refused to apologise, there was only course of action open -- to get rid of him.

I feel -- but may be wrong -- that Amar has been close to being fired this season, notably after the home defeat by Gamba on May 26.

But once Stoyanov had spoken out, the club could not be seen to be following the wishes of one, in their eyes, "rebel" player. This would look like the club was being run by the players, not by the management.

With the situation at deadlock, the club had to act first and make a strong statement, which was to kick out the rebel, no matter how good a player he was, or how much he was idolised by the fans.

So JEF have lost again -- at home again, you might say, because this was a homegrown problem.

I have to admit being a fully paid-up member of the Stoyanov fan club (emotionally, that is, not financially), as he was -- still is -- a wonderful football player.

He is a true libero, possessing the skill of two players.

I used to love watching him play; taking the ball off the keeper and spraying a 50-metre pass on to the toe end of Yamagishi on the left or Mizuno on the right.

But he was at his best, his most elegant, when moving forward, beating two or three men at a time as easily as an Austrian alpine skier glides through the gates of a slalom course. Then he would play a neat one-two and advance on goal, before shooting just as comfortably with left foot or right.

Defensively he used to trick and tease opposing forwards, allowing them to think they had a bit of time and space before making his move. He would time his tackle to perfection, always staying on his feet, and whip the ball away from the striker in a flash of yellow.

At the top of his game, Stoyanov was a different class to anything else in the J.League. He would make it look so easy it was almost funny to watch.

There was no denying, however, that he was a bit of a hot-head on the pitch. Off the pitch, his biggest mistake was to go public with his feelings and put the club in an impossible position.

The final result? Another defeat for JEF United Chiba -- through an own goal.

ends

28 Jun 2007(Thu)

June 26, 2007: There was a special goal on Saturday from a youngster with the potential to be a special player.

Yosuke Kashiwagi, still only 19 and a product of the Sanfrecce Hiroshima youth team, scored a goal of true beauty in the game at Vissel Kobe -- a goal that gets better with every replay.

Naturally it came from his left foot, and followed a lovely interchange between Sato and Ueslei. When the ball broke free on the edge of the box, Kashiwagi took one touch to control it before wrapping his foot around the ball and stroking a dream of a shot across the face of the goal and into the far corner from the left side.

Talk about "Bend it Like Shunsuke"! This was a wonderful goal in open play, and was followed by a celebration that further demonstrated his creativity without being offensive or provocative to the foe.

After a Roger Milla-style wiggle of the hips, Kashiwagi went ten-pin bowling and pretended to roll a ball down the alley, presumably for a strike.

Sanfrecce's second goal, in what turned out to be a 3-2 defeat, was another fine effort -- a textbook header from Ueslei to a masterful right-wing cross from Komano.

But who turned defence into attack in the first place by jinking his way up the right wing and waiting to play the decisive pass? Why, Kashiwagi again, showing the touch, pace, composure and quick mind that would have Ivica Osim purring.

Osim is already well aware of Kashiwagi, of course, and the upcoming FIFA World Under-20 Championship in Canada provides the perfect stage for the youngster to display his talents.

These are considerable -- but realising this potential is another matter altogether, especially with such a light frame.

For the moment, though, Yosuke Kashiwagi is a combination of Harry Kewell and Harry Potter -- a silky, left-footed schemer, with a touch of magic in those boots!

ends

25 Jun 2007(Mon)

June 22, 2007: Without saying a word, Hidetoshi Nakata is back in the news, less than a year after his retirement.

During a luncheon at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Thursday, national coach Ivica Osim said the door was open for Nakata to return to the team should he end his retirement and join a club.

So what are the chances of a Nakata comeback?

Having followed his career closely since seeing him play for Japan in the Asian Youth Under-19 Championship in Jakarta in 1994, I would not rule out a Nakata return at all.

In fact, on several occasions while reading all the Beckham-for-Galaxy stories, I have thought the United States and Major League Soccer would be the perfect place for Nakata to reinvent himself. He is the Asian Beckham after all, and a Nakata comeback in America would provide another massive impetus to the game over there.

As in the case of Beckham, all parties would win substantially.

I honestly think a Nakata comeback in MLS is a possibility, as he is still only 30 and would have three or four more years left in him, at least through to the 2010 World Cup.

I saw a few highlights from the Figo match the other week, and Nakata, now with long hair, reminded me of his early days with Bellmare Hiratsuka.

He looked far too young to have given up the game, and being back in that kind of football environment may have rekindled the fire and interest he had lost.

Also, it might be as simple as this: he might be bored after his year on the road and want some roots again. And where better than the States, in a growing league and where he would enjoy celebrity status.

America and its youth/pop culture would appeal to Nakata, and also enable him to increase his profile in this vast market -- perfect for when he decides to open his chain of swish (not Swiss) restaurants in the world's major cities -- Tokyo, New York, Paris, London, Rome, Milan...

Menu, decor, furniture, clothing, merchandise...a Nakata fusion from around the world.

I am sure this is his destiny!

ends

21 Jun 2007(Thu)

June 19, 2007: A J.League Saturday that had started with an anti-climax at Todoroki ended in exhilarating style with a dramatic finish at Komaba.

First up in the Kanto football feast was Frontale-Reysol at sun-drenched Todoroki, where Kengo Nakamura really looked the part but the forwards on both teams wasted clear scoring chances in a forgettable 0-0 draw.

I was hoping Ganaha would get among the goals ahead of the Asian Cup squad announcement on Monday, but it just wasn't happening for him and he remains on one league goal for the season. He really needs an injection of confidence (is that legal under J.League rules?)

From Todoroki in the afternoon to Komaba in the evening, where there was a superb atmosphere and a big crowd of almost 17,000; two thirds of the stadium clad in orange, and the other third in...well, orange. Ardija against Albirex, and the Orange Derby certainly lived up to its billing in terms of controversy and drama.

First, the sending off of Niigata right winger Matsushita six minutes before the break. Whatever you think of his second yellow card for what the referee deemed a studs-up tackle, it was his first yellow that was ridiculous. The game was going nowhere after 25 minutes, Albirex were on top if anything, and Matsushita needlessly delayed play by kicking the ball away. Referee Osada was absolutely right to show him the yellow card, and I hope Albirex manager Suzuki will be critical of his own player rather than the officials.

With a man advantage, Omiya went on to win 2-1 with goals from Yoshihara and a soaring header from substitute Wakabayashi. Daigo Kobayashi played a big part in both goals, although he still looked a long way from full match fitness, unlike the lively Yoshihara and Fujimoto. But when Daigo has such quality with the ball at his feet, manager Robert Verbeek is happy to keep him on the pitch and get those minutes in.

Unfortunately, the standard of Omiya's foreign players leaves a lot to be desired once again, with only central defender Leandro in the starting line-up of a struggling team and both forwards staying on the bench.

Maybe scouting trips to Romania and Brazil will have produced some muscular additions in attack and central midfield to Omiya's creative yet lightweight personnel.

ends

18 Jun 2007(Mon)

June 15, 2007: Well, let's look on the bright side -- an all-Japan final in the 2007 Asian Champions League in November.

Reds against Frontale; one leg at Todoroki, the other at Saitama Stadium 2002. This would be the perfect scenario for Japan, wouldn't it, and it is still possible now the draw has been made for the knockout stages.

We knew before the draw that Reds and Frontale would be kept apart for the quarter-finals, but there was no guarantee they would avoid each other in the semi-finals, should they get there, of course.

One school of thought is that it would be better for them to meet in the last four, as it would guarantee Japan had a representative in the final.

But that's slightly negative in my opinion.

I prefer to take the ultra-positive approach, and back them both to reach the final now they have done the hard part by coming out of their groups. After all, there is little margin for error in the four-team preliminary round groups, as only the top one, not top two, go through.

So hopefully Reds and Frontale can get past Chonbuk Motors and Sepahan, respectively, in the quarter-finals, and will motivate each other in the semi-finals to set up an all-Japan showdown.

Reds will be at home to the reigning Asian champions in the first leg, on September 19, while Frontale will have home advantage for the second leg, on September 26.

My only advice to the Frontale fans thinking of heading for Iran is...take a crash helmet!

This is from my experience of joining 800 Japanese fans on a "dangan" tour to Tehran in March 2005 for the Iran-Japan World Cup qualifier.

We arrived at the hotel for lunch at midday, and were informed that there was already 100,000 fans in the Azadi Stadium six hours before kick-off!

When the convoy of buses with the Japanese fans arrived at the ground, it was like a scene from "The Gladiator" as we entered the arena like sacrifical slaves to the slaughter, for the entertainment of the spectators. They had reserved a small section behind the goal into which Fukunishi would score Japan's equaliser in an eventual 2-1 defeat, but the stand above us was packed with Iranians who used the Japanese as target practice for a cascade of missiles -- fortunately none of them nuclear.

One Japanese girl had turned round to look at the giant electronic scoreboard above, and an apple had caught her full in the face, producing an ugly, massive swelling on her cheek but fortunately missing her eyes.

Frontale fans -- take those helmets, and watch out for flying apples. They pack quite a punch from the second tier of a stand.

ends

14 Jun 2007(Thu)

June 12, 2007: Last weekend was Round 14 of 34 in J1 -- and it may well go down as a turning point in the 2007 season.

Suddenly, Gamba Osaka are seven points clear, even though Reds have a game in hand due to their involvement in the A3 Champions Cup (what do the three As stand for anyway? Another Avoidable Absence?).

Reds stayed second in the J1 table, even without playing, as none of the teams within range could win on the day. A worrying factor for those predicting a two-horse race already.

All of which combined to propel Albirex Niigata into a lofty fourth place, following their 3-1 victory at home to Vissel Kobe.

Earlier this season I saw Albirex demolish a poor, but now improving, FC Tokyo at Ajista, and liked what I saw -- a tidy, well organised team with three good foreign players.

Only two of them were on duty against Kobe, and they accounted for all three goals.

Marcio Richardes, who plays on the right side of midfield, got the first two; with a free kick that deceived Tatsuya Enomoto by entering the middle of the goal rather than the corner, and with a crisp, close-range header.

The third goal was another stylish header following another clever move, scored by Edmilson -- one of my favourite foreign players in the league for his power and his poise, which is an attractive and dangerous combination. (In fact he is so smooth I am surprised Gamba have not signed him under their risk-free policy of relieving less glamorous clubs of Brazilian imports of proven quality and character! Maybe next season.)

Although the season is not quite at the halfway stage, seven points is a handy lead for Gamba and will keep their rivals under pressure.

Personally, I think two teams are capable of catching Gamba: Reds and Frontale, although both of them are drawing too many games and have won only six apiece this season, compared to Gamba's nine league victories. There's the difference.

In midfield and attack, Gamba have plenty of quality on the pitch and the bench, so the only area where they look vulnerable is a lack of cover in central defence for Sidiclei and Yamaguchi.

ends

11 Jun 2007(Mon)

June 7, 2007: No doubt about it, Taka's back!

The two Kirin Cup games, and the Peru match in March, have revealed a hungry, mature and rejuvenated Naohiro Takahara; a player ready, willing and able to lead Japan's line again.

I must admit I went off Taka for quite a while, as he struggled at Hamburg and lost the cutting edge to his game. When he returned to the Japan team in those days he was not the same player, and his manner had turned from confident and ambitious to rather cocky without the results to back it up.

But the Takahara on display these days is a battler and playing with something to prove. He has come back well after his transfer to Eintracht Frankfurt and now looks the part, scoring goals, tackling back and running hard off the ball.

His goal against Montenegro was a cracker, that flying header at the near post to Komano's pinpoint cross from the right, and he played well against Colombia, despite missing a decent chance to head the winner right at the death.

The Colombians clearly targeted Taka for some rough treatment, especially early in the second half, and Japan's centre forward complained bitterly to the Danish ref that he was the victim of elbows as the match progressed.

In Osim's 4-5-1 formation, Taka did a good job on his own up front, although I would have liked to see Maki in there from the start, alongside him, like the Peru game.

It seemed a strange choice to play Inamoto so far forward, and Osim realised it was a mistake by replacing him at half-time.

"Ina" just could not get into the game. I have always regarded him as a defensive midfield player who likes to push forward, and he looked lost in that advanced position.

Troussier once told me, while preparing Japan's team for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Cup in Nigeria, that he always thought Inamoto would end up as a central defender. It has not happened yet, but it may be one option for his new employers, Eintracht Frankfurt, or even for Osim if he wants another look at Ina in the future.

ends

7 Jun 2007(Thu)

June 5, 2007: There were so many positives about Japan's 6-1 victory over South Korea in a women's Olympic qualifier the other night it is difficult to know where to start.

The result, of course, was excellent, and put Japan firmly on course for a place in Beijing next summer with three straight wins.

The manner of victory was also impressive, with the goals shared around and highlighting the quality and technique of the Japanese players.

As always, Japan played the game in a true spirit of fair play, and were a credit to the JFA in particular and the game of football in general.

Clearly not the biggest team in the women's game, they have developed a distinctive style of play and tactics that should give them a chance against the world's best. Like Osim's Japan, "Nadeshiko Japan" are trying to play to their strengths, such as speed, movement and organisation.

And I really like their midfield diamond, of Miyamoto at the base, Sawa at the top, Sakai on the right and Miyama on the left. Sakai and Miyama are both buzz bombs, and link well with their full backs coming up from defence on the flanks.

But, rather than knocking hopeful crosses into the middle, which would be food and drink for the bigger central defenders they will face at this year's World Cup, the Japanese have nurtured a very noticeable and suitable strategy to counter this problem.

The cross will be knocked long, beyond the far post, where a player has pulled off her marker at the last moment, and is able to nod the ball back into the middle. This puts the defence at a disadvantage, and allows the forwards to move in and attack the ball from close range, thereby eliminating the direct confrontation between big centre half and small centre forward.

It is a tactic which yields goals, and can be refined further as Japan play with width and speed and a good attacking rhythm.

There is a good feeling around Nadeshiko Japan, and head coach Hiroshi Ohashi must take a lot of the credit for the way in which they go about their business. They actually look like they are enjoying themselves, and there is none of the cynicism and gamesmanship that blight the men's game at the highest level.

Before the national anthem of Korea Republic, the home fans and Japanese players alike applauded with gusto – and it was nice to see the small band of Korean fans clap the Japanese players after the game as they went on their lap of honour.

The only disappointment was that only 8,779 fans turned up at Kokuritsu on a pleasant Sunday evening.

This team deserves more, and hopefully they will get it on August 12 for the visit of Thailand.

ends

4 Jun 2007(Mon)

June 2, 2007: Although the quality and pattern of play fell away significantly in the second half, there was still enough positive aspects to take from Japan's 2-0 victory over Montenegro on Friday night.

The first was the two goals, beautifully crafted and expertly finished and which virtually killed the game by half time.

The opening goal had clearly been refined on the training ground, as Endo opened up a better angle from his left-wing corner and Nakazawa moved into position on the far post. When the ball came over, Nakazawa really attacked it and hit the target with a powerful header, proving again his value at both ends of the pitch.

The second was even better. Kengo Nakamura changed the direction of attack and Komano, breaking down the right, sent over a magnificent cross to the near post, where Takahara headed home in spectacular style.

A couple of minutes earlier, Komano had crossed too deep, and Takahara had shown his frustration by pointing to the near post. Komano adjusted his sights quickly and served up a perfect ball next time for Taka to head home.

Once again Komano was my man of the match, like he had been against Peru. Starting the match at right back and finishing it on the opposite flank following the introduction of Mizuno, Komano has established himself as a key player for Osim with his energy, intensity and versatility. He also knows when to clear the ball from dangerous situations or when to pass and move from deep, and he has a first-class attitude. Troussier would have loved Komano in his squad as he is the ultimate team player who just gets on with his job.

Osim's style of play demands quick minds and reactions as well as fast legs, and one step forward I noticed against Montenegro was how the players were in position to pick up the scraps from a move that falters. Playing at such pace and with such movement and intricate passing, mistakes will inevitably occur, but Japan's players have learned to read the situation and anticipate the break down.

Montenegro, it must be said, looked slow and lacked flair, but any team from the former Yugoslavia knows the game and deserves respect.

Japan's midfield pressing, though, put them under too much pressure, and prevented them from building any rhythm.

Colombia should be stronger at Saitama on Tuesday night -- but so should Japan.

ends

31 May 2007(Thu)

May 29, 2007: And then there were three...

After selecting Shunsuke Nakamura and Naohiro Takahara for the Peru game, Japan coach Ivica Osim has expanded his band of European exiles to three by calling up Koji Nakata for the Kirin Cup.

Many observers, myself included, will be glad to see Koji back in the fold, as his qualities are many.

First, he is versatile, and can play a number of positions in defence and midfield.

Second, he has a good footballing brain, allied with keen concentration, and Osim needs thinkers as well as movers in his team.

Third, he has a lot of experience at this level, having featured in two World Cup squads.

Fourth, he has stuck with it in Europe after a tumultuous time in France, and has found his home in Basel. This shows a strong character and ambition, when it would have been easy to return to the J.League.

All in all, then, Nakata still has a lot to offer the national team, and Osim will be able to capitalise on his versatility, even during a game if necessary.

Koji is listed as a defender in Osim's squad, along with one of my favourite players at the moment, Mizumoto.

Despite JEF United's wretched season, Mizumoto has emerged as a bright prospect for the future. Injuries to Stoyanov and Djordjevic have thrust Mizumoto into the spotlight, and he has emerged as a natural leader.

I wrote recently that Mizumoto played with an attitude, and it was good to see him standing up for himself and giving Juninho as good as he got in some verbal exchanges during the recent Frontale-JEF game. This Kirin Cup experience can only help his career, like those of his fellow Olympic team members.

There is a wealth of talent in this Kirin Cup collection, and the toughest job for Osim will be finding the right combinations and deciding who to leave out, rather than who to play.

The return of Koji Nakata gives him even more options, especially with Abe and Konno in there, too.

ends

28 May 2007(Mon)

May 24, 2007: The head coach of Sydney FC, Branko Culina, was spot on with his assessment of Urawa Reds after their 0-0 draw in the AFC Champions League on Wednesday night.

Culina was in awe of the spectacle he had just witnessed at Saitama Stadium 2002, as 44,793 fans produced an incredible atmosphere to match the occasion. (I estimated that 44,700 of them were wearing a red shirt, and 93 were Aussies).

"Urawa is a wonderful, wonderful club," said Culina. "You've just to look at the facilities they have."

Regarding the fans, the Sydney FC coach added: "The supporters are absolutely brilliant. This is not only one of the best crowds in Asia, but one of the best in the world. I congratulate them. To come so close against one of the giants of Asian football...we are very proud and pleased."

High praise indeed – and, of course, he is right.

I have said before that Reds, should they go on and win the Champions League and qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup in December, would be a marvellous advertisement for Japanese football.

Their story needs telling to the world, as I am sure many football fans around the globe are unaware that a team in Japan receives such fervent support, and an average home attendance that many clubs in the so-called big leagues of Europe could only dream about.

The J.League is in a very healthy state at the moment, but there is no doubt Reds are one step ahead in terms of both fan base and the quality of the team. Other clubs, notably Albirex, also attract big home crowds on a regular basis, and other teams are at consistently the same level as Reds, particularly Gamba, but none can match the overall standing of Urawa.

Almost 45,000 fans on a Wednesday night against Sydney FC out in the sticks is a fine effort, and the club's decision to kick off at 7.30pm rather than the customary 7pm is another factor which has led to such good attendances for the three home games.

To close, there were some nice touches at the end of the Reds-Sydney match, when the home fans applauded the Aussies generously – and some of the Sydney players threw their sweaty shirts to the small away contingent in the corner.

Well worth the trip for all concerned, then.

ends

24 May 2007(Thu)

May 23, 2007: Weren't those words of Sepp Blatter music to the ears of Japanese football fans?

The fact that Japan was high on the list -- if not at the top, as that was clearly the United States -- of substitute hosts should South Africa be deemed unsuitable to stage the next World Cup in 2010.

Of course it is a remote chance that FIFA will remove the hosting rights from South Africa, as President Blatter has said there would be only a change if there was a natural catastrophe, rather than any political/financial pressure.

And the chances of Japan being selected as emergency host would be even smaller -- but at least Blatter mentioned Japan as a world player in the modern game when discussing the topic in a recent interview with the BBC.

Blatter, of course, is absolutely right, as Japan could stage the next World Cup at very short notice -- on its own, not with Korea.

The 10 stadiums used in 2002 for half a World Cup are still there -- well, I hear that Miyagi is still there, but no one seems to know for sure.

Add to these the likes of Ajinomoto Stadium, home of FC Tokyo, plus Toyota Stadium, the sometime home of Nagoya Grampus Eight, and even the Big Arch at Hiroshima, and Japan has more than enough top-quality stadiums to host a 32-team, eight-group World Cup tomorrow, so to speak.

The hotels are here, the transportation system is excellent, and the fans would embrace the full World Cup, as they did half the World Cup in 2002. So would the sponsors.

Crowd trouble would be non-existent, as the local fans would welcome all-comers, and the Japanese police would show restraint and not behave like their Italian counterparts in Rome by attacking fans from overseas.

I think it would be wonderful for the World Cup to return to Japan, and a wonderful success for FIFA and the world.

Blatter has some big decisions to make in the near future, not only with South Africa but also with Brazil for 2014. By all reports, Brazil is light years away from being able to stage a World Cup in modern, safe stadiums, so the United States, Australia, Japan and England among others can all regard themselves as on stand-by.

The 2010 and 2014 World Cups are far from decided at the moment.

ends

21 May 2007(Mon)

May 18, 2007: The Kazuki Ganaha Case has been a good lesson for all, especially for club doctors who should know better.

And, I must say, it has been extremely well handled by all parties.

First by Frontale themselves, on learning that Ganaha had received medication via an intravenous injection -- treatment banned by both FIFA and the J.League, even though no illegal substance was involved.

And second by the J.League, who issued a six-match ban on the player, backdated four games.

That punishment, along with a fine of 10 million yen for the club, suited the "crime", and served as a reminder to all clubs about the regulations.

Some hard-line anti-doping lobbyists may think Frontale/Ganaha escaped lightly, but sports authorities can frequently over-react when faced with such an emotional, complex issue, and end up handing out punishments that are too severe due to inflexible guidelines. So well done to the J.League for getting this one spot on.

The suspension came to end following Frontale's 3-1 win at Kofu on May 13, and, at the time of writing, Ganaha is pencilled in for an instant recall at Oita on Saturday.

In Ganaha's absence, several players have taken up the responsibility of scoring goals, one of them being Yusuke Mori at Kofu last weekend. The right winger scored a lovely goal with the outside of his right foot, and, at the start of Golden Week, had provided a wonderful cross for Chong Tese to head home at the far post against JEF United.

The boy has talent, but also has a short fuse. To use some English slang, Mori could be described as "a bit of a nutter", or "nutcase" if you prefer -- they are both perfectly appropriate. JEF fans know this only too well from the controversial Nabisco Cup semi-final last season, and, during the recent game between the two sides at Todoroki, Mori puzzled me by staying down, pretending he was injured, as JEF pressed for an unlilkely winner near the end.

He would have been better off getting up and helping his team defend, but instead got himself a yellow card for dissent on jumping back to his feet and launching a tirade against the linesman.

There's never a dull moment these days at Todoroki.

ends

17 May 2007(Thu)

May 15, 2007: You are never too old to learn – and never too young to learn from the old master, Kazuyoshi Miura.

That was a great goal he scored on Saturday, wasn't it, smashing the ball with his left foot on the run into the back of the Sanfrecce net. The perfect dipping volley.

What I liked about it was that Kazu just hit it! Too often in the J.League – and at the Emirates Stadium for that matter – you see players take one more touch than necessary, and the chance to strike is gone.

Worse still, they will control the ball and try and cross when the only thing on their mind, as a forward, should be to shoot.

That is why I loved Kazu's goal. Cynics may argue that he had no other choice but to shoot from that position as he no longer has the legs to keep running – and they may have a point as it was in the 42nd minute after all – but he knew what he wanted to do and executed this difficult skill in textbook fashion.

A shot like that can go horribly wrong, and the ball flies over the bar like a balloon, but on this occasion it rose and dropped at speed like a big dipper at the fairground. The result was another Kazu cracker -- his first league goal as a 40-year-old.

The lesson here for youngsters (such as Gon Nakayama, for example) is to feel confident in your own ability in front of goal. Don't be afraid to take a chance, especially when you are 1-0 up and there is only a couple of minutes to go to halftime.

There was nothing to lose and everything to gain at this stage of the match, and Kazu gambled and came up trumps with his spectacular dipping volley. (I have heard Japanese commentators call it a "loop shoot" – a "chip" or a "lob" in English, but that just does not do it justice).

ends

14 May 2007(Mon)

May 11, 2007: What will the AFC think of next?

Their attitude towards the visit of Manchester United to Asia in general and Malaysia in particular is another low point for the AFC – standing, of course, for Asian Football Confederation; although, in this case, Another Football Calamity might be more appropriate.

They do not want Manchester United to come to Asia in July because they want everyone to focus on the Asian Cup, even though three of their destinations, Japan, South Korea and Macau-China, are not hosting the Asian Cup.

They think it is disrespectful to Asia, despite the fact United have millions of fans in this part of the world and have actually turned people on to the game of football.

I would like to think AFC have a strong point and deserve support, but then I turn up for the AFC Champions League game at Todoroki between Frontale and Arema Malang and see that the Indonesians have brought only 12 players – and the lone sub on the bench is a goalkeeper!

This is despite the fact clubs could register as many as 30 players in their provisional squad, and have 20 on the team sheet for any group game.

It was a farce to see this, and also to hear that a 13th player should have turned up at the airport back home but failed to arrive and was not answering his mobile phone. Perhaps he was watching Manchester United on TV.

So the AFC have enough of their own problems to tackle without turning on Manchester United, who cannot be blamed for being a massive global sporting success (note the lack of the word "brand" here, folks).

If they do not want United in Malaysia two days before the Asian Cup final in Jakarta on July 29, why should they allow Zinedine Zidane to visit Indonesia from July 6-8? Won't everyone be talking about his World Cup final headbutt and not the start of the Asian Cup on July 7?

And why should they allow Reading to play in Seoul, and Liverpool, Pompey and Fulham to play in Hong Kong, all in July?

Can't they try and ban them, too, as Asian fans will be distracted from the Asian Cup.

The AFC make me laugh, although it is too serious to laugh, really. After all, their annual awards have lost credibility, and the AFC Youth Player of the Year for 2006 went to China's Ma Xiaoxu, an 18-year-old Chinese girl who also won Female Player of the Year. Readers know I support the women's game, but this is just so PC (Politically Correct) it is absolutely PC (Plain Crazy).

What will happen this year? A futsal player being named Asian Player of the Year?

Do not bet against it.

ends

10 May 2007(Thu)

May 8, 2007: These are grim times for FC Tokyo fans, as the team stumbles from one calamity to the next.

Well, maybe a couple of beers and some fish and chips might cheer you up!

The countdown clock is ticking to Saturday, May 12, at 7pm to be precise, when Tokyo entertain JEF United at Ajinomoto Stadium.

With full credit to the people behind the scenes at FC Tokyo, they are making the occasion "UK Day" and hope to attract the many Brits who live in the Tokyo area to the game.

There will be a special discount price for Brits attending the match, and fans will be able to buy the traditional fare of fish and chips, washed down with an English pale ale. The British Embassy are also involved, so hopefully there will be a festival atmosphere before the game.

The UK Day theme is a natural progression for FC Tokyo, whose home matches try to capture the feel of a game in England in several aspects.

The first thing that comes to mind is the pre-match rendition of the Liverpool anthem "You'll never walk alone", plus the English stadium announcements by resident Brit Steve Spencer, who hails from Blackpool (to use the parlance of the typical player pen picture in the match day programme back home).

And Steve really loves his music, too, as all Brits do. "That's Entertainment" by The Jam and the Oasis classic "Don't Look Back in Anger" are part of the staple diet at Ajista, and the Brits who take advantage of this special offer on Saturday night might be feeling a little homesick listening to this as they devour their fish and chips (hopefully served in old newspapers, covered in salt and leaking with vinegar) and enjoy a pint or two (or three).

On the subject of football stadium food in England, I would like to relate a very funny story from a Wimbledon-Newcastle United match at Plough Lane, London, in the late 1980s.

About an hour before kick-off, myself and half a dozen other football writers from the north-east down there to cover Newcastle were milling around the centre circle, enjoying a juicy hamburger.

I was just about to take a large bite out of my mouth-watering snack when a hand reached over my shoulder and grabbed the burger. I turned round to see who it was, but was not quick enough to prevent a young and playful Paul Gascoigne from stuffing the whole burger into his mouth in one, chewing quickly and swallowing -- and this was an hour before kick-off!

This match would become famous, or, rather, infamous, for the physical abuse suffered by Gazza at the hands of Wimbledon hooligan Vinnie Jones -- but that is another, long, long story!

Enjoy your fish and chips at Ajista!

ends

7 May 2007(Mon)

May 5, 2007: When Yuki Abe left JEF United for Urawa Reds in the close season, Amar Osim would have been looking for a new leader to emerge.

He's found one already, and his name is Hiroki Mizumoto.

The 21-year-old Olympic team defender is having a fine season with the Chiba club, helping to fill the spiritual void left by Abe. Not only is he strong and quick, and good in the air and on the ground, he also has a bit of attitude. This is always good to see in a Japanese player, especially when confronted by an influential and dangerous foreign player.

Take the case recently of the Frontale-JEF game at Todoroki.

Mizumoto's job that afternoon was to man-mark Juninho, which is not easy due to the speed and the movement of the clever Brazilian. A couple of times the pair had words, and Mizumoto gave as good as he got in the verbal exchanges. He can clearly look after himself in the physical and mental sides of the game, and I am sure he will become a permanent fixture in the national squad in the near future.

In their next game, against Reds at Saitama Stadium, JEF were in big trouble when Saito was sent off early in the second half. They already trailed 1-0, but Mizumoto dragged them back into it with an equaliser which again displayed his fighting quality and character.

Successive 1-1 draws at Todoroki and Saitama are two good results for JEF, but now they must find some consistent home form to start moving up the table. It won't be easy, though, because a confident Reysol are next up for United, in the Chiba derby at Fukari on Sunday evening.

On the subject of confidence, you can't beat Yokohama F Marinos at the moment. Three straight wins, scoring 13 goals in the process and conceding only one, speaks for itself, and it was good to see over 33,000 at Nissan Stadium for the visit of Frontale.

I saw the first of those three wins, 5-0 against Oita, and there were just over 17,000 inside the vast stadium. What impressed me about the home team was how they defended from the front, with both Oshima and Sakata keeping the pressure on and forcing mistakes from their opponents. With the Yamase brothers on fire, things are starting to look up for the Marinos fans.

ends

3 May 2007(Thu)

May 2, 2007: There was plenty to admire at Kashiwa Hitachi Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The electric storm that delayed the Reysol-Grampus game for 49 minutes was quite impressive, as a warm, sunny day gave way to thunder, lightning, torrential rain and gale-force winds.

Even Reysol's hardy band of Yellow Monkeys were sent scurrying from behind the goal, presumably to seek sanctuary in the tall trees, their natural habitat after all, just over the wall.

And some of those lightning flashes were mighty close; one of them, in fact, was closer to the goal than any Grampus forward would come during the match.

A chilly evening followed the thunderstorm, but the Reysol fans, especially in the back stand, created a marvellous atmosphere in one of the best stadiums in the league.

Reysol's first goal in their energetic 2-0 victory, scored by Tadanari Ri, was a soft one, but their second was a beauty, set up by Ri and finished in fine style by Minoru Suganuma.

It was Suganuma's fifth goal of the campaign and displayed all his confidence and composure. Ri intercepted a weak Nagoya clearance and headed the ball into the path of Suganuma, who had moved inside from the right wing and was bursting through the inside-right channel.

Without breaking stride, Suganuma took one touch to control the ball before firing it low past Kushino and into the bottom left corner from the edge of the box. Coming, as it did, five minutes before the break, the goal put Reysol in control and they were able to hold off Nagoya's late onslaught to claim all three points.

Suganuma is an interesting player, as Philippe Troussier would say. He graduated from the club's junior youth team through the youth team into the first team, and had spells with Vitoria of Brazil and Ehime FC of J2 along the way -- and he is still only 21.

While on loan with Ehime last season, Suganuma made 45 appearances in the league and scored 11 goals, and has clearly benefited from all those competitive games if his early-season form in J1 is anything to go by.

I always remember Gert Engels stressing how a season in J2 with Kyoto Purple Sanga, in 2001, had helped transform Park Ji Sung.

"You can train and train all week, but there is no substitute for playing competitive matches," Engels said of Park when they were together at Kyoto.

"In J2, teams are often playing Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday, and you could see Park growing and improving throughout the year because he was having so many opportunities to play competitive football. He played 38 league games that season in J2 and it really helped his development."

While it may seem a frustrating step down at the time, dropping from J1 to J2 or moving from a big club to a smaller one (like Suganuma, as Reysol were also in J2 last season), it is a career move worth exploring for young players who feel they are not getting enough playing time where they are.

ends

30 Apr 2007(Mon)

April 28, 2007: In the nine-year J.League history of Kawasaki Frontale, April 2007 will go down as a breakout month.

Not only did they leave Saitama Stadium with a landmark 2-1 victory over Urawa Reds, it was also when they displayed their true colours on the Asian stage.

Their two victories over Chunnam Dragons have enabled them to take a six-point lead in the AFC Champions League Group F with only two matches to play, and they will surely go on and clinch a place in the last eight.

Japan's poor record in the Asian Champions League is well documented, so for a J.League club to beat a Korean rival away and then at home on consecutive match days is a significant step forward, as they followed up their 3-1 victory in Korea with a 3-0 win at Todoroki on Wednesday night.

Unlike in their previous Champions League home game, the lame 1-1 draw with Bangkok University, Frontale were in J.League mood, and it was too much -- even for the robust, desperate Koreans.

They were strong and aggressive at the back, creative and hard-working in midfield, and fast and dangerous up front -- the combination of power, pace and organisation that has transformed them into one of Japan's most-feared teams.

I like the way the back three of Minowa, Terada and Ito really attack the ball when it is in the air, and don't wait for it to bounce. This is when mistakes can happen and confusion can set in, but the lack of errors, and the lack of risks, is what enables them to maintain their consistency.

The home game against Chunnam was actually closer than the 3-0 scoreline suggests. Turning round 1-0 behind, the Koreans really went for it in the second half and enjoyed long spells of possession. For a while it looked like Chunnam were the home team, taking the initiative and winning free kicks in dangerous areas, and Frontale the away team, soaking up the pressure and attacking quickly on the break.

But when the dynamo Juninho, who had opened the scoring, set up Jong Tae Se for Frontale's second in the 81st minute, the three points were in the bag, and Jong added a third just for good measure.

Jong (to use his AFC spelling, as opposed to his J.League name of Chong Tese) did a great job in the place of Ganaha, taking up good positions across the line and flying into challenges in true, swashbuckling Korean style.

The football month is not quite over, though, as Frontale have a home game with JEF United on Sunday. But whatever happens at Todoroki tomorrow, April 2007 has been a vintage month for the Kawasaki team.

ends

26 Apr 2007(Thu)

April 25, 2007: Just when Kashima Antlers were getting going, and just when Atsushi Yanagisawa was getting going, everything has been put on hold again.

After breaking a bone in his left foot, the Antlers captain is out for three months, which is a great pity for fans of the player in particular and the team in general.

Throughout his career Yanagisawa has won many admirers by scoring some fantastic goals for club and country. One that remains in the memory for me was a sparkling solo goal against Reysol one evening at Kashiwanoha, where he used his tremendous acceleration to surge through the home defence before finishing with a cool, crisp strike.

I have seen him in action only once this season, in a 3-3 draw at Chiba, and after the match Antlers manager Oswaldo Oliveira said Yanagi was starting to hit peak condition.

And so it proved, with a lovely winner away to Yokohama FC and then both goals in a 2-1 victory at Shimizu S-Pulse on Saturday.

With the bright and skilful playmaker Nozawa back in action after his injury, the two linked well for Yanagisawa's first goal at Shimizu, and then the striker scored his second of the match with a clean, precise header at the far post.

This was the Yanagi of old, showing all the predatory instincts needed for a top-class striker.

Sadly, though, his injury has ruled him out for some time, which will surely hold up the progress of the team as they were starting to climb the table.

Looking ahead to this weekend, an Antlers team with Yanagisawa in top form would have posed a great threat to Urawa in what should still be a cracking match played in front of a huge crowd, thanks to the masses travelling from Saitama Prefecture and the improved form of the home team.

The setback also ends any hope he may have had of a national team comeback in time for the Asian Cup in July.

Although he would not have been thinking about that, I am sure deep down he would like another chance in the blue shirt to bury the nightmare of Germany, where he missed so horribly in the 0-0 draw with Croatia.

Many critics will remember him for that alone, but he has scored too many fine goals during his career to be labelled a national team flop.

ends

23 Apr 2007(Mon)

April 21, 2007: Japan's Olympic hopefuls beat Syria in midweek with two fine goals from Mizuno and Honda.

But I wonder how their club managers at JEF United and Nagoya Grampus Eight felt about it?

Well, I know the feelings of Sef Vergoossen, as I spoke with him about this matter after Nagoya's match against Omiya at Komaba.

Honda, his exciting and important left-sided player, was not there, of course, because he was already in Damascus, preparing for the under-22 match.

I asked Sef how he felt about having to give up Honda for an Olympic qualifier, and, being Dutch, he gave an honest answer.

"Unbelievable!" was his first comment.

"It is not fair and not correct, for all teams," he added.

I have to say that I totally agree with him, and I am sure Amar Osim feels the same, as he was without Mizuno and Mizumoto when JEF lost at Kobe. Those are two massive losses for the Chiba team, as was Honda for Grampus at Komaba.

In this day and age, with international calendars and with the jobs of head coaches on the line in virtually every match, I cannot believe that teams must lose their top young players from championship matches to play for the Olympic team.

I know that Japan puts more emphasis on Olympic football than probably any other country in the world, but these kind of fixture conflicts simply should not happen.

Sef stressed that he was not against giving up players for the Olympic team. What frustrated him was that the J.League insisted clubs field their strongest teams in the Nabisco Cup, but then had to give players to the JFA and miss league games.

"Give me one hour to make a schedule for the season," was the observation of Sef, who said that basically this should not happen in a professional league.

Sef is absolutely spot on.

It is ridiculous for teams to have to lose players for J1 matches, and the same applied for Reysol when they played Reds last Sunday. Without top scorer Suganuma and Lee/Ri, depending on the JFA/J.League spelling, this was not the Reysol team that was setting the pace at the top of the table.

Hopefully the powers that be can get their heads round this issue as quickly as possible, because clubs should not have to lose players from the championship for national team duties.

One quick fix suggested by Sef and another coach I spoke to about this was to give clubs the right to postpone a league game if they had to give up players, as there was plenty of room to reschedule games later in the season.

ends

19 Apr 2007(Thu)

April 17, 2007: Referees are usually in the news for the wrong reasons, answering the doorbell when controversy calls.

So let's give credit where it is due to the referees of the two matches I attended at the weekend.

First up was Omiya against Nagoya at Komaba, where the ref was Akio Okutani. I thought he had a fine match, allowing play to continue as often as possible and refusing to allow the trainers to come on to treat stricken players.

I use the word "stricken" very generously here, because, of course, most of the time the players are not hurt at all.

The Nagoya players were particularly annoying in this aspect, until Omiya scored in the 27th minute.

It is amazing, though, how quickly players will get up on their own once they know the ref is not going to stop the game.

Omiya fans may disagree with me about the performance of referee Okutani due to the late dismissal of their Brazilian central defender Leandro -- but again the ref was absolutely spot on.

Leandro had been booked in the first half for a late challenge on Toshiya Fujita, and received his second yellow card for delaying the game as Ardija clung on to their 1-0 lead. Omiya had been awarded a free kick deep in their own half, and Leandro shaped to take it before changing his mind and walking away to allow keeper Aratani to take over.

Leandro's actions really were insulting the intelligence of the match officals, so Okutani was quite right to show him his second yellow. Leandro will now be suspended, but who's fault is that? Not Okutani's, that's for sure.

And so to Sunday, Reysol against Reds at Kokuritsu. Or should that be Reds against Reysol, as the Urawa masses turned it into a home game for the champions.

On this occasion the ref was Hajime Matsuo, and his decision to caution Reysol's Brazilian striker Franca for a blatant dive should be applauded. Sorry "Yellow Monkeys" at the other end -- but Franca deserved everything he got in the shape of a yellow card.

Franca tried to get Tulio booked, and subsequently sent off, when tumbling in the Reds box under no contact whatsoever.

Shortly before that incident, Tulio had been shown the yellow card for dissent, furious that the referee had not taken action against, what he claimed, was a dangerous elbow from Koga in an aerial challenge.

Reysol were 2-0 down at the time, Franca was desperate and tried it on when Tulio raced back to defend.

Fortunately, referee Matsuo did not fall for it, even though the Reds fans behind the goal must have been nervous when he reached for his pocket, fearing a second yellow for Tulio.

ends

16 Apr 2007(Mon)

April 14, 2007: When Urawa Reds bought Yuki Abe from JEF United in the close season, they got a lot for their money.

A central midfielder, a libero, a goal scorer...and now a match-winning left back in Reds' most recent outing.

That came at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Wednesday night, when they beat Shanghai Shenhua 1-0 in the third round of Asian Champions League group games.

Abe is one of the best headers of a ball in the J.League -- just check out his two great headers at Oita recently -- and proved it again with another athletic effort from Ponte's free kick.

Abe's goal, in the 43rd minute, was greeted with a sigh of relief among the people who wanted to see a football match, as the time-wasting tactics of Shanghai were threatening to turn another Asian Champions League match into a farce.

Even though they had lost their first two games and needed a win here, the Chinese started like they were 1-0 up with five minutes to go, trying to protect a slender lead.

This was particularly noticeable when they ventured forward and actually won a corner. The player taking the kick would walk as slowly as possible to the corner flag, eating up the seconds in order to preserve the stalemate for as long as possible. Was it only the referee that failed to spot this?

As a colleague pointed out, what would have happened if Shanghai had gone in front? It does not bear thinking about, but possibly the goalkeeper would have been "injured" on a regular basis.

So well done to Reds, and also to Frontale for their excellent win in Korea. They needed to put that dire performance at home to Bangkok University firmly behind them, and did so in emphatic fashion to take control of the group at the halfway stage.

One thing that puzzled me about the fixture list on Wednesday was that the Nabisco Cup and J2 were also being played on the same night as the Asian Champions League. This diluted the significance of the Asian Champions League, instead of the football focus being fully on Japan's teams in the continental club championship. Seemed a bit strange to me, as the Nabisco Cup suffered, too, in terms of attention.

This coming Wednesday, on the other hand, Japan's Under 22s are away to Syria in Olympic qualifying, but there is no Asian Champions League, no J1, J2 or Nabisco Cup in Japan on the same night.

ends

12 Apr 2007(Thu)

April 10, 2007: Judging by events at Ajinomoto Stadium on Saturday, Albirex Niigata have built a tidy team as they continue to establish themselves in the top flight.

The former JEF United stalwart Sakamoto had a particularly impressive afternoon in the 3-1 defeat of FC Tokyo, making life extremely uncomfortable for one of my favourite young players, Inoha.

Sakamoto used to play all over the place for JEF, such was his versatility on either flank, in defence or in midfield, but with Albirex he has settled into the left back slot in an orthodox back four.

With the explosive Shingo Suzuki in front of him, this is a dangerous combination, and Inoha's lack of natural pace was exposed at right back in Tokyo's four-man defence. I would prefer to see Inoha in the centre of defence or in defensive midfield, where his qualities can really shine through.

Sakamoto opened the scoring for Albirex with a lovely little goal, robbing the ball from a floundering Kawaguchi as easily as taking candy off a baby. Kawaguchi had come back to help out Inoha, but got himself into all sorts of trouble -- and Sakamoto saw his moment and pounced ruthlessly like a praying mantis. It was all over in a blur.

There is a bit of height in the Albirex team, too, notably the two central defenders, Nagata and Chiyotanda, and striker Yano. It is easy to see why national coach Osim has had a look at Yano, as he never stops running and always seems to find some space. He reminds me a bit of TBS's favourite footballer Kubo -- raw and unpredictable, awkward for opponents to mark.

On the foreign player front, Silvinho conducts the Albirex midfield and controlled the game against Tokyo, while the sturdy Edmilson is top quality in attack. He scored once and could have had a couple more, and he remains crucial to the team's future.

The third foreign player is Marcio Richardes, formerly of Sao Caetano, and he looked lively on the right side of midfield, cutting in towards goal.

Unlike Tokyo, Albirex kept their shape as a team and passed the ball accurately; Silvinho was at the centre of everything -- including Tokyo's consolation goal when he turned in Norio Suzuki's cross from the left.

Yes, Albirex looked a confident and well organised team. Not championship-winning material, but one that should be able to stay closer to the top of the table than the bottom and give any opponent a decent game, home or away.

The final word must go to the Albirex keeper, Kitano. Without wanting to exaggerate, he produced a truly world-class save at the end to deny Lucas. Tokyo's cultured Brazilian forward thought his curling shot from the edge of the box was in all the way, but Kitano, at full stretch, pushed it over the bar with his right hand.

It was a magnificent save, a candidate for Save of the Season if the J.League or one of the TV companies had such a competition.

ends

9 Apr 2007(Mon)

April 7, 2007: It has not been the smoothest of starts at Omiya Ardjia for Robert Verbeek.

At the time of writing he has seen his team lose all four J1 games but win two and draw one of their three Nabisco Cup group matches.

The draw came at a cold and soggy Kashiwa Hitachi Stadium on Wednesday night, 0-0 against Reysol.

After the game I had an interesting chat with Verbeek about a player who has been around a long time (he is now 29) and who has bags of talent, but who has still not delivered on his potential: Kota Yoshihara.

Against Reysol, Yoshihara played on the right side of midfield in a 4-4-2 formation, and did a good job in providing pace and width to the attack and also tackling back deep inside his own half. With 20 minutes to go he moved up front, alongside Morita, and this time caught the eye with his accomplished back-to-goal technique, controlling the ball and shielding it from the defenders around him.

Verbeek feels that finally he is beginning to see the real Kota -- but it has been a struggle to bring him to this point.

"I had two meetings with him at our training camp in Guam and told him he must train harder otherwise he can forget it," Verbeek said.

"I also told him that I saw some DVDs from last year and every time I thought, 'he can play nicely, he is a good striker', but I had not seen that since I came here. I told him that this is a different Kota, and I want to see the Kota I saw on the DVD."

The message seems to have got home, as Verbeek acknowledged about Wednesday's lively display: "This is a totally different Kota. He is dangerous, he can keep the ball and he can score goals. I am very happy and very proud of him. It was a little bit of a battle, but, okay, that can happen."

When I told Verbeek that Philippe Troussier had once described Yoshihara as the Japanese Romario for his finishing prowess in the box, the Dutchman stated: "He has something -- but he must be 100 per cent. He is still 80 per cent and he misses 20 per cent. In two or three weeks he can be 90-95 per cent, and he can be very dangerous for us."

These must be encouraging words for the Omiya fans, who need a sharp and hungry Yoshihara to put away a few goals in what already is looking like a fight for survival in the top flight.

Yoshihara must also be encouraged by the new coach's philosophy, as he changes the playing style from "waiting, waiting", as he described it, to a more adventurous..."let's challenge, play football, attack."

ends

5 Apr 2007(Thu)

April 3, 2007: Let's just call it the Nagoya Grampus Four -- for the time being at least.

After four rounds of the new J1 season, Grampus are sitting proudly at the top with a perfect 12 points, ahead of Gamba on goal difference.

And that is something to celebrate for the club in particular, and for neutrals around the country keen to see a new challenger, even so early in the campaign.

Nagoya's Dutch coach, Sef Vergoossen, puts the good start down to a good pre-season, and stability and continuity from last term.

Even so, Grampus have long-term injuries in Marek Spilar -- out for the year, according to Vergoossen at Mitsuzawa on Sunday -- and Atsushi Yoneyama, a stylish defender for Verdy but who could not establish himself in Frontale's land of the giants. (Even the ballboys are bigger than 'Yone' at Todoroki).

Can Grampus stay at the top?

Vegoossen said a top five position at the end of the season would be an excellent display by his team in the circumstances.

"We have 13-14 players, whereas the likes of Urawa, Gamba especially, Frontale and S-Pulse have 20-22 for the first team," he said.

"We have no magic team. We have a normal team who play with discipline and a good mentality. We have 13-14 players, and after that players are coming in with quality but without any experience."

They should have beaten Yokohama FC much more comfortably than 2-1 on Sunday, thanks to a flashing near-post header from Keita Sugimoto and a slow-motion, far-post finish from Kei Yamaguchi after a lightning raid up the right flank from Sugimoto.

Grampus played with a very well-organised 3-5-2, and a strong backbone of Masayuki Omori, Toshiya Fujita and Frode Johnsen.

Naoshi Nakamura and Keisuke Honda gave them width, and Yamaguchi and Kim Jung Woo some solidity in midfield, while Akira Takeuchi and Takahiro Masukawa played at the back, either side of Omori. It was Masukawa's excellent cross, whipped in from the left, that allowed Sugimoto to head Grampus level, and Nakamura's delicious pass up the right which released Sugimoto, who had timed his run behind the defence to perfection, to set up Yamaguchi's winner.

The Grampus fans were in fine voice behind the goal into which their team scored twice, and, let's face it, they deserve something to celebrate after some barren, post-Pixie years.

Fujita, now 35, is critical to Grampus Eight's season, not just for his ability and experience but also for his leadership and tactical brain. He may not cover the amount of ground he used to during his Jubilo heyday, but he knows where everyone should be and what they should be doing.

Good luck to Grampus. It's good for the game to see them up there.

ends

2 Apr 2007(Mon)

March 30, 2007: It is quite embarrassing being English at the moment.

Not just because we are struggling in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, but because of the abuse hurled at the players and coach by their own fans.

We still reckon we are the “home” of football – but football has not come home since the 1966 World Cup.

Since then we have produced some great players, and occasionally a very good team – 1990 World Cup, for example – but our head coaches cause mixed reaction to say the least.

The latest in the hot seat – make that the “white-hot” seat – is Steve McClaren. He is viewed as dull and lacking charisma, even though his coaching credentials were obviously admired by Alex Ferguson and Sven-Goran Eriksson to name but two.

This respect does not spread too far among the England support, though, and that must be worrying for the Football Association considering the thousands upon thousands of fans who travel all over the world to cheer – and now boo -- the team.

A 3-0 win over Andorra in midweek could not ease the pressure, and McClaren must be wondering what he has to do right to please some people.

This is where Japan and England differ so much, because in Japan you still support the team when the going gets tough, whereas in England – fans and media alike – we love to pile the pressure on and almost hope for failure to keep the news and the controversy flowing.

I remember once the Japanese fans getting very angry after a 1-1 draw with UAE at Kokuritsu in 1997, when it looked like Japan might miss out on the 1998 World Cup with the so-called Doha Tragedy of 93 still fresh in the mind. But all the trouble and the shouting came after the final whistle and outside the ground, not during the match as Japan toiled to try and claim three points.

I wonder what state the England team would be in now if the FA had been a bit more patient in looking for a successor to Eriksson. They could have got Luiz Felipe Scolari – but the FA insisted he sign the contract before the 2006 World Cup, and not after it. I heard this from Scolari’s good friend, Jose Roberto Guimaraes, who is head coach of Brazil’s women’s volleyball team. Jose Roberto told me he had spoken to Scolari a couple of times on the phone from Germany, and Portugal’s coach could not understand why England wanted the deal done before the World Cup. Scolari would have signed for England, but was put off by their attitude.

Clearly McClaren is struggling, and the London media would love Terry Venables back in the job.

I may as well get my choice in now – Steve Coppell. A great player for Manchester United and England on the right wing, studying at Liverpool University while playing for Man United, and an excellent coach with Reading.

ends

29 Mar 2007(Thu)

March 27, 2007: With a goal for Takahara and a successful return for Shunsuke, no wonder the two Europe-based players dominated the headlines after the Peru game.

But my man of the match for Japan was neither of these.

My MVP was Yuichi Komano. I thought he had a fine game out on Japan’s left flank, and has quickly established himself as an Osim favourite.

He is just the kind of player you would not want to play against, isn’t he? It would be very annoying and frustrating to play against Komano because he just won’t leave you alone or go away. When you think you have a second or two on the ball to assess the situation, Komano would be snapping away at your heels like a tough little terrier. You just couldn’t shake him off, by fair means or by foul, and this would test the patience and the resolve of any opponent.

Against Peru he was everywhere. He attacked with pace and purpose down that left flank, and set an example for Kaji on the other wing. I have always been a fan of Kaji’s, and still am, but Komano was much the more aggressive and adventurous of the two wing backs on this occasion. I was wanting Kaji to push forward more in the first half, to take his man on, but he seemed reluctant to take a risk and leave the team without cover behind him. This is where Abe and Keita come in, though, because they can both read these situations quickly and move across the pitch into position, offering protection to the two wingers.

When it comes to full backs/wing backs/wingers, Japan are in pretty good shape, with Kaji and Mizuno on the right, and Alex, Komano and Honda on the left – and Komano, of course, can play on either flank.

At 25 years old (26 in July), Komano has plenty of time to mature and develop under Osim. He is just the kind of player Osim likes with his pace, mobility and intensity – and just the kind of player the opposition must dislike.

ends

26 Mar 2007(Mon)

It was a formality, right?

Frontale would be 2-0 up at half time, and add another four in the second half to win six-nil -- with Bangkok lucky to get nil.

Well, how wrong can you be?

I did not think it was possible for Kawasaki to play so badly, even with Ganaha on the bench nursing an ankle injury. I am sure coach Sekizuka was not expecting to call on Ganaha, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and off the bench he came midway through the second half to try and breathe life into his ailing team.

Frontale did manage to equalise, thanks to an own goal, but could not find a second and ended up with a point from an embarrassing 1-1 draw. It could have been worse, too, as Bangkok looked quite sharp on the break and full of confidence in front of goal against a strangely lethargic and nervy Frontale.

Usually they are like a machine. Big, strong, relentless and ruthless, they have grown accustomed to bullying and battering opponents into submission in the J.League with their potent cocktail of speed and aggression.

But the roaring lions of the J.League became timid fieldmice on the Asian stage. They started slowly, conceded an early, well-taken goal, and could never really get into it.

The pace was pedestrian, their passing was poor and they failed to get behind the Bangkok defence, either down the flanks or through the middle with the speed of Juninho. Magnum had a decent game and tried to stir them into action, as did libero Terada moving forward, but it was not Kengo's day -- and the team struggled with its chief playmaker out of sorts.

All in all, then, a bad day for Frontale and for their hopes of winning Group F to advance to the quarter-finals. They still have an away win under their belts, though, and, with four points from two games, are in a good position -- but it could have been so much better going into their clashes with Chunnam Dragons.

Sensing an upset, it was inevitable that Bangkok University would use every trick in the book to prevent Frontale from gaining any momentum. Time-wasting, players, notably the keeper, going down "injured" at every opportunity, the match was close to a farce at times.

But with the rules as they are at the moment, and the mentality of the players locked in the culture of "Unfair Play Please", there is little the referee can do except add on time; only four minutes on this occasion.

It was a poor spectacle, but at least Frontale cannot play worse than this.

ends

22 Mar 2007(Thu)

March 20, 2007: There's nothing like a bit of pressure on your forwards to see who delivers the goods at the crucial time.

This is surely what Ivica Osim is doing with his strikers in the build-up to Saturday's friendly with Peru.

His 18-man squad on Monday included just one forward, Takahara of Eintracht Frankfurt.

The rest, such as Maki, Ganaha, Bando, Sato and maybe even Okubo, are all on hold for one reason or another -- lack of fitness or lack of goals.

With Wednesday's national holiday bringing with it Nabisco Cup and Asian Champions League games, Osim will hold off for the time being and add a few more names later.

For the strikers, then, there is only one way to impress him -- goals.

I watched Maki on Saturday against Antlers and thought he played okay.

Nothing special, no goals, but well marked by the human bulldozer Iwamasa. There was an amusing spell in the second half when the ball was played up to Maki on the halfway line three times in quick succession, and Iwamasa battered him on each occasion. Hard but fair, Akita-style. No problem with that at all, even though the JEF trainers had to bring their shovels on to the pitch the third time to dig Maki out of the turf.

Maki works hard for the team and never hides. He's always running and making himself available, despite knowing that a good clobbering is just around the corner -- and he always comes back for more.

So Maki, currently a goal-free zone, would still get my vote -- and don't forget he's pretty much a one-man band up front for JEF with Hanyu buzzing around from deep and Arai still finding his J1 feet. Arai should have scored first in Saturday's goal fest with Antlers, but directed his free header to Stoyanov's wonderful left-wing cross against the bar.

Sato embarrassed FC Tokyo on the opening day of the season, and always makes an impact for Japan off the bench, while Bando is full of fire and energy. Just a pity about the theatrics to get Fabao sent off the other week, though. Bando looked like he was auditioning for a part in Hamlet, and that he had been poisoned, strangled or both.

Ganaha missed Saturday's rout of Yokohama FC due to injury, so Osim will take his time before naming Takahara's sidekicks. A Taka-Maki partnership looks pretty good to me, though, now that Takahara has kept the goals coming in Germany. One to run and one to score.

Taka-Maki? I am sure someone ordered that in an izakaya near Soga Station on Saturday night.

ends

19 Mar 2007(Mon)

March 17, 2007: When it comes to being down in the dumps, Shigeo Hidaritomo was about as low as it gets after the Yokohama derby.

Naturally the Yokohama F Marinos president was bitterly disappointed after watching his side lose 1-0 to newly promoted Yokohama FC at Mitsuzawa, but his despair went deeper than this.

The away fans, who had contributed to a typical derby-day atmosphere, made their feelings clear after the final whistle by giving their team the thumbs down. It was only two matches into the new season, but this defeat hurt for the Marinos faithful, and hurt more for Hidaritomo.

"We have to realise we are not the same club that won the championship in 2003 and 2004," he mumbled to me, in the corridors under the main stand after the game.

"We are not Newcastle United. We are more like Sunderland."

That last statement must have been hard to admit, as the Marinos president is a keen Newcastle United supporter -- and Sunderland are their fierce rivals in the north-east of England from a division lower.

Clearly money is tight within the Marinos organisation, and Hidaritomo was acknowledging this with his Newcastle-Sunderland comparison. First and first in 2003 and 2004, ninth and ninth in 2005 and 2006 tells its own story.

As a fellow Magpie, I tried to console him by reeling off the names of the Marinos players who were not avaialble for the Yokohama derby -- Matsuda, Kurihara, Takayuki Suzuki -- but to his credit he would not use this as an excuse.

It was probably no consolation, either, that Koji Yamase was in such scintillating form so early in the season.

Yamase had scored a wonderful solo goal in the opening match of the campaign, and was on fire at Mitsuzawa. Showing all the qualities and characteristics of the Japanese player so admired by national coach Ivica Osim, Yamase was carving through the Yokohama FC midfield at will, only to be denied, time and time again, by some last-ditch blocks and interceptions.

I also liked the look of the rangy left back, Yusuke Tanaka, only 20, and the 18-year-old Takashi Inui, from Yasu High School, who came on as a substitute and quickly showed his pace and his flair.

There is plenty of experience in the Marinos squad, a solid team backbone and some young talent, too, but the quality of the foreign players on view -- the ageing, much-travelled J2 specialist Marcus, the ageing, injury-prone Marques -- left a lot to be desired.

ends

15 Mar 2007(Thu)

March 13, 2007: Three-nil would have been perfect, but no one can complain about Japan's 2-0 victory over Mexico in the women's World Cup qualifier at National Stadium on Saturday.

On the balance of play over 90 minutes, and considering Mexico looked extremely dangerous on occasions, Japan escaped with an excellent result from the first leg.

This two-leg play-off is far from over, though, and Japan will have to play as well, if not better, at Toluca on Saturday to stay in front.

This means cutting out the careless individual mistakes in midfield, such as the one by Miyamoto on halfway which almost allowed Mexico to take the lead, and the panic attacks in defence, when Japan failed to clear the ball cleanly.

A Mexico goal looked likely on several occasions, but keeper Fukumoto was in fine form for Japan and visiting captain Dominguez was extremely unlucky to see her long-range lob hit the top of the crossbar when it seemed certain to drop in.

A 2-0 win, then, was about as much as Japan could have hoped for, but not nearly enough to render the second leg a formality.

Japan's two goals were excellent in their creation and execution, with Sawa scoring the first and making the second for Miyama.

The first goal was a stunner, Utsugi overlapping on the left flank and sending over a perfect cross into the middle. Sawa, near the penalty spot, met the ball at the peak of her jump, and expertly directed a header into the far corner.

For the second goal, Sawa herself did all the hard work on the left, beating her man -- woman? -- on the outside and crossing invitingly for Miyama to dash in and head firmly into the net. You don't have to be a Crouch or a Hirayama to be a danger in the air, as Sawa (1.64 metres) and Miyama (1.57 metres) both proved triumphantly.

Overall it was an entertaining game to watch, with plenty of action at both ends and free-flowing play. There was no stoppage time at the end of the first half, and only two minutes at the end of the second half, after the referee had allowed a trainer to enter the pitch for the first time as late as the 87th minute. No, it was not to attend to an "injured" Japanese player wasting time with a 2-0 lead, but to a Mexican player with a twisted left ankle.

Fair play does still exist at the highest level in the modern game -- at least in women's football.

ends

12 Mar 2007(Mon)

March 9, 2007: Washington was in top form again for Urawa Reds at Saitama Stadium the other night.

Not for his goals, of course, because you all know by now that he did not find the net in Reds' 3-0 victory over Persik Kediri in the Asian Champions League; it was for his reaction to being substituted -- or "dragged" to use the vernacular of the players in England.

A Reds substitution had looked imminent at 2-0 midway through the second half, with the pace and unpredictability of Ya-jin the obvious change.

But for whom?

Washington clearly did not think it would be him, and questioned the bench when the No. 21 was held up.

"Me?" he seemed to say, only in Portuguese. "Surely not. I'm bound to score soon, boss."

That was probably true, because by the law of averages Washington was due a goal, having missed too many chances and half-chances to list.

But off he came -- and so did his gloves and his shirt. Sources close to the tunnel said he had stormed into the dressing room to the accompaniment of every Portuguese swear word in the dictionary, and several that weren't.

"Where's Washington?" I asked Reds' assistant coach, Gert Engels, after the game. "In the dressing room?"

"No, he's gone," replied Engels, grimly.

"So he's on the team bus already?" I asked.

"I hope so," said Engels, with the hint of a smile, albeit a concerned smile.

During the post-match press conference, Urawa boss Holger Osieck gave a fine impression of Arsene Wenger.

Just like Wenger does not see all close decisions that favour his team, Osieck said he "did not realise" what had happened when Washington went off, and quickly changed the subject to Okano. All that training in FIFA diplomacy really came in handy on this one for the German coach.

It was a serious incident, though, and Washington should be fined for his outburst. We can't have every youngster in Saitama Prefecture throwing his gloves and shirt to the floor when being taken off. Even the fans might start removing their replica Washington shirts in frustration at Urawa Misono Station if they have to queue at the Fare Adjustment machine.

One last point from a very one-sided game. The team manager of the Indonesian side, Iwan Boedianto, blamed his keeper Wahyudi -- all 5ft of him -- for Reds' three goals. The first two, fair enough; but the third?

Very harsh on the keeper that, as Shinji's goal was a gem, curling it home, left-footed, from the edge of the box. Ono can do that in his sleep; a class act on the night, which is more than can be said for Washington.

By the way, does anyone want to buy a pair of Washington gloves? Worn for only 68 minutes.

ends

8 Mar 2007(Thu)

March 6, 2007: It is never easy to win the first game of a competition, be it in a sprint or a marathon.

The World Cup group phase is like a sprint, with only three games to play and little room for error.

Win the first game and you have one foot in the next round (ask Australia); lose it and the pressure is on (ask Japan).

The J.League is the marathon -- 34 matches over the course of nine months -- and with much more time to recover from a slow start.

This is why the results of two recent championship-winning clubs were a bit worrying in Saturday's first round, as Urawa and Gamba both emerged with three points from opening day struggles that could so easily have ended in a draw.

There is a lot of optimism and renewed ambition at the start of a season, as clubs feel their new signings or new manager can lead them to the promised land.

So the fact that Reds and Gamba both won in testing circumstances sent a message to the rest of the first division that the hunger is still there.

Reds needed a late winner from Nagai to seal a 2-1 win over Yokohama FC at Saitama, while Gamba had new recruit Bare to thank for their 1-0 victory at home to Omiya.

Coming off the bench after 64 minutes, Bare's somewhat fortuitous goal two minutes from time, when his left-foot shot from the edge of the box bounced into the turf, looped over the keeper and dropped into the net, enabled Gamba -- my favoruites for the title -- to make the perfect start.

Two great goals were scored, too, albeit very different in execution.

Kubo's left-footed rocket was spectacular for Yokohama FC. Although Ono should have closed him down as he moved in from the right, who would have expected Kubo to find the top corner from such a long way out? Classic Kubo. When he's fully fit and match sharp he still has the element of surprise and unpredictability that makes him such a danger.

Yamase scored a wonderful goal for Marinos, at home to Kofu. Displaying terrific acceleration, ball control and composure, Yamase looked at peak condition after some bad injuries so early in his career.

ends

5 Mar 2007(Mon)

March 3, 2007: With the new J.League season about to kick off this afternoon, it's time for predictions.

Without further ado, here's my tip for the title: Gamba Osaka.

I am not just saying this because they battered Urawa 4-0 in the Xerox Super Cup, but because they look to have the most quality in terms of foreign players and, more importantly, Japanese.

They also play vibrant, attractive, well-organised football -- sort of a JEF United but with money.

The much-travelled Sidiclei is a rock at the back; Magno Alves has proved his goal-scoring quality with Oita Trinita and with Gamba last season; and new recruit Bare will be a handful for any defence. These three players know Japanese football well, and there are no risks for the management in terms of their performance.

Even though the face of Gamba, Miyamoto, has gone to Salzburg, coach Nishino still has plenty of options at the back, alongside Sidiclei and the stylish Yamaguchi. Reds, however, have the advantage over Gamba in this department, but this department only.

It's in midfield where Gamba look particularly strong.

Endo is admired around the league, and higher up than that, for his ball-playing abilities and the fact that he keeps possession. Troussier once described him to me as a Japanese Redondo due to his range of passing and long-range shooting.

The rejuvenated Myojin and the emerging Hashimoto provide stability in the engine room, and Kaji and Ienaga the width. This still leaves the clever Futagawa to pop up and use his creative flair and keep the chances coming.

The competition for places is fierce in this area, so no player can ever afford to let his form slip.

Up front, Bando is a livewire, and Gamba will not be short of goals with him, Magno Alves and Bare around.

Yes, they have the look of champions again, following their incredible success in 2005. All those who were at Todoroki on the last day of the season will never forget those amazing scenes, and Gamba came very close to repeating that title triumph last year.

It took Gamba a couple of years longer to emerge under Nishino than I expected, but they are here to stay in the championship race with all-round quality like that. For me they are the team to beat.

ends

1 Mar 2007(Thu)

February 28, 2007: There are some massive games coming up for Japan in the next few weeks.

No, not the under-22s as they attempt to qualify for the Beijing Olympics; or the national team as they prepare for their first match of the year, against Peru on March 24.

I'm referring to the women's team, who face a two-leg play-off against Mexico for a place in the World Cup in China in September.

The home leg will be played at Tokyo National Stadium on March 10, with the away leg in Mexico a week later.

Unfortunately, the home game clashes with a slate of J.League matches, but I am sure there will still be a big crowd at Kokuritsu to watch the "Girls in Blue" go about their business against the CONCACAF representatives.

I must admit the women's team provided one of my most memorable moments from the Athens Olympics when they beat Sweden 1-0 in their first group game.

The match was played at some remote venue in the days leading up to the official opening ceremony of the Games, and Homare Sawa and Company produced a wonderful display to keep out the European powerhouses. When the final whistle blew there were some emotional scenes all around, notably from the JFA president, Saburo Kawabuchi, who was watching from the grandstand.

It was a great moment for Japanese football, and helped to popularise the women's game back home.

Now under head coach Hiroshi Ohahsi, Japan are just two steps from qualifying for the World Cup, and the second of those steps must be taken in Mexico.

If the players are looking for motivation or inspiration, they should talk to the former JFA president, Shun-ichiro Okano, who still paints a vivid picture of the men's campaign at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico.

That was when Japan won the bronze medal, beating Mexico in front of 100,000 spectators at the famous Azteca Stadium. The players were so exhausted after the game that they could not even drink without assistance from a member of the staff.

They had given their all for the team and for their country in testing conditions, and with two goals from the legendary striker Kamamoto had won the bronze in the Mexicans' own fortress.

Let's hope "Nadeshiko Japan" can do it again, and maintain their proud record of having appeared in all FIFA World Cups since the women's edition started in 1991.

ends

26 Feb 2007(Mon)

February 23, 2007: Think of a nation with the best keepers in the world and you can't do much better than the United States at the moment.

Brad Friedel, Tim Howard and Marcus Hahnemann are all playing in the English Premier League, with Blackburn, Everton and Reading, respectively, while Kasey Keller is captain of Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga.

Judging by reports from Kumamoto this week, the Americans may have found another gem in 19-year-old Chris Seitz.

Seitz, at 6ft 4ins a good height for a keeper, left the University of Maryland after two years to pursue his career with Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer. It seems only a matter of time before he joins the trail to Europe.

England used to take pride in its keepers -- Banks, Shilton, Clemence, Seaman -- but there is no doubt we have fallen behind the United States in terms of top-quality "cats" -- the name we used to use for a keeper, in reference to Peter Bonetti, who was nicknamed "The Cat" for obvious reasons (he drank milk from saucers. Actually it was for his athletic spring, but I'm just testing your concentration!)

Why is it that the Yanks are streets ahead of us, or should I say thoroughfares ahead of us?

Possibly, probably more likely, because the Americans are athletes before they are goalkeepers. They are brought up playing sports that demand a high level of hand-eye coordination, namely basketball, so they adapt easily to the job of a cat.

Here's an interesting story.

Joe Bryant, father of NBA star Kobe and now coaching in Japan, attended a meeting of the Foreign Sportswriters Association of Japan last year, and revealed that a young Kobe had, in fact, wanted to play in goal for Juventus. Joe, or "Jellybean" as he is known due to his love of the soft, chewy sweet, was playing basketball professionally in Italy and Kobe, naturally, became interested in football.

Just think...Kobe Bryant in goal for the Los Angeles Galaxy, under captain Beckham!

In England, the natural selection of a goalkeeper followed a similar path: if they were hopeless out of goal, put them in the goal where they could do less damage. No one wanted to go in goal, so we would have to take turns after we had let one in -- but if the next keeper let one in deliberately so he could get out again straight away, he would be punished by being made to stay in for another.

Maybe this lack of formal training for young keepers has now caught up with us...and the athletic, all-round Americans are the true top cats.

ends

22 Feb 2007(Thu)

February 20, 2007: JEF United fans must have greeted news of their new signing with a mixture of anticipation and relief.

Anticipation because World Cup defender Nenad Djordjevic looks a mighty fine signing -- and relief because the new league season is less than two weeks away.

The 27-year-old Serb is listed as "DF" in the club's official announcement, but maybe that should have read "VVDF" -- very versatile defender, as Djordjevic can play either in the centre of defence or at full back. He also has experience of playing in the holding role in central midfield ("volante" as you say here), which makes him almost like a Serbian Abe: comfortable and competent in a number of roles -- and a bit taller, too, at 1.83 metres.

Just like Abe strengthened Reds in defence and midfield, Djordjevic looks like doing the same for JEF, and that can only increase the competition among the Japanese players.

After appearing a little lightweight a few weeks ago, the JEF squad is now looking much more business-like, and manager Osim will have numerous permutations at the back, built around Stoyanov, and in central midfield.

I have written before about Stoyanov's ability -- surely the most complete player in the J.League when he is fully focused -- and also about his suspect temperament, as he is the kind of guy who could start an argument in a telephone box.

But if Djordjevic and Stoyanov hit it off at the back, accompanied by the emerging Mizumoto or the wily Saito, then teams could find it hard to break through.

Djordjevic, I am sure, will increase the team's power considerably. The Serbs, as the former Yugoslavia, have the reputation of being the Brazilians of Europe in terms of natural talent, creativity and improvisation. Think Dragan Stojkovic, for example. They can all play, but, at the same time, they can all self-destruct -- as I am sure the Bulgarian at Fukuare will tell you.

Anyway, it looks like a long wait for JEF fans has been well worth it. Djordjevic will be quality -- and he cannot be blamed for any of Argentina's six goals against Serbia-Montenegro in Germany because he was on the bench!

ends

19 Feb 2007(Mon)

February 17, 2007: If Ivica Osim does decide to bring back some players from Europe for the Peru friendly next month, it will be interesting to see just who.

A few names have been circulating in the media --Shunsuke, of course, plus Matsui, Takahara, Koji Nakata, Alex.

Personally, I can't see Osim calling up half a team, as it would undermine the foundations he spent the second half of last year laying down.

And is there any need for five or six additions to the squad, when analysing what is already there?

I think he might just settle for two -- Nakamura and Matsui, although his reasons for leaving out some of the others mentioned are very different.

Takahara would be a popular choice for many, but I am not convinced. Osim likes Maki and Ganaha, and he has a third target man in his training squad in Takamatsu. Add to these Bando and Sato, and the permutations are numerous without even considering the newcomer Yano.

At the latest count, following Eintracht Frankfurt's 4-0 drubbing by Stuttgart on Friday night, Taka has netted seven goals this season for his new German team. A decent strike rate, true, but is it enough to convince Osim he needs him back? I am really not sure, but Osim is the kind of coach who prefers continuity rather than tinkering -- and Taka has had his chances before.

Alex? Well, of course he is in Osim's plans for the Asian Cup. For the moment, though, Osim might be tempted to leave him in Austria. After all, Alex has just made the move from Urawa to Salzburg, will still be adapting to the lifestyle and the training, and does he need any upheaval so early in his new start?

Osim knows everything there is to know about Alex, and his training squad includes Alex's former Reds understudy, Soma, as well as the robust Komano. Osim may well settle for this.

In the meantime, let the guessing and speculation continue, but if I had to play safe I would go for Shunsuke and Matsui, with Takahara an outside bet.

ends

15 Feb 2007(Thu)

February 14, 2007: Shunsuke fans can prepare for a homecoming at Nissan Stadium on March 24 when Japan play Peru in their first match of the year. I have no idea, of course, if Ivica Osim is going to pick Nakamura -- but somehow I feel the time is right for him to do so.

Since succeeding Zico after the World Cup, Osim's priority has been to bring in fresh faces and change the mood of the team, and most people would agree he has achieved this.

He felt there was no point in bringing back players from Europe for matches that would provide a good test for his J.League players; and it is not as though he did not know everything there is to know about the players in Europe anyway.

But now, with his focus changing to the defence of the Asian Cup in July, he is moving on to step two -- and this is why I feel Shunsuke will be back in business for the Peru game.

Osim has said the timing of such a move is everything, not just for the national team but for the player himself.

And it is no coincidence that Nakamura is enjoying his best season in Europe and playing consistently well for the Hoops because he has been concentrating only on club football.

Celtic's Champions League Last 16 ties with Milan are on February 20 and March 7, and, if the Scots progress, the quarter-finals will be between April 3 and April 11.

In the Scottish Premier League, Celtic play Falkirk on March 18 and Dundee United on March 31 -- so Japan-Peru on March 24 at Yokohama is ideal for a Shunsuke return. I would also think Osim would like to see how Shunsuke fits into the team, bearing in mind there are only two Kirin Cup games in June before they head for Hanoi.

Yes, all things point to a Shunsuke call-up for the Peru match -- a full house and mountains of cash for the JFA.

Makes sense to me.

ends

12 Feb 2007(Mon)

February 10, 2007: If you want to build a strong team, build from the back is the usual philosophy.

That seems to be the case at Shonan Bellmare, who have added another defensive veteran to their ranks as they try to challege for promotion from J2 in 2007.

The former Antlers and national team right back Akira Narahashi is the latest acquisition for Shonan, who had already signed Toshihide Saito from S-Pulse and Jean Witte from FC Tokyo.

Narahashi and Saito were both members of Takeshi Okada's World Cup squad in France. Whereas Saito was the understudy to captain and libero Masami Ihara, Narahashi was the first-choice selection on the right side of the coach's 3-5-2 formation.

On the other wing, of course, was his Antlers team-mate Naoki Soma, and this pair formed a dynamic combination for club and country, either as wing backs in the national team or on the flanks of Antlers' four-man defence. In the good old days for Antlers fans, the back four of Narahashi, Akita, Fabiano and Soma used to roll off the tongue as smoothly as the defence used to operate, again providing a solid base for the team to build from.

Some serious injury problems for Narahashi in recent seasons, though, together with the emergence of teenage right back Atsuto Uchida, led to the inevitable release of the 35-year-old defender, and he has now returned "home" to Bellmare with the experience of 310 J1 games behind him, and 38 caps for Japan.

The class of Saito and the combative qualities of Jean should make for a useful combination in the heart of the Bellmare defence, in much the same way Kyoto are hoping for the Akita-Morioka partnership to anchor the team.

Meanwhile, Uchida, still only 18, will be hoping to emulate the career of Narahashi, and is already on the international ladder with a place in Japan's under-22 squad for the friendly against the United States in Kumamoto on February 21.

ends

8 Feb 2007(Thu)

February 7, 2007: Anyone who has spent some time in the company of Thierry Henry will understand fully his recent appointment as global brand ambassador for Gillette.

Henry was one of three sportsmen named in the Gillette Champions programme, along with Tiger Woods and Roger Federer.

You cannot get much higher than that, can you, and it is a fitting reward for Henry's attitude and performance both on and off the pitch.

I was lucky enough to be given an exclusive interview with Thierry at Arsenal's fabulous training centre at London Colney, near St Albans in rural Hertfordshire. It was around this time of the year in 2001, and the interview was arranged at short notice by none other than...Arsene Wenger!

I had already set up a meeting with Wenger before leaving Japan, and after a long chat with the Gunners manager I asked him about the possibility of interviewing the charismatic Henry. With Wenger's support, the Arsenal press officer booked me an appointment with Henry a week or so later -- and that was that.

With a photographer and his assistant, we returned to London Colney for the Henry interview a couple of hours ahead of schedule, and after a nervous wait were greeted by the man himself, dressed casually and immaculately as if he had stepped off the training pitch straight into the pages of a fashion catalogue.

The interview was to take 20 minutes, but we were still talking an hour later after he had signalled to the press officer that he was happy to continue. And then came the extensive photo shoot in the quickly assembled "studio" the photographers had set up.

At this stage of his career, of course, Henry was already a World Cup winner from 1998 and a European Championship winner from 2000, although it is worth remembering that he did not actually play against Brazil in the '98 final. He was on the bench and would have come on, he said, until Desailly was sent off in the 68th minute and coach Jacquet had to change his plans.

During the interview Henry spoke of how France's World Cup success had united the country in a way the politicans never could, and how the French fans at Euro 2000 had been so much more noisy and passionate than at the World Cup on home soil two years earlier. He also said he would be forever in Wenger's debt for rescuing him from Juventus and transforming him from an orthodox winger to a centre forward.

Henry was friendly and funny, and serious and sincere -- the perfect global ambassador.

ends

5 Feb 2007(Mon)

Tokyo, February 2, 2007: When a club feels obliged to deny something on its official website, you know it must be serious.

That was the case this week with Celtic and Shunsuke Nakamura.

“Naka NOT on the move,” read a headline on celticfc.net on Tuesday, January 30, the day before the transfer window closed.

“This story is absolute nonsense,” said the “Shunmeister.”

“I am very happy at Celtic and I am very much looking forward to all the challenges which lie ahead at the club.”

The two-paragraph article was carried to deny “a story doing the rounds on the Internet” claiming he would be leaving Celtic this summer to return to the J.League.

A day after the transfer window closed I had a long chat with a J.League insider about the prospect of Nakamura returning to Japan, and he could not believe it either. Not just yet, anyway.

After all, why should Shunsuke be thinking about coming home when he has finally found his place in Europe, a level at which he can shine?

Playing for a big club in a small league, Nakamura has the time and the space to weave his magic on a weekly basis. With this has come the confidence to express himself, and his manager, Gordon Strachan, is never slow to praise him to the heavens.

So when he plays against Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League, and soon against Milan, the former Marinos schemer feels he can do anything with a swish of that left foot. Kaka, in fact, has some very interesting things to say about Celtic in general and Nakamura in particular on uefa.com, looking ahead to the Celtic-Milan clash.

As I said before, Shunsuke has found his perfect level. He can enjoy his football at a famous club with a massive worldwide following, he is one of the brightest stars in the Scottish Premier League, and he has the Champions League to look forward to.

Considering his form and his eye-catching goals against Manchester United, I was a little surprised there were no stories linking Shunsuke to a move to England or Spain during the transfer window.

Unless the bigger leagues feel he has found his level, too.

ends

1 Feb 2007(Thu)

Tokyo, January 31, 2007: Takayuki Morimoto brought back memories of the now retired Hidetoshi Nakata with his goal-scoring debut in Italy at the weekend.

Nakata, remember, set Serie A alight in 1998 when he netted twice for Perugia in a 4-3 defeat against Juventus – and could have had a hat-trick on his debut if the coach had let him take a penalty.

Now, finally, it is Morimoto’s turn to grab the headlines.

After waiting patiently in the reserves for Catania, the 18-year-old striker was sent on in the 84th minute against Atalanta in Bergamo on Sunday. Catania were trailing 1-0 at the time, but Morimoto earned them a point with a quick and confident finish inside the box.

This will surely earn him more playing time, but a starting position cannot be guaranteed with Catania playing well and standing joint fourth in the table.

For all those who saw the shaven-headed Morimoto play for Verdy, they will testify that the youngster really looks the part. He is sharp, has a good physique and is always on the move, qualities which make him a bright and dangerous player.

I remember having a long chat about Morimoto with Ossie Ardiles when the Argentine was Verdy manager. He told me that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson held Morimoto in high regard and that he would follow his progress carefully after seeing him in a youth tournament.

Ardiles has a similar man-management approach to the likes of Kevin Keegan and Gordon Strachan, always talking his players up and making them feel they are the best, but there was no doubting the former Tottenham star’s genuine valuation of Morimoto.

The teenager is on loan to the Sicilian club from Verdy until the summer, and may yet feature in the plans of Olympic team coach Sorimachi.

After all, Japan’s under-22s are looking a bit short of firepower as they prepare to challenge for a place in Beijing 2008, and I am sure the explosive qualities of Morimoto would give them a new dimension.

That is for the future, though. Hopefully, Morimoto will have more chances to show his quality for Catania now that he has marked his Serie A debut with an eye-catching goal.

ends

29 Jan 2007(Mon)

January 27, 2007: What a wondrous, reassuring event each year -- the release of the new fixture list.

It is a sign that life will soon be returning to normal, with football dominating the weekends and every other day of the week for that matter.

There is hope and optimisim and promise at the start of the new season for all teams. The dead wood has been cleared out, new heroes have arrived, the new manager is just the man we need for success, the old manager will have learned from his experience...yes, everyone is starting from the same line, and this year is going to belong to us.

Well, for a couple of weeks at least.

The fixtures for 2007 were released on Thursday and all eyes immediately turned to the opening day. After that I always look for Boxing Day (old habits die hard), before remembering the J.League chooses to play through the hot and humid summer months and waste all this glorious football weather we have now -- crisp and sunny, and no baseball to compete with in the media. Anyway, that's another story.

March 3 is when the new campaign gets under way, and when the winter business behind the scenes is finally put to the test on the pitch.

The pick of the opening day fixtures is Frontale-Antlers at Todoroki. It will be an awkward test for the new-look Antlers, as they try to reassert themselves under new Brazilian management. Let's face it, Frontale away is about as tough as it gets, and no one looks forward to playing them, even at home.

FC Tokyo fans can expect a roller-coaster season with the attack-minded, Spanish-influenced Hiromi Hara back in charge, but much will depend on the fitness of new signing Paulo Wanchope, the much-travelled, injury-plagued striker from Costa Rica. The Gasmen entertain Sanfrecce and will be satisfied with nothing less than three points.

Yokohama F Marinos manager Hiroshi Hayano will be trying to exorcise the ghosts of Kofu at Nissan Stadium, as he was in charge of Reysol when Ventforet sent them tumbling down into J2 two seasons ago with Bare's six-goal salvo at Hitachidai, where even the rock Tsuchiya was powerless to prevent the rout.

Niigata's Orange Army face a long trek to Oita for the first game, whereas S-Pulse's Orange Army will welcome J1 returnees Vissel Kobe -- Yoshito and all -- to Nihondaira.

J1 champions Reds are at home to J2 champions Yokohama FC, whose big signings Kubo and Oku can expect a warm welcome from the generous Saitama masses, while Gamba's powerful attack will be hoping to plunder a few goals against a fragile-looking Omiya team, especially with Tsuchiya gone to Verdy.

On March 4 it's newly promoted Reysol at home to a rejuvenated Jubilo, and Nagoya at home to JEF. It could have been worse for JEF, though -- they could have been playing Grampus at home.

ends

25 Jan 2007(Thu)

Tokyo, January 24, 2007: It was inevitable that Yuki Abe would leave JEF United sooner or later.

Their former manager, Ivica Osim, predicted as much during a pre-season chat three years ago – and is probably surprised it has happened later rather than sooner.

Osim said that JEF would always find it difficult to keep their best players whenever a bigger, richer and more ambitious club moved in, and that’s exactly what has happened with Abe’s transfer to Reds.

JEF will miss Abe immensely. He was a symbol of the club and a proud and inspiring captain. He could also play in a number of positions, but spent most of his time alongside Yuto Sato in central midfield. In fact the triumvirate of libero Stoyanov, with Abe and Sato in front, was the fulcrum of the team, although Abe’s future for Reds and for Japan now looks like being on the right side of a back three, alongside Tulio in the middle and Tsuboi on the left.

JEF fans must be wondering who will be next to leave, not this season but in the near future: Maki? Mizuno? Mizumoto? Hanyu?

The departure of the versatile Sakamoto to Niigata has a silver lining, though, in that Mizuno will now be a regular starter – and that is good news for club and country.

Mizuno, quick and clever, is effective on the right wing and also in a more central role, attacking from deep positions behind Maki.

Rumour has it that Yamagishi will succeed Abe as captain, but that would be a surprising choice for me. I thought Osim Junior would give the job to Stoyanov in the hope that the responsibility might calm him down. When the Bulgarian with the silky skills lets his feet, and not his mouth, do the talking, he is surely the best all-round player in the J.League, capable of forming a one-man defensive line and able to break forward and dribble past three or four at a time. When he is in the mood, the J.League is too easy for him – but he is no good to anyone sitting in the stands suspended.

Abe will have learned a lot from Stoyanov and from “The Professor”, Saito, about the art of defending, but, sadly for JEF fans, he will now be putting it to good use for Urawa.

Must admit I can’t wait for the JEF-Reds game at Fukuare next season. Last year’s was a cracker, when Maki and Nakajima swept JEF to a pulsating 2-0 victory, and this season’s will be even more special following the Abe transfer.

ends

22 Jan 2007(Mon)

Tokyo, January 20, 2007: So who's got the better deal -- Yokohama FC with Tatsuhiko Kubo or Yokohama F Marinos with Takayuki Suzuki?

I'd have to say Marinos at this point, as I have always been a fan of Suzuki's, whereas the physical condition of Kubo is just so up in the air.

When he is fully fit over a sustained period of time, of course, Kubo is a special player in the J.League, with distinctive qualities. He is awkward for defenders to mark, all elbows and sinew, and unpredictable in his play. Is he going to shoot with that powerful left foot, or is he going to lay the ball off and get in the box to meet the cross with a soaring header, trampling defenders in his wake?

That remains the attraction of Kubo. At 30 years old he is still raw, difficult to mark and even more difficult to read for a defender.

But that's when he is fit, and clearly Yokohama FC will be hoping that a change of environment and the challenge of leading a newly promoted team in J1 will bring a change of luck -- and a few goals, too.

His replacement in the Marinos squad is the much-travelled Takayuki, who has returned to Japan from Red Star Belgrade.

Unlike Kubo in his prime, for example 2003 when he bagged 16 goals in 25 games, Suzuki has never been a prolific scorer.

His highest single-season tally, in fact, is only six from 26 games in 2001, before he began his European tour, but scoring goals has never been what his game is about.

Takayuki is the ultimate team player, a resilient leader of the line who takes the knocks and opens up space for his teammates. I once thought a Takayuki-Okubo partnership would work well in the national team, but both players disappeared off Zico's radar long before Germany and were never in the running for a place in the 23.

Suzuki is also 30 and past his prime, but he will give the Marinos attack a focal point and keep his markers busy. He is also the master of winning free kicks around the box, so no doubt Koji Yamase will be rubbing his hands together at the prospect of a shooting gallery.

Both Kubo and Suzuki will provide experience and leadership in their respective new clubs, and will be crucial figures if their teams are to have successful campaigns.

In the case of Marinos, success means getting back up there and challenging for the title; for Yokohama FC, their goals are more modest -- and Kubo will have to score a few of them to give them some momentum.

ends

18 Jan 2007(Thu)

Tokyo, January 17, 2006: You have to take your hat off to Gamba Osaka, even though they could not quite defend their league crown last season.

Looking at all the transfers flying around at the moment, it seems that Gamba have perfected their policy in the risky and expensive business of signing overseas players.

Quite simply, they let other clubs bring them to Japan, monitor their form and, if they think they are good enough, just offer them more money to move to Suita City!

Well, this may be over-simplifying their policy, but their three foreign players for 2007 are all established in Japan, and, to use some English soccer slang, can do the business.

The latest addition to the Gamba fold is the big and powerful forward Bare, who impressed for Kofu in J1 last season. Bare is not a risk at all. He is a good pro with a good attitude and plays hard for the team – I will never forget how overcome he was with emotion after scoring all six Kofu goals at Kashiwa in the promotion/relegation play-off in 2005. (Unless he was crying because he should have scored 10, but missed so many other chances!)

Bare will join Magno Alves and Sidiclei in the blue and black stripes of Gamba, replacing Fernandinho, who has joined S-Pulse to replace Marquinhos, who has joined Antlers!

Magno Alves was not a risk, either, when signed from Oita to replace the prolific Araujo, and neither was Sidiclei, who had been around for several seasons. In fact I remember watching him play for Yamagata at Tochigi Green Stadium in an Emperor’s Cup tie against Nagoya Grampus Eight – and, I am sure, missing a penalty (sincere apologies to Sidiclei if my memory escapes me!). It was 1998 and Philippe Troussier was there, too, watching Kenji Fukuda play for Grampus as he assembled his team for the Sydney Olympics.

Sidiclei, Magno Alves and Bare…this is sensible business by Gamba, who, of course, have the money and the prestige to attract good players who have made their mark in Japan with other, less fashionable teams (Oita, Kofu, Vissel, for example).

Gamba know exactly what they are getting on and off the field, while other clubs often have no idea as they search in the dark for instant superstars from Brazil.

ends

15 Jan 2007(Mon)

Tokyo, January 12, 2007: A few weeks ago I wrote that David Beckham might be on the move, and urged J.League clubs to make a serious attempt to sign him.

Well, Beckham is leaving Real Madrid all right, but nowhere did I read that an option for him was Japan. Oh well, never mind, it was worth a thought!

He is, of course, going to Los Angeles, swapping the Galacticos for the Galaxy and being paid a vast amount of money to help spread the gospel of association football in a country which is reluctant to embrace it.

Not surprisingly there has been bitter criticism of Beckham on the football websites I have read, saying he has “sold out” by going to the US and that his wife, Posh Spice, has made the decision to pursue her career in Hollywood. This type of comment was to be expected, as Beckham was Public Enemy No. 1 after his red card against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup and was still being lambasted by large sections of the British media in Germany last summer. I attended four of the five England games and was always surrounded by media men who wanted him to fail; they wanted his passes to go astray; they wanted his free kicks to fly wide; they wanted him to be substituted.

Yes, this is the mentality of the British media…build them up and then knock them down. In Japan you protect your national treasures, such as Nakata and Nakamura, Ichiro, Matsui and now D-Mat, but in England we just love to knock ‘em down to size and put them in their place. Sad, but true.

Personally, I think it is a great move by Beckham. He is taking on a massive challenge to popularize the sport in the US, and could have received big money elsewhere. It is not as though he needs it, right?

He is a decent man, and he loves football and plays with pride and passion. I read amidst all the recent hysteria that many Real Madrid fans actually wanted him to captain the team last year because of these qualities.

At 31 he still has a lot to offer the Galaxy and MLS in general, and, in my opinion, the cynics are wrong on this front. Why go to Italy and be bored in Serie A with Milan? Why go back to England and have the press on your back every day and just waiting to pounce on any mistake, on or off the field?

Beckham has done enough for his country, and is now doing more for the US and for football at large. Yes, the game has been good to him, but he has put a lot in and deserved it.

Good luck, Beckham. The US needs you!

ends

11 Jan 2007(Thu)

Tokyo, January 10, 2007: It will be a strange experience for Toshiya Miura next season when he swaps Omiya Ardija for Consadole Sapporo.

Omiya, of course, live in the vast, red shadow of big brother Urawa, and they go about their business as Saitama’s second club.

At Sapporo, however, Consadole are the pride of Hokkaido, and the focus of attention in the J.League.

Having taken Omiya up to J1 in 2004, and kept them in the top flight in 2005 and 2006, Consadole supporters will be expecting Miura to do the same for their team in 2007. After all, getting a team out of J2 is much different than running an established team in J1, and this is why Consadole have hired Miura.

Last season, Consadole finished sixth in the 13-team second division, 16 points from an automatic promotion place after 48 games. That is a lot of ground to make up for the Hokkaido team, and Miura will be setting his targets in detail, as usual.

Personally, I thought he did a fine job at Omiya, especially in his first season in J1, in 2005.

He always said the second season in the top flight would be more difficult than the first following promotion, and Omiya’s cause was not helped last year by the poor quality of the foreign players.

Although Omiya signed some talented Japanese players this time last year, notably Daigo Kobayashi and Yukio Tsuchiya, the team lacked muscle and physical presence. Also, the lack of a home stadium must not be under-estimated. This was a huge disadvantage for Omiya, and the new-look Omiya Koen will not be ready until October this year.

Omiya’s priority now, under new head coach Robert Verbeek, is to become more solid and stop making careless individual errors in dangerous areas, something the aging Toninho was guilty of on too many occasions.

Omiya will be hoping Verbeek can take Ardija the next step forward, while Consadole will be aiming to use Miura’s coaching craft and experience to take them back to where they belong, J1. After all, the Sapporo fans are among the best in the league for loyalty and passion, and J1 in 2008 will be better with the Hokkaido team in it.

I am already looking forward to Ardija vs Consadole at Omiya Koen on the opening day of the 2008 season -- in J1, not J2!

ends

8 Jan 2007(Mon)

January 6, 2007: “What a waste of money!”

Anyone visiting a football ground in England will be familiar with this cry from the stands.

It is used by the fans after an expensive signing of the opposing team makes a terrible error, for example shooting wide from a good position.

On this occasion, though, I am using it in reference to the possible move of Luis Figo from Inter to Al Ittihad of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

I say possible because last week it looked like a done deal, but now Inter are denying Figo is going anywhere until his contract ends in June.

The deal reported would have seen Figo join Ittihad for six months, from January to June, and receive $8 million for his work. In the reports I read last week, and saw on TV, there was no mention of a transfer fee, which, of course, the Saudi club would have to pay as Figo was still under contract with Inter. He would not be a free agent until July.

Anyway, I still feel that $8 million to Figo for six months would be a waste of money. Presumably it would be tax-free, too, so the only party to have any long-term benefit would be Figo himself.

I wrote recently that the J.League needed a bit of star quality, and mentioned the likes of Beckham, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos, but I was thinking more of a couple of seasons, and a more sensible salary.

For Figo? I think he would struggle in Japan. The game is too fast for him and I doubt Figo would have the motivation to start again and make an impression in a new country at the end of his career.

He looked exhausted most of the time at the World Cup in Germany, having come out of international retirement once already, and the long sweltering summer months of July and August would have taken their toll in Japan.

The deal with Ittihad may still come off, but Inter, having seen the amount of money available for Figo, will make sure they get a handsome transfer fee. And why not? They are entitled to it, and what’s another couple of million dollars for the Jeddah club.

You cannot blame Figo for taking such an offer, but I don’t think Ittihad would get anything near good value.

What a waste of money!

ends

4 Jan 2007(Thu)

January 2, 2007: There was a happy ending to Guido Buchwald's three-year reign as Urawa Reds manager when his team completed the league and cup double on New Year’s Day.

It was an incredible finish, wasn't it, when Nagai poked home the winning goal from Ya-jin's low cross from the right in the 88th minute for the only goal of the game against Gamba.　

I thought Gamba had been on top for much of the second half, and looked the more likely to score. Indeed, Tsune missed a wonderful chance to write his own happy ending when he failed to connect with a near-post header from a Yamaguchi cross, and Reds keeper Tsuzuki pulled off some fine saves to deny his former club.

This is what cup finals are all about, and Reds were able to win it with a team that was far from full strength at the end of a long campaign. Personally, I thought both teams looked jaded, as if the Emperor's Cup was one tournament too many。Surely didn't the season end when Reds beat Gamba at Saitama Stadium to win the league championship a month ago?　

I have said before that Japanese football has outgrown the Emperor's Cup and the JFA competition should be restructured to give it more prestige. For a start I think the Emperor's Cup should be restricted to J1, J2 and

JFL teams only. No high schools. No universities. The 18 J1 teams could enter at the second round and be joined by 14 teams from J2 and the JFL who have won through the first round.

This would give 32 teams in the second round, 16 in the third and then the quarter-finals, semis and final.

If the Nabisco Cup could finish in the summer, the Emperor’s Cup could start around September and the rounds could be slotted in the J1 schedule. This would mean all teams would play with their strongest members, rather than foreign players going home and the season-long reserves taking over, which is the case now.

Also, no neutral venues except the semi-finals and final. Each new round could be drawn at JFA House on a Monday afternoon, with the first team out of the hat playing at home.

This would give the surviving JFL and J2 teams the chance to be drawn at home to a big club such as Urawa. An unseeded draw would be much more attractive than the current format, where tired teams and their patient fans have to trail huge distances to play at a neutral venue.

I still think the Emperor’s Cup has its place, but it needs drastic changes to bring it into the modern Japanese football era.

ends

31 Dec 2006(Sun)

December 29, 2006: What a smart and sensible move by Kyoto Sanga to sign the veteran defender Yutaka Akita from Grampus.

Relegated this season, Kyoto have become a "yo-yo" team in the J.League, meaning they go up and down quite quickly.

If they had signed a player of Akita's quality and experience this time last year, maybe they would have survived in the top flight instead of leaking goals and always facing an uphill struggle.

Akita is my kind of player. A combative and rugged centre half, he is very much a British-style defender. He leads by example and makes sure the opposing centre forward knows he is in a game, a one-on-one duel for 90 minutes and a battle which will play a significant part in which team wins the war.

Akita to Kyoto, therefore, is a good deal for both parties. Kyoto get all his experience and commitment, while Akita gets another year as a player.

It could also lead him into coaching, as I am sure Akita's knowledge and ability will be a constant source of inspiration for his teammates.

J2, of course, is a long old slog, and the Kyoto management will have to be careful with Akita's aging limbs. With injury and suspension sure to take their toll at some point during the marathon campaign, it is unlikely Akita will be able to play all the games.

But, still, just having him around will be a boost to Kyoto. On the training pitch, on the bench, he will be of great value to Sanga next season.

Strong in the air when he attacks the first ball, he will need a quicker player around him to sweep up the second ball, but again this can only be a positive for Kyoto. It is a wonderful opportunity for a young defender to learn his trade alongside the master, whose professionalism on and off the pitch should have lasting effects on the team in general.

Akita has been a great servant to Japanese football, and his presence on the J2 circuit will be appreciated by those hardy fans of all teams.

ends

28 Dec 2006(Thu)

December 27, 2006: It’s only natural that Urawa Reds are getting all the attention at the moment.

Crowned league champions for the first time, still in the Emperor’s Cup, Guido Buchwald with his suitcases packed for Stuttgart, Tulio the J.League MVP…

But spare a thought for Kawasaki Frontale.

Runners-up to Reds after a swashbuckling campaign, Frontale will also represent Japan in next year’s AFC Champions League – and have a great chance to win their group and advance to the last eight.

While Reds were being drawn with Sydney FC, Shanghai Shenhua and Persik Kediri of Indonesia in Pool E, Frontale will play Bangkok University, Arema Malang (Indonesia) and Chunnam Dragons of South Korea in Pool F.

The format is tough, with only the group winner progressing to the quarter-finals, so there is little room for error.

Frontale, though, have enough quality to get through. They have a very distinctive style of play, unlike any other J1 team, and I hope they maintain this style in the Asian Champions League.

They have several big, strong players who form the backbone of the team, as well as pace up front and out wide, and craft in the middle through Kengo Nakamura. They are relentless and ruthless against physically weaker teams in Japan – just ask Omiya Ardija – and batter opponents into submission.

I hope they do this next season in the Champions League, especially against the Koreans, who may be intimidated by their all-action style. It would be great to see Frontale coming out firing on all cylinders at home and away against Chunnam, as surely first place in the group will be contested by these two teams.

The conditions and environment may not be too inspiring on their travels, but still Frontale should be able to brush past Bangkok University and Arema Malang.

One thing is for sure. Both Reds and Frontale will be giving it their best shot in the Asian Champions League next year, especially with the juicy carrot of a place in the FIFA Club World Cup waiting at the end of it.

ends

25 Dec 2006(Mon)

December 23, 2006: These are exciting times for the Japanese duo Tsuneyasu Miyamoto and Alessandro Dos Santos.

Both players have been linked to moves overseas for several seasons now, and they will finally get their wish when they team up at Salzburg in the Austrian first division.

Salzburg the club is now run by the energy drink giant Red Bull, and Salzburg the team by Giovanni Trapattoni and Lothar Matthaus. This means the club is awash with money, and why they will be able to pay the considerable salaries of Tsune and Alex.

For both players it is a wonderful opportunity to change their environment, play their football in a beautiful country and, as Philippe Troussier would say, to grow as human beings with this experience outside Japan.

It makes complete sense for Miyamoto, who has lost his place in the national team to Tulio and who has absolutely nothing to lose by leaving Gamba. He has deserved this break in his career and I am sure he will continue to be a fine ambassador for Japanese football.

With his business and economics studies behind him, his experience as a player, his language skills, I could imagine Miyamoto one day heading the multi-million dollar industry known as the Japan Football Association. Chief Executive, perhaps? National coach? The world is his oyster.

There was nothing left for him to achieve at Gamba, having won the league championship in 2005 and coming close this time. His move to Austria, therefore, is perfect timing.

As for Alex, his departure should serve as an incentive to all left-sided players in Japan.

National coach Ivica Osim has adopted a policy of using J.League players for matches so far, rather than disrupting the lifestyle and body clocks of the players in Europe. This policy may change in 2007, of course, as Osim builds towards the Asian Cup in July, and he may bring some players back and integrate them into the new-look team.

I doubt if Alex will be one of them, though, as Osim knows everything there is to know about him. It also makes sense to leave Alex in Austria for the next few months, let him settle, and try and find a new left-sided player for the national team.

Komano is already there, but Osim may take a longer look at Honda from Grampus, Ienaga from Gamba, or even Soma from Reds. Soma is the readymade replacement for Alex at Urawa, but he needs games to rediscover the form that caught the eye at Verdy two or three years ago.

For Japanese looking for a new travel destination, Salzburg will be well worth the trip in 2007.

ends.

21 Dec 2006(Thu)

December 19, 2006: It is about time a defender won a top individual award.

Too often these awards go to the forwards, to the flair players and goal scorers, and the valuable contributions of defenders go unrewarded.

Their job is not as glamorous as the role of the fantasistas, and they do not grab the headlines as much, but this does not mean they do not deserve equal recognition.

This is why I was delighted with the outcome of two awards this week: Fabio Cannavaro winning the FIFA World Player of the Year, and our own Tulio being named MVP of the J.League.

For me, both were natural and obvious choices.

In a World Cup dominated by defence, Cannavaro was simply outstanding for Italy. He is a player I have admired for several seasons, and one any manager in the world would want in his team. He is tough, inspirational, a natural leader, strong in the air and rugged on the ground.

Critics may say Cannavaro has not settled well at Real Madrid, but personally I don’t care too much about this. After all, 2006 was World Cup year, and whatever happened – or whatever did not happen – in Germany should dictate the whole year.

This is why Cannavaro was the logical choice, ahead of Zidane and Ronaldinho.

Is Cannavaro a better football player than Zidane or Ronaldinho? Of course he is not, but he is magnificent in his own position and was at his best when it really mattered.

And so to Tulio.

As I wrote in this column recently, he is the life and soul of any team in which he plays, and has been the symbol of Urawa Reds this season.

I will never forget an evening with Guido Buchwald at the Foreign Sportswriters Association of Japan shortly before the World Cup in Germany. Buchwald, the guest speaker, said Tulio was the best defender in Japan, but Zico had not spoken to the German coach about his Reds players for two years.

I still wonder what might have been if Tulio had been on the plane to Germany, battling against the Aussies and the Croatians.

That is ancient history now, though, and Tulio can look forward to a long career with the national team under Ivica Osim. I still think he should be appointed captain of Japan, and am a little surprised Osim has not done so already.

Overall, the awards to Cannavaro and to Tulio are good for the game.

ends

18 Dec 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, December 15, 2006: Thank goodness for Barcelona. And thank goodness for Ronaldinho in particular.

Wasn’t that a wonderful evening’s entertainment at rainy Nissan Stadium in Yokohama on Thursday? When the match kicked off I was a bit worried because there was a distinct lack of atmosphere in the stadium, despite the fact over 62,000 people were inside.

Even at half-time it was still too quiet, the audience very polite and restrained as if they were attending a performance by a symphony orchestra in a concert hall.

When the final whistle blew, though, it was like being at a proper football match. The crowd had got into it, the Barca fans were full of pride and the neutrals full of admiration for a dazzling display.

At times in the second half it was like an exhibition match, rather than the semi-final of the FIFA Club World Cup, as Barca tormented their Mexican rivals with some bright, fast and controlled attacking football.

The first goal, however, was not football; it was art, a beautiful painting full of sweeping brush strokes and a riot of colour on a green canvas. Ronaldinho's back-heel, the intricate play of Iniesta, the precise finish of Gudjohnsen.

My favourite Barca player, Rafael Marquez, headed the second, and then produced an unusual celebration by sucking his thumb -- maybe to suggest his header was as easy as taking candy off a baby!

The third goal was what most people had come to see, as Ronaldinho collected a loose ball in a crowded penalty, showed composure and technique and made the finish look easy, curling it into the corner. It was a wonderful piece of individual skill, and provided a lesson for all players how to keep calm and keep focused when the goal is beckoning.

As for the fourth…well, what is there to say? A swift Barca counter, a lay-off from Ronaldinho after getting crowded out on the edge of the box, and a magnificent drive from Deco into the far corner. Again, textbook technique. I thought Deco had a fine game, staying on his feet and using all his ball skills and vision to keep the America defence on the back foot.

There was just time for Ronaldinho to hit the crossbar with that exquisite chip in injury time after another mazy dribble, and on that high note the match ended. By now the fans had lost their earlier inhibitions and were ready to show their appreciation.

Having been to several Toyota Cup matches over the years, it is not easy for teams to inject energy and passion into the crowd, but Barca achieved this in their own impressive style and set the stage for the final on Sunday.

Apart from the play and the goals, what stays in my mind most from Thursday’s visit to Yokohama was the noise of the crowd at the beginning and at the end of the match. Barca had won convincingly, on and off the pitch.

ends

14 Dec 2006(Thu)

Saitama, Japan, December 12, 2006: The J.League has got many things right in its short history, but none more so than the promotion/relegation play-off.

Last season was sensational, with Ventforet Kofu sending Kashiwa Reysol down in extraordinary style. Kofu won both games, 2-1 at home and then 6-2 away thanks to Bare's six-goal salvo at Hitachi-dai -- and he could have had 10!

There were not quite as many goals this time, only two from both legs, but still the drama was intense as Vissel Kobe returned to the top flight at the expense of Avispa Fukuoka.

A choked-up Atsu Miura, close-up shots of tearful fans of both teams, and an emotional Kobe manager Hiroshi Matsuda, sacked by Avispa early in the season and now taking Vissel up. What a story line!

And then there was that late goalmouth scramble. It was like playing a pinball machine as the ball flew around in all directions, before finally being cleared from the Kobe goal. Had that gone in, then both teams would surely have stayed where they were, Avispa in J1 and Vissel in J2. That is the beauty of this game, that a decisive couple of seconds at the end of a nine-month campaign could have changed everything.

In the end, Vissel went up on the away goals rule, meaning that a goal scored away from home counts double if the scores are level. (I am sure most of you knew this, but just in case!)

Once Kondo had scored for Vissel in the second half, Avispa were always struggling because they would need two. They got one but could not find another, resulting in the scenes of joy and despair after the final whistle -- and full marks at this point to the TV broadcasters as they stayed with the theatre of football and captured all the drama as it unfolded. I don't know about you but I get quite angry when the final whistle is followed immediately by advertisements, replays or studio chit-chat. I love to see the players walk off the pitch -- or, in the case of Hidetoshi Nakata at Dortmund, lie on the pitch and stay there thinking. (Is it true he is still there, that Sunny Side Up take him his meals on a tray and the Bundesliga teams just play around him?)

As I was saying, I love to see the scenes after the final whistle. Players exchanging shirts, players exchanging insults, players applauding their fans, players running off to avoid the wrath of their fans...here is the passion and the emotion of football that FIFA President Sepp Blatter is always talking about -- and the game is over!

The J1/J2 play-off was a fantastic idea, and provides a sting in the tail at the end of a long season.

And congratulations to both teams for their fair play (well, reasonably, as Avispa wasted time in the first leg and Vissel in the second leg, notably Park Kang Jo with his disgraceful bootlace-tying farce for which he should surely have received the red card.)

Avispa will be missed in J1, as their fans are loyal and noisy, but Vissel and others have proved you can bounce straight back.

ends

11 Dec 2006(Mon)

December 9, 2006: Who is staying? Who is going? Who is coming?

These are interesting times in Japanese football as teams release players, release coaches, and search for replacements who may make them stronger for next season...or who may not.

Antlers have been busy, with the departure of manager Paulo Autuori, veteran players Narahashi and Honda and Brazilians Fernando and Alex Mineiro.

FC Tokyo will be changing manager, and Jean is going, too. I must admit, two or three years ago, I thought Jean was possibly the best foreign player in Japan, a no-risk, combative centre half who provided a weekly 90-minute study session for would-be defenders.

At Omiya Ardija, veteran Brazilian Toninho has played his last J.League game for the club, and manager Toshiya Miura will be on his way after the Emperor's Cup, possibly to Consadole Sapporo. That is what I heard on the "Rumour Mill" the other day, along with the following:

# Brazilian striker Bare is leaving Ventforet Kofu and joining Urawa Reds, and

# Omiya will appoint Pim Verbeek's brother as head coach, replacing Miura.

As I say, these are only rumours, and they may not happen. In English journalism we call it "kite flying" -- meaning some kites stay in the air, while others fall to the ground.

Bare would be a great signing for Reds, and proves their intent ahead of the Asian Champions League next season. Make no mistake, Reds are going for it next year, and the whole of Japan should be behind them as they make a serious attempt to win Asia's equivalent of the UEFA Champions League.

With midweek matches, maybe even in Australia, remember, Reds need plenty of fire power, even though they have Washington, Ponte, Yamada, Tatsuya and Nagai, among others.
I saw Bare play recently for Kofu at Saitama Stadium 2002, where he had a fine game. He is quick for such a big man, and is always dangerous when he has the ball. He is direct and positive, and has the happy habit of being in the right place at the right time to put a loose ball into the net.

If Bare joins Reds it would ease the strain on Washington without weakening the team -- and, of course, they could play together, with Ponte behind, if attack is more important than defence in some games.

I am sure next year will be very exciting for Reds fans as they take their "brand" across Asia, and no doubt Mitsubishi will be planning promotional campaigns for away games in vast potential markets.

Bare for Reds (but Gamba are keen, too), and the brother of former Ardija coach Pim Verbeek as Omiya manager...just rumours for the moment, so we will have to wait and see which kites fly and which tumble to the ground!

ends

7 Dec 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, December 6, 2006: When it comes to the end of the season, certain facts cannot be disputed.

Such as: Urawa Reds are the best team in Japan. After 34 games, the table cannot lie. Washington and Magno Alves were the best scorers, with 26 goals each.

But when it comes to other rankings, I must say I do not pay too much attention.

Such as: assists, and a couple I read the other day in a football publication, "goast" ranking and "goalkeeper earned run average.”

Goasts and earned run averages? Is this football or baseball?　More of those two later.

Regarding assists, I am sorry but I just don't rate this statistic because it relies on the scorer, not the player who gets the assist、so it is not a true reflection.

For example, a midfield player dribbles past five players, plays a wonderful pass to his striker, and the striker misses. No goal and therefore no assist.

On the other hand, a player makes a short pass across the field to a teammate, who lashes the ball into the top corner of the net from 30 metres. A great goal, and the player who passed the ball five metres to the scorer is credited with an assist.

This is why I think an assist ranking is unfair, as it depends on the goal scored, not on the creative talents of a player. I am not saying players who lead assist rankings are not talented; of course they are, but their ranking depends on the people who score the goals, not on themselves.

The "goast" ranking includes goals and assists, therefore “goast”, which is quite clever! I have seen this before in ice hockey, but never in football, and, like assists themselves, from a British perspective it is a very North American concept.

Out of interest, Juninho and Washington led the goast ranking with 31 points (20 goals and 11 assists for the Frontale man, and 26 goals plus five assists for the big Brazilian).

And so to goalkeeper earned run average. This is the number of goals conceded by a keeper, in relation to matches played. Interesting, but way too American for my liking!

Oh, football used to be so simple! Urawa Reds 3 Gamba Osaka 2. That is the only statistic I need to know.

ends

4 Dec 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, December 2, 2006: On the one hand, it does not seem that long ago when the tearful and angry Yokohama Flugels players said farewell to the J.League.

It was at the end of 1998, down at Mitsuzawa Stadium, and followed the bursting of the financial bubble which had enabled the J.League to soar into the Japanese sports stratosphere.

But, on the other hand, it seems an age away. At that time, remember, the J.League was still in two stages, still with one division, clubs were paying ridiculous amounts of money for over-the-hill players (Paulo Futre at Flugels in 1998), or showing a complete lack of business sense by investing a fortune (US$10 million for the admittedly talented trio of Cesar Sampaio, Zinho and Evair to Flugels in 1995) when income from attendances was miniscule in comparison.

So the Flugels ceased to be, and the Yokohama Marinos became the Yokohama F Marinos in 1999.

From the ashes of the Flugels came Yokohama FC, and in 2001 they joined the J.League second division from the JFL.

In 2007, Yokohama FC will be in J1, playing local derby matches against Yokohama F Marinos, and, in my mind, this is an incredible success story.

The race for the J2 championship has been fast and furious, with Reysol and then Vissel Kobe seemingly in control, only for both clubs to stall and see Yokohama FC sweep past them and clinch the title. On this day, the last day of the 2006 season, Yokohama FC can bask in the glory, while Kobe and Kashiwa will be scrapping for the second automatic promotion place, and trying to avoid the two-leg play-off against Cerezo or Avispa next week.

The rise of Yokohama FC is not only a triumph for the club and the supporters who refused to go away on the demise of the Flugels; it is also a triumph for the J.League and for football in general.

It proves that, with good management on and off the field (Takuya Takagi deserves enormous credit, of course), and with a mixture of hungry players and seasoned, honest professionals, a club can reach its goal modestly.

Everyone at the club will tell you, though, that the work has just begun. The foundations have been laid but nothing more, and there will be many tough decisions to be made for next season and the future as Yokohama FC attempt to consolidate their position in the top flight and keep building for the long-term.

The collapse of the Flugels, when Sato Kogyo pulled out and ANA switched to Marinos, was a bitter lesson for the J.League. Yokohama FC have proved that those lessons have been learned, and the future of the league will be better for it.

ends

30 Nov 2006(Thu)

November 29, 2006: Surely no; surely it can’t happen again, can it?

Reds against Gamba at Saitama Stadium 2002 in a match that has been sold out for weeks.

Reds three points clear with one game remaining.

Gamba needing to win by three goals or more to overtake them.

No, it cannot happen. The championship is already decided, and Saturday will be one big red, black and white party, apart from the section reserved for visiting fans.

Well, this is the logical scenario for Saturday.

But, as we have seen in recent seasons, the J.League is not logical and therefore a result such as Reds 0 Gamba 3 simply cannot be ruled out.

Just imagine it. Gamba leading 2-0 with four minutes of injury time to play. Then Magno Alves goes down in the box and the referee awards a penalty. He scores – and Gamba retain their league crown in another incredible finish.

Or he misses – and Reds win the championship for the first time in Buchwald’s last league match in charge.

After watching Marinos beat Jubilo with that Kubo header in injury time in 2003 to clinch the second stage and the perfect championship, and then seeing Gamba win at Todoroki on the last day of the 2005 season, I am not ruling anything out on Saturday.

The unthinkable can happen in football, especially in Japan, and recent history proves this.

In all probability it won’t, and the match may well finish 0-0 or 1-1 to give Reds the title in a bit of an anti-climax. An anti-climax, that is, for the neutral fans, but not for the Reds fans, of course, because the title is won over a season, not on one day.

This is why whoever wins the championship these days is the best team in the league, unlike in the days of the two-stage system when the most consistent team may not even have appeared in the two-leg final, and the eventual champions may have finished several points behind the runner-up in the overall standings.

Thankfully those days are over.

But the days of shocks and incredible finishes are not, and never will be over in football.

My tip for Saturday?

A draw, 1-1, Reds to score first (Washington, 35 minutes) and Gamba to equalize late in the second half (Magno Alves, 80 minutes) to ensure a nervy finish.

Reds to win the league.

But there again….

ends

27 Nov 2006(Mon)

November 25, 2006: The end-of-year awards season is upon us, so let's think of the J.League MVP.

Chatting with a few media colleagues the other afternoon at Saitama Stadium 2002, three names cropped up, all of them Reds.

A popular choice was Washington, but he would not be mine.

Of course Washington is a valuable player. Anyone who scores the amount of goals he does must be valuable. He proved this with Verdy before moving to Urawa, and looks set to win the "Golden Boot" award as the leading scorer in J1. There is no argument about that, because the statistics are there for all to see and do not lie.

The next name that came up was that of Nobuhisa Yamada -- or should I call him Nobuhisa Del Piero after his wonderful goal against Kofu, who I thought were extremely hard done by with the two penalty decisions and a red card which left them with no hope of getting anything from the game.

I have written earlier this season about Yamada's ability to score goals. Unlike some players who snatch at chances and panic when they see the goal, Yamada remains remarkably cool and relaxed. This quality enables him to score goals like he did against Kofu, cutting in from the left wing, beating three players and curling a lovely shot inside the far post. I saw Paul Gascoigne score many goals like that for Newcastle United and for Tottenham, so there can be no finer compliment to Nobuhisa Del Piero.

During the title run-in Yamada has been in inspirational form, and it is no wonder that Tatsuya and Shinji were on the bench against Kofu when Yamada is linking so well with Ponte and Washinton, supported by Hasebe and Keita from central midfield and the two wing-backs, Hirakawa and Alex.

Also, Yamada's cross early in the second half with his left foot was perfect for Washington to loop a header over the Kofu keeper and open the scoring.

And then, of course, we have Tulio. He is the heart and soul of any team he plays for, committed to the cause and never giving anything less than maximum effort. He regards any goal conceded by Reds as a personal insult and simply hates to see the other team celebrating. But his head does not go down and his response is to try and score at the other end.

All things considered, then, Tulio would get my vote as J.League MVP, with Keita in second place. Too many of these awards are given to players who grab the headlines and the glory for scoring goals, but other less glamorous roles are equally important, if not more so, and deserve recognition. I remember Emerson winning it the other year when Marinos had swept both stages and Nakazawa was clearly the MVP, or Kubo or Oku.

All will be revealed at the awards night on December 18.

ends.

23 Nov 2006(Thu)

November 22, 2006: Well, what else can be said about Shunsuke Nakamura?

The former Marinos magician did it again for Celtic on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning Japan time) in their UEFA Champions League group match against Manchester United in Glasgow.

His free kick at Old Trafford a few weeks ago was pretty good, but this one was a beauty, one of the best I have seen him score but still nowhere near as good as the one he struck past Barthez in the Confederations Cup in France.

The one in France was on his “wrong” side, meaning to the left of the goal, whereas his latest gem against Manchester United was from the right side of the goal – a much better angle for a left-footer.

Some 25 metres from goal, Shunsuke struck a perfect free kick over the wall – well over the wall – and brought it down under the crossbar into the top corner, giving the keeper absolutely no chance.

The goal suited the occasion, coming in the 81st minute of the second edition of the so-called “Battle of Britain” between two mega clubs with a massive worldwide fan base.

The English commentary provided some interesting lessons for Japanese viewers in “working football English” – and here’s a few phrases I picked up during the early morning transmission (it was about 6.25 am Japan time when Shunsuke scored).

“Absolute perfection” was one comment from analyst David Pleat, who described it as a “wonderful goal” and a “tremendous piece of skill.”

Whereas Pleat was the “colour” man in the commentary team, there to provide expert analysis and fill in the gaps between play, the match commentator described it as a “breathtaking goal” and a “moment of magic.”

A few minutes later, when Shunsuke was substituted as Celtic defended their 1-0 lead, the commentator spoke of the “standing ovation for a stunning goal.”

Wonderful, breathtaking, stunning…as I said earlier, there is not many more words left in the English language to describe a Shunsuke free kick.

I thought Celtic’s victory was justice because United (Manchester United, I mean, not Newcastle, Leeds, JEF or any of the other Uniteds who are disregarded by arrogant ManU fans) should not have been awarded a penalty in the earlier game at Old Trafford when keeper Boruc was adjudged to have fouled Giggs.

This time, Boruc got his revenge when he saved a late penalty from Saha, who never looked like he was going to score, did he? I don’t know what it is, but I always feel a left-footed penalty-taker is going to miss. Maybe Saha should ask for lessons from Tulio!

Of course Boruc was well off his line as he dived to his right to keep out Saha’s kick, but how many times do referees/linesmen have the courage to call this offence, even though it should be perfectly clear?

All in all, then, another great night for Nakamura in Glasgow. I wrote recently that he had made a good decision to stay with Celtic, rather than trying to play in Spain and maybe ending up on the bench again.

The big question is…when will the TV commentators learn how to pronounce Shunsuke (Shun-ski) instead of Shun-soo-ki, with the emphasis on the “soo” in the middle?

No wonder the players and fans just call him Naka!

ends.

20 Nov 2006(Mon)

Saturday, November 18, 2006: A year that began with high hopes for the World Cup ended this week with high hopes for the future, following Japan’s 3-1 defeat of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday night.

I have to say I was delighted – and relieved, too – at Japan’s victory, because it pointed the way ahead for Osim’s new-look team.

Delighted because I feel Osim has picked some fine young players in his short time in charge. They are talented, intelligent players who will listen to the coach and who will learn from him – and quickly.

Take the second goal against the Saudis, for example.

It was a wonderful piece of play from Konno, who crossed exquisitely from the right with his left foot for Ganaha to hit the target with an expertly-weighted header. Ganaha has always scored goals and made Japan’s third look easy when it wasn’t, thanks to another clinical finish after Komano’s run down the left.

Delighted also for Tulio. He’s a fine leader and an inspirational player, and it was his goal that put Japan on the winning trail. I can’t understand why they let him take the penalty, though, because that is really not his scene.

Tulio likes to score goals by battering his way through defences, competing for the ball and lashing it into the net through a crowd of desperate defenders like an old-fashioned mud-caked hero from a comic book. Penalties? Naaah…those are for softies!

Also, what was the Australian referee doing awarding a penalty to Saudi Arabia? That was a joke decision in my opinion, after seeing it on TV replays. Didn’t the Saudi player just fall down? Maybe the Aussies, having been cheated at the World Cup by Grosso’s theatrical tumble at the end of their second-round game with Italy, are getting their own back on the world game and following the lead of the World Cup ref: if a forward falls down, give a penalty against the innocent defender!

All in all, though, I am happy about the result, and, as I said before, relieved.

In my opinion there are too many people around who did not realize the size of the job Osim took on. The team needed rebuilding after the World Cup debacle; a new mood had to be created, a new method and a new direction.

I feel Osim has already done this, and the future is very exciting as he will now look at the players in Europe who may be able to add something to the squad. Osim, of course, knows he must not affect the chemistry of the squad, as this is crucial for a successful team, but the faith he has shown in the J.League players will be repaid on the pitch with effort and energy and pride in the blue shirt.

Unlike many, I was not confident about the 2006 World Cup this time last year. But now I am full of optimism again for the national team.

ends.

16 Nov 2006(Thu)

Osaka, Japan, November 15, 2006: Although both Japan and Saudi Arabia have already qualified for next year's Asian Cup finals, I still think their match at Sapporo on Wednesday night is significant.

By the time you read this, the match will have finished, and the result will have brought an end to the first stage of Osim's rebuilding process.

This is why I think the match is important.

If Japan play well and win against strong Asian opposition, then Osim is on the right course. Many of these players will be retained for next year and the long-term future.

But if they do not play well and the performance is a mess, then Osim will have to rethink his strategy and selection policy for next year. Maybe he will bring back some more experienced players, and concentrate more on the present than the future.

And then, of course, there are the players in Europe. I am sure some of them -- Nakamura and Matsui, for example -- must be in his mind for next year's Asian Cup, so this is why it would be a good idea for Japan to play a friendly or two in Europe next spring.

By doing that, it would provide good experience for his J.League players, while at the same time give Osim the chance to integrate the European players without disturbing their careers or body clocks too much.

So, while one view point is that the match against Saudi Arabia is meaningless, I do not agree at all. I think it is a crucial test at the end of Osim's first phase of rebuilding.

I must admit I like the selection of Jubilo's Maeda. He always plays with intensity and pace, and is always very imaginative and direct with his running. He seems the kind of player who, when a scoring chance comes along, does not hesitate or have any self-doubt. In other words, he does not think too much, which can often be a problem for forwards; he just gets on with it.

By now you will know the result of the Japan-Saudi game, but I feel Japan can play well and bring a successful conclusion to the first stage of post-2006 World Cup development.

ends

13 Nov 2006(Mon)

Nagoya, Japan, November 11, 2006: Aaah yes, Naohiro Takahara.

I was wondering what had happened to him, and then he pops up with a couple of goals for Eintracht Frankfurt.

No doubt this will prompt a round of "Osim should pick Takahara" chit-chat among fans and maybe even in the media, but I am not convinced at the moment.

It will take more than a couple of goals (and three in all so far this season) for me to join the Takahara Fan Club; or, should I say, renew my membership of the Takahara Fan Club.

Because once I was a big fan of Takahara's when he was banging in the goals for Jubilo Iwata, the Olympic team and the national team, until that serious illness ruled him out of the 2002 World Cup.

At the 2006 World Cup I thought he was a major disappointment, and wondered if he would ever play for Japan again after that. I still have my doubts.

A few weeks before the World Cup I had a long interview with Zico for a Croatian newspaper, and Japan's Brazilian coach picked out three players he thought would shine on the world stage. He named Hidetoshi Nakata, Shunsuke and...yes, Takahara.

I always thought that was a bit optimistic, as Takahara, in all his time out of Japan, in Argentina and then Germany, had never done anything over a sustained period to suggest he would trouble world-class defences.

The move from Hamburg to Frankfurt, though, has freshened him up, and given his stagnating career the drive it needed.

So the big question is...will Osim be taking note and still have Takahara in his plans for next year, once he has completed his survey of the J.League talent?

Well, of course he will be monitoring Takahara, as anyone who can score regularly in the Bundesliga must be a good player. But he's got to keep his place in the team for Osim to be tempted to call him back -- and that means over a period of months, not weeks.

I have said before and will repeat here that Osim's decision to leave the European players alone this year and let them settle at their clubs is absolutely the right one -- and Takahara himself says he is relieved not to have to travel back for games against the likes of India and Yemen.

This is commonsense from Osim, as there is plenty of time for him to inject some Euro quality into the squad in time for next year's Asian Cup defence.

9 Nov 2006(Thu)

Nagoya, Japan, November 8, 2006: Sir Alex Ferguson deserves all the plaudits he is receiving at the moment.

In the modern game, and in the pre-Premier League days, it is an incredbile achievement to be in charge for 20 years. At such a massive club, too, who are expected to be challenging for the trophy in every competition they enter in every season.

I remember once, back in my days as the Newcastle United reporter for a morning newspaper in the north-east of England, being on the end of a fiery Fergie reaction at Saint James's Park one sunny afternoon.

Newcastle had just beaten Manchester United 2-1, and the incident that everyone was talking about was a terrible tackle by Manchester United's Norman Whiteside on Newcastle's John Anderson.

Whiteside was a big, strong forward from Northern Ireland, well known for his combative style; Anderson was a quick and tough right back or central defender who played for the Republic of Ireland.

It was a shocking foul by Whiteside, which left Anderson in agony on the touchline. Anderson was from the old school, before players feigned injury, and would never have stayed down if he had not been hurt. Whiteside had been in the news a lot at that time for his disciplinary problems, and for his fouling.

Anyway, after the game Fergie came into the lobby of Saint James's Park where the media was waiting nervously.

He stopped in front of a group of us, and one older reporter, clearly quivering in his shoes because Fergie was angry at losing, asked him about the over-enthusiastic nature of Manchester United's tackles. Fergie dismissed the question, and the reporter was silent. Obviously he had wanted to ask Fergie specifically about Whiteside's terrible foul on Anderson, but could not pluck up the courage.

I was standing right next to Fergie. I was young and innocent and naive, so simply said to Fergie: "I think he means what did you think of Whiteside's tackle on Anderson?"

At which point everyone ran for cover to avoid Fergie's fury.

Fergie turned to me and scolded: "Why are you always asking about Whiteside these days? You are jumping on the band wagon and making life very difficult for him. He commits one foul in the match and that's all you talk about. What about all the other fouls? Whiteside is a marked man now by the referees because of you lot."

Well, it was something like that, because it was in 1987, maybe 1988, so I cannot remember the exact details -- and my tape recorder melted at the time under Fergie's blast of hot air.

Fergie's outburst, of course, made all the headlines the next day. "Whiteside victimised!" "Lay off Big Norm!"...things like this.

The media all thanked me for pushing Fergie to get the response, and patted me on the shoulder sympathetically, as if I had just missed a penalty in a cup final shoot-out.

But I didn't think I had pushed him at all. I had just asked him a specific question about a specific challenge, and he had gone ballistic.

Oh yes...life is much more serene in the J.League!

6 Nov 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, November 4, 2006: Congratulations to JEF United Ichihara Chiba Japan Asia for winning the Nabisco Cup again.

I must admit I didn’t fancy their chances after watching them lose horribly at home to Omiya Ardija recently.

But they saw off Kashima Antlers with late goals from Mizuno and captain Abe, who proved once again that he is one of the best headers of a ball in the J.League.

Chatting with a Japanese football writer on the morning of the cup final, I was surprised to learn that JEF have caused something of a split among the media. In other words, some newspapers dislike the Osim dynasty and want both Japan and JEF to fail, while others are being patient, if not exactly supportive of the post-Zico regime.

This is all very strange to me, as JEF come across as a rather harmless club who haven’t done anything wrong to anyone. I can understand people (mainly who wear red shirts or black T-shirts and live in Urawa) disliking Kashima Antlers and Jubilo Iwata because they have been successful in the past – just like many fans in England hate Manchester United and Liverpool – but JEF United?

It is no secret that I admire JEF – among others – for several reasons. It is a friendly, homely club. They have lived beyond their financial means in terms of league position. They have been well managed from the top; the fans are not jumping on the bandwagon of glory, because there hasn’t really been any, and they have built a production line of talented Japanese players.

Maybe Osim Senior has picked too many of his former players for the national team for some people’s liking, but I am sure this is only a stop-gap measure until other players emerge in a couple of problem positions.

He knows the JEF players and can trust them, and the players know what the head coach wants, too, so it is a relatively safe move for the time being.

However, players such as Maki, Abe and Mizumoto, and possibly Hanyu, will be around the national squad as long as Osim is, as they have the Japanese characteristics he cherishes. And if Osim really was biased towards JEF, then he would have picked their most under-rated player – Daisuke Saito, who is nicknamed “The Professor”. (By whom, you may ask? Well, by me, actually, because Saito really knows the art of defending, and is the ideal teacher for Mizumoto).

So, enough of this nonsense criticizing JEF United! They have been a huge success story for the J.League since the early bubble burst around 1997.

Osim Senior may be rude to the Japanese press on occasions, just like Troussier was, and many media may miss the mild-mannered Zico’s all-star, fantasista policy.

But don’t blame JEF United for this.

ends

2 Nov 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, November 1, 2006: Have you been following the latest Sepp Blatter controversy recently?

It makes for very interesting reading, as usual.

First, Blatter was reported to have apologized to Australia for their World Cup exit at the hands of Italy. For me this was one of the worst and most depressing moments of a World Cup blighted by diving and cheating.

It was when Italy’s left back, Fabio Grosso, tumbled theatrically following a challenge by Australia defender Lucas Neill. In my opinion it was never a penalty, as Grosso clearly had only one thing on his mind and executed his task with cynical professionalism.

Sadly, referees are much too quick to give the benefit of the doubt to the attacking player, and it happened here in a very unfair way to bring a cruel end to Australia’s challenge. No wonder the sports-mad Aussies, brought up on rough-tough games such as Aussie Rules football, rugby and cricket, thought they had been cheated in a sport they are still trying to embrace.

Anyway, Blatter later back-tracked on his comments, saying he had no intention to criticize Italy, but just to offer his sympathy to Australia.

Sympathy?

What good is that?

Blatter, as head of FIFA, is the man who has allowed diving and gamesmanship to reach the current level. He could crack down on it by introducing video replays to punish the conmen, but he prefers to let the poor old referees suffer on their own in an environment in which the FIFA Fair Play slogan simply does not exist any more.

The 2006 World Cup was a big turn-off in my opinion, with incidents like the Grosso-Neill penalty the main reason.

Blatter should speak out more in an effort to cure the ailments, and not be afraid of telling the truth and presenting the situation as it is. On a smaller scale, much smaller, there was a controversial incident at Komaba last Saturday in the Omiya-FC Tokyo match.

Leading 1-0 in the second half, an FC Tokyo player fell to the floor in his own half when there was absolutely nothing wrong with him. A team-mate kicked the ball out of play to stop the match and allow the player to receive treatment he did not need, but the “injured” player got to his feet on his own.

So it was Omiya’s throw-in, and the Tokyo fans whistled as the Ardija players refused to pass the ball back to them. Omiya coach Toshiya Miura urged his players to keep the ball and attack, as they were trailing 1-0 and Tokyo had blatantly stopped the game for no reason.

Tokyo fans – I admire you and your team…but you were completely wrong on this occasion. Omiya had absolutely no obligation whatsoever to return the ball to your team at the throw-in. Omiya were quite right to play on, and the referee allowed them to do so.

I have said before it is the job of the ref to stop the game, not the team-mate of an “injured” player so they can waste time when they are winning. There is too much of this tactic in the modern game.

ends

30 Oct 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, October 28, 2006: David Beckham is unsettled. David Beckham is on the bench. David Beckham wants to leave Spain.

Life is never dull in the Beckham household -- or Beckingham Palace as we say in England, after the Queen's royal residency, Buckingham Palace, in London, of course.

Maybe David wants to move again; a final challenge in his roller-coaster career.

All of which has got me thinking: I wonder if any J.League team is considering making a move for King David the Lionheart?

I hope so, because the time is right if they are going to do it. Beckham unsettled, clubs looking for new foreign players for next season...Posh Spice loving the attention of the Japanese media. Yup, it all makes sense to me.

So come on Nissan, Toyota or Mikitani-san at Kobe. Marinos and Grampus need a boost and you two have lots of cash, while Vissel could come back to J1 next season with a full house of season ticket-holders -- and Beckham would provide value for money, unlike the disastrous signing of that Turkish bench-warmer at the 2002 World Cup.

Beckham loves his football, would be an ambassador for the game, a role model for the kids, an idol for male and female fans alike. Crowds would go through the roof. The eyes of the football world would be on Japan.

Personally, I think the new England coach, Steve McClaren, made a big mistake by cutting Beckham from the squad so quickly. I thought he had a decent World Cup, even though England did not, and he still has much to offer.

This idea may sound ridiculous to some, but why should not a Japanese club make a serious attempt to sign Becks and Posh and the young Beckhaminhos?

There are even reports that Beckham might end his career in the United States, playing Major League Soccer.

If he's thinking about that, then I am sure he would consider Japan, too.

He might be expensive, but think about all the money J.League clubs waste on third-rate Brazilians.

Come on, J.League clubs, go for it. It's not a dream!

ends

26 Oct 2006(Thu)

October 24, 2006:It is now Tuesday afternoon, and I am staring at the pink football paper in front of me.

It says FC Tokyo 3, Gamba Osaka 2, but I still can't quite believe it.

Two days on from that incredible match at Ajista, I am still in a daze, did I really see that happen, or was it just a dream?

Not just the fact that came back from 2-0 down against the league champions, or that they scored three times in quick succession.

It was the quality of the goals, and the hysteria that followed. When I think back it's all a blur of blue and red, played in slow motion.

I know you will have read about the Tokyo goals before, but I would like to add my comments here.

First, Konno's. For a start he's one of my favourite players, I vote for him after every Nabisco Cup match in the New Hero award, even when FC Tokyo aren't playing!

What I liked most about Konno's goal was that he actually believed he could reach the ball. Losing 2-0, a long pass over the top¡­I am sure some players would have given up under those circumstances and let the ball run through to the keeper. Not Konno the Lionheart. He never gives up, and his agility, touch and calm finish sparked the revival.

Then it was Norio's turn. What can we say about this? I had a great view of the strike as it whistled into the top corner like a missile. Had the Gamba keeper got in the way, it would have taken him with it, too, flying into the back of the net. It was an incredible goal, and even likening it to a Roberto Carlos thunderbolt does not do it justice.

And then the winner from Fly High Nao. Again it was Konno on the left flank who was in the thick of the action. Suzuki crossed, Ishikawa showed a lovely touch to make himself some room, and then produced a cool, curling Ronaldo-style finish as he caressed the ball into the corner.

When that goal went in and the stadium erupted, I have to admit to being­well, quite emotional.

It was an extraordinary comeback, and no more than the magnificent Tokyo fans deserved in such a disappointing season.

The Gamba players and fans looked shell-shocked. One minute they were cruising to three points to stay in touch with Urawa, the next they were six points behind with six to play and possibly emotionally scarred by this unlikely reversal of fortunes.

Yes, that was an amazing afternoon at Tobitakyu, or was it just a dream?

ends

23 Oct 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, October 21, 2006: Shunsuke Nakamura's decision to stay where he was and continue to play for Celtic always looked like the right one.

There were reports out of Britain last season that he was only using Celtic as a stepping stone to mainland Europe, and that his goal was to play in Spain.

But Scottish football has been good for Shunsuke -- and there is no doubt he has been good for Celtic.

The level is perfect for him, playing for a big club in a small league and for a strong team in which he can express his creative skills. He is now doing it at a higher pace than he did for Reggina in Italy, due to the quicker tempo of the game in Britain.

A hat trick against Dundee United, completed with a cool and classy left-foot finish into the top corner, was followed by a 90-minute display in a 3-0 Champions League victory over Benfica. He is settled and he is clearly enjoying himself, so it was a wise decision to stay in Scotland rather than go to Spain and start again.

All of which is good news for Japan -- maybe!

With Osim in charge, Shunsuke needed to step up his game to continue playing for Japan. He needed to run more and to contribute more in open play, in addition to his set-piece expertise.

He is doing this and keeping himself in the news -- but I still think Osim is right to leave him in Scotland for the time being and test his J.League players.

I am sure the national team door is not closed on Shunsuke, and Osim may well decide next year that he needs a touch of class in his midfield to add a new dimension to his emerging team. Imagine a five-man midfield, with Keita and Abe or Konno as the two defensive halves, and Shunsuke in front, behind the two strikers, Maki and Bando or Tatsuya.

It is an option Osim will consider for the future, especially in the build-up to next summer's Asian Cup finals.

ends

19 Oct 2006(Thu)

Please wait for a while.

16 Oct 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, October 14, 2006: The problem with a weak opponent is that it can bring down the level of a vastly superior team.

Add to this a poor pitch in Bangalore, floodlight failure and a runaway dog halting play, and, in such circumstances, Japan could not have done much better than win 3-0.

These Asian Cup qualifiers are giving Osim's new team a gentle introduction to international football. The travel, the lifestyle on the road, the different conditions on and off the pitch, the ability of the opponents...Japan's players will be looking and learning all the time. Further down the line, in tougher circumstances, they will be able to draw on this experience and use it to their benefit when the pressure is on.

Osim, too, will be learning a lot about his players, not just their ability but also their attitude and mentality.

After the game against Ghana, I pointed out the fact that Osim would have loved Bando's angry reaction to his missing a good chance to equalise near the end. I am sure Osim would have preferred Bando to score, but, in missing the chance, Bando displayed his passion and his intensity -- and won a place in the starting line-up against India. In this game he scored twice, could have had more, and has quickly established himself in the squad. It depends on Bando, and no one else, how long he stays there.

I also liked Kengo Nakamura's goal, and celebration, against India. It was a magnificent strike with his right foot, and then he kissed the JFA crest on his shirt! Again, it shows a bit of pride and personality, and Kengo has put himself in the picture for the long-term.

I noticed on TV last Saturday night that Kengo was getting the "Shunsuke" treatment, with a couple of mushy, sugary interviews following the Ghana game. The TV people in question were clearly trying to promote Kengo as the new "fantasista" -- the new Shunsuke, in fact -- but let's not get carried away too quickly, or forget that other, less glamorous roles in football are equally important, if not more so.

Finally, wasn't that an amazing moment in the India-Japan game? No, not the dog, which I actually thought was India's most dangerous player, the way it eluded Japan's markers and found so much space on the pitch. I am talking about Alex's cross for Bando's diving header. I know the stadium lights were bad, but was that really Alex's right foot in action -- hitting an expert cross on the half-volley?

I wish he would use it more often. Just think how more dangerous he would be with two feet instead of one!

ends

12 Oct 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, October 11, 2006: One popular topic of conversation at the moment is how tickets for national team games are no longer like gold dust.

In other words, the public aren't that bothered about watching Japan anymore because there are no superstars in the team.

My answer is that I just don't care, it's irrelevant, and I am sure that Osim does not care either. If a few thousand fans do not want to watch the team because Shunsuke is not playing, then that is their problem. It is definitely not Osim's problem and hopefully it is not the JFA's problem either. (JFA, by the way, stands for JEF Football Association).

Osim is looking at the big picture. He is testing new, hungry, young players, and giving them the chance to play against a team like Ghana. For the time being this is the right way to go, as Japan's line-up of fantasistas and Euro-stars had their chance in Germany and failed miserably.

And another point.

I actually think the crowds for the three home games under Osim have been excellent. Over 47,000 at Kokuritsu for a friendly with Trinidad and Tobago; over 40,000 at Niigata for an Asian Cup qualifier with Yemen; and over 52,000 at Nissan Stadium for the friendly with Ghana.

Those are great crowds by anyone's standards. England against Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly at Manchester, for example? Maybe 30,000. Against Yemen at Newcastle? 20,000?

In my opinion, the most important thing is to build a new team from the ruins of Germany. Zico inherited some wonderful players and left nothing behind and no one should forget that.

Osim is the right man for the job, and true football fans in Japan will appreciate what he is trying to do. I am not saying the days of Shunsuke and other players in Europe are over, but the focus has to be on Japan and J.League players during this period of transition.

Everyone needs to be patient and to support the new regime, because this is the way forward for Japanese football. Bringing back Shunsuke, Takahara, Inamoto, Oguro for friendlies against Ghana is a waste of time and a huge step backwards. Even if it means 65,000 at Yokohama instead of 52,000.

ends

10 Oct 2006(Tue)

Tokyo, October 7, 2006: Ivica Osim wanted a tough game for his young Japan team -- and that is exactly what he got against Ghana.

From the moment the match kicked off I was impressed by the speed, the power, the team work and the confidence of the Black Stars.

What's more, they actually grew stronger as the match wore on, and completely dominated the early stages of the second half.

No one could deny that they deserved their goal, which happened in the blink of an eye and highlighted the difference between the two teams: Japan are still learning to play at this level, whereas Ghana are several steps ahead in terms of experience.

Under such circumstances, I thought a draw would have been a fine result for Japan.

In the end they lost 1-0, but I am far from pessimistic about the new-look team.

In general I thought Japan stood up to the hard examination quite well, especially considering there were players making their debuts (Mizumoto and Yamagishi) and others playing out of position, such as Abe and Konno.

What became clear, though, was that Japan must, absolutely must, be first to the second ball if they are to dominate an opponent. What I mean by this is that if a Japanese player is tackled and the ball breaks loose, or if an opponent is tackled and the ball breaks loose, another Japanese player must be in exactly the right position to collect the loose ball and keep possession.

Playing at such a frantic pace demands a sound first touch and awareness of what is going on around you so that a team can establish a rhythm and a momentum in all areas of the pitch. This has not happened yet, which is not surprising considering the number of players Osim has used.

It will come in time, however, as the new coach settles on his best team and their movements become more automatic and systematic.

At times against Ghana, especially in the second half, it looked like Men against Boys -- and the boys were wearing blue! But this does not mean Japan were out-classed. They showed they were prepared to fight a physical battle and then to move forward with determination and pace.

Bando came close to equalising near the end, but could not wrap his right foot around the ball and the attempt went wide. Still, he will definitely get another chance, as Osim will have been impressed by his angry reaction to missing the chance!

ends

5 Oct 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, October 4, 2006: If you want to overdose on English football, there is no better place to be in Asia than Singapore.

Japan is quite good, too, but is an hour ahead of Singapore, making the kick-off times in England much more viewer-friendly down there in south-east Asia.Also, the English newspapers in Singapore are packed with reports and news from the English Premier League, or EPL as they call it.

I will stick with the Premier League, if you don't mind, as EPL is too much of a brand name, for marketing people, not football fans.

I have just returned from a long weekend in Singapore, where a popular topic of conversation was:Why are the Korean players more successful in England than the Japanese?

That is a good question, and a good topic for debate, so this was my response.

In general I think the Korean players are more robust, play a more physical game and can maintain a faster tempo for longer periods than the Japanese, I said.

I donft think the Koreans are better players technically, but they are more suited to the British style of play. They get stuck in and keep running, whereas the Japanese players who have gone to Europe tend to be more the fantasista types who can survive better in a more technical, slower league, such as Italy.

That was my assessment, based on watching the likes of Park, Seol and Lee at Manchester United, Reading and Spurs in recent weeks/months.

On the opposite side, take the case of Ahn Jung Hwan. Surely he has more natural talent and flair than any of these three, but he has failed miserably in Europe.

Ahn could not even make the grade with modest Perugia, where Hidetoshi Nakata excelled, of course, to earn a big-money move to Roma, and then struggled in France and Germany. The only foreign country where Ahn has been successful is Japan, as his game is more suited to this style of technical play.

I still think Japanese players can be a success in England, someone like Kaji for example.

For the time being, though, the football fans in Singapore are talking about Koreans, not Japanese. And you cannot really argue with that.

ends

2 Oct 2006(Mon)

September 30, 2006: The World Cup final being decided by a penalty shoot-out is just not right, is it?

It is a big problem for the game, but a bigger problem is what system should replace it.

The subject is in the news again because FIFA president Sepp Blatter says a new system may be in place for the 2010 World Cup. There is talk of a replay, or removing a player from both teams, or having a golden goal system in extra time.

I must admit I love the idea of a replay. Growing up in England with the FA Cup, I have wonderful memories of replays and even second replays – under floodlights on muddy pitches, at a neutral venue in some cases (West Ham United against Everton at Elland Road, Leeds, was a classic, as was Newcastle United against Bolton Wanderers at the same venue).

In those days the teams would keep playing until there was a winner. No golden goals. No penalty shoot-outs. Just heart and soul, and midweek drama all the way.

With the World Cup final, though, you can’t simply keep replaying.

Look at the last World Cup final. A replay could have taken place two nights after the final, but that, too, could have ended level after extra time. What then? We would still have the same problem.

The idea of reducing the number of players as extra time continues is ridiculous. Football is 11 against 11, not eight against eight, and I hope that idea is buried quickly.

I would be in favour of 90 minutes, then the golden goal rule for a maximum of 30 minutes extra time. In other words, if one team scored in extra time, the game would end. No chance of a comeback for the other team.

Some people think that is unfair, but why? The teams have had 90 minutes to determine a winner, and if they both know the first goal in extra time would win the match, then it should encourage them to attack.

If there is no goal during the 30 minutes, then in my opinion it would have to be a shoot-out, not a replay. Nerve, technique (vital elements of the game) come into play…not satisfactory, of course, but what else can they do? What would be a better solution? I would love to hear some other views!

ends

28 Sep 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, September 26, 2006: Now Reds fans...take a deep breath before you read on, 'cos you ain't gonna like this (please excuse my terrible English -- I have used the more colloquial/lazy "cos" for "because", "ain't" for "aren't" and "gonna" for "going to" to increase the drama about to unfold)!

I thought Reds were poor on Saturday, despite beating S-Pulse 1-0.

What's happened to Tatsuya? I am a big fan of young Tanaka's, but he wasn't playing his normal game.

When you get the ball, Tatsuya, run at them -- and keep running! And then shoot!

Don't stop and look for Washington. I appreciate the big Brazilian scores goals as easily as the rest of split pistachio nuts to munch with our "nama" beer, but you don't need to play the role of "king of assists".

Go for goal yourself -- ignore Washington, even if he shouts at you if you miss and haven't passed to him.

Anyway, enough of that topic.

Let's move on to Reds' blatant time-wasting tactics for the last....oooh...30 minutes or so? Maybe more.

Yamagishi was taking an age to take a goal kick or free kick outside his box.

This is the scenario.

A Reds player is fouled deep in his own half, and Tulio or Tsuboi (anyone for that matter) prepares to take the free kick. But just before they start their run-up they walk away, because Yamagishi is waving them up field. He will take it instead.

Yamagishi has mastered the art of eating up the seconds/minutes when you are leading 1-0. First he'll have a drink of water, then wipe his face on his towel like a sweaty salaryman in an "izakaya". After that he'll send a couple of e-mails, call his agent on his mobile to ask about next season's contract, read a few pages of the novel he keeps in the back of his net for when Reds are dominating....and then, only then, will he actually kick the ball.

Yamagishi is so good, in fact, that Alex became jealous on Saturday -- and produced a performance worthy of an Oscar nomination when he eventually fell to the turf after a slight collision late in the second half. You could see Alex thinking about it very hard, and in the end he decided to go down in installments. But what category in the Oscars -- tragedy or comedy?

The referee, who did not caution any Reds players all afternoon, added four minutes of "lost time" at the end of the second half. I thought it should have been 14 -- but I'm just a naive observer!

Sorry Reds fans, but your team does not look confident about its own chances of winning the championship.

I need a beer -- and some pistachios.

ends

25 Sep 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, September 22, 2006: What an amazing start to Wednesday's Nabisco Cup semi-final, second leg between JEF and Frontale at Fukuare!

And what a fantastic comeback by Frontale!

Come to think of it, it was a pretty incredible finish, too -- ecstacy for Abe and Co., but agony for Mori and Co.

All in all, then, a good night's entertainment at the best stadium in Japan.

I have said before that any club/city/prefectural government planning to build a new stadium should check out Fukuda Denshi Arena and basically copy it: close to a big station (Soga), sensible capacity of 18,500, no running track, all sides covered so the noise booms out, and fans close to the action (but still not quite close enough -- try watching the English Premier League and see the player taking a corner almost next to the fans in the front row, within touching distance. Now that's what I call close!)

Anyway, I am sure this environment contributes significantly to the tempo and the excitement of the game. I have watched football in over 40 countries and the JEF-Reds game this season was as good as it gets in terms of atmosphere. I really mean that -- a solid wall of yellow blocking out two-thirds of the seats, and the rest a bright red. It was an occasion, not simply a football match.

On Wednesday night, the Frontale fans were incredible. Even as JEF romped into a 2-0 lead with goals from Sakamoto and Yamagishi -- into the goal behind which the Frontale supporters were assembled -- the away fans were unfazed and continued to sing. In England we'd have been silent and taken the opportunity to pay an early visit to the "gents" (toilet) -- and only become interested again when our team actually started to move forwards, instead of backwards.

I am sure the enthusiasm of the away fans affected the Frontale players and encouraged their comeback. So, big praise for the Frontale faithful -- and also in the way you accepted defeat graciously in such testing circumstances at the end of a gripping match.

Oh, and I must say I love the Ganaha song. "Gaaa-na-haaa, O-le! O-le!" I have heard that tune before but can't quite place it -- maybe when I was on holiday in Okinawa!

That match had everything. The only pity was there had to be one loser.

ends

21 Sep 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, September 20, 2006: There were some pretty good goals around the J.League at the weekend.

Tulio scored a beauty for Reds, cutting in from the left wing (what on earth was he doing out there anyway?) and curling a right-foot shot inside the far post. It was a trademark Ahn Jung Hwan strike -- and more ammunition in my campaign to have Tulio installed as the new captain of Japan!

I saw that goal on TV in the evening, as I had been at Kokuritsu in the afternoon to watch Shimizu S-Pulse extend their eye-catching unbeaten run. I had already written my article in my head before the kick-off against Kashima -- and it was a glowing one, praising Kenta for building a new, exciting, hungry team.

And then, of course, S-Pulse lost.

Which brings me round to another fine goal.

It was scored by Takuya Nozawa, a player long held in high esteem by the Antlers staff but now 25 and still trying to impose himself on the J.League.

Only a player with good touch, good vision and high technique can score a goal like Nozawa did against S-Pulse on Saturday. Spotting Nishibe off his line, Nozawa floated a right-foot shot from 30 metres over the keeper and under the crossbar. Nishibe got a hand to it but could not divert the ball from its course, and Nozawa had every right to celebrate a wonderful goal.

It was so good it could have been scored by...well, Ogasawara.

With the former Antlers captain now at Messina for a year, this is the perfect time for Nozawa to step it up and fill the creative gap left by Ogasawara.

"His technique is at the highest level," Antlers manager Paulo Autuori said of Nozawa after Saturday's game.

"But he has to be more competitive and more effective going towards the goal.

"Ogasawara was thinking more on the pitch, whereas Nozawa has more mobility with or without the ball. We will see."

I asked the Brazilian manager if he thought Ogasawara would return to the national squad.

"I hope so," he said. "I think he can come back if he does what Mr Osim wants his players to do. He knows what Mr Osim is looking for, and can show it with his performances at Messina."

So all is not lost for Ogasawara, according to Paulo Autuori, nor for Kashima, who are in fifth place and trail Gamba by 10 points with 11 matches to go.

"We must win every game, and not make any mistakes," he said.

A few more goals of Nozawa's quality on Saturday would help, too.

ends

18 Sep 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, September 15, 2006: Did you watch the Manchester United-Celtic match in the Champions League the other night?

What a great game -- and what a great goal from Shunsuke Nakamura.

It was, inevitably, a free kick, and had to be special to beat a keeper of Edwin van der Sar's quality and height from some 25 metres.

I saw the game for the first time on TV on Thursday evening, but had read about it earlier in the day. The report I read said that Shunsuke's free kick went into the top corner of the net, so I had a vision of the goal in my mind before settling down to watch it.

But it didn't go into the top corner at all -- and that is why the Sky TV commentators, Martin Tyler and Andy Gray, were so enthusiastic about it.

Shunsuke did not perform a Michel Platini-style "falling leaf" free kick, lofting the ball high over the wall and then bringing it down sharply under the crossbar, like a leaf falling to the ground almost vertically.

He struck it quite flat, just clearing United's defensive wall, and the ball entered the net halfway up -- or halfway down, whichever way you want to see it.

Van der Sar did not see it all, and was rooted to the spot like a tree (a Dutch elm, maybe?) at the other side of the goal.

Before he took the free kick, Tyler referred to Shunsuke as "an artist" at set-pieces, and after the goal he quickly added, "the artist has painted another masterpiece!" Great stuff!

Gray noted the low flight of the ball, and also criticised United striker Louis Saha for not jumping up in the wall and taking the ball in his face! Gray, after all, was a classic British centre forward: rough, tough and as Scottish as a plate of haggis eaten while listening to a lone bagpiper playing "Amazing Grace".

Later in the match, with United leading 3-2 and Celtic pushing for an equaliser, Tyler said that Celtic were within "one swish of Nakamura's left foot" from scoring again, if they could only get another free kick around the box.

That's a lovely word, "swish", to describe Shunsuke's action, again like a painter with his fluid but gentle brush stroke.

A memorable goal by Shunsuke, a memorable game to showcase the appeal of British football...but it was never a United penalty for Celtic keeper Boruc's challenge, or, rather, non-challenge, on Giggs.

ends

14 Sep 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, September 13, 2006: The involvement of Australia in the Asian Football Confederation can only be good for the development of the game in this part of the world. Quite simply, they have become the team to beat at both club and national team level.

They have already proved their quality at the World Cup, beating Japan and going out unluckily to Italy when the referee awarded a very generous penalty late on.

Now comes news that Mark Viduka wants to carry on playing for the Socceroos through to the Asian Cup finals next summer, when Japan will be attempting to win the continental crown for the third straight time. It was thought Viduka would retire from the national team after the World Cup, but he clearly wants more action.

The presence of Viduka, and maybe other leading players such as Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill and Lucas Neill, can only raise the profile of the Asian Cup in the eyes of the football world. It will also make it more prestigious to win for the established Asian powers such as Japan, South Korea, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

In 2000 in Lebanon, and in 2004 in China, Japan proved they were the top team in Asia, but Australia will provide much tougher opposition than Japan have faced at either of those two events.

By then, of course, Japan will have played considerably more matches under Ivica Osim, and I expect the team will be settled and will know exactly what they are supposed to be doing.

For Osim and the JFA it will be a big step on the road to the 2010 World Cup, just like it was for Troussier's team in 2000 when the Frenchman was still rebuilding the side.

If Osim is going to use any of the players based in Europe, particularly Shunsuke Nakamura, the Asian Cup will provide the perfect time to do it. Qualifying from a group containing teams at J2 level, such as India and Yemen, is one thing; but playing in the Asian Cup itself is another.

Will Osim want to win the title at all costs, or will he settle for the continued development of the team on the road to 2010, which is the much bigger goal?

Although it is too early to say, I would think Osim will persevere with the players he has, rather than fall back on recalling players in Europe.

I think he will show faith in the J.League players and faith in his own judgement regarding selection, and trust that they can build a new Japan.

All of which makes a Japan-Australia rematch in the Asian Cup next year a mouth-watering prospect.

ends

11 Sep 2006(Mon)

September 9, 2006: The tale of Sota Hirayama is a strange one; or we might say a “tall” one.

The Athens Olympics centre forward left Heracles last week under a cloud. The club said he had gained weight in the close-season and was not in good condition, and therefore released him.

This was only his second season in Holland, and it was believed he was going to return to Japan and look for a J.League club.

That seems a smart move by the youngster, who, in my opinion, made a bad move when leaving Kunimi High School and going to Tsukuba University. He should, of course, have joined a J.League club at that time if his goal was to be a success as a professional footballer.

Now, though, Hirayama has to start again. If he does join a J.League team, and I am sure there will be many offers, he will find the pace of the game very fast, probably more so than in Holland.

Just because he became a media celebrity in the run-up to Athens, and beyond, this does not mean he is going to set the J.League alight instantly. He will have to be fit and he will have to be mature as a player and focused to make the grade, otherwise his professional career could be over before it has virtually started.

The news from Holland last week surprised me because I thought he had settled well at Heracles.

He scored some good goals last season and he looked to be much more coordinated in his play than in his Olympic qualifying days, when I always thought he was a bit clumsy, handling the ball too often and being caught offside too much. In short, he was starting to look like a footballer.

But he was only young after all, and with good coaching and more experience this could be changed.

His biggest asset is his height, but this alone is not good enough to make you a success.

I hope now that Hirayama will return to Japan, find a club in the J.League and start his career afresh. If he wants to catch the eye of Osim there is only one place to be, and it’s not on the bench in Holland.

ends

7 Sep 2006(Thu)

September 5, 2006: The longer the match went on against Saudi Arabia, the more the home team looked like scoring and the more Japan looked like losing.

And so it proved, as the Saudis grabbed the only goal of the game midway through the second half to condemn Japan to their first defeat in three matches under new coach Ivica Osim.

I felt frustrated at the final whistle, because Japan had done enough to win the match or to draw at least, and should not have lost.

First the improvements. After Osim had criticised them for playing too slowly against Yemen, likening their passing around the defence to a local train stopping at every station, there was a noticeable increase in tempo against the Saudis. The ball was played from the back much quicker, and Japan tried to maintain a faster pace.

Thanks to this, they created several decent chances, and Tatsuya Tanaka was very prominent in the first half. He should have scored, of course, with that low shot just before half-time, and he also did the donkey work for Endo’s curling shot which produced that fantastic save from the Saudi keeper.

In the second half, both Maki and Ganaha missed good heading opportunities, so Japan cannot make excuses for losing, which Osim, to be fair, didn’t.

The Bosnian said Japan at times played like children. I think, but don’t know, that Osim was talking about Japan’s over-elaborate play in two areas.

This was what led to the Saudi goal. Japan lost the ball carelessly around the halfway line, near the touchline, and this put the whole team in danger. With the deflection into the path of the Saudi striker on the right, Japan were exposed and paid the price for the mistake a long way from their goal.

I also thought Japan did not shoot enough when they got within range. They tried too many passes in the last third of the field, and the Saudis were able to smother them and break.

It was crying out for someone to shoot from the edge of the box, like Endo had done in the first half, and Hanyu did near the end, with a fine effort which almost found its way into the top corner.

Fans should not be too depressed about the loss, because the Saudis are an Asian force, especially at home, if not exactly a World Cup force. Yemen away on Wednesday gives Japan a quick chance to remedy the mistakes by a team which is still in its infancy.

ends

4 Sep 2006(Mon)

September 2, 2006: There's no doubt that Ivica Osim, in a remarkably short time, has revamped the national team.

Among the latest batch of new faces is Masahiko Inoha, who has gained a rapid promotion from the Under-21 team to senior squad.

It's the kind of move Philippe Troussier would have made, and it is a very exciting one for the future of Japanese football. The head coach sees a talented young player, a player with bags of potential, and does not hesitate to move him up the ladder of international football.

Without wanting to build up Inoha too much, I must admit he's one of the most mature, all-round players I have seen during my 10 years in Japan.

I first noticed him in Macau last autumn, playing for Japan in the East Asian Games in a team led by his FC Tokyo team-mate, Tokunaga. Inoha was playing "volante" and looked like he was born for that role, stroking the ball around and linking the play like a veteran.

Then, earlier this season, FC Tokyo manager Gallo used Inoha as an old-fashioned man-marker, a modern-day Claudio Gentile but without the violence! I saw him mark Ponte out of the game against Reds at Komaba, and Juninho against Frontale at Todoroki, although Gallo made a grave mistake on the latter occasion by redeploying Inoha with a few minutes to go, and Juninho revelled in the new-found freedom.

The last time I saw FC Tokyo, with Gallo now sent to the gallows (ie: fired -- if you will pardon the pun), Inoha came off the bench and played on the left side of midfield; and later moved into the middle. It was against Avispa at Kokuritsu, and he scored his first J.League goal with a thundering header to a right-wing corner.

To sum up, Inoha looks like he can play anywhere on the pitch, but especially at right back, libero and volante.

Whether or not Osim uses him in these two games is not the point at the moment.

It shows that Osim is ready to select players he feels best represent the strong characteristics of Japanese football, no matter their age or club. I have said before that results may suffer on occasions -- maybe in Saudi Arabia and Yemen -- but this is the price you pay when rebuilding a team from scratch.

Troussier suffered the same way, and came under intense pressure from within the JFA, but the end product was worth the sacrifice.

After the disappointment of Germany, Japanese fans must show patience, because players such as Inoha will give the team a bright future.

ends

31 Aug 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, August 29, 2006: So Mitsuo Ogasawara has finally swapped Japan for Italy.

The midfield playmaker has been the subject of transfer rumours for a couple of seasons now, and he left Japan on Monday for a one-year spell on loan with Messina.

Who can blame him for going -- and for getting out of Japan so quickly?

After all, there wasn't much left for him here, apart from staying with Kashima Antlers and hoping for a national team recall.

But after playing in the last two World Cups, and being overlooked so far by Osim, Ogasawara must feel his international career is over, so why shouldn't he move to Italy while he has the chance? Perhaps his last chance.

The timing, then, is perfect under these circumstances, and, without the pressure of trying to impress for his club so that he can stay in the national squad, Ogasawara might just thrive in this environment.

On the subject of the national squad, I think the policy of Osim will force many players to think more carefully about their future, and not just take the first offer that comes along from a European club.

Osim is clearly showing he has faith in the ability of the J.League players, and letting everyone know that it is not a disadvantage to be playing in Japan as opposed to playing in Europe.

Younger players will have to think carefully about this matter when, or if, offers come up, but Ogasawara was not in this category.

He has been there and done that with the national team, and has nothing to prove to anyone, and nothing to lose.

He can relax and enjoy himself in Italy, and think only of settling into a new lifestyle with his young family -- and not think about all the travel and hassle for Japan national team games.

ends

28 Aug 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, August 26, 2006: One way or another, Takeshi Okada had to go, didn't he?

His Yokohama F Marinos team was getting worse and worse, and there was nothing to suggest things would improve either in the near future or next season.

In the end, Okada fell on his sword, and resigned shortly after Marinos' 2-1 defeat at home to Omiya on Wednesday.

I wasn't at that game at Mitsuzawa -- a resurgent FC Tokyo and Naohiro Ishikawa beckoned at Kokuritsu -- but saw the highlights on TV later in the evening; Matsuda equalising from the penalty spot late on, only for Yoshihara to snatch the winner in a scramble at the other end.

The TV camera showed Okada leaving the dug-out, his body language indicating that there was no way forward from here. It was no surprise at all, therefore, to learn the next day that he had resigned his position.

Okada will feel he did not complete the job for Marinos. Despite winning the championship in his first two seasons in charge, 2003 and 2004, success at the continental level deserted him, and Marinos failed to challenge for the AFC Champions League title.

Frequently this season I have wondered what the future held for Okada. After all, he's coached the national team at a World Cup and won the championship twice with Marinos -- and there's only way to go after that: down.

I could see him taking a break from the game and doing some media work before looking for his next job. I am sure he will be in big demand from clubs of all standing, from small teams in J2 trying to move up, to bigger clubs in J1 trying to fulfil their potential.

Okada is very much his own man, though, and will wait to see what attracts him. He may fancy another period in the "wilderness", to get away from the mass media spotlight, like he did in Sapporo, and take a lowly J2 team.

That would be my bet, for the start of the 2007 season.

The offers will come in, but he will not be in a hurry to take a new challenge.

ends

24 Aug 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, August 23, 2006: Shortly after taking over the national team, Ivica Osim was asked who his captain would be.

Osim replied that a captain would emerge naturally from his new group of players, and in the meantime the experienced and respected Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi would wear the captain's armband.

Well, after two games, I know who my long-term captain would be.

Without a doubt, it would be...Tulio!

Okay, he's only played two games for Japan, but so what? He's a natural leader, loves the blue (and the red) and would run through a brick wall to stop a goal being scored.

His position, also, makes him the perfect captain, just like Miyamoto and Ihara before him and like John Terry now for England. I always thought Terry, rather than Gerrard, was the favourite to replace King David as captain of the 2010 World Cup-winners in South Africa, and Tulio reminds me of Terry -- apart from (maybe) his salary.

Osim has other options. He could stick with Yoshi, or promote his captain at JEF, Yuki Abe, or even give the job to another Red, such as Tsuboi or Keita.

But I think Tulio has more presence than anyone else in the squad, and is surely guaranteed a place in Osim's starting line-up, which is an important factor.

I also think the captaincy would be good for Tulio. He would relish the responsibility and would lead by example, making sure that everyone gave maximum effort and that heads never dropped if things were not going well.

Yes, Tulio would be the man for me to succeed Miyamoto, and I would like to see it happen in time for the two away games with Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Also, Tulio will be only 29 when the 2010 World Cup comes around, and will be at his peak for a central defender.

ends

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

17 Aug 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, August 15, 2006: No one can say they were surprised that Ivica Osim picked four JEF United players for his squad to face Yemen.

And no one can say the players did not deserve it, either.

Two of them, Maki and Abe, were certain to be selected once the A3 Champions Cup was out of the way. Maki, of course, played at the 2006 World Cup -- but not enough in my opinion. He should have been sent on after 60 minutes against Australia when it was clear Takahara and Yanagisawa were exhausted and when the game could still have been won...by Japan I mean.

Abe did everything asked of him by Osim in the months leading up to the World Cup, and Osim was bitterly disappointed when his young leader was not selected.

So those two, Maki and Abe, were quite predictable; the other two JEF selections, Hanyu and Yuto Sato, not so.

But Hanyu and Yuto epitomise the JEF "ekiden" style and the JEF spirit. They run until they drop and just never give up, often surprising opponents with their tenacity and aggression.

When the opposition has possession deep in their own half, just watch Hanyu and Yuto put the pressure on them. They take it in turns to dash from midfield, and spring on their adversary like a jack-in-a-box, or like a Venus Flytrap in those nature documentaries. Watch, pounce and retreat -- all in the blink of an eye.

One coach who will be particularly pleased about Hanyu's selection is former Aston Villa and Celtic manager Jo Venglos. When "Doctor Jo" was manager at JEF, he raved about Hanyu, only wishing he had been able to coach him from 16 years old instead of 22 out of Tsukuba University.

Yuto, too, is a terrific little player who, like his twin brother Hisato, knows where the goal is.

I don't know what Osim's team will be against Yemen, but a top three of Maki, supported by Tatsuya and Hanyu, could be very tasty indeed. There would be so much movement and pace that Yemen's defenders would not know what day it was, or whether they were in Niigata, Nigeria or Naples.

Expect, therefore, the visitors to slow the game down as much as possible. This is how they will try and deny Japan, so it could be a frustrating night for the home team, needing patience as well as pace.

ends

14 Aug 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, August 12, 2006: One of the banners at the National Stadium on Wednesday said it all: "Rising Reds."

Although it's still very early in the Osim era, I thought three Urawa players showed enough to suggest they can play a major role in the new-look Japan.

At the back, Tulio brought an intensity and aggression to the team. Not only is he strong in the air, he reads the game well, and makes many timely interceptions and clearances.

In front of Tulio, in Osim's three-man midfield, Hasebe produced moments of sheer class. Without wanting to build him up too much, Hasebe at times reminds me of a young Roberto Baggio.

He has the touch, the skill and the grace of Baggio, and also has the power and the presence. During last year's Emperor's Cup campaign, I saw Hasebe score an individual goal which was a mini-replica of Baggio's solo slalom against the Czechs at the 1990 World Cup.

Hasebe does not simply pass the ball; he does not merely kick it. He strokes it and caresses it, and a couple of his passes, up the right wing in the first half, were beautiful examples of this technique. Hasebe, still only 22, can get better and better.

And then there was Tatsuya Tanaka. He deserved a goal for his tireless efforts, as I thought he made some excellent runs from a deep position behind the Trinidad and Tobago back line.

There is always debate and discussion about formations, but I thought Japan played 4-3-3, or, to break it down further, 4-1-2-2-1, with Keita Suzuki the lone "volante" and Ganaha the lone striker, supported by Yamase and Tatsuya. Some people may say Tatsuya was right up front alongside Ganaha, but I thought he was slightly withdrawn, enabling him to make those impressive, well-timed runs, and also to receive the ball deep and run at defenders.

As for the other Reds, Tsuboi looked more commanding and authoritative than in previous national team games, and Alex had more freedom to attack with Komano behind him. Keita, as usual, played a mature, disciplined game in rear midfield, but he needed help, especially in the second half, and that will surely come from Abe.

"Rising Reds" indeed. And surely "Rising Japan" also.

ends

10 Aug 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, August 9, 2006: The JEF United-Gamba Osaka game at the A3 Championship in Tokyo on Tuesday night really felt like a cup final.

It was fast and furious, with incidents and controversy at both ends.

In the end, of course, Gamba won 2-0, but the trophy and first prize of US$400,000 did not go to either of them. It went to Ulsan Hyundai, for whom Lee Chun Soo had been outstanding in a strong team effort.

The A3 leaves me with mixed feelings. Is it worth playing, or is it just another tournament that brings in money but clutters up the fixture list and disrupts the J.League season?

Overall, I think it deserves to stay in the calendar, but it should not be played mid-season. A pre-season tournament, for example in early March, for all three countries makes much more sense, and would give the teams a chance to finetune their line-ups for their coming domestic campaigns.

The timing of the 2006 edition has been poor, not only resulting in another frustrating break in the first division when it was just warming up again but also depriving new national coach Osim of players from two strong teams.

The Gamba-JEF game saw the Osaka club inflict another defeat on the Chiba team, shortly after they had won a recent J1 clash at Fukuda Denshi Arena.

Endo was the hero and then the villain for Gamba, first scoring with a great free kick, low into the corner, but then paying an expensive and embarrassing price for an arrogant approach to taking a penalty. (Was it really a free kick, just outside the JEF box, when Magno Alves went flying through the air? To me he was moving across the box, had pushed the ball too far to his left and simply took off into the night sky. Replays may prove me wrong, but I didn't think it was a free kick.)

Shortly after, when Abe was late on a sprightly Myojin, the ref awarded a penalty. Endo was way too casual with his kick, walking up to the ball, and then playing a back pass to Tateishi, who saved easily.

Possibly feeling he had to make amends to JEF, the Korean ref then awarded United a penalty when Sakamoto gave a fine impression of Kosuke Kitajima leaping off his podium into the Olympic pool. Like Kitajima at Athens, that deserved a gold medal, too, possibly two! I was not the only member of the media laughing in the press seats when the ref pointed to the penalty spot, but Abe hit a home run out of the ground and into Jingu Stadium.

The match could easily have been 2-0 to Gamba, and then it could have been 1-1, but it was still 1-0 to Gamba after the two penalty misses. What a great game football is!

It was left to Bando to settle the issue with a fantastic goal, a diving header which flew in off the underside of the bar.

Bando had also scored at "Fukuare" in the recent league game, and that was a fine finish, too, into the bottom corner with his right foot.

When Osim looks through the JEF, Gamba and Antlers teams ahead of next week's game against Yemen, Bando might not be too far away.

ends

7 Aug 2006(Mon)

August 5, 2006 -- Well, there are only 13 of them, but it's an exciting start for "Uncle" Osim's Japan.

Five players with no caps, some outstanding young talent returning, and six of the 13 from Urawa...I wonder if Japan are going to start playing in red, rather than blue, and then we can have the Red Samurai and Red Fever!

This is the fresh start Japan needed after the poor showing in Germany, and Osim has wasted no time in his rebuilding process. He has been in Japan long enough to know a good player when he sees one, and to know one who best represents the strong characteristics of the Japanese player.

Personally, I am delighted to see Tulio in the squad. Raw and rough, Tulio will bring an intensity and commitment to the back line, and possibly also to the forward line when he charges forward. I still find it hard to believe that Zico never gave him a chance, knowing last December the physical threat posed by Australia and Croatia.

Tulio would have loved those aerial scraps against the Aussies. You could have imagined him, couldn't you, standing on the edge of his own box, inviting the Aussie defenders to launch a few more long balls into the middle and then challenging them with a cry of "Is that the best you got?"

Delighted, too, to see Konno back in there after Zico looked at him all too briefly. Zico's under-use and under-development of Konno bordered on the criminal, one of the worst mistakes he made in his bungling reign.

It has been obvious for several seasons that Konno has bags of potential, but Zico was allowed to discard him and waste two years of the young player's international career.

Daigo Kobayashi has been in sparkling form for Omiya but knows he must increase his running under Osim, and his selection puts a big question mark against the future of Shunsuke Nakamura.

Hayuma Tanaka has lots of experience on the right side, either in a four-man defence or five-man midfield, and will put Kaji under pressure for that position, but I still feel Osim rates Kaji highly and is the No. 1 choice. A few years ago, when Hayuma was at Verdy, the coach at the time, Lori Sandri, said the player would eventually become Japan's right back, and his prediction is coming true.

Hasebe, of course, oozes class, while Ganaha is rewarded for leading the Frontale front line and the team to the top of the table. With Maki on A3 duty, Osim needed some height and Ganaha gives him that, and will probably give him some goals, too.

All in all, then, a bright and imaginative start by Osim, who clearly felt he needed to change the mood of the team after Germany as the squad had gone stale under Zico.

ends

3 Aug 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, August 2, 2006 -- Yes, I think it is safe to say that Kawasaki Frontale is a genuine candidate to win the J.League championship.

Although they have played well all season, I have been a bit reluctant to count Frontale among the title contenders.

This is for one reason only: the fact that they have not been in this lofty position before, and therefore do not have the experience to handle the pressure. They have big players, but no big-name players, if you see what I mean!

But now, 16 games into the 34-match season, Frontale are still at the top with 34 points, holding a one-point lead over Urawa Reds and Gamba Osaka, and a three-point advantage over Kashima Antlers in fourth place.

I feel we are down to a four-horse race for the championship, because none of the acknowledged "big teams" below this pack, such as Yokohama F Marinos and Jubilo Iwata, appear capable of improving their form dramatically over the second half of the season.

The rise of Frontale is good for the game in Japan, as the more teams equipped to challenge for the title, the better.

It seems unlikely that Frontale will self-destruct and collapse, either, as they are clearly made of tough components and have a strong team spirit, a solid team structure and with flair on top.

Their results since J1 resumed after the World Cup have been impressive, apart from the 2-0 reverse at home to Urawa Reds. I have visited Todoroki many times and did not think it was possible to get 23,000 fans in that stadium -- but this occasion proved otherwise, thanks to the Reds masses plus the attraction of such a visiting team to Todoroki for the home supporters.

That defeat was sandwiched between two impressive victories, 4-2 at Kashima and 3-2 at home to Gamba, and then a solid 1-1 draw at Oita.

Having seen Oita play recently at Komaba, against Urawa, this was a good result for Frontale away from home, and underlined once again they have what it takes to last the pace.

But we will all have to wait until August 12 for the resumption of hostilities, as there is yet another frustrating break in the J1 calendar. It should be worth the wait, though, as it's Frontale against Marinos at Todoroki, guaranteeing another bumper crowd.

ends

31 Jul 2006(Mon)

July 29: Football can be uplifting and cruel at the very same moment.

This happened at Komaba on Wednesday night, when Urawa Reds beat Oita Trinita 1-0.

The precise moment was the 78th minute, when Tatsuya Tanaka scored the only goal of the game. It was a lovely, cool finish by Tatsuya, and suggested he is a long way back to full fitness after his terrible injury.

At the same time, I couldn't help but feel sorry for Oita. This was the cruel part.

I thought Oita had been the better team until that moment, and Urawa could not have complained if the match had finished in a draw.

The visitors kept the ball expertly, dictated the pace of the game and then broke quickly to catch the Reds defence unawares time after time. The Reds fans may have jeered this patient, possession football by Oita, but it was nice to watch and so was their passing in the last third of the field.

What was missing, of course, was the finish, as Oita created several clear chances to score. They couldn't, and Tatsuya could at the right time, and that is what decided the match.

Although the Reds fans were whistling their discontent at Oita's tactics, they should have been more concerned about their own team. A five-man midfield with Hasebe, Keita and Ono in the centre could not get the ball, although I do remember a wonderful pass from Hasebe in the first half that sent Tatsuya racing away, and a fierce shot that was tipped to safety by Nishikawa.

That was a rare moment of Reds fluency, though, as I thought Oita played a good match. It was a pity that, in the second half, as they scented a draw and a point, they resorted to some blatant time-wasting tactics to run down the clock.

I always think of a Steve Perryman comment when that happens: that it shows to the opposition you are not good enough to do the job honestly and fairly.

It all came to nothing when Tatsuya found some space and collected a short pass from Uchidate before clipping the ball into the corner. It was a quality finish from Tatsuya, who had shown a refreshing willingness to run at the opposition and to shoot when the goal was in sight. If Osim does call him up, I hope Tatsuya maintains that positive approach.

ends

27 Jul 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, July 25, 2006: Good luck to young Morimoto!

What has the teenager got to lose by joining Catania on a one-year loan deal from Verdy?

I would think absolutely nothing, and feel the experience can only benefit him.

It's not like he is near the national team or anything, and a move overseas would rule him out of selection.

He is still very young and his career is at the beginning, so a move overseas is unlikely to prove a setback in any way.

It could even "make" him as a player, if he does well for Catania and attracts the interest of bigger clubs, but it will certainly not "break" him as his current status is Japanese second division, with only age-group football for Japan in the near future. And this is not a good enough reason to stay in Japan.

For all the media, and fans, planning trips to watch Morimoto, I envy them!

I visited Catania in the early 1990s, not to watch football but to cover the Hong Kong rugby team in the Sicily Sevens, which was a qualifying tournament for the World Sevens to be held in Scotland.

It is a lovely place, as most of Italy is, with so much sightseeing to do, and so many restaurants to fill in the gaps between sightseeing!

I am sure Morimoto will have a wonderful time there, not just from a football point of view but also from the view of a young man just setting out in the world.

As for his chances of success; well, very difficult to say.

Catania will surely struggle to stay in Serie A, like many clubs do who come up from Serie B, so he could be in for some long, hard Sunday afternoons.

But there is no doubt Morimoto has the raw materials to improve as a player. He is quick, physically strong, aggressive with the ball at his feet, and knows how to score goals.

Former Verdy manager Ossie Ardiles once told me that Sir Alex Ferguson was a big fan of Morimoto's after seeing him play in a youth tournament. Ardiles said Manchester United were monitoring his progress, but obviously nothing has come of that...yet.

A season in Catania, in Serie A, will attract more attention than had he stayed in J2 with Verdy, so there is no pressure on him at all.

He can relax off the pitch, train hard, play hard and enjoy Italy. All in all a good move for the talented young forward, and maybe for the long-term future of Japanese football.

ends

24 Jul 2006(Mon)

July 22, 2006: He's got a big job in front of him, hasn't he?

No, not Ivica Osim.

I'm talking about Kenji Onitake, the new chairman of the J.League.

For a while now I've been thinking the J.League needs a bit of a shake-up.

There are far too many breaks for my liking, and the league could do with some streamlining in certain areas, such as scrapping the all-star game.

I'd start with a radical change, namely from a summer season to a winter season. The hot and humid months of July and August are no time to be playing football, and I'd like to see a European-style season, kicking off in early September and finishing in May.

This would leave June and July free for national team commitments, such as the World Cup and Confederations Cup, without forcing another break on the league season.

I also feel it would benefit clubs by bringing them into line with the European transfer market, where contracts end June 30, and make it easier to negotiate transfers in and out of Japan.

Another advantage -- and I think this is a very important factor -- is the media exposure. At the moment, the J.League season and baseball season run hand in hand, but there is a void in the months from December to February, apart from the Emperor's Cup.

Just think, if the J.League ran from September to May, the profile in the media would be much higher, as it would have a monopoly in the winter months when baseball was closed down.

Right now the two compete for space, and there is no doubt baseball still dominates as a rule, apart from national team matters.

Also, if the J.League switched to a European season there would be less need for midweek matches. Wednesday night games are not big crowd-pullers, and reduce the average crowd considerably. With a September to May season, midweek dates could be reserved for Nabisco Cup and Emperor's Cup rounds.

I know there are disadvantages of a winter season, notably the harsh conditions in Sapporo, Yamagata and Niigata. But Sapporo has a dome, and surely the fixture list could be manipulated so that Yamagata and particularly Niigata play the majority of their home games in late summer/autumn and in the spring. This would mean only a couple of months would be out of bounds.

Yes, I know there would be problems with, and objections to, such a transition, but to me the advantages of a September-May season far outweigh the disadvantages. Overall I think it would be much smoother.

I don't know if the new J.League chairman is even thinking about this, but I feel it would be worth detailed discussion and research, as I am sure Japanese football would benefit as a whole in the long-term.

ends

20 Jul 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, July 19, 2006: Not surprisingly considering Japan's poor showing at the World Cup, there has not been a glut of transfer stories linking Japanese players with clubs in Europe.

And that, in the current situation, is not a bad thing.

One of the biggest problems Zico faced was that so many important players were in Europe, but several of them were spending more time on the bench than the pitch.

When they played for the national team, therefore, they were not match fit -- as training every day is much different to actually playing competitive football.

Zico always insisted that the Japanese players in Europe were better than the players in the J.League, otherwise they would not have been signed by a European club in the first place. While he may have a point to some extent, it did not excuse Zico from showing such blind loyalty to players from European clubs who were so lacking in form, rather than taking a wider look round the J.League and expanding his horizons.

According to comments I have read from JFA president Kawabuchi, Osim will not adopt the same approach as Zico. He will follow the line that Hiddink took with South Korea in 2002, that a player must be a first-choice selection for his club, no matter where that club was. (Ahn Jung Hwan, for example, was very close to not being selected for the 2002 squad, and would not have been had he stayed with Perugia rather than returning to Korea).

This policy from Osim can only be good news for the J.League and for the players. Unlike Zico, Osim will be able to identify the players who can make the step up from Asian level to a world level, and he will encourage young talent in the same way Troussier did.

It will also make players (and hopefully their agents) think more carefully before accepting the first offer from Europe that comes along.

Why should the national coach pick a player like Takahara, struggling to make an impact in the Bundesliga, over a player such as Maki, who is playing, scoring and confident? At the highest level, with very little to choose between the technique of individual players, confidence and form makes the world of difference.

I expect Osim's selections, therefore, to be fresh and adventurous, and this approach will inject the same qualities into the game in general here. Osim brings hope, a ray of light after the dark, depressing days of Zico.

A passport to Europe should not be a passport into the national team, and Osim will not sacrifice his principles to keep a so-called "fantasista" in the team just because female fans think he's handsome and because he's popular with the TV stations for giving melancholic, "little boy lost" interviews. His style will have to fit the Osim style, the Japanese style, and that means he's going to have to run, keep running and then run some more. There will be no room for players who are not prepared to give everything for the team, as Osim demands this work ethic and, indeed, receives it.

Europe is not the only answer for a Japanese player who wants to be successful at the highest level. Not any more.

ends

17 Jul 2006(Mon)

July 15, 2006 -- The Zidane-Materazzi incident has been a terrible setback for the game, with its ugly provocation and violent reaction.

But, who knows, some good may actually come out of it in the end.

That is if FIFA decides to introduce video technology to assist the officials and right the many wrongs in the game. Personally, I think FIFA should have done this several years ago, and their reluctance to use video replays is holding back the development of the game.

Shortly after the Zidane dismissal, reports were circulating that video technology had been used to punish the crime. The referee had missed the incident, through no fault of his own as play was going the other way and he has only one pair of eyes, but it had been spotted on a pitch-side monitor replay by the fourth official, who sits in between the two team benches.

FIFA moved quickly to say this was not true, and insisted that the fourth official had seen the head-butt with his own eyes and had informed the referee via their communication system. The world governing body stressed that video technology had not been used at all.

But the big question remains: What is wrong with using a TV monitor and a few replays if it brings to the attention incidents such as these? Is it not good for the game, rather than bad?

Rather than welcoming such a change, FIFA president Sepp Blatter says video technology undermines the authority of the referee. Surely it helps the referee and his assistants, and enables them to make correct decisions.

Blatter says that referees are only human and everyone makes mistakes, but that is not a good enough excuse in the modern game with so much money at stake and so much technology available.

I often think back to the 1998 semi-final between France and Croatia when the French defender Blanc was sent off after Croatia's Bilic pretended he had been seriously hurt in an off-the-ball incident in the box. Blanc received a two-match ban, ruling him out of the World Cup final in his own country, and FIFA refused to change their decision, even though TV replays showed to millions of viewers around the world that Bilic had conned the referee. The cheat had won, and the honest player had lost.

Just think what could have happened in other circumstances. After the game, match officials could have reviewed the TV replays and, on seeing the scale of Bilic's theatrics, cancelled the two-match ban for Blanc.

Would anyone have argued about this? Could anyone in all honesty still have said Blanc deserved to miss the final?

I think FIFA should introduce video technology/replays immediately. There is no argument for saying it would hold up the flow of the game, because there is no flow any more, especially at the World Cup, where the next petty foul and whistle was only a few seconds away.

ends

13 Jul 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, July 11, 2006 -- A joke or what?

I'm talking, of course, about the Golden Ball Award for the Most Valuable Player of the World Cup going to Zinedine Zidane.

Maybe FIFA should rename the award the "Golden Butt" or even the "Golden Bald Head-butt Award."

I think the award does the game no favours whatsoever, and FIFA should have stepped in to change the result.

In fact I am sure many non-soccer fans, and many fans too, will be laughing at the award, because Zidane's act of violence shocked the world and made a mockery of the claim (not mine) that he is one of the best players in the history of the game.

With ability, genius even, and with the captaincy comes responsibility and discipline, and there are no excuses whatsoever for Zidane's hooligan behaviour, even if motor-mouth Materazzi did call him "the son of a terrorist whore".

Zidane should have been big enough to have walked away from the slur, but his temper got the better of him, just like it did at the 1998 World Cup when he was sent off for stamping on a Saudi Arabia player in France's second group game. That was vicious, too, and brought a two-match suspension, which could have proved costly for France long before they reached the final.

In the final, of course, he scored two fine headers against Brazil, and his violent act against the Saudis was swept under the carpet.

Now, though, there is no hiding, and no chance of redemption, as Zidane has hung up his boots and retired.

But let's get back to the award, in which the journalists vote for a 1-2-3 MVP, with five points for first place, three for second and one for third.

Personally, I would have voted for Cannavaro because I thought he was magnificent in the heart of the Italian defence, especially in the absence of the injured Nesta. Even if Zidane had not been sent off and even if France had won the final, I would still have voted for Cannavaro, provided that he didn't score three own goals, concede a penalty and get sent off for spitting or something equally repulsive.

I would not have voted for Zidane, and think many people did for "romantic" reasons. After all, what a great story! Zidane retires from international football in 2004, comes back a year later and, at 34, helps his team reach the final in his last game before retiring for good.

The problem is, most of the people vote before the final, because, with all the interviews and articles journalists must write after the final, the last thing they need is a FIFA "suit" pestering them to complete their voting forms (unlike Nabisco Cup games in Japan, for example, when we can vote at leisure for Konno or Inoha after each FC Tokyo game!)

I have read many interesting comments on websites around the world, and one argument is that a red card, for behaving like a drunk and bald mountain goat, should not be enough to affect your overall opinion of a player. Really?

Excuse me, but isn't getting sent off in the final, and missing the shoot-out as your colleagues toil and lose, quite an important part of the World Cup?

It reminds me a bit of Alex Santos a few seasons ago, when he was sent off for S-Pulse in the second leg of the championship play-off against Jubilo, who went on to win. The next day, Alex was named J.League MVP, which I also thought was wrong (and, more recently, Emerson, but we won't go into that! Emerson, by the way, will be 19 years old next week).

With the media being encouraged to vote early, although the ballot box did not close officially until midnight, this leaves the system open for mistakes and ridicule.

Next time, maybe FIFA should examine the results the morning after the final, and make the Golden Ball choice after a discussion with the Technical Study Group. In other words, the media vote would be a contribution to the award, not the whole of it.

Zidane is in disgrace, and I think the reputation of football as a whole has been tarnished by the award, when FIFA could have prevented it. Cannavaro was a worthy winner, but he won't mind...he has the World Cup for four years!

ends

10 Jul 2006(Mon)

July 8, 2006 -- It has been very encouraging to read lots of articles lately about the amount of diving, feigning injury and gamesmanship at the World Cup, and that FIFA accepts there is a plague that needs wiping out.

I say "encouraging" because many times I feel the media do not write about this aspect of the game, and just accept it as a modern trend.

My thoughts on the subject have been well documented over the years, and I will never turn a blind eye to an injustice brought about by someone cheating, even if a member of the Japanese press once criticised me for standing up for "old-style football." I think he meant "honest" football.

I just can't help myself from commenting on the subject, and this led to a heated argument in the Media Seats during the England-Ecuador second-round game at Stuttgart.

From the opening whistle Ecuador were clearly playing for a goalless draw, extra time and penalties, when they could suddenly turn from negative spoilers to brave heroes.

So when yet another Ecuador player decided to stay down after an innocuous challenge and one of his team-mates kicked the ball out of play, I threw my pen down on the desk and said it was a joke. Actually I used a bad word before "joke", beginning with "F", and I apologise for not being able to keep my "passion and emotion" in check!

Sitting to my right were four or five Spanish-speaking journalists, who were clearly cheering for Ecuador. And I mean cheering!

They took offence to the fact that I thought the Ecuador players were play-acting, and repeated my "F" word several times between themselves, which was quite amusing.

"What about 'F...ing' Rio Ferdinand?" said the one next to me, who did not even have a note book or pen with him. "The 'F...ing' King of Fair Play!"

He then proceeded to demonstrate the use of his elbows and started punching thin air, a bit like Tim Cahill's boxing celebration at the corner flag against Japan (sorry to mention that readers, still painful isn't it?)

"It's a man's game," I replied, "not a girl's game."

So, as you can see, there are very differing views on the subject. Strangely enough, though, Ecuador stopped play-acting after "Prince David of Beckingham Palace" scored his wonderful free kick. From that point on, Ecuador actually tried to score, too, which was quite a novelty. Had the clowns sitting next to me noticed the link between their team falling behind and the subsequent lack of time-wasting? Probably not.

Anyway, thanks to Portugal in general and Cristiano Ronaldo in particular, all the dark elements of the game have been highlighted at this World Cup, and Franz Beckenbauer -- "Der Kaiser" of Fair Play -- says a panel of players, referees and coaches will discuss the problem at a meeting later this year.

It could be long gone by then, of course.

Yes, it is as easy as that, if the players really want it.

ends

6 Jul 2006(Thu)

July 5, 2006 -- Well, I thought there was something not quite right about Hidetoshi Nakata at the end of the Brazil game.

His last game at the World Cup, definitely. His last game for Japan, possibly.

But never his last game as a professional.

Once again, though, Nakata has written his own rules and done his own thing, which is typical of the man and of his lifestyle.

He's never been one to follow the crowd, or to stand still. He's kept moving and kept challenging himself.

Now, fresh challenges lie ahead, off the pitch, and, just like he did on it, he has the talent to be a success.

Of all my memories of Nakata, dating back to 1994 when I first saw him play, for Japan's under-19s at the Asian Youth Championship in Jakarta, the one that is with me at the moment came during the Brazil game.

It was towards the end of the match, when Brazil had the three points safely in the bag. Japan broke down the left wing and Nakata made a run to the far post, hoping the ball would reach him.

It didn't -- and Nakata flopped to the floor, exasperated. He must have known, at that crushing moment, that this had been his last chance to score a goal, to feel the ecstacy when the ball makes the net bulge, the linesman's flag stays down and the referee is pointing back to the centre circle.

After the chance was gone, he dragged himself to his feet and began to run back into his own half, as Brazil were breaking quickly again and another goal looked possible. I watched Nakata closely, and he was absolutely exhausted. His head was bobbing from side to side and he was surviving purely on his instincts, as every ounce of energy had been spent.

What happened after the final whistle, of course, has been well documented. Watching him from the Media Seats in Dortmund, I was quite concerned about his well-being, as I am sure a few other people were, too, including Miyamoto and Adriano, both of whom went over to check he was okay.

I felt sure at this time that he had played his last match for Japan, and this was his "thank you" to the fans, and when he announced his retirement this week, it seemed to be a logical conclusion to those events in Dortmund.

I think he knew that his career would be all downhill from here, and he has never given the impression that he would like to prolong his career just for the sake of it, moving from club to club, at a lower and lower level, for another pay packet until his mid-30s.

He has a much bigger agenda than that, and I am sure he must be feeling a sense of relief right now rather than facing another uncertain close-season in Europe, wondering where he will be playing.

At the moment, this is my lingering memory of Nakata, but others, happier ones, will come back in the future.

ends

3 Jul 2006(Mon)

July 1, 2006 -- What's happening in the Osim Affair?

I thought the procedure would have been quite straightforward for the JFA.

First, the JFA technical committee draws up a list of candidates to succeed Zico after the World Cup.

Second, they approach the man at the top of the list, or, if he is employed by a club, they approach the club to ask for permission to speak to the candidate.

Third, they offer the job to the candidate, and discuss the length of the contract/salary etc. If there is no agreement, the JFA moves down the list...Osieck?

Fourth, if an agreement is reached, they then negotiate a settlement with the club, if necessary.

Fifth, the new head coach of the national team is presented to the media.

But no, the Osim Affair is still running, as June turns to July. Hopefully it will be concluded soon, for the good of Japanese football, and then Osim can start repairing the damage caused by the Brazilian, who should never have been appointed in the first place.

I must admit I was quite surprised when, on his return to Japan from Germany, JFA president Saburo Kawabuchi revealed that they were negotiating with Osim, and that the initial approach had been made before the World Cup.

Clearly this was a clever piece of "political spin" by the JFA president, trying to deflect attention away from Zico and Japan's failed campaign and putting Osim, a popular choice, in the focus.

The announcement appeared to take some people by surprise, including JEF United, who said they had not been approached by the JFA for permission to speak to Osim.

The last I saw about it was on the NHK evening news on Friday, when Osim was at Gifu and receiving a bouquet of flowers, rather embarrassingly.

Hopefully the three sides -- JFA, JEF and Osim -- can reach a deal soon, and an official announcement can be made, so we can put the Zico Episode behind us as quickly as possible and move forward.

I have been saying for a couple of years that Osim would be the ideal national coach, as it will need someone who knows the Japanese players now to start rebuilding the team.

And there is no need to think about the 2010 World Cup just yet, especially in the case of Osim.

Surely a one-year contract, though to the 2007 Asian Cup, or a maximum two-year deal would suffice, and then, if everyone is happy, an extension through to the 2010 World Cup could be discussed.

I also don't want to read any more comments from the JFA president about Osim being the ideal man to continue Zico's philosophy.

To me this is an insult to Osim, who is a respected and proven coach, as opposed to Zico, who had no experience at all and displayed his shortcomings time and again during those four long years.

ends

29 Jun 2006(Thu)

Stuttgart, June 26, 2006 – It is very interesting reading the comments of Zico from his final press conference as Japan´s head coach in distant Tokyo.

He is pointing out that Japan suffered at the World Cup because they did not have enough tall players to match the Australians in particular, and also the Croatians.

While this is true, it must be noted that Zico was aware of this since last December, when the draw was made in Leipzig. He knew then that Japan would be in a tough, physical group, and when the USA ran Japan ragged in a San Francisco friendly early in the year, the alarm bells should have been ringing even louder.

But Zico did nothing to bolster his defence, instead staying loyal to the players who had been around for some time.

I have said before in this column that, on his day, Naoki Matsuda is the best Japanese player in the J.League, although he let down Zico and himself by walking out on the squad before a World Cup qualifier in 2005. Under those circumstances, I can understand Zico not picking him again.

This could not be said of Urawa Reds defender Tulio. He has the height and the muscle to be of use to Japan in the future, although he is still a little rough around the egdes.

With all those friendlies in 2006, I thought it was well worth Zico taking a look at Tulio, but he never got the call.

Reds manager Guido Buchwald has said consistently this season that Tulio has been his best defender, and the best header of a ball in Japan, even though Tsuboi is in the national squad ahead of him.

At a meeting of the Foreign Sportswriters Association of Japan at the end of May, Buchwald was the guest speaker, and told the audience that the only time Zico had talked business with him was two years ago.

He was asked why Zico had not given Tulio a chance, and replied: ´´I don´t know, but I have heard it is because Zico thinks Tulio speaks too much on the pitch.´´

That´s strange, isn´t it, as the lack of communication among Japanese players is always being highlighted as a fault by Zico!

So I disagree that Japan does not possess players of sufficient height. This reminds me of a response by Philippe Troussier to a question from a Japanese reporter about the size of the Japanese defenders.

´´Does Mexico have players as tall as Matsuda in defence?´´ he said. ´´Mexico are always in the World Cup. This is not a problem for Japan.´´

Of course it is too late now to talk about what Zico should have done, but his reluctance to introduce new players and freshen up the squad played a part in Japan´s downfall.

ends

26 Jun 2006(Mon)

Hannover, June 23, 2006 – Who would ever think Hide would “do a Gazza”?

Japan´s Ice Man, Hidetoshi Nakata, who rarely shows his emotions or feelings in public, went down in World Cup history alongside England´s Paul Gascoigne, and no doubt many other less famous players, who shed tears of anguish on their team´s exit.

Gascoigne did it in the 1990 semi-final against Germany in Italy. After being booked for a foul on Thomas Berthold, a yellow card meant he would miss the final, should England get there. Gazza´s tears started and would not stop.

The image of his team-mate, Gary Lineker, indicating to the bench Gazza was in distress will forever remain in my mind. As it happened, England lost the penalty shoot-out to Germany, and this prompted a second wave of Gazza tears.

The show of emotion, however, endeared him to the nation, and his life was never the same again.

And so to Hide, a player who has been accused of not caring enough, of being a businessman rather than a footballer, as he moves around Italy and then to England.

But Nakata´s act of despair, desolation even, after the final whistle against Brazil dispelled this theory for ever.

It was a poignant moment, seeing Nakata lay there on his back in the centre circle, long after his team-mates had walked over to thank the fans and then disappear into the changing rooms.

I must be honest and admit I feared for Nakata´s health, as he looked physically and emotionally drained.

Midway through the second half, with Brazil in control and Hide pushed more forward after the introduction of Koji Nakata, I recall seeing him struggling back to defend. Japan had attacked, lost the ball, and Nakata now tried to race back to help out the defence.

He reminded me of a “toy nodding dog” you see in the back of cars, as his strength was draining away and he was running on empty.

This match, this World Cup, meant so much to him, and the frustration of the early elimination, together with the fact that Japan could do nothing to stop Brazil running away with the game, proved too much.

Nakata does care, and always has done. It is just that he is different, something many Japanese cannot accept.

For all those cynics and doubters, he has served his country well, and deserves credit in the same way Gascoigne did when he returned to England a folk hero and a legend in 1990.

ends

22 Jun 2006(Thu)

Bonn, June 19, 2006 -- Looking through Japan´s squad here at the World Cup, there are not many outfield players you could say with confidence will still be around for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

(That is provided Japan qualify, however, as Australia will be a formidable foe for the established Asian powers next time around).

But one of these is most certainly Akira Kaji, Japan´s Cafu for his work up and down the right flank.

Against Croatia at Nuremberg, Kaji was among Japan´s top performers.

As well as having to deal with the attacking threat of the athletic Babic down Croatia´s left, Kaji also found time to get forward and provide some dangerous moments at the other end.

The former FC Tokyo and current Gamba Osaka man is equally at home at right back in a four-man defence, or on the right side of a five-man midfield, and this has made him indispensible to Zico for the past couple of years.

The fact that Tokunaga (FC Tokyo) and Nakamura (Avispa Fukuoka) are both talented young right backs will keep Kaji under pressure for his place, and that is a good thing, while Komano, his able deputy against Australia, might be advised to switch to the left flank to try and take Alex´s place.

It was interesting watching Kaji against Croatia. In Zico´s 4-4-2 formation, the Brazilian coach looks to his two full backs, Kaji and Alex, to provide the width, in the same way Narahashi and Soma used to do for Kashima.

It is not the job of the wide midfield players to break down the flanks, get to the line and cross into the box, it is the job of Kaji and Alex, and the team must be well organised to put these two in the right position at the right time. When Japan can hold the ball long enough, and not give it away carelessly with an ambitious pass or a poor piece of control, they can frequently bring these two into play, and catch the covering defence out of position.

I feel the national team needs a major overhaul after the World Cup, but Kaji will remain one constant.

Japan´s MVP against Croatia, however, was undoubtedly Kawaguchi, although Hidetoshi Nakata received the official award from FIFA.

There is no doubt Japan´s heads were down after the Australia debacle, but Kawaguchi changed the mood with his excellent save, low to his left, from Srna´s well-struck penalty. No arguments about the penalty award, either, as Tsune had allowed Prso to get behind him, and paid the price for his hasty challenge.

Yoshi proved again he is a big-game player, and deserves another hero´s reception on his return.

ends

19 Jun 2006(Mon)

Bonn, June 16, 2006 -- England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was speaking for a lot of people when he welcomed the end of the “Wayne Rooney Saga” after his team’s 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago.

The sports pages of the English newspapers have been dominated by Rooney´s metatarsal since he injured his right foot playing for Manchester United against Chelsea seven weeks ago.

But at Nuremberg on Thursday, Rooney came off the bench and played for 33 minutes – his first appearance at the World Cup.

“It is a great relief the saga is over,” Eriksson said in his post-match press conference.

“It has been talked about every day, and really all of us in the camp are fed up with it…and now it’s over.”

Well, Eriksson thought it was over.

Next question.

“Can you talk us through the last 24 hours?” asked one reporter, wanting the details of the doctors and the examinations. For a moment I thought I was watching “E.R.” or “Chicago Hope” as the medical talk dominated the football.

Next question.

“Will Rooney be fit to start against Sweden?”

Eriksson managed to keep his temper in check, and said he would have to wait for a day or two to check on Rooney´s condition after his runout against T-T.

Question to Peter Crouch.

“How did Rooney´s entrance lift the team?”

Crouch was most definitely fed up, too.

“Not only Wayne, but also Lennon and Downing lifted the team. We needed fresh legs in the attack,” said Crouch.

So, as you can see, the Rooney Saga is not quite over yet, despite Eriksson´s profound hopes.

Rooney´s name gives the headline-writers lots of opportunity to create corny headlines, such as “Wish Roo were here!” (when Rooney did not play against Paraguay), or “We are thROO!”, meaning England are through to the next round with six points from two games, or “Wayne to go!” (instead of the American rallying cry, “way to go”).

Not for a long time can one player have dominated the sports news – and this goes to show how special Rooney is.

But sitting through an England press conference these days is painful, as you know what is coming next. A question about Wayne Rooney.

So here is my own contribution to the Rooney Saga.

“This is all Wayne over the top!”

“Write about the SocceROOS instead!”

“Fergie thinks Sven is a ROOnatic for bringing Wayne back so quickly!”

I apologise readers, and promise this is tROOly the end of the Saga -- or you may start becoming unROOly!

ends

15 Jun 2006(Thu)

Bonn, June 13, 2006 – Many of the media covering England here at the World Cup have been critical of Sven-Goran Eriksson for not giving Theo Walcott a run against Paraguay.

Why bring a young but untried talent such as Walcott and then leave him on the bench when the team lacks attacking spark?

That was the school of thought after England´s cautious approach, and I was thinking similar things after Japan´s defeat by the Socceroos.

Having picked Maki as his one surprise, I thought the latter stages of the Australia game were perfect for him to make his debut in the World Cup.

But no, Zico made a puzzling choice by sending on Ono at a time when Japan needed some defensive grit and fresh legs rather than a third playmaker alongside Nakata and Nakamura.

I thought the situation called for Maki. Zico could have sent him on and told him to run after anything that moved, preferably in a gold and green shirt.

Japan were defending deeper and deeper as the second half wore on, and Maki could have defended from the front, harassing the Aussie defenders and midfielders when in possession and putting them under pressure. Who knows, Maki might have been an attacking threat, too, as his height and fresh legs would have caused problems for the tiring Australian defenders.

Instead, though, the Australian substitutes just formed an orderly queue on the edge of the Japan box, and waited for the next high ball to come along.

It was only a matter of time before the Socceroos broke through, and no one could say they were surprised when Cahill equalised following a moment of misjudgement by Kawaguchi.

What a shame for poor old Yoshi, who was in line for an MVP performance due to a string of spectacular saves in the first and second half.

His error came on a Neill throw from the left. The keeper came but didn´t quite make it, and Cahill was on hand to fire home the loose ball.

This was just the beginning of the end, as Japan quickly crumbled. I hope it´s not too late for Maki to have a meaningful run against Croatia. Or what was the point of bringing him?

ends

12 Jun 2006(Mon)

Bonn, June 9, 2006 -- Can you hear it, outside the Internet cafe where I am working?

It´s crazy!

It´s mad!

It´s the perfect start to the 2006 World Cup!

Cars are whizzing by, sounding their horns and flying the German flag out of the window.

Families are walking home in the late evening sunshine after watching the Germany-Costa Rica game on TV in a restaurant or street cafe, the children with their faces painted red, yellow and black.

Groups of young men and women are walking down the street, waving giant flags and stopping the traffic.

Not everyone is happy, though, because the police sirens are sounding out loud, as the police cars chase the speeding revellers down the street.

The celebration route takes the drivers over the Kennedy Bridge, at the end of which stands the Bonn Hilton, home of the Japanese national team. Now, for sure, the Japanese players will feel they are at the 2006 World Cup!

Today, Friday, I visited the England training session at Frankfurt, rather than attending the Japan session, as I wanted to feel the positive vibes surrounding the England team for the first time. I was not disappointed.

Heading back from Frankfurt to Bonn, a group of Germans from the Black Forest invited me to join them at the bar of the train, and have a few glasses of refreshing German beer after a hot day at the stadium.

2-1 to Germany very early on, 3-1 to Germany, 4-2 to Germany….the passengers on the train from Frankfurt to Bonn, via Mainz, were kept in touch with the match, and everyone was in high spirits at the end.

So, on arriving at Bonn, suitably refreshed, it was then that the hysteria in this conservative town really hit me.

No other sport can unite a nation like football. I read once, recently in fact, that only war could prompt a similar, impassioned spirit as football, especially when the host team is performing to expectations at the World Cup.

Yes, the perfect start to what is surely going to be a magical World Cup…and with England and Japan still waiting to start.

ends

8 Jun 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, June 6, 2006 -- Well, at last it's over.

Japan's build-up to the 2006 World Cup officially ended Sunday with a 1-0 victory over Malta.

But, like so many of the friendly games played in the four years under Zico, it was pretty much a waste of time.

What did Zico learn?

Probably nothing.

What did the hollow victory do for the morale and confidence of the team?

Ditto.

Apart from Tamada, whose early goal gave Japan the win, it's unlikely anyone gained much.

Even the defence, who kept a clean sheet, know the opposition was of a low quality.

With so many changes during the game, it became meaningless again, as Japan struggled to beat a team they were clearly dominating. It was just a bunch of individuals going through the motions, because they all know who's in and who's out when it really matters.

No, I'm relieved all the build-up games are over, and so, I suspect, is Zico.

He'll just want the Australia game to arrive as soon as possible, so they can finally play the real thing.

No more tests, no more mass substitutions, no more excuses -- just two teams playing for the massive prize of three points in their Group F opener.

Among the subs on Sunday were Ono, Inamoto, Ogasawara and Maki. I was surprised Zico did not start Maki, in the absence of Takahara and Yanagisawa, because I feel Oguro is tailor-made for the bench.

The former Gamba forward is lethal coming into the game as a second-half substitute. As much as I admire his poaching prowess, I just don't think he has the all-round game to make an impact in the starting eleven at this high level.

Let Maki run the defenders into the ground for 60 or 70 minutes, and then bring on Oguro to finish them off...

Tamada took his chance, but I tend to think he would be more suited playing on the left side of midfield when Zico deploys a 4-4-2 formation, provided he has a solid left-back behind him.

Which brings us round to Koji Nakata. I have said before and will repeat that he is wasted on the left side of defence. Koji has the experience and the football brain to be playing in the centre of midfield.

I'd love to see him alongside the other Nakata -- Hidetoshi -- in the middle of the park, in a 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 formation, because he is a natural defender who can also break forward and score goals.

As I said, all these friendlies seem to cause more problems than they solve, and I am just glad they are over.

Bring on the Aussies!

It's now or never for Japan.

ends

5 Jun 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, June 2, 2006 -- At every World Cup, FIFA, belatedly, attempts to clamp down on one particularly negative trend in the modern game.

In the past it's been tackling from behind (but Germany's Schweinsteiger proved this dangerous challenge is still alive and kicking, as poor old Kaji found out rather painfully) and also simulation -- FIFA speak for diving (but another German, the substitute Odonkor, showed this blatant form of cheating is still rife, too, and got a yellow card for his troubles).

So what would you like to see referees target specifically in Germany over the next few weeks?

For me there's only one answer: shirt-pulling.

How many photographs do you see in newspapers and magazines these days where one player has hold of his opponent's shirt?

Take the example of "Atsushi-Goal" against Germany the other day. His marker, Borowski, ripped Yanagi's shirt right down the middle, revealing the Antlers striker's "six-pack" torso (imagine six cans of beer, or grapefruit chu-hai for that matter, on their side, and you can guess the shape "six-pack" refers to).

The more I think about it, in fact, the more this incident might have been planned by the two players....Borowski deliberately tears Yanagisawa's shirt, the TV camera focuses on the Japanese poster boy's chiselled chest, owners of fitness clubs and gyms back in Japan see this on TV and rush to sign him up for a new advertising campaign -- and the German gets his cut of Yanagisawa's massive ensorsement fee!

Okay, so that's a bit far fetched, but don't rule out someone approaching Yanagi with an offer.

Shirt-pulling, though, is deadly serious.

Unlike an "honest" foul, shirt-pulling is deliberate and pre-meditated. Just like diving, shirt-pulling is becoming an art in itself.

How can a player grab his opponent's shirt without making it look too obvious in front of the referee? It's happening all the time, and is resulting in players throwing themselves to the ground to bring the foul to the attention of the referee.

The shirt pull might be very sly and clever, so does the offended player play on and pretend nothing has happened, meaning the dishonest rival has got away with it? Or does the offended player simply stop in his tracks or just fall down, showing his rearranged shirt to the ref and hoping for a yellow card for the offender as well as a free kick for himself?

I hope FIFA really gets strict on this tactic at the World Cup. A clear and deliberate shirt-pull should be punished with an immediate yellow card, and a second offence should receive the red.

Only when the officials show they are serious about this shirt-pulling plague will it be wiped out.

ends

1 Jun 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, May 31, 2006 -- On Monday evening, Guido Buchwald was the guest speaker at a meeting of the Foreign Sportswriters' Association of Japan in Tokyo.

As a World Cup winner and an ambassador for his hometown Stuttgart, the Reds boss was the ideal choice to give the foreign sports media an insight into last-minute preparations, plus the hopes and expectations of the German people.

But, naturally, as a football man, he also had some interesting things to say on the game itself, in Japan, Brazil and Europe.

One of his observations of the Japanese player was the lack of killer instinct in front of goal. Buchwald, of course, is not the first person to say this, and neither will he be the last.

There is a feeling that the Japanese want to score the perfect goal. They want to pass and pass and eventually walk the ball into the net, something Arsenal fans may feel their team try to do too much instead of just finishing.

Guido's words were still fresh in my mind as I watched Germany against Japan in the early hours of Wednesday morning. It was especially relevant near the end, when Japan had a wonderful chance to score a third goal but squandered it.

A beautiful cross from the right by Shunsuke, who had spotted an astute run to the far post by Hidetoshi Nakata. When the ball came over, I was certain Nakata was going to launch himself at it, like he did against Tunisia in the 2002 World Cup and, more recently, against Bosnia.

But, instead, Nakata tried to direct the ball across goal and into the path of Oguro.

Surely Nakata should have gone for goal himself. The angle was a bit tight, admittedly, but he was so close to the goal that he would have had a good chance of beating Lehmann at his near post, or enough time to aim for the far corner.

I couldn't believe it when he tried to pick out Oguro, who was eventually crowded out and the chance disappeared. The television camera focused on Oguro, but it was Nakata's missed chance, not Oguro's.

A goal for Nakata would have been a just reward for another impressive game, in which his midfield inter-play with Shunsuke enabled Japan to keep creating chances. Yanagisawa, too, was very much involved in the approach play, fully justifying Zico's faith in him as he recovered from injury.

But it was Takahara who scored the two goals, both of them beauties, although the German defenders, notably Ballack, should never have allowed him to wriggle free inside the box for the second one.

Nakata could have won it for Japan right at the death -- but wanted one pass too many.

There is still time to learn, though, and hopefully he will be more single-minded if a similar opportunity comes along against Australia on June 12.

ends

29 May 2006(Mon)

More on Maki...

Well, he is the hot news right now, and the new star of Japanese football.

The good news for JEF fans is that the team can win without him, as they proved in a recent 1-0 victory over a plucky S-Pulse in the Nabisco Cup.

Of course they missed his pace and his presence up front, but JEF came through in the end to win the match and the group.

After the game I took the opportunity to ask the opinion of Maki's strike partner, "Super Mario" Haas.

The Austrian has been as impressed as anyone with Maki's rapid progress, saying: "He gets better match by match -- and it is right that Zico has picked him for the World Cup."

With Maki's rise, it will be only a matter of time before he is linked with a move to Europe -- and Haas thinks there is a league just waiting for him to make his mark.

"I think English football suits Maki's style -- and Maki's style would suit England," said Haas.

"Maki is good at heading and running, and in the English game it's always long balls and lots of crosses."

I asked if Maki would struggle against the likes of Chelsea's England defender John Terry, and Maki replied: "Well, if the fight is close-in, it would be very hard for Maki.

"But if Maki runs with the ball, with his speed even these players have no chance."

These are words of praise indeed from Haas, who has displayed all his elegant skills in the J.League when fully fit.

JEF fans will be hoping that Haas now stays clear of injury for the rest of the campaign, because, with Maki alongside him, United would have the attacking spearhead to challenge for the championship.

The national team is now in Germany, of course, and the midfield and attack looks vibrant and powerful enough to trouble their rivals.

But I still feel the defence is a bit lightweight, and would like to have seen Matsuda on the plane, and possibly even Tulio -- if Zico had given him a chance.

The fact that Zico looks like playing a 3-5-2 formation will help Japan, as a 4-4-2 would have exposed the defensive deficiencies and highlighted the lack of muscle in the middle.

But with Miyamoto running the line from libero, and with the height of Nakazawa and the speed of Tsuboi alongside, the defence does not look quite as vulnerable as in a 4-4-2 formation.

But the central midfield duo of Fukunishi and Hidetoshi Nakata will have to tackle their hearts out to protect the defence, and Kaji and Alex will have to run like marathon athletes to secure the flanks.

ends

25 May 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, May 23, 2006 -- With no J1 or Nabisco Cup games last Saturday, May 20, it was a good opportunity to watch some J2.

So why not have a day out on the Kanagawa coast, by the "beautiful sea" of Bellmare?

Shonan were at home to Mito Hollyhock, and the visitors eventually won 3-1.

I watched two sports news programmes over the weekend, one on Saturday night and one on Sunday, and neither of them showed the goals from this match; which was a great pity -- unless you were a Bellmare fan, of course.

The first goal of the game, scored by Mito midfielder Ogura, would be a candidate for "Goal of the Season", if the J.League had such an award.

Ogura must have struck the ball from fully 35 metres with his right foot, and, with a stiff Bellmare breeze behind him, it flew into the top corner, past a startled Kobayashi in the home goal. Kobayashi should not feel ashamed of being beaten from such a distance, as Kawaguchi, Narazaki and Doi could all have been in goal at the same time and they still wouldn't have stopped this thunderbolt. Yes, it was that good.

Mito's second was another great finish, this time by Kim, from a little closer in, and the third was a penalty from Anderson after he had been pulled down in the box by a frustrated Bellmare defence.

Trailing 3-0, Bellmare finally got on the scoresheet when Kato, their former Reysol favourite, scored direct from a left-wing corner, using the swirling wind to curl the ball in at the back post. I am sure he meant it, too; not that it really mattered at the time as the home side was well beaten.

After the game, Bellmare manager Ueda was a forlorn figure. He was desperately hoping for a win to stay up with the pace, but defeat left them in fifth place.

He said six or seven of the 13 J2 teams were capable of winning promotion this season, but feared Reysol might start to run away at the top.

While Bellmare were playing in front of 3,504 fans, their famous Old Boy, Hidetoshi Nakata, was training in front of about 13,000 fans at J-Village with the national team.

Nakata, of course, is not just a footballer any more, and has not been for several years. He is a multi-million dollar industry, and his legacy lives on at Hiratsuka with a "nakata.net" advertising board and a huge banner reading "Pride Gate 7", clearly referring to their former playmaker (and if it's dedicated to current captain Sato, I apologise!).

It's funny how careers work out, as I first saw Nakata playing for Japan Under-19s in the Asian Youth Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 1994. He was on the wing, and Suguru Ito was Japan's captain and playmaker.

Ito's J.League career is now finished, and he is a coach at a university, while Nakata is a superstar in the world game.

As the train pulled out of Hiratsuka, in brilliant sunshine following a short thunderstorm, a rainbow appeared in the clear blue sky. So it's true what they say...that there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow -- because Hidetoshi Nakata found it!

ends

22 May 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, May 20, 2006 -- Zico's squad announcement must serve as a warning to Japanese players in the future -- that a move overseas is not necessarily a passport to success.

Players have to be careful over their choice of country and club when the opportunity comes along, as it could affect their careers.

For various reasons, Daisuke Matsui, Yoshito Okubo and Takayuki Suzuki all missed out on Japan's 23 for Germany, and you can't help feeling their chances would have been better had they remained in Japan so that Zico could have actually seen them play on a regular basis.

I am not, for a minute, saying they were wrong to move overseas, just that they can disappear from view quite quickly.

Chatting with several Japanese sports writers in the build-up to the squad announcement, another former J.League favourite now in Europe often came up in conversation.

Would Zico call up Koji Nakata, or leave him out after his miserable time at Marseille and his attempt to get his career back on track at Basle?

Thankfully, Zico selected him -- and now I hope he tries to integrate him into the starting line-up.

Despite claims that Zico has a special bond with his "Kashima children", this cannot be said of Koji.

In fact I think Koji has been under-valued and under-utilised by Zico throughout his reign, and that he has much more to offer the national team.

No matter what formation Zico picks, 4-4-2 or 3-5-2, he will need two central midfield players to hold the team together.

One of them, preferably both, must be a naturally defensive player, and Fukunishi is the favourite for that role at the moment. But Koji could do the job just as well, if not better.

He always controlled the Kashima team in the middle of the park, and has the experience and the football brain to do the same for Japan.

With Koji staying deep, and having the tactical discipline not to rush forward unexpectedly, the midfield retains its balance and the team retains its shape -- and that can't always be said of Zico's tactics.

Zico could even play Koji and Fukunishi together, building a tall and resilient wall in the centre of the pitch, but it's unlikely he will do so due to the abundance of more creative, attacking players he clearly prefers.

The inclusion of Koji, though, gives Zico many midfield options, and, of course, the former Antlers favourite could also fill in for Alex at left back in a four-man defence...when Alex is suspended for two yellow cards: one for diving, the other for a silly foul!

No one knows exactly what condition Koji is in, but he has three weeks of training sessions and two matches to state his case.

I still feel he can be a major influence on the team in Germany.

ends

18 May 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, May 16, 2006 -- The selection of Seiichiro Maki in Japan's World Cup squad was not only a personal triumph for the player, but also for the J.League in general.

Had Maki been left out, then not only him but many others within the game would have been disappointed and deflated.

But Zico's bold move -- well, bold by his own cautious standards -- has offered hope to young players around the country that hard work and ambition can be rewarded at the highest level.

I've had a couple of long chats with JEF United manager Ivica Osim about Maki this season, and he could not speak highly enough of his eager centre forward.

"He's an example to all Japanese players," was one comment. "He has come from nothing to the national team."

Another Osim observation was that "every team needs a player like Maki" -- someone who can come off the bench for the second half or maybe for the last 30 minutes and change a game with his tireless running and foraging for an opening.

"Not big technique, but a very, very big heart," said Osim.

As the season has progressed, there has been a groundswell of support for Maki, certainly among the English language media in Japan.

And if any match left no doubt as to Maki's electric form and value, then it was JEF's 2-0 home win over Urawa Reds.

Not only did Maki score a fantastic goal with a flashing drive that flew into the net off the post, he also led the JEF line in a hard, bruising battle against the power of Tulio and the pace of Tsuboi.

The two Kirin Cup games then confirmed the current form and condition of Maki compared to that of Kubo, who has struggled to overcome a catalogue of injuries and is not the potent, unpredictable, awkward force of old.

Zico kept everyone waiting, didn't he, by leaving Maki's name right to the end. Would it be Kubo, who was the logical choice in normal circumstances, or would it be Maki?

He went for the latter -- and put a smile on the face and a spring in the step of many people in the game.

No player deserves this accolade more than Maki, who, as Osim says, has come from nothing (Komazawa University) to the national team, and now to the World Cup....in just over three seasons.

It's a success story which should inspire young players around the country.

ends

15 May 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, May 12, 2006 -- Well, Reds fans, wasn't it reassuring to see Shinji Ono in such fine form for club and country in the last few days.

At Saitama Stadium 2002 last Sunday, Shinji scored two lovely goals in the 4-0 demolition of a very disappointing Kashima Antlers team.

Two days later, at Osaka, he came off the bench in the second half against Bulgaria and looked confident and authoritative, almost like the Shinji of old.

I must admit I'd been worrying about him a lot this year -- as many others would have been.

He didn't look fully fit, he didn't look sharp, and he was not imposing himself on games. In fact sometimes I thought he'd been substituted, because he disappeared for long spells, which is most un-Ono like!

But with Ponte and Hasebe in the team, and Keita holding things together behind them, Ono could afford to take his time and work his way back to full fitness. Ono is nothing if not a true professional, and, barring any late setbacks, it seems he'll be in as good a condition as could be expected for the World Cup, considering his cruel history of injuries.

Apart from his two goals against Antlers, what impressed me the most was when he picked himself up, unscathed, after being clattered by Antlers substitute Chugo.

I bet Guido Buchwald and Gert Engels on the bench, plus some 50,000 Reds fans in the stadium, were fearing the worst when Shinji stayed down. Another knock, a trendy metatarsal injury, maybe?

But no. Shinji was able to continue, and eventually left the field four minutes from time to, as expected, proud and loud applause from the Reds nutcases.

But will Shinji be a starting member against the Aussies on June 12?

It's too early to say, of course, because lots can happen between now and then, but his chances are improving by the game.

And where's his best position?

I've said before this year that defensive midfield would suit him better, where he can read the play and control the game more with all his experience.

Alongside Fukunishi or Hidetoshi Nakata? Probably Fukunishi, who is a naturally defensive player, whereas both Nakata and Ono are naturally attacking players. A four-man midfield of Ogasawara-Nakata-Ono-Nakamura could give Japan too much flair and not enough substance in the centre of the park against the Aussies and Croats.

Zico doesn't need to worry about that kind of detail just yet. He'll just be happy to have a fit and confident Ono back in business and available for selection.

ends

11 May 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, May 9, 2006 -- As the May 15 deadline draws near for Zico to announce his World Cup squad, arguably the best Japanese player in the J.League won't be there.

No, he's not injured.

He's in good form, and, according to club sources, disappointed he won't be involved in the World Cup.

I'm talking about Naoki Matsuda, the Yokohama F Marinos captain.

The 29-year-old central defender is surely among Japan's top all-round players. When he is fully focused on his game he can do anything he wants at this level, and I remember writing, maybe two years ago, that Matsuda had outgrown the J.League and needed to move to Europe to keep improving.

He is a strong, athletic defender, who can play in any position in a back three and either as stopper or libero in the centre of a four-man defence. He also has great skill and vision, and would make an excellent "volante" in front of the defence.

To cap it all, Matsuda has also scored one of the best goals of the season so far with an exquisite chip, following a midfield run, against FC Tokyo at Ajista in a recent Nabisco Cup game. It was so good it could have been scored by Eric Cantona, and I can't think of many other Japanese players who could have done the same.

But, for all this, Matsuda won't be in Japan's 23 -- and he knows he only has himself to blame.

Zico showed how tough he was on squad discipline after the infamous curfew-breaking by the "Kashima Eight", and Matsuda has paid a heavy price for walking out on the squad last year when he wasn't selected in the starting line-up.

The Brazilian has proved on numerous occasions he values loyalty above all else, and there has been no way back for Matsuda.

So I'm not blaming Zico for sticking to his guns, just saying that Matsuda's mental lapse has cost him and the national team.

Wouldn't a Matsuda-Miyamoto-Nakazawa back line look stronger than anything Zico will field in Germany? And wouldn't the presence of Matsuda give Zico another option in the centre of the back three, or in the centre of the back four?

Even with all the Europe-based players back in the fold, there aren't many better Japanese players than Matsuda.

I wonder if he wishes he could turn the clock back a year, and swallow his pride and stay with the squad.

Alas, it's too late now, for Matsuda and for Zico.

ends

8 May 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, May 6, 2006 -- What would the J.League be without the Urawa Reds?

Every game, home and away, they bring a special atmosphere to the J.League, and, who knows, their participation in next season's Asian Champions League might just spark some interest in the continent's premier club competition in Japan.

At the recent Saitama derby, for example, it was truly a magnificent spectacle when the Reds "end" came alive with a colourful combination of red, black and white flags flying in the sunshine.

And then, at Fukuda Denshi Arena for the away match with JEF United, a wall of noise boomed out from the away "end" to urge the team on.

Home or away, then, the Reds fans -- young and old, male and female -- are a mobile advertisement for the J.League. They have proved their loyalty, even when they were relegated to J2, and will continue to do so.

This is why I was a little surprised, therefore, at the reaction of the Reds fans on the final whistle at Chiba. Although their team had lost 2-0, I thought the Reds supporters were a little harsh, booing and jeering them as the JEF fans at the other end greeted their heroes as if they had won the championship.

I've said before that if a team doesn't try and loses, then fans, by all means, give them a piece of your own mind. After all, you pay the money!

But if they try and are beaten by a better team, then either show your mooted appreciation for their efforts, or, better still, just leave the stadium in silence and disappointment.

I thought this was the case at Chiba. Reds huffed and puffed but were beaten by a better team on the day, a much better team, in fact. JEF's collective energy and drive -- from the excellent Stoyanov at the back through the combative Abe in midfield to the dangerous Maki up front -- made Reds look like a collection of star names, with little cohesion or rhythm.

How many times did Ponte, for example, give the ball away with a careless back-heel? His team-mates were just not on the same page this day, as JEF harried and hassled and never allowed them to settle.

So give JEF credit, Reds fans. They played you off the park and thoroughly deserved their victory.

One downside to the fanatical support and expectations may be that Reds players are finding it difficult to control themselves...Keita in the home game against Omiya, Washington at Chiba.

I thought Keita was fortunate not to get a straight red card for his wild foul on Sakurai in the first half. He was clearly angry he had not been given a free kick deep in his own box during a rare spell of Omiya pressure, and took out his frustration on Sakurai.

And Washington completely lost the plot at Chiba, screaming at the referee when he did not give a penalty late on for a Maki challenge on Tulio.

Washington scores a lot of goals, and could probably score more if he channelled all his energy into playing rather than complaining.

Just because Reds have great fans does not mean the players can run the games. That's the ref's job.

ends

4 May 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, May 2, 2006 -- The "Yanagisawa Affair" is not quite of Rooney proportions, but it's still a matter of concern for the player and for Zico.

The name of Yanagisawa was missing from Zico's Kirin Cup squad on Tuesday, and that's quite understandable considering he is recovering from injury.

After all, there's still two weeks before Zico must name his "final" 23-man squad for Germany by May 15, and even then a player can be replaced due to injury and with sufficient medical evidence.

So time is on Yanagisawa's side, and there's no reason for anyone to start panicking.

Unlike in England, of course, where the Rooney injury is dominating the news in the same way as Beckham's injury did four years ago.

England's coach, Sven-Goran Eriksson, seems determined to select Rooney, against the wishes of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, in the hope he will be fit for the second round. England should be good enough to come through a group comprising Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago and Sweden, and the Round of 16 does not start in Germany until June 24 -- eight weeks after Rooney's injury.

Zico does not have such a luxury with Yanagisawa, as Japan need their top players from the moment the whistle blows against Australia on June 12.

This is Japan's critical game. They must take at least one point, preferably three, against the Aussies, because it won't get any easier against Croatia and Brazil in the next matches.

Judging from Zico's comments, it seems clear that Yanagisawa will be in the 23 if he continues to improve and does not injure the foot again.

Zico is also known to favour Takahara and Kubo, and if he's planning to take only four forwards to Germany that leaves only one place available.

Alongside Takahara, Kubo and Yanagisawa, therefore, must be a player with different qualities, and the last spot seems certain to go to Oguro. Zico acknowledges the former Gamba striker has something special, and Oguro scored some big goals for the national team during World Cup qualifying and at the Confederations Cup. So that's it...no Takayuki, no Tamada, no Maki, no Sato and no Okubo (anyone remember him?)

I'm not saying these would be my choices, because I would certainly find room for Maki on current form and fitness, but that's the way it's turning out.

These broken bones are certainly causing problems around the world, though, and it was interesting to hear the comments of Robbie Earle -- the former Wimbledon midfielder -- during the Chelsea-Man Utd game on TV on Saturday night.

He says the lighter, softer boot favoured by the players now is leaving them short of protection, hence the rise in "metatarsal" fractures.

Not so long ago most football fans wouldn't have known what a metatarsal was or where it was located in the body (the elbow, maybe, or the nose?) but now it's as much a part of Beckham's history as is Posh Spice, Brooklyn and Romeo.

ends

1 May 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, April 28, 2006 -- Not many Japanese players can claim to have had a satisfactory or enjoyable 2005-06 season in Europe.

But Shunsuke Nakamura most definitely can.

Which is why I'm puzzled to keep hearing that Shunsuke wants to move to Spain next season rather than stay in Glasgow with Celtic.

I know it's been Shunsuke's dream to play in Spain, but I think he's better off where he is and playing in a winning team which enjoys massive worldwide support.

Let's face it, Shunsuke had a lean time in Italy. He was not a success in his three years with Reggina, and, despite alleged interest from clubs in Spain last summer, he decided to transfer to Scotland.

The move has worked out perfectly for Shunsuke and for his style of football. Playing in a big team in a small league, Shunsuke has flourished in his playmaking role.

With players like Lennon and Keane around him in the midfield, there's not much need for him to tackle back and perform any defensive duties, which is and always will be one of his weak points.

And with the individual quality of the players around him greater than that of Celtic's rival teams, Shunsuke has been able to play his own game -- and look very good in doing so, with plenty of space and time to carve out that defence-splitting pass.

Celtic won the league handsomely, and are guaranteed UEFA Champions League football next season. This should represent a big enough challenge for Shunsuke without the need for him to pack his bags again and try and settle in another new country, Spain.

What will happen if he goes there, to a mid-table team striving for survival against the Spanish giants?

Well, it could end up like Italy, where he was in and out of the team and where his extravagant but fragile skills were often sacrificed for the all-action qualities of a journeyman midfield battler.

Stay in Scotland, Shunsuke.

Enjoy the haggis (I can strongly recommend this traditional, savoury dish to Japanese readers who may be thinking of visiting Scotland...your word "oishi" just does not do haggis justice!)...enjoy the atmosphere and occasion of the Old Firm derby against Rangers...and enjoy playing and winning for a team, remember, that became the first British club to win the European Cup (in 1967, with the famous "Lisbon Lions", beating Inter 2-1 in the final).

Stay in Glasgow, settle your mind, look forward to the World Cup...and, whatever happens in Germany, you'll still return to Celtic a hero and can taste UEFA Champions League action early next season...as well as the haggis.

ends

27 Apr 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, April 26, 2006 -- Congratulations to Arsene Wenger for steering Arsenal into the UEFA Champions League final.

Wenger, of course, is still remembered with affection in Japan, especially in Nagoya, and is, quite rightly, a JFA target for the job of national coach.

Wenger has told me on a couple of occasions that he would like the job -- but not yet. He says it's a part-time job, more suitable for semi-retirement, and he is not ready to leave club football just yet.

And who can blame him, with Arsenal about to appear in their first Champions League final and set to move into a magnificent new stadium just a goalkeeper's kick away from the historic -- but small -- Highbury. He's also been linked with the Real Madrid job, and, according to one of his close friends working in Japan (all right -- it's Stuart Baxter!), could even go at the end of this season.

So Japan will have to wait a while longer for Wenger's expertise. Maybe the 2010 World Cup in South Africa is a more realistic target for the JFA.

While admiring Wenger, I am afraid I cannot take his side in a controversial incident that happened during the North London derby against Spurs at Highbury on Saturday afternoon, shown live on Saturday evening in Japan.

Very briefly, two Arsenal players collided while challenging a Spurs player. It must be pointed out that the two players, Eboue and Gilberto, bumped into each other and stayed on the turf, but clearly were not injured seriously, like in a clash of heads.

Spurs played on and scored. Wenger was furious, thinking Spurs should have kicked the ball out of play to allow his players to be treated.

Personally, I think Spurs had every right to play on, and Wenger was wrong to criticise his opposite number, Martin Jol.

It's not as if there had been a heavy collision between two rival players, and one of them had been injured. That's totally different.

But anyway I feel there is too much these days of teams kicking the ball out of play to allow a player, who may or may not be injured, to receive treatment.

You see it a lot...a team is leading, a player drops to the turf to waste time, his goalkeeper or team-mate stops the game by kicking the ball out of play, the medical staff come on and, lo and behold, he's not hurt at all. It's just another form of time-wasting and gamesmanship that has crept into the modern game.

It's the referee's job to stop the game, not the players' job, and I think refs in Japan should be much tougher. They should keep the game flowing and tell the "injured" player to get up, or show a yellow card to a player who deliberately kicks the ball out of play to stop the match without the ref's permission.

Even then, I think some teams are way too generous in kicking the ball back to the opposition on the restart, as they are losing and their opponents who have delayed the game are all now back in formation.

Who'd be a ref these days?

ends

24 Apr 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, April 21, 2006 -- A free kick from midfield general Yamaguchi to Jo; a Kazu cross, a Jo header and a goal...

This article may sound like a sentence from "All Our Yesterdays", particularly in the build-up to the 1998 World Cup, but in fact it all took place at Mitsuzawa Stadium on Tuesday night.

It was Yokohama FC against Vissel Kobe in J2, and the stadium was so packed that fans were hanging from the balconies of the apartments overlooking the ground.

(Actually, this is an exaggeration, as the attendance was 3,286 -- and there are always people watching from their balconies at Mitsuzawa...but I am trying to build an atmosphere here, folks!)

As we all know, Yokohama won 2-1 with two Jo headers, the first from a pinpoint Kazu cross from the left, after the one-time king had beaten the offside trap, and the second in controversial circumstances when everyone else had stopped playing, believing there had been an infringement. It was all a bit messy and extremely unsatisfactory, and matters got worse for Kobe when goalkeeper Ogi moved up for a corner in the closing seconds, and then ran into his opposite number, Sugeno, after the YFC keeper had collected the ball.

It was comical and amusing more than violent or malicious, but Sugeno decided to take the law into his own hands and chased after Ogi to the edge of his penalty area. A Yokohama player then pushed Ogi (I couldn't see who it was because I was laughing so much), and then several other players got involved, too, before Ogi was shown the red card. What you might call a case of: "Ogi, Ogi, Ogi, off, off, off!"

It was more like a scene from "The Keystone Cops" or even "Benny Hill" when everyone is chasing everyone else, but the Vissel camp were not laughing on the final whistle.

All in all, though, excellent value for money for the home fans, as they had also seen former Flugels star Atsu Miura back on his old home ground as Vissel captain, as well as charismatic Kobe manager Stuart Baxter with his new assistant, Rafa Benitez...I'm sorry, I mean Pedro, but just check him out next time. From the stand, Pedro is the double of Liverpool's Spanish manager!

I had a nice chat with Takuya Takagi before the game, and he was very calm and pragmatic about his new job and about Yokohama FC's recent upturn in fortunes.

He told me to watch out for midfielder Uchida. He was wearing the No. 10 so I presumed he must be a "fantasista", but Takagi-kantoku shook his head and said Uchida ran much more between the two penalty boxes and was always looking to score.

"More like Lampard, then?" I asked.

"Little Lampard!" came the reply (Uchida is 1.66 metres and weighs only 58 kgs).

There's lots going on in J2 these days, and it's well worth taking in a game when the J1 schedule permits.

ends

20 Apr 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, April 18, 2006 -- Nagoya Grampus Eight head coach Sef Vergoossen was among the spectators at the Frontale-Ardija game at Todoroki on Sunday afternoon.

He was there to study Frontale ahead of Nagoya's home game against them on Saturday, and, judging from a quick chat I had with him, seemed to pick up a lot of useful information.

He also made some very interesting comments about Japanese football in general, or, rather, about Japanese players.

What he said made sense to me, and I must admit I've seen it frequently in the past. It's just that a newcomer to Japanese football notices these things immediately, as Europe is still fresh in his mind.

This is what he was on about:

Basically, he feels that the players do not give enough of their time to the supporters. He's not talking about holding social functions in the evenings or anything like that, just dealing with the kind of situation that arises after training and after matches all the time.

"I think there's a big difference between the players and the fans," he said, adding that it was the responsibility of the players to close this gap.

He gave a few examples.

After training, players could spare a few minutes before jumping into their luxury SUVs to sign autographs and have their photos taken with fans who have hung around for a couple of hours in all sorts of weather.

And after games, he said the fans may be only 10 metres away from the team bus, but often players ignored them.

He even recalled the case of a Japanese player in Europe, whose name I shall not reveal, who just walked past a small group of Japanese supporters who had gone to watch him train with his club.

"It looks a little bit arrogant," said Vergoossen.

I have seen this with the national team, especially away from home. There may be a couple of thousand "daihyo" die-hards (hey, that phrase has marketing potential...I think I'll register it as a trademark!) who have paid a lot of money and travelled a long way to cheer on the Boys in Blue, only to be ignored after the final whistle.

I've often wondered why the players haven't gone over to them, waved and maybe even thrown them a souvenir or two.

A sock from Tsune, a shin pad from Shunsuke, one of Hide's gloves...I'm sure the JFA would be able to replace them at little extra cost!

Vergoossen, of course, is not referring to all players, as there will be some exceptions. He is just generalising from his first impressions, and I must say he has made a good point.

Although the players bow ritually to their fans after J.League games, win, lose or draw, I feel there could be more recognition and emotion on behalf of the players.

"You have to respect your supporters," said Vergoossen, "because without them there would be no professional football."

So come on players...next time show the fans you really care and throw them a sock or a glove -- and then they'll keep coming back to try and get the other one to complete the pair!

ends

17 Apr 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, April 14, 2006 -- If Japan's leading forwards are looking for a master finisher to copy his style, the answer may be closer to home than they think.

Yes, the master finisher is playing in Japan.

And, yes again, he is Japanese!

You may be surprised by this observation, especially when the player I am referring to has played for Japan's national team on a number of occasions under Zico.

Still puzzled?

Well, it's none other than Nobuhisa Yamada, the versatile Urawa Reds veteran who displayed his sublime finishing skills yet again in the Nabisco Cup against Avispa Fukuoka at Komaba on Wednesday night.

After robbing a dithering Hirajima, Avispa's right-sided midfielder, Yamada cruised down the inside-left channel before clipping the ball delightfully over goalkeeper Kamiyama.

Talk about cool!

Yamada was so cool he should be renamed the "Ice Man" -- and he left the keeper frozen solid.

It wasn't the first time in recent months I've noticed a stunning finish from Yamada, as he's found the net before with some delicate touches, caressing the ball into the corner rather than blasting it.

Yamada's goals bring to mind a conversation I had with UEFA technical expert Andy Roxburgh, the former head coach of Scotland, during the 1998 World Cup in France. (It was at the same seminar in Paris when a certain Philippe Troussier was giving an amusing speech about African football, shortly before he became Japan's new head coach.)

Japan had already been eliminated, losing 1-0 to Argentina and Croatia and 2-1 to Jamaica, and Roxburgh said there had been little difference between the two teams -- apart from the fact that Argentina had Batistuta and Croatia had Suker (actually, that's a pretty big difference).

"Watch the leading strikers in the world," Roxburgh said. "See how they relax when they have the chance to score a goal.

"Now watch the Japanese forwards. They are in too much of a hurry. A chance comes, they panic and the chance is gone."

Well, it was something like that, but the conversation was eight years ago now.

Had Roxburgh been at Komaba on Wednesday night, and seen Yamada's beautiful goal, I'm sure he would have thought: "Wow, the Japanese strikers have improved a lot since 1998!"

Only that, as we all know, Yamada is hardly a striker, even though he played up front on Wednesday alongside Kurobe.

A right back in 4-4-2, a right wing-back in 3-5-2, a "top-shita" even...Yamada has played in all these positions, but it was the first time I'd seen him so far forward.

On this particular night, Yamada made scoring a goal in a one-on-one with the keeper as easy as Batistuta or Suker used to do...and you can't get better than that.

They used to call Batistuta "Bati-gol", so let's hear it for Reds' latest scoring sensation..."Yama-gol"!

ends

13 Apr 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, April 11, 2006 -- Whatever has happened to the Yokohama F Marinos?

I have seen them twice in the past few days, and, despite the undoubted quality throughout the team and on the bench, they have looked anything but potential champions.

The most recent occasion was Saturday at Saitama Urawa Komaba Stadium.

Their opponents were Omiya Ardija, and it was quite strange watching a J.League game at Komaba without the involvement of Urawa Reds.

Where was assistant coach Gert Engels having his pre-match cigarette in the lobby? Where was the White Horse to carry Guido home? Where was Ya-jin running down the right wing?

Marinos must have thought it unusual, too, as they lacked motivation and urgency, and cannot complain at all about losing the game 2-1.

Takeshi Okada was in a grim mood after the defeat, so much so that I didn't even try to speak to him in English, in which he is very competent. I just let him walk by, and remained at a safe distance!

But who can blame him?

His well-paid stars had been humbled by modest Omiya, and the large "away" following had every right to jeer their players after the game.

Looking through the Marinos team, there should be no excuses for such a limp performance.

Matsuda, Kurihara and Nakazawa form a formidable back three, and Kurihara, at 22, must have a chance of being called up into the Japan squad post-Germany World Cup. He is impressive in the air, and can learn a lot from the two "old hands" either side of him.

The Marinos midfield has good balance, with Tanaka on the right, Dutra on the left, and Ueno and Magrao in the middle, allowing Yoshida to link up with his two strikers, Kubo and Marques.

Yoshida, however, is rather lightweight, and made little impact on the game, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the two forwards.

Although Kubo scored with a trademark header, after some poor defending by Omiya, he was rarely in the game and looked far from 100 per cent fit. It must be a real worry for Zico, as clearly the Brazilian head coach has Kubo earmarked for a key role in Germany.

Marques is a clever player, but still looked slightly traumatised by the man-marking of Inoha the previous week in a 1-1 draw with FC Tokyo at Nissan Stadium. It was as if Marques could sense Inoha on his shoulder (even though he was not in the same prefecture at the time), and the Brazilian could not relax into his game.

The lively Sakata and the predator Oshima, who always looks dangerous in the box, failed to spark a late revival in a generally flat and lethargic display from Okada's team.

Perhaps Nakazawa and Kubo are saving themselves for the national team cause. If they are, Marinos fans will be hoping their team has not fallen too many points behind Reds when the action resumes after the World Cup.

ends

10 Apr 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, April 7, 2006: What have Japan and England got in common at the moment?

Well, with Zico and Sven-Goran Eriksson stepping down after the World Cup, both countries are looking for a new head coach.

And while the English papers are full of stories, almost on a daily basis, about the Swede's successor, it's pretty quiet over here in Japan.

So here's a bit of gossip I've picked up in recent weeks from a variety of sources, all of them on the inside of the game rather than the outside.

The latest I heard is that JFA President Saburo Kawabuchi is leaning towards appointing a Japanese head coach, and that his favourite is Akira Nishino.

The Atlanta Olympic team coach has a strong case, with Gamba winning the championship last season. Also, if the JFA wants a coach to look after the Olympic team and the national team, then it makes sense to appoint someone who knows the quality of the players available at various age levels.

In fact, with the Asian Cup in 2007 and the Beijing Olympics in 2008, a Japanese head coach, appointed on a two-year contract after the World Cup, looks like a logical move. In addition to this, if a leading coach from overseas is not available to come to Japan in 2006 (Wenger, for example), then why waste money on someone who knows nothing about Japan and who would be starting from zero?

Anyway, this was the latest I heard, that Nishino seemed to be favoured by Kawabuchi.

Regarding overseas coaches, the former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier is known to be admired by the technical people inside the JFA, but it's highly unlikely he would leave Lyon so soon.

Another name was that of former Antlers manager Toninho Cerezo, who left Kashima with a very high reputation at the end of last season, but who has since taken a job in Brazil. That's not a problem, though, as managers change clubs on a regular basis in Brazil, but compensation to the Brazilian club from the JFA would be an issue.

Many people seem to think that Sorimachi, the former Albirex manager, will take over the Olympic team's preparations. If this is true, it would mean that Japan would need a head coach for the senior team, maybe even on a one-year contract through to the 2007 Asian Cup. Who could that be? Osim, maybe? Or Nishino? Or Okada?

By all accounts, the JFA technical committee is compiling a list of candidates to present to Kawabuchi by the end of this month.

Maybe then the intense speculation will begin in the media, like it is already in England.

ends

6 Apr 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, April 4, 2006: The closer the World Cup comes, the more I think the chances of Seiichiro Maki going to Germany improve.

And I don't mean as a fan on a "dangan" tour.

I mean as a member of the "daihyo", one of the 23 chosen by Zico before the rather early FIFA deadline of May 15.

Let's look at the facts.

First, Maki is physically fit, 100 per cent fit, meaning he is not carrying a slight injury from week to week.

Second, Maki is match fit, meaning he is sharp and alert on the pitch.

Third, he is playing 90 minutes every week.

Fourth, he is scoring goals...three in six J.League games this season.

Under normal circumstances, the above list of attributes does not add up to anything special.

But these are not normal circumstances for Japan's forwards, and how many of Maki's rivals can place a "tick" in all of the above boxes.

Yanagisawa is injured; Kubo is rusty and looks like he could break down at any time; Takahara is on the bench at Hamburg; Takayuki has disappeared into the mists of Belgrade; Yoshito is off Zico's radar in Mallorca; Tamada is struggling to rediscover the form of yesteryear, and Oguro is playing Sunday morning pub football in France.

Have I forgotten anyone?

Oh yes, Hisato Sato. That was a fine goal against Ecuador from an equally impressive cross from Alex, who, after a couple of quiet years, is finally beginning to sparkle again.

Sato is the only player who, like Maki, his strike partner for Japan's "C" team, can tick all the relevant boxes.

I saw Maki play for JEF on Sunday at Todoroki against Frontale.

It was a fast and physical match, with tackles flying in all afternoon, and extremely well refereed by Tsutomu Anazawa. The ref knew the difference between a blatant dive, namely from Juninho, and a genuine trip, and between a fair shoulder charge (Ito on Maki) and a push, and he let the game flow as much as possible.

Frontale don't play with a "back three" as much as a "basketball three", as Minowa, Terada and Ito are all well above 1.80 metres -- or the same as Hanyu standing on Yuto's shoulders.

But Maki battered away all afternoon, and ran his socks off for the team to help earn a 2-2 draw.

After the game I spoke to JEF manager Osim, who said every team needed a player like Maki, including Nippon Daihyo.

Osim said Maki would be most effective coming off the bench for the national team, say at half-time or with 30 minutes to go, and running relentlessly at a tiring defence.

"Three years, no problems. It's a miracle!" said Osim, referring to Maki's fitness level.

"Very courageous...tackling...not big technique but a very, very big heart."

This is how Osim summed up Maki.

For the first time, and for the reasons listed above, I am starting to think that Maki has a chance.

But what does Zico think?

ends

3 Apr 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, March 31, 2006: Foreigners are quite rare at J.League matches, apart from on the pitch and in the dug-out.

Sometimes there's a few agents around, checking on their players, and occasionally there's a scout from a European club.

At Todoroki Stadium the other day I met Ulrich Mohr, chief scout of VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

He said he wasn't in Japan to watch any specific player, just to view the scene in general and meet with the likes of Guido Buchwald and Ivica Osim.

Mohr was also at Komaba on Wednesday for the Nabisco Cup group game between Reds and FC Tokyo, and I chatted with him again after the match.

He said he was impressed with the speed, the aggression, the forward movement of the teams and the technique of the Japanese players, and was interested in signing a young player who could be taught the European way.

He asked me who I liked, so I said Tokunaga, Konno and Inoha of FC Tokyo, but he said he preferred the more creative, attacking play of Kajiyama.

Had I still been working in English newspapers I would have gone to my labtop immediately and pounded out the following story: "German giants VfL Wolfsburg are ready to pounce for FC Tokyo's brilliant young schemer, Yohei Kajiyama.

"Top scout Ulrich Mohr checked out the 20-year-old midfield whizz-kid in Wednesday's match at Urawa Reds, and his club is preparing to make a one million-pound bid.

"FC Tokyo would be reluctant to lose such a talented player, but Kajiyama is already having German lessons and eating sausages and saurkraut three times a day to prepare for life in the Bundesliga."

This is how some of the English football writers would have reacted to such a harmless, post-match chit-chat, and, who knows, the story may come true. After all, the German scout mentioned Kajiyama (actually he said the No. 23), not me!

What was clear, though, was that there seems little chance of a Japanese defender being transferred to Europe, due to their lack of height, which is a crucial factor in the big, tough, physical world of the Bundesliga, where 1.90-metre eastern Europeans lurk in every penalty box.

"I liked the No. 2 for Reds (Tsuboi)," said Mohr, referring to an earlier match.

"He is quick and aggressive and has good technique, but is 10 centimetres too small. In Germany you want high players (he meant 'tall', but it was close) in the defence. Midfielders and strikers are better, and young players so they can be coached," said Mohr.

Japan is not without tall defenders -- for example Nakazawa and Matsuda at Marinos, or the entire back line of Frontale, who resemble a basketball team when they walk out on the pitch -- but clearly the more creative players stand a better chance of impressing the Euro scouts.

Kajiyama is 20, a midfielder, 1.80 metres and 75 kgs...just a minute, I have thought of an article!

"Bayern Munich are preparing to replace Manchester United-bound Michael Ballack with FC Tokyo's 10 million-pound rated midfield schemer Yohei etc. etc......"

ends

30 Mar 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, March 28, 2006: Think of a typical old-fashioned centre half and someone like Alan Stubbs comes to mind.

The veteran Everton defender is all heart and no nonsense, and has been in the news recently for some interesting comments about foreign players in the Premier League.

In short, Stubbs feels foreign imports are responsible for the alarming rise in gamesmanship -- and thinks the authorities should act quickly to stamp it out.

He's talking about the kind of things we see every week in the J.League: players diving to try and win free kicks or penalty kicks, players feigning injury to delay the game (just check out the closing stages of the Jubilo-Frontale match on Saturday), and players appealing to the referee to take out his yellow card and caution an opponent.

"It is a foreign thing that has crept into our game lately," Stubbs said, after the Merseyside derby against Liverpool.

"The foreign players have brought a lot of good things to the Premiership but a lot of the other side as well."

Personally, I am glad that an experienced and honest professional such as Stubbs should make a stand, because he will remember the good old days when none of this nonsense happened -- and it wasn't that long ago, either.

And while Stubbs has a point about the foreign players, English players dive, too. Lee Bowyer (at my favourite club, Newcastle United) and Shaun Wright-Phillips at Chelsea are just two of many examples, and I remember being embarrassed by Ashley Cole clearly diving for England against Argentina at Sapporo in the 2002 World Cup.

So this is not new; it's just that it's getting worse.

Stubbs says the players themselves must take steps to stop it, for example asking the opposing player why he is rolling around on the ground when he's not hurt.

I also like to see defenders giving forwards a piece of their mind when they have dived to try and win a penalty. This happened to Shunsuke Nakamura playing for Celtic the other day, I think against Hibernian, when two burly defenders frightened the life out of Shunsuke after he had dived on the edge of the box.

I think more Japanese players should start doing this when they know an opponent is cheating. Harangue the conman! Embarrass him! Make sure everyone in the ground knows he's trying to con the referee!

And referees should be strong and keep the game moving, rather than stopping the play and rushing half the length of the pitch to attend to a player who is feigning injury.

Stubbs feels that a player who waves an imaginary card at the referee to encourage him to book an opponent should be shown the yellow card himself for unsportsmanlike behaviour -- and I totally agree with this.

Just think what an enjoyable job refereeing would be if players were honest.

Sadly, that's just too much to ask these days, even in England.

ends

27 Mar 2006(Mon)

Tokyo, March 24, 2006: Although Avispa Fukuoka have failed to win any of their four games back in the top flight (maybe it's five by the time you read this), they looked hungry and lively in a recent 2-2 draw at Chiba.

JEF, in fact, could count themselves fortunate to be level 1-1 at half-time, and even more lucky to finish with a point from a 2-2 draw.

Avispa, bravely and confidently, decided to take JEF on at their own game, and at their own stadium of Fukuda Denshi Arena, or "Fukuare" for short.

This meant lots of running and lots of passing and a high tempo for the whole 90 minutes. On the day, JEF looked uncharacteristically disorganised and lethargic, lacking rhythm and motivation, while Avispa were fresh, fast and fearless.

In fact, when the action stopped for half-time and the stadium music began, one of the songs was the catchy pop tune with the chorus, "I said 'hey! What's going on?"

This is exactly how I was feeling: Hey! What's going on with JEF United? They were being played off the park!

Even the half-time Chiba Cheerleaders, lined up in an adventurous 5-4-0 formation, were moving more smoothly than the Chiba team -- and they were carrying flags.

But let's give Avispa credit, and if they continue to play like this they should be able to stay alive in J1 this season.

"Are you happy with a point away from home against one of the J.League's top teams?" I asked Avispa's manager, Hiroshi Matsuda, after the game, already knowing the answer.

"Not at all," he replied, "because we were leading twice."

Matsuda put his team's late lapses in either half down to naivety.

"We have very young players without experience and that is the main reason, I think," he added.
"It's a matter of concentration in extra time."

It has to be said that Avispa received tremendous support, with some fans leaving Fukuoka by bus at 9pm the previous evening and arriving at the ground at 2pm, two hours before kick-off.

The manager's words, then, should provide comfort for the Avispa faithful. "We have been building the team for three years, and I have confidence in the organisation, tactics and 4-4-2, offensively and defensively," he said.

"I have a good feeling in the J.League that we can do it, and fight with this organisation and tactics. Unfortunately, the individual quality is not so high like Urawa Reds and Gamba Osaka. That is why we could not win the last three games."

Matsuda was referring to the three draws to open the season, but since then they have slipped up 1-0 at home to Grampus.

Even though Avispa, on this bright showing at Chiba, looked good enough to stay up, they need a win quickly to make sure confidence does not drain.

By the time you read this, maybe they'll already have it.

ends

23 Mar 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, March 22, 2006: Just when a coach thinks he's got it exactly right, it can all go horribly wrong!

This was the case at Todoroki Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, when Kawasaki Frontale and FC Tokyo played out an extremely entertaining 2-2 draw.

A draw was a fair result, but FC Tokyo had looked certain to win after coming back in the second half thanks to some smart changes from their first-year coach, Alexandre Gallo.

Frontale were leading 1-0 at half-time, so Gallo decided action was needed.

He put Inoha, his impressive young midfielder, on the dangerous Juninho in a man-marking job, and left just Moniwa and Jean at the back.

Then he pushed his two full-backs, Tokunaga on the right and Suzuki on the left, further forward, and asked them to attack, which they did in some style.

Konno, one of my favourite players who, sadly and, in my opinion, inexplicably, is nowhere near Japan's World Cup squad for Germany, dropped a bit deeper to shield his defence.

Jean equalised with a flying header, and the ex-Jubilo raider Kawaguchi put Tokyo in front 2-1 with a lovely finish after sterling work on the right flank by Tokunaga (what a good player this guy is!)

Absolutely full marks to Gallo at this point for his tactical changes, and FC Tokyo, playing toward a jumping mass of their fans behind the goal in the second half, looked on course for three welcome points.

But Gallo, I'm afraid, then got it all wrong. He replaced the tiring midfielder Miyazawa with the defender Masushima, and moved Inoha back into central midfield. There was only five minutes or so left at this point, and clearly Gallo thought Masushima could look after Juninho for the rest of the contest.

This was where FC Tokyo came unstuck. Inoha had done a fine marking job on Juninho, easing the pressure on Moniwa and Jean, but it's not easy for a late substitute to pick up the pace of the game, especially when we're talking about the pace of Juninho! The speedy Brazilian saw his chance, and linked twice with Nakamura to enable the midfielder to equalise with another excellent goal.

Looking back, I'm sure Gallo would have done things differently, perhaps asking Masushima just to sit in midfield, alongside Konno, and leave Inoha on Juninho.

All in all, then, a very tactical battle, and Juninho showed his quality by taking advantage of the tiny bit of space afforded to him late in the game.

At 38, Gallo is still young for a head coach, and is still learning about his players.

I am sure he will have learned from his experience at Todoroki, where he looked to have got it so right until that late switch.

ends

20 Mar 2006(Mon)

March 17, 2006: It's only two games into the new J.League season, but things already don't look too good for Kyoto Purple Sanga.

Two games, two heavy defeats, and a crowd of under 8,000 for their first home match of the campaign.

Of course there is plenty of time for things to improve, but it's just the kind of start any team coming up from J2 must fear and avoid.

Even before the season kicked off, Purple Sanga's squad looked a bit thin and inexperienced.

They had made only two significant signings during the winter, striker Hayashi from JEF United and defender Kodama from Gamba, as manager Koichi Hashiratani kept faith with the players who had won the J2 championship in 2005.

Playing away to Yokohama F Marinos on the opening weekend of the season is not the easiest of returns, and Takeshi Okada's team won comfortably 4-1, aided by some poor goalkeeping.

Next up was Kawasaki Frontale at home. These two were meeting in J2 not so long ago, but they were in a different league at Nishikyogoku as Frontale ran riot and won 7-2!

That's 13 goals for Frontale in two matches, but for Kyoto it was 11 conceded and a goal difference of minus 8. Needless to say, this kind of form is certain to guarantee you last place in the J1 table, and that's exactly where Kyoto stand -- in 18th position and already looking up at the rest of the division.

I haven't attended either of Kyoto's two games to date, but have seen the highlights on the sports news programmes.

The defending has been calamitous, especially at home to Frontale, when the Kawasaki forwards took it in turn to race through, almost unchallenged, and have their own scoring contest.

You couldn't help but feel sorry for the Kyoto fans, who have seen it all before.

Yet there were only 7,921 supporters for the Frontale game, and it would be unreasonable to expect all the Kyoto fans among them to return immediately.

After playing Jubilo away on Saturday, Kyoto will entertain Sanfrecce Hiroshima in an evening kick-off on Tuesday, a national holiday.

Sanfrecce have made steady progress under Takeshi Ono, and will provide another stern test -- and a guideline -- for Purple Sanga as they attempt to cement a place in the top flight.

Kyoto will need to adjust quickly and gain some confidence, as they can't afford to fall too far behind too early in a long season.

ends

16 Mar 2006(Thu)

March 14, 2006: There are times in Japan when you really appreciate how much football has become part of the sporting and social fabric.

Saturday was one of them.

It was Reds against Jubilo at Saitama Stadium 2002: a rising force of Japanese football against a fading force, and it was an occasion too good to miss.

The sun was shining, spring was in the air, and a spring was in the step of the Urawa masses as they headed for the ground.

On the trains it was chaos, but an enjoyable kind of chaos. There was red everywhere, and a feeling of excitement all around among the generations of fans crammed into the carriages and packed on the staircases of the stations.

The journey from Omiya Station to Urawa Misono is never straight-forward, with two changes necessary, but on this day it was much longer due to the slow pace of the fans.

So when you emerged into the open air at Urawa Misono, and the silver outline of the stadium was beckoning in the distance, like a gleaming space ship waiting to take off, you could finally walk at a brisk pace. Past the kiosks selling a wide range of replica shirts, and the stalls offering a wide range of pre-match snacks.

Being English, the donner kebab stands made me feel right at home, but the queues were too big and the service too slow to entice me to join them and risk delaying the journey even more.

Arriving at the stadium, the plaza was packed with families having a picnic in the sunshine. Mitsubishi had taken the opportunity to display a new model, and the park and grassy banks on the far side were full of kids playing football.

Yes, this was the true world of football -- and not a hint of any crowd trouble, despite the rivalry between the two teams. (Japanese readers may wonder why I have pointed out this fact, but don't forget I grew up in England in the Seventies, when the threat of violence hung over every game, from the moment you walked out of the train station or bus station to the moment you got off at your stop on the way home again! Police sirens, dogs barking, shouting in the distance, people running and causing others to panic...were they running toward trouble or away from it? You never knew.)

So still, after all these years, the atmosphere in Japan is alien to me, and special. Positive, refreshing, friendly.

As I walked round the stadium toward the Media Accreditation desk, the Jubilo fans in the "away" corner started chanting "Yoshikatsu" as, presumably, Kawaguchi and his fellow keepers emerged for their pre-match routine. The Reds fans whistled and jeered in reply...great stuff!

As kick-off approached, the stadium was a magnificent spectacle, bathed in sunshine, covered in red except for a sky blue line of Jubilo faithful, and over 56,000 fans to see the game.

This is what Saturday afternoons are all about.

ends

13 Mar 2006(Mon)

March 10, 2006: Well done to the Verdy fans for their unwavering support during the Asian Champions League match against Ulsan the other night.

It was an impressive performance, not just to keep singing with defeat inevitable but to actually to stay awake for the entire 90 minutes!

Wasn't it a poor spectacle?

This is supposed to be Asia's equivalent of the UEFA Champions League, but it's light years away, isn't it?

Funnily enough, I awoke very early, by accident, on the morning of the Verdy-Ulsan match.

It can't have been excitement or tension about the upcoming "thriller" at Kokuritsu that woke me long before the alarm clock was due to go off. It must have been something else...

Instinctively, I turned on TV...and was rewarded immediately by seeing Ronaldinho's fantastic goal against Chelsea.

The colour, the spectacle, the atmosphere...will Asia's Champions League ever come close to matching that?

Let's face it, these matches are pretty grim viewing, and I often wonder why I've bothered making the journey to the game when I could be at home doing something useful, such as washing the dishes.

I suppose it's the prospect of seeing a team play from another country that "entices" me there, if that's the right word to use.

But what often happens in these games, in Japan at least, is that the home team is way too strong or that the visiting team employs every trick in the book of gamesmanship to try and stop the Japanese team from playing.

Either way, the result is often a farce, with low quality football from a visiting team or a match almost impossible to watch due to the blatant cheating and time-wasting of the opposition.

On Wednesday, for example, the Koreans fell to the ground at every opportunity, and their fall was often accompanied by a pathetic "scream" of pain. I'd like to have seen some TV replays of the alleged fouls, because there looked to be minimum contact on a few occasions, if any contact at all.

And when a visiting team goes ahead, of course, the theatrics and play-acting gets even worse.

It's bad in this part of the world, but even worse in west Asia. The favourite trick over there is for the goalkeeper to pretend he is injured, and stay down after every corner, free kick or challenge. With the goalkeeper rolling around and his teammates putting pressure on the referee and the opposition to stop the game, the charade continues through to the final whistle.

I remember Palestine doing this against Japan at the Asian Games in Pusan, Korea, in 2002, as they tried to keep the scoreline at 0-0 as long as possible. Only when Japan eventually took the lead in the second half did Palestine even attempt to play football, as they now had to actually score a goal to equalise...something they had clearly never worked on in training!

Verdy 0, Ulsan 2, in front of 4,436 fans, which is not a bad attendance when compared to the levels of support in Korea.

Anyone heading to Ulsan for the second leg on May 3, apart from Ramos and the boys?

I think I'll stay in and do the dishes!

ends

9 Mar 2006(Thu)

Tokyo, March 7, 2006: In English, we often talk about "a game of two halves."

Every game, of course, has two halves of 45 minutes, and some, in knockout competitions, have another two halves of 15 minutes if they are still level after 90.

The specific reference here, then, to "a game of two halves" is about one half being entirely different to the other, which can happen frequently in football.

It did at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Sunday afternoon, when Omiya Ardija hosted JEF United.

JEF were brilliant in the first half, and at times I thought I was watching Holland in 1974. Saito was Krol, defending in his own penalty box one minute and then attacking at the other end of the field the next; Abe was Neeskens, driving the team forward; and Maki was Rep, but without the mop of blond hair.

Who was Cruyff, you ask?

Well, I'm sorry, but there can only ever be one Cruyff. (What was all that FIFA nonsense recently about the greatest player of all time, Pele or Maradona? Surely it was Cruyff, followed by Alan Shearer...hey, I'm a Newcastle United fan, of course!)

Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating about JEF, because the 1974 Dutch team would have buried Omiya by half-time...and might still be able to do so today (sorry Ardija fans...just a small joke!)

Saito put JEF in front with a lovely shot, curled into the far corner, but poor defending at a corner immediately allowed Tomita to equalise with a back-post header.

Maki then gave JEF the lead for a second time...and the match was still only 15 minutes old.

JEF were running the show, playing bright, inventive, mobile football in the classic Osim way. Forget Reds, Marinos, Antlers, Gamba and Jubilo...there was only going to be one team at the top of the table this season!

But that was the first half -- and this was a game of two halves, remember.

On the hour mark, Sakamoto equalised for Omiya with an own goal (not quite as spectacular as the Hasebe-Tsuboi combo for Gamba in the Xerox Xuper Cup, but still worth watching several times on the big screen), and the JEF collapse had begun.

Yuto Sato was shown the red card for two minor fouls in quick succession -- shame on the Omiya players in question for pretending they were hurt -- and Daigo Kobayashi, pouncing like a young Kazu, promptly headed Omiya into the lead for the first time, 3-2.

They say it never rains, it pours, and Sakamoto's own goal, Yuto's red card and Daigo's header was quickly followed by Haas walking off rubbing his hamstring.

"His left hamstring, wasn't it?" I asked Osim after the game.

"Does it matter?" he replied, with a smile, having made a perfectly good point.

To round off a miserable afternoon for JEF, Toninho headed home Omiya's fourth, and the men in orange (Ardija 2006, not Holland 1974) were in Total Control. So much for Total Football!

To win J1, JEF needed a full-strength team in virtually every game, but already Yuto was suspended and Haas injured.

Maybe they could take Tsuchiya on loan from Omiya. After all, he had only a game of one half...

ends

6 Mar 2006(Mon)

March 3, 2006: This weekend is a special one for the J.League.

Not just because it's the start of the new season, but because J2 is playing on Saturday and J1 on Sunday.

Apart from Gamba and Reds, of course, who clash in Suita City on Saturday afternoon.

This is just like the good old days, when J1 played on Saturday and J2 on Sunday, and it was easy for fans to take in two games over the weekend.

I enjoyed those times, when you had the pick of the Kanto games on Saturday and could then keep an eye on the second division the following day.

Personally, I'd like to see the J.League go back to that format.

They could still hold a couple of J1 games on a Sunday, especially one in the Kanto region due to the large number of clubs, but the second day of the weekend would be primarily for J2.

I think this would give J2 more exposure in the media and also produce bigger crowds, because neutral fans around Japan would, I am sure, always attend a J1 game over J2 if they had the choice.

If there were six J2 games on offer, alongside only a couple of J1 games, every Sunday then the chances of fans heading for the second division would be much greater.

So where's it to be for the Kanto fans this weekend?

Gamba and Reds is out of the question for financial reasons -- I will accept all donations to FC Japan in aid of a poor freelance football writer! -- so Saturday is down to two choices: Ehime or Tosu.

No, I'm joking, because those are near Okinawa, aren't they? Or Taipei?

It's either Reysol or Verdy.

The Yellow Monkeys are always worth watching behind the goal at Kashiwa (and occasionally so is the Reysol team), and their opponents on Saturday, Shonan Bellmare, play in one of the nicest strips in the J.League...that very attractive royal blue and lime green (maybe Miki Ando can try wearing a Bellmare strip the next time she skates...apart from the boots and shin pads, of course).

As for Verdy, well...it's going to be a circus isn't it at Kokuritsu, where the once mighty Greens take on Vortis.

Verdy look to be world-beaters again, with Ramos, Hashiratani, Tsunami and Kikuchi -- and that's just on the bench!

They have clearly splashed out a lot of money on the coaching staff, but have they got any players left after most of last season's bunch, including several Kobayashis, moved to Saitama Prefecture.

Well, readers, enjoy the weekend wherever you go...and don't forget those donations (no coins please, only notes above 5,000 yen)!

ends

2 Mar 2006(Thu)

February 28, 2006: For a club that kicked off the J.League in 1993 with one of England's most famous players (Gary Lineker), and was later under the command of one of the modern game's great coaches (Arsene Wenger), Nagoya Grampus Eight have become the forgotten team of J1.

Despite the generous backing of Toyota, Grampus have been left behind by clubs with much smaller financial resources, playing squads and fan bases.

All in all, then, Grampus finished 2005 in a pretty sorry state, in a humiliating 14th position and with Nelsinho, the Brazilian coach hired to take them to the top, long since gone.

Enter Sef Vergoossen, a Dutchman charged with pointing Grampus in the right direction.

I had a good chat with the man with the rather extravagant moustache during the J.League's annual "meet the managers" function in Tokyo last Friday.

Not surprisingly, Vergoossen was in upbeat mood ahead of the new season, and said his players were very motivated. Too motivated, in fact, and this had resulted in some preseason injuries.

The old war horse Yutaka Akita, the evergreen Toshiya Fujita and the new Slovakian import, Marek Spilar, from Club Brugge in Belgium, were among the casualties, but Vergoossen said he had total faith in his medical staff. Clearly he knows them well already.

The subject quickly turned to "Tamada Keiji, Tamada Keiji, Tamada Keiji woh-oh-oh!" (sorry about that readers; I thought I was at Hitachi Stadium for a moment!). Tamada, of course, joined Grampus from relegated Reysol for around 300 million yen -- well, that's the transfer fee I was told by someone close to the deal.

I liked Tamada a lot two or three years ago, but my opinion has changed. In my eyes, and maybe in Zico's too, he has to prove himself again at Nagoya, when he's fully fit, of course.

I want to see a hungry and energetic Tamada, running into the channels, taking on defenders and scoring goals with that lovely left foot. His slump in form and confidence seemed to be reflected in the whole Reysol team, but Tamada -- and Kashiwa -- can now start again in rather different places.

"We have to be careful with him," Vergoossen said of Tamada. "He can be important, and I have to give him the time to come back to his normal level.

"I heard that last season was not his best, but before he was a very good striker with high quality and soon he will be good again."

Grampus are an important club to the J.League, one of the 10 founder members. The J.League needs a strong Grampus, so hopefully Vergoossen, with a fresh approach and optimism, can turn them around.

And the Grampus fans can always look forward to singing the made-in-Kashiwa "Tamada Keiji" anthem...surely one of the best in the J.League!

ends

27 Feb 2006(Mon)

February 25, 2006: Can the J.League ever again match the drama of last season's final day, when Cerezo Osaka lost the championship and Gamba Osaka won it, all in the space of a few crazy seconds?

It's unlikely we will go into the last round of games with five teams still in with a chance of finishing on top, but there are no signs that one "super team" -- such as Chelsea in England, Juventus in Italy, Barcelona in Spain and Bayern Munich in Germany -- will run away with the title in a one-horse race.

Chatting to JEF United manager Ivica Osim the other day, he feels that eight or nine teams are capable of playing at a consistently high level, and that three or four will be contesting the championship.

Last season, only one point separated the top five, with Gamba winning on 60 points and Reds, Antlers, JEF and Cerezo following on 59.

This season, however, two more former champions will be in the hunt.

"Now, Yokohama and Jubilo will play very strong," said Osim. "This is logical."

Another manager who agrees with Osim is Akira Nishino. He feels that Reds and Marinos will be the biggest threat to his Gamba team this year.

Nishino felt that Marinos and also Jubilo were badly affected last season by their commitments in the Asian Champions League. This gives both teams an extra six games in the group, and lots of travel around the eastern half of the vast continent for midweek games.

There is no doubt these engagements take their toll, physically and mentally, and I am sure Marinos manager Takeshi Okada will be relieved not to have to play in the Champions League this season. Even though the reward for winning the ACL is a place in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan in December, Okada would prefer to qualify for the FIFA event by winning the J.League title this season. Much less stress and hassle!

Although I have tipped Gamba to win the league in the past, I will not be doing this time.

They also have Champions League commitments, but, more than that, they will not have Araujo or Oguro, who scored a staggering 49 goals between them last season.

It was Gamba's attack that won them the league, not their defence, and I don't think the Magno Alves-Bando-Fernandinho strikeforce will be anywhere near as productive as the 2005 line-up. Maybe the defence will be tighter, though, with Kaji on the right and Myojin closing down the centre of midfield.

Reds are the, well, red-hot favourites to take the title, with Ono and Washington in the team, plus Soma and Kurobe joining the squad.

But, like Osim says, I don't think one team will run away with it.

ends

23 Feb 2006(Thu)

February 22, 2006: The other day I was reading the "David Beckham Annual" bought in England a year ago.

Under the headline "Dateline David", there was a landmark entry for August 17, 1996.

"David makes his mark when scoring a sensational goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon, at Selhurst Park," says the diary entry.

"The goal comes late in the game with United leading 2-0. Becks sees 'keeper Neil Sullivan off his line and decides to lob him. The rest, as they say, is history."

Well, for "David Beckham" read "Mitsuo Ogasawara".

Yes, Ogasawara's long-range goal against Finland on Saturday was of Beckham quality. In fact it was better than Beckham's effort against the Dons because it was from further out, but of course not as many people around the world will see it because it was not an English Premier League match involving Manchester United.

The Sunday sports and newspapers in Japan could not decide on the actual distance -- some said 50 metres, others 55, 57, 58 and one even 60 -- but, whatever it was, the message was clear: Ecopa and Japan had witnessed a truly remarkable goal from a player whose talent has never been in doubt.

He was well inside his own half when he launched his right-foot shot. Like Beckham in the above incident, he had spotted the keeper off his line, by around eight metres, and his strike was absolute perfection.

Tiger Woods could not have played a better approach to the flag from the fairway, such was the accuracy and precision of Ogasawara's beautifully flighted effort.

In such circumstances, it was impossible to criticise the Finland keeper. Just look at it from his view point: A Japanese player receives the ball in his own half, and prepares to send it forward. If it is a long pass aimed for his forwards, then the keeper is ready to race out of his area and intervene. But suddenly he realises it is not a pass; it has been struck harder, but he also knows there is very little space behind him. He back-pedals, to cover his line, but he is off balance and cannot even touch the ball as it drops under the bar. Perfect!

No, it would be unfair to blame the keeper, and would take away some of the credit Ogasawara deserves.

Beckham's sensational goal helped launch him to superstardom in 1996, and, on a smaller scale, Ogasawara's wonder goal will always be remembered in Japanese football history.

"Bend it like Beckham" became a very famous movie around the world, but, on this occasion, "Send it like Beckham" would be more appropriate, as Ogasawara sent the ball Beckham-style over such a long distance into the back of the net.

ends

20 Feb 2006(Mon)

February 17, 2006: The article I read the other day was only three or four paragraphs long, but it still made a big impact.

The subject was Takafumi Ogura, and the announcement that his J.League career was finally over.

The reason why it was such a short news item is obvious: because Ogura, now 32, had not played in the first division since 2002, and was a fading force before that.

But I will never forget the comments of Arsene Wenger after Ogura, young and fit, had scored twice for Grampus in the 5-1 demolition of Kashima Antlers in the Emperor's Cup semi-final in 1995.

I was visiting Tokyo at the time from Hong Kong, and wanted to see the match and also catch up with Wenger, whom I had met in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in the autumn of 1994, after he had left Monaco and before he became Grampus coach.

In the after-match press conference, Wenger was asked about Ogura, and said that Ogura "could be as good as he wanted to be." This was high praise indeed from Wenger, who recognised all the qualities in Ogura to make him a success at the highest level, on the international stage. The raw material and the natural talent was there, Wenger was saying, and it was now down to attitude and a strong work ethic on behalf of the player.

But professional football can be very cruel as well as kind, and only two months later, during Japan's Olympic team training camp in Malaysia in February 1996, Ogura suffered a serious knee injury, ruling him out of the final qualifying round and also the Atlanta Games.

Ogura, it is widely regarded, was never the same again, and after leaving Grampus in 1999 he drifted from JEF United to Verdy to Sapporo and finally to Kofu, where he played from 2003.

Nicknamed "Lefty Monster", Ogura will be remembered as one of the best left-footed players Japan has ever produced. With a powerful physique, and a 1.83-metre frame, he had it all, but was never able to fulfil his potential due to that terrible injury.

He had already scored a goal for Japan against a star-studded France team in the Kirin Cup in May 1994, albeit in a 4-1 defeat, and the following season netted 14 goals in 37 league games for Grampus, in Wenger's first season as coach (and five goals in five Emperor's Cup games).

A couple of days after reading the short article on Ogura, I saw him on TV on Saturday night in a football show, still in good heart.

No one will ever know how good he could have been, but he proved, throughout his career, that he did have the right attitude and a strong work ethic to match that early talent.

And that's just what Wenger would have wanted to see.

ends

16 Feb 2006(Thu)

February 14, 2006: Well, it was brave and adventurous of Zico to give Shinji Ono a run behind the solitary striker against the United States.

But, even allowing for Shinji's lack of match fitness, it was clear the days of Ono as a bright and inventive attacking force are over.

Now it's Shinji the deep-lying midfield general; Shinji the protector, prompter and provider rather than the exciting, all-action player of old. He's the old head on young shoulders, a player Japan needs in the midfield engine room rather than playing further forward, where his qualities may be bypassed.

But it was well worth Zico taking a look at him in that advanced position against the USA, alongside Ogasawara and behind Kubo in the 3-4-2-1 formation.

Although the Japanese were taken apart in the first half and early in the second half by the fast, fit and motivated Americans, I don't think the system can be blamed.

It's just that, individually, Japan's players were outclassed and overwhelmed. I still think 3-4-2-1 is the way to go for Japan, as it means Zico can field six midfield players and have a balanced line-up with, basically, five defenders (the three at the back, plus the two central midfielders) and five attackers (the two wing-backs, the two shadow strikers and, of course, the centre forward).

Zico pointed out that Japan played well for the first 10 minutes, and it's true they did. One of the jobs of Ono and Ogasawara in that position is to harry the defenders and put them under pressure in the hope they will give the ball away.

When Shunsuke comes back he's going to have to do the same, so it's a demanding role as the two shadow strikers must defend effectively well up the field.

This is another reason why Shinji should drop back into central midfield, as his long-term fitness must still be a worry for Zico and Urawa after his recent injury problems.

If Zico prefers Nakamura, Ogasawara, Matsui, even Okubo or Hidetoshi Nakata for the two attacking midfield positions behind the lone target man, Ono would then have to scrap for a place in central midfield along with Nakata (both Hidetoshi and Koji), Inamoto, Fukunishi, Abe, Endo and now Hasebe (hopefully Konno, too).

Looking at Shinji's hectic schedule for club and country, let's hope he does not try and do too much too quickly.

ends

13 Feb 2006(Mon)

February 11, 2006: The comments of JEF United manager Ivica Osim have always to be respected.

But I think he went a bit too far this week with his criticism of Hidetoshi Nakata and Shunsuke Nakamura.

In an interview with a Croatian newspaper, which was picked up by the Japanese media and then the English-language media in Japan, Osim said Nakata and Nakamura did not work hard enough.

"Zico will suffer because of Nakata and Nakamura. They don't run like Kranjcar. They just hold the ball," Osim was quoted as saying, comparing the Japanese duo with Niko Kranjcar, Croatia's young playmaker and son of national coach Zlatko Kranjcar.

Now, I watched Kranjcar twice in Hong Kong recently, playing for a depleted Croatia team in the annual Carlsberg Cup.

Yes, he is a very accomplished technician, stroking the ball around elegantly and playing lots of short passes with his team-mates to keep the attack moving forward.

But he lost the ball on several occasions, mainly through inaccurate passes, and looked quite sluggish at times. I discussed him with the Croatian media following the team in Hong Kong and the verdict from them was that the young Kranjcar was slow and still had a long way to develop.

I was happy they had confirmed my impression, although, of course, I am sure he will look much better in a full-strength Croatia team in Germany.

As for Nakata and Nakamura, I would say Nakata is much more dynamic than Kranjcar, and able to play at a higher tempo. One of Nakata's qualities is his stamina, so I can't understand why Osim -- a coach I admire immensely -- thinks he does not run enough.

Regarding Shunsuke, there is no doubting the effort he puts in, but he does not have the staying power of Nakata and this is why he is often substituted in the second half, even in Scotland.

Nakamura's talent lies elsewhere, in his skill, his vision, his passing and, above all, his world-class free kicks. The latter quality cannot be under-estimated in today's game, as many matches at the highest level are determined by a single, set-piece play.

In his interview with the Croatian newspaper, Osim made several interesting points -- such as Zico's reluctance to bring through new players, his loyalty to players not playing well for their clubs, his emphasis on attack and not enough balance in defence, and his policy of handing responsibility to individual players when this does not suit the Japanese character.

But to say that Nakata and Nakamura do not run enough for the team is off the mark.

ends

9 Feb 2006(Thu)

February 8, 2006: A few months ago, Tatsuhiko Kubo looked to be out of the running for a place in Japan's World Cup squad.

But a new year has brought a new chance for Kubo to re-establish himself in Zico's plans.

With all Japan's Europe-based strikers not involved in the friendly with the United States in San Francisco this week, Kubo has the platform to prove his fitness and his worth to the team.

When fully fit, Kubo certainly offers something special, something different.

Of all Japan's forwards he is the best in the air, climbing high and being a constant menace to his markers.

He has a strong physical presence and is not afraid to put himself about in the box, unsettling defenders with his awkward playing style.

On the floor, Kubo is unpredictable. You never know what he's going to do next. Will he shoot from such an unlikely position with that powerful left foot, will he pass or will he dribble?

With Kubo around, Zico will have someone who can unlock the tightest of defences, and I still feel Troussier made a mistake in not selecting him for the 2002 squad, ahead of Nishizawa.

Looking through Japan's list of strikers, the race is wide open for places in Germany. Suzuki, Yanagisawa, Takahara and Kubo could all play as the solitary target man in a 3-4-2-1 formation, so provided Kubo stays fit this year, and scores some goals, he has a good chance of making it.

So far, in squad selection assignments, I have ignored Kubo, simply because he has not played for Japan since September 2004 due to a catalogue of ailments.

Once he starts playing regularly again for club and country it's a different matter, of course, and then he must come into the reckoning.

For the time being I am sticking with Takayuki and Yanagisawa as my two choices for the centre forward slot, backed up by Oguro and Okubo, but things can change very quickly in football.

ends

6 Feb 2006(Mon)

February 3: At last, Koji Nakata has left Marseille.

The former Antlers star had a rough time in France, even though most times I saw his face in the papers he was smiling.

But now the nightmare is over, following his transfer to FC Basel in Switzerland and the signing of a contract through to June 2008.

Personally, I think this is a great move for Koji, and the kind of deal Shinji Ono would probably have wanted.

First of all, Switzerland is a wonderful country, and will be perfect for Koji to enjoy the mixture of European cultures...French, German and Italian, with English widely spoken, too.

Second, the fo otball is of a standard where Koji can have an impact. Obviously it is a big step down from Marseille and the French league, but this does not mean it is a backward step for the player.

He can focus again on playing, and has the time to establish himself as a first-team regular. I am sure he has the quality, the experience and the versatility to be a success at Basel, and he must feel liberated by his new, extremely pleasant surroundings.

So good luck to Koji for sticking it out in Europe. He could have moved to Israel, but went back to Marseille and waited for something more attractive. He has found that now in Switzerland.

As for his position on the pitch, I still think he is Japan's most natural defensive midfield player.

In a 4-4-2, 3-5-2 or 3-4-2-1 formation, Koji can easily fit into one of the two defensive midfield slots. He reads the game so well and gives the team balance in midfield, an d could be partnered by Hidetoshi Nakata, Ono, Inamoto or Fukunishi.

A match-fit Koji gives Zico many options, so his welcome move to Basel is not just good for the player, but for the national team, too.

ends

2 Feb 2006(Thu)

Hong Kong, January 31, 2006: There's a very familiar face among the South Korean delegation at the Carlsberg Cup in Hong Kong over Chinese New Year.

For a long time they had a reputation as dour and machine-like, rarely smiling and always playing under pressure.

But their achievement in reaching the World Cup semi-finals four years ago, eventually finishing fourth, has clearly given them a lot more self-confidence and esteem, and this is reflected in their manner.

Of course they continue to train hard and play h ard, but now they seem to have an inner strength and self-belief to accompany their athleticism, speed and physical power.

Pim pointed out all these things, and feels the preparations are well advanced compared to four years ago. With a few more matches to come and the Europe-based players to be drafted into the team, the chances of Korea qualifying from a group which also comprises Togo, France and Switzerland are looking good.

On Sunday they beat Croatia here 2-0, with two fine goals from left-sided wing-back Kim Dong Jin and forward Lee Chun Soo. The first was a cracking long-range drive from Kim, who collected the ball just inside the Croatia half and powered forward befo re having a go himself; the second was a smart finish from the lively Lee after center forward Lee Dong Gook had controlled a long clearance from goalkeeper Lee Woon Jae and fed Lee, all in one smooth movement which carved open the Croatia defence.

Advocaat says Korea have become hard to beat at home, but now they have to do the same away by playing physical, European teams.

Judging from their impressive performance against Croatia − admittedly with only one first-team regular − the Koreans look to be on the way to achieving this next target. ENDS

30 Jan 2006(Mon)

January 27, 2006: Ask 10 Japanese fans to name their favourite striker and, in all probability, you'd get 10 different answers.

Unlike in defence, with Nakazawa, or in midfield, with Hidetoshi Nakata, Nakamura and Ono, Japan does not have one outstanding forward who immediately springs to mind.

This is why World Cup places are wide open for the forwards, and why there is a movement growing for Sota Hirayama to be given a chance.

Hirayama, of course, is now in Holland and scoring goals for Heracles Almelo.

I must admit I have noticed a big improvement in the lanky striker since he moved to Europe, compared to the raw and awkward version from Japan's Olympic qualifying and Athens campaign.

He looks much more coordinated and much sharper than he used to, and is scoring goals in the air and on the ground.

Despite the ridiculous media hype that surrounded him during the Olympic qualifying campaign -- with TV stations guilty of focusing on him constantly, even when he was on the bench -- I always reserved judgement on his ability and his potential.

In all honesty I did not think he was ready for the Olympics, as he lacked the experience at such a high level against seasoned professionals.

He would often be penalised for handball or for offside, and would look clumsy at times, so his decision to go to Tsukuba University rather than turn professional with a J.League club appeared to me as the beginning of the end of Hirayama's brief career.

This is why I was pleased to learn he had signed with Heracles, and the benefits of this professional environment are there for all to see. Training every day under coaches and alongside players in the Dutch league is really improving his all-round game, and he looks to be a firm favoruite with team-mates and fans alike.

At the time of writing he has scored seven goals, and if he keeps on going there is a strong possibility that Zico might have a look at him soon, for example when Japan play Bosnia in Germany at the end of February. After all, he's not too far away and it wouldn't do anyone any harm just to have him involved in training, so Zico can check him at close quarters.

The only thing that would worry me about a Hirayama call-up would be the media spotlight shining brightly on him again. That would be hard to watch!

ends

26 Jan 2006(Thu)

January 25, 2006: True to form, Emerson was in the news again recently...for cheating.

Now this should not come as a surprise to football lovers in Japan, as he cheated on the pitch by diving extravagantly, rolling around as if seriously injured, and trying as hard as possible to get an opponent sent off.

Reds fans and coaches turned a blind eye to all this because he scored goals, but he even let them down by walking out on the club last season and moving to Qatar.

Now, the authorities have finally caught up with him, and arrested him at Rio de Janeiro International Airport as he attempted to return to the Middle East.

His passport gave his date of birth as September 6, 1981, the same as he used to register with the J.League when he joined Consadole Sapporo in February 2000.

Checking all the details, the authorities in Brazil discovered that his original birth certificate gave his date of birth as December 6, 1978. In other words, Emerson was three years older than he would have us all believe.

Does that surprise you?

No, it doesn't surprise me, either.

I was always suspicious of his alleged age, and couldn't stop laughing when an asterisk appeared against his name on the team sheet for Nabisco Cup matches. An asterisk meant a player was eligible to be voted Nabisco Cup newcomer, as he was under 23, but I never considered Emerson for this award -- and would not have done if he'd scored a double hat-trick in every match.

Emerson, in fact, is 27 years old, and was 21 when he joined Consadole for the start of the 2000 season.

The puzzle is: why was he busted this time, when he has gone in and out of Brazil on so many occasions? Did someone tip off immigration?

And why did he change his birth certificate? To stand more chance of playing for Brazil at age-group level? To give him more years at the top to earn the riches he is making in the Gulf?

His goals records in Japan still stand, of course, because it does not matter how old you are. Still, at least everyone now knows his true age.

ends

23 Jan 2006(Mon)

January 21, 2006: As the J.League players prepare to assemble for the first national team training camp of the year, at Miyazaki from January 29, the game to pick Japan's 23 for Germany is underway.

I call it a game, because it is for the likes of you and me. It's fun exchanging ideas and views, and debating which player should be in and which should be out.

But for the players, of course, it's deadly serious. Selection for the World Cup is a life-changing experience, and a player who has been included in a World Cup squad can enjoy that extra bit of recognition for the rest of his career and his life.

The first name on my list would be Hidetoshi Nakata, who made the news last weekend for being sent off against Blackburn Rovers. But, according to reports from England, this has actually increased Nakata's popularity among the Bolton fans.

It showed his commitment to the cause, and that he was prepared to "get stuck in" against his midfield rivals. So a red card is not necessarily a bad thing, provided it does not happen too often (like Alpay, for example).

The more I watch Nakata these days, the more I have come round to thinking that Zico needs him in the centre of midfield, in the "volante" position.

Nakata is naturally an attacking player, but as he has matured and developed I now see him as the fulcrum of the team.

Whether Zico picks a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 system, I would have Nakata in the centre of midfield, directing the traffic and organising the team.

His experience will be vital against the likes of Australia and Croatia, and he can influence the game more from that deeper position.

If he plays further forward, I fear he may be cut off from the rest of the team, which would then lack direction in the most important area of the field.

With the likes of Shunsuke, Ogasawara and Daisuke Matsui, Zico has plenty of other attacking options, but he does not have the same luxury in defensive midfield.

No one knows whether Shinji will be fit, or how match-fit Koji Nakata will be. The good news is that Inamoto is now getting more playing time for West Brom, so he should be sharp and ready for Germany.

There will be more time to discuss everyone's World Cup 23 in the near future, but for now I have pencilled in Hidetoshi Nakata in central midfield.

Mmmm, now for the other 22...

ends

19 Jan 2006(Thu)

January 18, 2006 -- What's happening at the Asian Football Confederation these days?

First there was the farce over the Player of the Year award for 2005, when the AFC ruled out any player who could not attend the gala dinner and prize presentation in Kuala Lumpur.

This made Saudi Arabia's....well, I've forgotten his name already....Asian Player of the Year.

Now we have the problems over the qualifying competition for the 2007 Asian Cup.

Even before the draw was made, I thought it was very unfair that the four Asian teams who had qualified for the World Cup should have to play qualifying games for next year's Asian Cup before the finals in Germany. Surely the four teams -- Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and South Korea -- should have been given a clear first half of the year to organise their own World Cup build-up.

But when Japan were drawn to play Saudi away on March 1, the JFA gave their full backing to the match, saying it would be good preparation for the World Cup as they could bring all their European exiles to the Middle East for a competitive game.

Then Saudi, without Japan's backing, asked the AFC to postpone the Asian Cup qualifier until September 1. Instead the Saudis will play a friendly against Serbia and Montenegro.

The AFC agreed to the request, which leaves Japan without an opponent on March 1, and on the end of some shabby treatment by Asia's governing body.

However, "Captain" Kawabuchi has come to the rescue!

The JFA president has revealed that Japan are trying to organise a game against Bosnia in Germany at one of the World Cup stadiums on March 1.

This is a smart move for several reasons.

Bosnia, like Croatia, used to belong to the old Yugoslavia, and will have a similar style of play to Japan's second World Cup opponents in Germany.

By playing in Europe, Japan's exiles will have minimal disruption to their body clocks.

Third, it will give Japan another "feel" for Germany, following their Confederations Cup campaign last summer.

And finally, it should provide Japan with a win on European soil, which will boost confidence as the countdown continues.

So it looks like Japan might come out of this sorry episode in good shape.

But it was never a good idea by the AFC to give its four World Cup teams (not including newcomers Australia) an extra burden in this important period.

ends

16 Jan 2006(Mon)

January 14, 2006: Takayuki Suzuki is back in the European spotlight, with the news that he might be joining Red Star Belgrade.

While it may surprise some observers in Japan that his services are sought by such a famous European club -- albeit not at the same level as yesteryear -- it does show his qualities are still appreciated.

I have to admit to being a Takaykui fan, and I hope sincerely Zico picks him for the World Cup.

He is a great team player. He leads the line tirelessly, wears down defenders with his non-stop running, and creates space for his teammates. He also knows how to win a free kick, and, while I don't like this tactic, sadly it has become part and parcel of the modern game.

So many matches are decided by set-pieces these days, and with Takayuki to win the free kicks around the box and Shunsuke to take them, anything could happen in Germany, provided Japan can defend well.

Critics will point to his goals per game ratio -- 11 in 55 appearances for Japan, well down on the commonly accepted rate of one goal per three games for a striker -- but it is not his main job to score goals.

For me, a Suzuki goal is a bonus, and a couple of crucial ones spring to mind immediately.

The first was Japan's first goal at the 2002 World Cup, to make it 1-1 after Belgium had taken the lead, and the second was in Oman in 2004. It was the winner, the only goal of the game in fact, when he rose at the far post to thunder in a header from Shunsuke's left-wing cross. That was a vital goal by Suzuki, and virtually ensured Japan a safe passage to the second round of qualifying.

He did not set Belgium alight, that's true, but he has the physical attributes and the mentality to look after himself in Europe and make an impact across the forward line.

Will it affect his chances of World Cup selection if he leaves Japan just a few months before Germany?

Personally, I doubt it, as Zico knows everything there is to know about the Antlers man, and knows he can rely on him to give his all when he pulls on the blue shirt (and also the "away" ivory one).

No one can fault Suzuki for wanting to give it another go in Europe. He is now 29 years old, and this could be his last chance to test himself overseas at club level.

ends

12 Jan 2006(Thu)

January 11, 2006: Overall, the high school final at the National Stadium on Monday was a very enjoyable occasion.

There was some bright, inventive, attacking football, and the atmosphere and emotion provided a colourful back drop.

But a few things worried me during the semi-finals and the final.

First, I saw a lot more diving than I used to see at this level. When I watched my first high school final in Japan, in 1998, it was very noticeable that the players did not deliberately try to win free kicks or penalties. They played honestly, and it was a refreshing sight.

Top referee Leslie Mottram agreed with me at the time, and said that players started to dive when they became professional because there was so much money at stake in the modern game.

Having watched the latter stages of this year's high school championship, there is now very little difference between these youngsters and the J.Leaguers in this matter.

Players would dribble with the ball, and be tackled firmly but fairly, and would then take off and twist and turn in the air after losing the ball. Thankfully, the referees were alert to this, and allowed play to continue while the player picked himself up.

I also felt that too many players preferred to stay down after a challenge, and wait for the cheers of their supporters when they staggered to their feet, rather than just getting up and getting on with the game.

I have said before that in England we regard it as a man's game -- and a man does not want to show pain, as it gives the opponents a psychological advantage. In other words, a defender will think a rival forward is soft if he keeps complaining and feigning a non-existent injury.

The defender will be more concerned if the forward takes a hard challenge and just ignores it.

I hope that, in the future, referees remain extra vigilant at the high school matches.

There is too much gamesmanship in the modern game, and it must be punished from a young age.

Coaches, too, have a duty to protect the spirit of the game, and should tell their players to stop trying to win free kicks. Surely they can see it from the bench, and there should be no shame in quietly, at the right time, telling off your own player.

Let's hope the youngsters concentrate on football and not theatrics in the future. They are very good at the first -- and improving quickly at the latter.

ends

9 Jan 2006(Mon)

January 7, 2006 -- Whether he comes back to Japan or stays in England, Mitsuo Ogasawara will further have enhanced the reputation of Japanese players during his time at West Ham United.

The Antlers playmaker is on a week's trial with the east London club, and has quickly impressed manager Alan Pardew.

At the moment, Ogasawara's visit only looks temporary, but in football you never know.

The Kashima player wants to play in Europe, and West Ham have money to spend during the January transfer window.

But that does not mean they will buy Ogasawara, as English Premiership clubs can choose players from just about anywhere in the world due to the global appeal of the league.

And the big problem for Japanese players, of course, is that they are very well paid in Japan, and their agents will be wanting similiar deals overseas. Transfer fee to the Japanese club, signing-on fee, salary and other costs and this all adds up to an expensive package.

I think Ogasawara could survive in the Premier League, though. He is a clever player, and can look after himself. He's not quite as robust in the tackle as Hidetoshi Nakata, but he can handle the physical stuff and is not afraid to give it out himself when necessary.

So he has the ability, the mental strength and the physical qualities needed to play in England.

The English game will be a bit of a culture shock to him, though, and he won't have as much time on the ball as he gets in the J.League, or with the national team.

If he holds it too long he will be "crunched" by the opposition, and referees allow the game to flow much more in England, and don't allow players to roll around when they are not hurt and stop the game all the time.

Ogasawara would be a hit in England at the right club...and West Ham is a good level for him to adjust. I hope it comes off, because he is serious in his work and deserves a chance at a higher level.

After watching Ogasawara train this week, Hammers manager Pardew commented on the "energy" and the "attitude" of Japanese players.

Ogasawara has these in abundance, but I feel he would have to open up more on the pitch, talk and shout more and communicate with his teammates.

In other words, he's too quiet! So learning a few basic English terms quickly and having the confidence to express himself would be a priority if he were to fulfill his potential overseas.

This would be his biggest challenge. Not playing football.

ends

5 Jan 2006(Thu)

January 2, 2006: There is no doubting the main topic of conversation for football fans for the first half of the year, and probably the second half, too.

Of course it's the 2006 World Cup in Germany, which kicks off June 9 in Munich and ends July 9 in Berlin.

The big days for Japan are June 12, June 18 and June 22, when they play Australia, Croatia and Brazil respectively in Group F, chasing one of two qualifying places for the round of 16.

Between now and then, every performance of the candidates for the 23-man squad will be scrutinised and debated, as Zico prepares to make the tough decisions at the end of his four-year cycle.

There are still many question marks over the physical fitness and the match fitness of the Europe-based players, especially Shinji Ono, so Zico has no choice but to be patient and wait and see what happens over the next few months.

I can't imagine Zico getting too concerned over these problems. He must pick the players available at the time, and if the condition of some is not right he must leave them out, no matter how big a "star" they may be in the eyes of the media and the fans.

And it's not as though Zico does not have enough options in reserve, as he has tried many players in various areas of the pitch during his reign. He reckons that, as things stand now, he has filled 17 of the 20 outfield places, so that still leaves plenty to play for in the next few months for the players on the fringe of selection.

The big question is, though, can Japan win through this group into the second round?

I think Japan are in a very tough group, as Brazil and, in my opinion, Australia were the two teams to avoid from their respective pots at the draw. Although Japan avoided Holland from the pot of non-seeded European teams, Croatia were another hard draw, as they won seven and drew three of their 10 qualifying games and beat Sweden home and away. Bulgaria and Hungary were also in their pool.

Japan will have to win at least one game and draw another to stand a chance of progressing, and their whole campaign could depend on the very first match, against the Socceroos in Kaiserslautern. This puts both teams under immense pressure from the first whistle, as Brazil and Croatia are widely regarded as the two favourites to advance.

But if Japan play to their strengths -- speed, mobility, quick passing, organisation and discipline -- they may be able to wear down the bigger and more physical Aussies and Croats. I am not being negative, just realistic, when I say that Japan will do well to win one game.

This view is due entirely to the quality of the opposition -- the Hiddink-led Australia, in particular, must not be under-estimated -- rather than the talent available to Zico.

If Japan qualify for the second round, then Zico's reign can be regarded as a success, after all the earlier problems and confusion.

Before the World Cup, though, there's qualifying games for the 2007 Asian Cup, plus the start of the J.League at the beginning of March. It's going to be another long and fragmented J.League season, but, with their Emperor's Cup success behind them and goal machine Washington waiting to join, Urawa Reds have become an early favourite for the J1 title in 2006.

Welcome, too, to Ventforet Kofu in J1, and Ehime FC in J2. They will broaden the appeal of the J.League even more, as the game continues to grow strong roots and foundations around the country.

ends

29 Dec 2005(Thu)

December 27, 2005 – Japanese football officials can look back proudly on a very successful 2005 on and off the pitch.

On the domestic front, the single-stage J.League season was a massive triumph, and has pointed the way forward.

On the international stage, Japan qualified with ease for the 2006 World Cup finals, and can be guaranteed a huge following in Germany next June and at home.

Overall, then, the game is in a very healthy state in Japan, with J.League crowds remaining stable in J1 and continuing to grow in J2. As for the national team, they could play virtually anyone at home (such as Chad or Macao) and still attract a full house, such is the pride in the blue shirt which has now become a national symbol around the world.

This time last year, as J1 planned for a single-stage season, there was a certain amount of pessimism around. Would the fans like to watch a marathon instead of two sprints? Would they continue to follow their team if they were out of the running for the championship?

These concerns were understandable, because the single-stage season in 1996 had not been a success from an attendance point of view, and was scrapped after one year.

But 2005 proved that the J.League fan has grown with the game, and was ready for an orthodox championship, with no gimmicks such as penalty shoot-outs, extra time, golden goals, and a two-leg play-off.

In a sense, then, the J.League was rewarded for its courage in making the move when five teams could have won the title on the last day of the season…after 33 games! This was a remarkable scenario, and I was fortunate to be at Todoroki on that “Super Saturday” to see Gamba win the crown in emotional and dramatic circumstances.

I was also one of the few people allowed into the stadium in Bangkok to see Japan beat North Korea and clinch a place in Germany. What a moment it was when Oguro scored the second late on, and raced around, Ya-jin-style, to celebrate!

Regarding the J.League awards, there is no disputing the right of Araujo in being named MVP. His 33 goa ls in 33 appearances papered over the cracks in a shaky defence, and Gamba must start again next season with Araujo in Brazil and Oguro in France.

The J.League 2006 will have a hard act to follow after the J.League 2005, but with the World Cup attracting even more attention and creating more heroes, I believe the domestic game will continue to evolve as a major factor in the Japanese sports scene.

ends

26 Dec 2005(Mon)

December 24, 2005 -- The Christmas and New Year holidays are always an enjoyable time for movie fanatics, as the big screens at the cinema and the small screens at home entertain us with past and present offerings.

With this is mind, Verdy’s favour ite movie must be “Back to the Future” following the appointment of Ruy Ramos as the new head coach.

The move was not unexpected, and had been talked about after he became Hayano’s assistant at Reysol midway through the season.

I must admit I thought Ramos could have helped save Reysol from relegation, due to his inspirational and motivational qualities, as well as his knowledge of the game and his experience.

But he couldn’t, and now he has taken up the challenge of rebuilding Verdy into a J.League force once again.

It will not be easy for Ramos the coach. For a start he won’t have the goals of Washington, who is set to sign for Urawa, and pre sumably he won’t have the biggest of budgets to work with.

There will inevitably be lots of new faces at Yomiuri Land next season, and Ramos, a star of the past as a player for Verdy Kawasaki, must bring them together to from a unit.

With 13 teams in J2 next season, and four rounds of games, this gives each team 48 league matches, so Ramos will have time to rebuild Verdy.

Who knows, he might even need more than one season to bring Verdy back into the top flight, and I am sure the Verdy management will not expect him to work miracles overnight.

His team must have the right balance of steel and flair, and, if anyth ing, his experience as a beach football coach is a disadvantage, not an advantage, as they are two completely different games.

Ramos has been given a wonderful opportunity to make his name as a coach in Japan, and Verdy need his experience and influence more than ever.

ends

22 Dec 2005(Thu)

December 21: For an Englishman, it’s not been a good end to 2005. I turned the TV on thi s morning and everywhere on the sports news it was about Brazil.

First, Ronaldinho retained his FIFA World Player of the Year award.

Next, Sao Paulo arrived home to show off the Toyota Cup after beating Liverpool in the FIFA Club World Championship final on Sunday.

In addition, Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni was made a “Freeman” of the city as a reward for his MVP services to the club – and this honour coming from the city mayor who is a fierce supporter of Sao Paulo’s rival, Palmeiras!

Oh, and just to round it off, we saw a few shots of Ronaldinho playing his part in Barcelona’s latest victory to keep his team on top of the table going into the winter break in Spain.

So not a good day so far for an Englishman, as 2006 looms, bringing with it the World Cup in June.

There can be no complaints about Ronaldinho winning the award again, though, as clearly he is well ahead of Lampard and even Eto’o. He is, without doubt, the most exciting player on the planet at the moment, and how Manchester United must wish they had tried that little bit harder to sign him a few years ago.

As for Sao Paulo. Well, many people are saying they were lucky to beat Liverpool 1-0 at Yokohama. Liverpool had 17 corners to 0; Liverpool had three goals disallowed. Lugano should have been sent off for a crude tackle on Gerrard.

Goals win matches, not corners; the officials looked to be spot on by disallowing Liverpool’s goals, although the third was very close; and Lugano, yes, may have been shown the red card on another day, but I think many would have been surprised if he’d been sent off for that foul on Gerrard as he surged down the right wing.

No, Sao Paulo defended well. They have two good full-backs and a good keeper who commanded his box.

I think Benitez got it wrong with his selection, was too cautious and paid the price. Morientes should have scored in the first minute with that header to Gerrard’s right-wing cross, but his miss was hardly Sao Paulo’s fault. Brazilians can defend and attack; it’s as simple as that.

There is no doubt Brazil go into 2006 with a massive psychological advantage over their World Cup rivals, even though I feel England still have a good chance to win in Germany.

ends

19 Dec 2005(Mon)

December 16, 2005 – Shinji Ono, of course, is a fine player, but quite why Urawa Reds are ready to bring him “home” to Japan is a bit of a mystery.

And quite why Ono would want to leave Europe is rather puzzling, too.

Ono’s position at the moment seems quite clear. It’s all a matter of wait and see, to see if he recovers from his latest injury and if he will be fit to play at the World Cup in June.

I don’t mean fit as in physically fit, but match fit, as Japan will need to be strong mentally and physically against the robust and combative Australians and Croatians in the first two games if they are to still have a chance of qualifying when they play Brazil in the last game.

Reds will surely feel that they are trying to help Ono on the road to recovery, and this is a noble move. And if Shinji does recover full fitness, then naturally they will have signed one of the best footballers Japan has ever produced.

For Ono, though , it would surely be a step back if he returned to Urawa.

I always thought Feyenoord would be a stepping stone for him to move to a bigger club in a bigger European league, such as Spain or England.

This would surely have been the case, too, if he had steered clear of injury, and not been sidelined on such a regular basis.

The fact that Feyenoord say they would be prepared to sell him tells its own story; that they feel this latest injury is one too many, and he may never actually reach his full potential in Europe.

All of which is a great shame for the player, the club and for Japanese football, as a fully-fit Ono is a joy to watch.

I think Ono would be making a mistake to return to Reds at the moment. He still has time to get fit, and to continue his career in Europe, although perhaps not in Rotterdam.

ends

15 Dec 2005(Thu)

December 11, 2005: It was a shame either Reysol or Ventforet would not be playing in J1 next season.

I say this mainly because of the fans, as the atmosphere at both play-off games was, well, "fan-tastic."

At Kose Sports Park, where Reysol, remember, actually took the lead with a fine header from Reinaldo, the away fans showed their loyalty by stripping down to their jeans (I must point out it was only the male fans who took their shirts off, although the Press Seats were a long way away and I could not see clearly, especially when the floodlights went out).

Anyway, this was a remarkable show of spirit from the Reysol faithful, as it was a pretty chilly night in Yamanashi Prefecture. The home fans knew better, and bunched together very tightly on the "Curva Kofu".

The Kofu fans went crazy at the end, following their 2-1 victory, even though it was only "half-time" in the play-off.

The scenes, and the atmosphere, reminded me very much of the old days in the English FA Cup first round, when a non-league club would beat a team from the lower divisions of the professional league.

There'd be butchers and bakers and maybe even candlestick-makers playing for the non-league team (meaning, in this case, non-Football League, as it was before the Premiership when all four divisions belonged to the same professional national league), and they would pull off a giant-killing act over their well-paid, well-groomed rivals.

For the second leg, now in the winter sunshine of Chiba Prefecture, the Kofu fans were out in force, packed behind the goal and looking like FC Tokyo supporters in their blue and red.

The big centre forward, Bare, formerly of Omiya Ardija, had given the slow Reysol defence a lot of problems in the first leg, but this time he was out of control.

He scored an incredible six times, and could have had 10, as he romped through the Reysol defence. Some of them were great finishers, too, notably the first, with a delicate chip past Minami after showing good close control, and the third into the roof of the net in full stride. I really did not think it was a penalty for the second goal, though, but that is not Bare's problem.

I love that Reysol banner "No Reysol No Life" followed by the words "Without Reysol Where We Go?"

Without wanting to sound like an English teacher, I think someone has missed the word "do" from that sentence. "Without Reysol Where Do We Go?" would be better, but that's the last thing on the minds of Reysol fans and Hitachi money men at the moment.

They go, as we all know, to J2, while Kofu come up to J1.

As well as the castle ruins and Takeda Shrine, there will be another good reason to visit Kofu City in 2006.

ends

12 Dec 2005(Mon)

December 9, 2005: I was quite surprised to read the other day that Tokunaga had signed for FC Tokyo after all.

I must admit I thought the chances were slim, after all the talk about him going to Valencia or even to Kashima Antlers.

When I spoke to him after a Japan match at the East Asian Games in Macau recently he gave the impression that FC Tokyo was not an option. In fact it was Tokunaga himself who mentioned Kashima, which made sense to me as he would be a fine replacement for the combative Narahashi.

As for Valencia, some people seemed to think he would be signing permanently, and others that he would be going for two weeks of training in December, and then returning to Japan.

But, in the end, he did the logical thing and signed for FC Tokyo, where he played so well, of course, while he was still at Waseda University.

Tokunaga is an extremely talented and verstaile player, and will serve Tokyo well in a number of positions.

However, his decision to sign for "The Gasmen" has put a question mark against the future of their current right back, Kaji.

Rumour has it, and has had it for several weeks, that he might be going to Gamba, to toughen up their right flank.

This would also make sense, as Gamba clearly need to strengthen their defence after conceding so many goals in J1 this season.

Talking about goals and Gamba, this brings us round to Oguro, who, it seems, appears keen to move to Grenoble in the French second division.

I am sure Oguro will be offered good terms by Grenoble, and it is a wonderful opportunity to move to Europe, but the timing seems awkward.

There's only six months to the World Cup in Germany, and Oguro, I am convinced, has one of the 23 places in Zico's squad nailed down. If he stays in Japan he will be available for all the national team's preparations, and will be playing for Gamba and keeping in good match condition.

If he goes to France, he may not settle to the lifestyle -- the language is very difficult -- and may not be guaranteed a place in the starting line-up -- and Grenoble will not be too keen on releasing him for friendlies. He may disappear off Zico's radar, like Okubo.

Gamba have offered him a multi-year contract, and I feel Oguro should sign it, play at the World Cup, score a few goals (hopefully against Brazil), earn a big-money move to a bigger club than Grenoble, secure a hefty transfer fee for Gamba Osaka...and then everyone is happy!

ends

8 Dec 2005(Thu)

December 6, 2005 -- If you are looking to buy a friend the perfect Christmas gift, try "A Miscellany of Football."

It is a small book, published by Past Times of Oxford, England, and is packed with "quips, tips and quotes for the football fan."

One of the quotes is from John Gregory, the former Aston Villa and Derby County manager, who once said: "Strikers win matches, defenders win championships."

But this does not apply to Gamba Osaka!

For Gamba it is exactly the opposite. They conceded 58 goals in their 34 league games, but fortunately scored 82 to keep the wins coming.

So, in Gamba's case, strikers won matches and also won the championship.

This is why I feel Araujo will be named J.League MVP at the awards night on December 20. His record of 33 goals in 33 games speaks for itself, and his two at Todoroki on Saturday were a joy to behold.

The first, after playing a neat one-two with Fernandinho, was struck beautifully with his left foot, curling inside the far post to give the keeper no chance. The second was a true poacher's goal, timing his run perfectly to be in the right place at the right time to score from close range.

If I'm looking for a Man of the Match or a season's MVP, I try to avoid the player who scores the crucial goal, or goals, as that's too easy a choice. I prefer to look for someone who has made a more solid, all-round contribution, maybe not as glamorous but just as important.

You may find this a strange criteria, but, there again, my favourite Real Madrid player is not Beckham, Zidane, Raul or Robinho but...Helguera! He's my kind of player, tough and does a great job every game (Javier Zanetti of Argentina is another).

But in the case of the J.League 2005, I cannot think of anyone who deserves the accolade more than Araujo, and it is a great pity he will not be at Gamba next season.

Whoever made the decision to sign him from S-Pulse deserves massive credit, as it's unlikely Gamba would have won the championship without him.

At the other end, it was not difficult to see why Gamba have conceded so many. Just look at Frontale's first goal, headed home by Terada. The Gamba defence had already given him one free header at a corner, and he sent it high over the bar. But almost straight away they gave him another, and he buried this one.

Despite the defensive blunders, Gamba are worthy champions because the league table does not lie after 34 games.

And Araujo, I feel, may have more trophies to come, for leading scorer and, quite possibly, for MVP.

ends

5 Dec 2005(Mon)

December 3, 2005 -- There is no reason why Verdy's last home game in J1 on Saturday should be depressing.

After all, they have been struggling for weeks, and relegation was confirmed at Kashiwa last Saturday.

So, rather than everyone being morbid and tearful -- meaning players, officials and fans -- it would be an appropriate time to start rebuilding spirit and confidence, and look forward to the challenges ahead, rather than looking back on what went wrong.

Next year, of course, Verdy will be in J2 for the first time, and, ironically, also in the revamped Asian Champions League for the first time.

But they cannot afford to feel sorry for themselves, or think they are too good to be in J2 just because of their former glories.

The league table does not lie after 34 games, and Verdy deserve to be exactly where they are. They have to face up to it and get on with it, so I hope I don't see any tears from players this afternoon. I want to see fists clenched, fighting talk and optimism.

The Asian Champions League will toughen them up, especially when they play the Korean champions, and this can only benefit them in the J2 season.

Personally, I am amazed at Verdy's decline.

At the start of the season I tipped them as a "dark horse" for the championship, meaning not a logical favourite, such as Marinos, Antlers, Reds and Jubilo, but a team capable of pulling it off if everything came together.

My faith in the Greens was based on the Emperor's Cup success of the previous season, plus the signing of Washington and Toda.

Washington was wanted by several clubs in Europe and Japan, but Verdy won the race and they can have no complaints about Washington's attitude or goals return.

Toda, I thought, would provide the steel and the experience Verdy needed, especially in midfield, where they have always been a bit lightweight: Nice, technical players, such as Yoshiyuki Kobayashi and Daigo Kobayashi, but needing a Keane, a Vieira or Souness-style battler. I thought Toda was just that man, but he fell out of favour very quickly with Ardiles, and looks like he'll be leaving Verdy after a frustrating season.

All is not lost for Verdy, though, as they should have one of the best strikeforces in J2 next season, if Hiramoto and Morimoto both stay at the club.

But the most important thing will be to rediscover the pride and the passion that once made Verdy mighty.

That cannot be coached. The players must do this for themselves next season, to ensure a swift return to the top flight.

ends

1 Dec 2005(Thu)

November 30, 20005: So where's it to be on Saturday?

As usual, there are several attractive options for J.Watchers.

But this Saturday, the last Saturday of the season, is rather different.

In fact it's an incredible situation, as five of the teams can still win the championship.

There have been some close finishes in the recent past, such as the second stage in 2003, when Kubo settled it for Marinos right at the death at home to Jubilo, but nothing like this after 33 games.

This time, of course, Cerezo are in the driving seat. They are one point clear of Gamba in second place and have a home match, against FC Tokyo at Nagai Stadium.

It will not be easy to win against FC Tokyo, especially with all the pressure on the home team, and the expectations of, hopefully, a rare full house at Nagai.

Cerezo have been in this position before, five years ago in the first stage, when they needed to beat Kawasaki Frontale at home in the last game. A win in extra time, worth two points (aren't you happy that old system has been scrapped?), would have been enough, but they lost, and Marinos celebrated an unlikely first-stage title at Kokuritsu.

So will Cerezo be able to handle the pressure this time? It's difficult to know, because they have been under no pressure all season. For a while it was a two-horse race between Gamba and Antlers, but Cerezo have come up on the rails, almost unnoticed, and can now see the finishing line.

The championship is there for Cerezo to lose, as their destiny is in their own hands.

If they slip up and draw, or lose, can Gamba muster enough motivation and determination to beat Kawasaki Frontale at Todoroki?

Again, who knows the answer to this, as Gamba must be full of self-doubt rather than self-confidence, after the blows they have taken in recent games.

And there's still Reds, Antlers and JEF, all together on 56 points, two behind Cerezo.

Reds are at the Big Swan against Albirex Niigata; Antlers are at home to Reysol, who have had another miserable season and must scrap again for J1 survival in the playoffs; and JEF are at home to Nagoya.

After 33 games, it is highly unusual to be in this situation, and the J.League planners could not have asked for a more dramatic conclusion to the first single-stage season since 1996.

And they deserve it for taking the plunge and doing away with the two-stage system, which, hopefully, will never appear again.

One problem though. How many championship trophies or replicas do the J.League have? They will need five on Saturday in five different cities, ready to present to the top team!

ends

28 Nov 2005(Mon)

November 26, 2005: It’s a beautiful autumn day here in Tokyo. The sun is shining and it’s a crisp, cool morning.

But it’s also an extremely sad morning, because, a few hours ago, George Best died at the age of 59.

Alcoholism was the only opponent he could not beat, and it led to his inevitable early demise.

BBC World has been paying tribute to him non-stop, and rightly so, but asking a question that, for me at this time, is irrelevant and unfair.

Will George be remembered for his football or for his extravagant lifestyle?

Of course it must be the first, as he would not have been able to live his celebrity lifestyle if it hadn’t been for the football.

Many Japanese readers will be too young to remember Best, and there will be some who have never heard of him as the global game was late arriving here in Japan.

Georgie was a footballer and an entertainer. He was fast, had the balance of a ballerina, and was brave. When he had the ball at his feet defenders were terrified, as he could humiliate opponents at will.

Sometimes it was like watching a bullfight. George holding the cape and the sword, the bull hoping for a quick death after being worked to exhaustion.

I remember watching George Best play once, for Manchester United at my hometown club, Halifax Town.

It was in a pre-season competition long since scrapped called the Watney Cup, which featured the highest scoring team in each of the four divisions from the previous season.

So the great Manchester United came to the humble home of Halifax Town, the Shay, in the early Seventies. It was raining, and I remember an argument breaking out because a woman standing in front of us had put her umbrella up, blocking the view of some men behind her.

In those days, men did not carry umbrellas. They were too tough for that. They wore flat caps to keep out the rain, with a peak to protect their cigarettes from getting wet as they smoked the whole match.

And we were all standing up, of course, because, in those days, seats were only for the wealthy. True fans stood on the terrace, in the wind, rain and snow, stamping their feet to keep warm and watching the last five minutes from in front of the gates, so you could beat the rush to the car park or the bus station.

Anyway, amazingly, George Best came to the Shay…and he missed a penalty! If I remember correctly, and it’s over 30 years ago, he hit it too softly and the Halifax keeper made an easy save.

His team-mate, another wing wizard called Willie Morgan, would score from the spot, but Halifax won 2-1. What an upset!

Everyone in Britain followed the life of George Best, the “fifth Beatle”, after he stopped playing, but there was nothing anyone could do to help him, although many tried.

Yes, it’s a sad Saturday, and I urge you to watch all the sports news programmes and buy a video if possible, because he really was an extraordinary talent.

ends

24 Nov 2005(Thu)

I once remember Manchester United being relegated from the English top flight in the 1970s, but they came back stronger and just grew and grew.

The ironic thing for Vissel, though, is that they have been relegated in the second season of funding by Hiroshi Mikitani.

With all that investment you'd have expected Vissel to be stronger with the "Rakuten Golden Eagle" behind them.

But it's been the opposite. The signing of Ilhan Mansiz was a great publicity vehicle, but the player was not fit and it turned out to be an expensive disaster as he returned home, no doubt extremely wealthy from his brief Japanese sojourn.

Patrick Mboma was not fit, either, and this also seemed a strange signing. Vissel were clearly going for "name"value, or star quality, and it backfired on them twice in that first season.

Much better was the signing of Atsu Miura, who succeeded Kazu Miura as captain midway through this season, but his leadership could not save the team after a brief honeymoon period.

To be fair to Vissel they made some useful mid-season signings, such as Endo from Marinos and Kaneko from Antlers, plus the Czech players brought in by Rehak, the team's third coach of the season.

The fact that Vissel failed to stay up speaks volumes for the growing quality of the J.League. There is much more strength in depth these days, and teams need to keep winning, like Oita, to pull clear of the relegation zone and then stay clear.

It's no good winning two or three and then going into another slump, as the teams below can also hit a patch of good form and take over.

As I said, these will be depressing days at Kobe, especially for Mikitani as he is genuinely trying to build a team the city will be proud of.

His words, following relegation on Sunday, were reassuring, as he said Vissel would be back after one season in J2, and that his continued aim was to make a top-class team.

Vissel will have 44 matches next season, so can afford to be patient on the coaching front, and it gives them a chance to rebuild.

Let's hope Mikitani, despite his problematic start, will stick with football and stick with Vissel Kobe, and that the fans do, too.

ends

21 Nov 2005(Mon)

November 19, 2005 -- Well, who can Alpay Ozalan blame this time?

The referee?

The Swiss team?

Takayuki Suzuki?

I don't know if you saw the highlights -- or, rather, the lowlights -- of the World Cup qualifier between Turkey and Switzerland in midweek, but they were pretty shocking scenes at the end.

As the players ran for the tunnel, following Turkey's 4-2 victory on the night but Switzerland's overall victory on the away goals rule to qualify for Germany, missiles were flying from the stands above.

This is inevitable in Istanbul, one of the most volatile stadiums in the world, and in a city where two Leeds United fans were stabbed to death a few years ago.

A Swiss player ran past a Turkish trainer and kicked him on the back of his left leg, and then a Turkish player tried to exact revenge.

Guess who it was, Reds fans?

Yes, it was Alpay, who could be seen kicking a Swiss player from behind, but not the same one who had kicked the Turkish trainer.

Then a wrestling match began -- in fact I'm sure I saw Kyoko Hamaguchi in there, and her father "Animal" -- as the players filled the tunnel.

They were disgraceful scenes, but totally predictable from Alpay.

After all, this was the guy who was run out of the English Premier League after his verbal attack on David Beckham in Istanbul, who walked out on his club in Korea and who was fired by Urawa for his appalling disciplinary record.

The weather now in Japan, sunny and crisp, is similar to what it was on the opening day of the season at Saitama Stadium, where Alpay was sent off for his assault on Takayuki Suzuki.

It was easy for Reds staff and fans to point the finger at Takayuki, but everyone knows the Antlers player's tricks and tactics to win a free kick.

The fact that Alpay took the bait and got himself sent off for grabbing Takayuki round the chin was nobody's fault but Alpay's. At his age and with his experience he should have known better, but clearly he still doesn't, and now he can expect a ban from FIFA.

The problem with Alpay is that he is such a gentleman off the pitch, friendly and polite, as anyone who came across him during his time in Japan will tell you.

It's just that a red mist descends over him when he goes on the pitch. Urawa suffered from this, and will feel vindicated with their decision to fire him after this latest episode.

ends

17 Nov 2005(Thu)

November 16, 2005: One of the most competitive races in the J.League this year will be to find the winner of the Manager of the Season award.

There are several candidates, alongside the manager of the championship-winning team.

One of them must surely be Shinji Kobayashi at Cerezo Osaka.

He has worked wonders with the team, and they are still in with a chance of winning the league crown with four games to play.

I saw Cerezo win 1-0 against Verdy at Ajista on Saturday afternoon, and, while their performance was nothing special, they turned this into three points, which is the mark of a good team.

Verdy, of course, should have scored at least once, maybe more. Manager Vadao pointed out after the game that they had created eight to 10 chances, but had not converted any. It would have helped if they had taken more shots, but, as so often happens with a team struggling for confidence, players did not trust themselves and tried to pass the ball, and the responsibility, to a team-mate.

Hiramoto looked sharp and hungry after coming on, but blazed wide, as did the lively Tamano after creating a wonderful chance for himself.

But all this is not Cerezo Osaka's fault. They did not have too many chances before Furuhashi scored the only goal of the game, in the 89th minute, with a well-struck free kick into the bottom corner of the net, beating Takagi at his near post.

That was enough to give Cerezo the three points, and there was no need for Bruno Quadros to feign injury near the end and almost cost his team an equaliser. There was nothing wrong with him when he went down in his own penalty area in injury time, and I applaud referee Okutani for not allowing him to return to the pitch immediately.

In fact it would have been nice to see Verdy equalise, and punish the cheating Cerezo player as he stood on the touchline waiting to come on when he should have been helping his team-mates defend the lead.

Cerezo now have 53 points, still four behind Gamba, and they won their last three points without several top players, such as Fabinho and Ze Carlos, Kudo and Nishizawa.

In the centre of midfield, Nunobe and Shimomura are real grafters, Maeda is improving all the time at the back, and Furuhashi is an intelligent and mobile forward.

Kobayashi has done a fine job, but the competition for the manager award is too close to call.

ends

14 Nov 2005(Mon)

November 12, 2005 -- These are testing times for Gamba Osaka and, in particular, for manager Akira Nishino.

Three weeks ago, Gamba were looking good for at least one trophy, possibly two and, who knows, even three.

They were five points clear of Kashima Antlers at the top of the table after 27 games, were in the Nabisco Cuip final against JEF United and still had the Emperor's Cup to come.

But two successive defeats in the league, at home to Oita and away to FC Tokyo, allowed Kashima to close the gap to one point, and now only five points separate the top five teams.

It was this nervy scenario which accompanied Gamba into last week's Nabisco Cup final, which they lost on penalties to JEF United after a 0-0 draw.

So now, all hope of a title treble has gone, although I am sure Gamba and Nishino would settle for a first league championship, and a first J.League title for Kansai.

They are still in control of their own destiny, but the likes of Kashima in particular and also Urawa Reds have proved they can win a championship, or half a championship in the case of Reds last season.

This experience could be vital in the title run-in, as all the pressure is on Gamba to hold on to their lead.

Antlers, on the other hand, have a manager in Toninho Cerezo who has won everything in Japan, including the treble in his first season here, in 2000.

This will be Toninho's last season with the club, and the announcement that he will be leaving must have united the club. Everyone, especially the players and the fans, will be wanting to give him the perfect send-off after such loyal and distinguished service.

This unity, experience and quiet determination will be a vital source of inspiration to the club over the closing weeks, whereas Gamba will be under pressure to stay at the top after looking the best team for so long.

Nishino won the Nabisco Cup with Reysol a few years ago and came very close to winning the second-stage championship, too, only to be denied on the last day of the season by Antlers in a 0-0 draw at Kokuritsu.

With the national team job up for grabs when Zico moves on after the World Cup, a championship for Gamba would put Nishino in the frame to succeed the Brazilian, should the JFA opt for a Japanese coach.

Although Nishino will not be thinking about this -- he has far too many things on his mind at the moment -- it could prove to be an important factor for the JFA powers in a few weeks/months time.

If Gamba can hold on and Nishino can survive the pressure, the former Olympic team manager would be a strong candidate to succeed Zico next summer.

ends

10 Nov 2005(Thu)

November 8, 2005 -- JEF United's manager, Ivica Osim, had some interesting (as always) things to say after his team's victory over Gamba Osaka in the Nabisco Cup final.

He questioned the value of winning the Nabisco Cup, as success gave the club nothing except prizemoney.

He was comparing the Nabisco Cup with a cup competition in Europe, where victory in the domestic cup final guaranteed the winners a place in the UEFA Cup the following season.

The UEFA Cup, of course, is Europe's second-tier club competition, and a big step down from the more lucrative and glamorous UEFA Champions League.

But, still, the prospect of European football is a big incentive to do well in the domestic cup competitions.

In his comments to the Kyodo News agency after the Nabisco Cup final, Osim suggested the winners of the Nabisco Cup should be allowed to play in the UEFA Cup next season.

It seems like he was joking, of course, because how can a Japanese club play in Europe?

Impossible, right?

Well, Kazakhstan switched from Asia to Europe not too long back, and Australia will switch from Oceania to Asia.

If Europe was looking for more money -- and everyone is in football these days -- would it be possible for them to invite a Japanese club to play in the UEFA Champions League, or the UEFA Cup. Think of the TV rights, the marketing and the ticket sales...

The travel and the schedule would be very difficult, of course, and Asia's governing body would probably not allow it.

But, who knows in the future, the UEFA Champions League could eventually produce a FIFA World Premier League. Perhaps 12 teams in total, with matches scheduled between domestic league and European cup fixtures and replacing dates in the FIFA calendar reserved for friendly internationals, which are becoming more and more troublesome.

Yes, I know the concept sounds far-fetched and impractical, but the football world is getting smaller, and new ideas are needed to satisfy the worldwide demand.

The FIFA World Premier League...mmm, sounds pretty good to me.

As does JEF United against Barcelona at Ichihara Rinkai Stadium on a wet and windy Wednesday night in November.

How many times would Ronaldinho get past his marker, the excellent and unheralded Saito, in a competitive match like that!

Maybe Osim is on to something after all.

ends

7 Nov 2005(Mon)

November 5, 2005 – It’s Saturday, cup final day.

In England, that means the FA Cup, the showpiece match which brings the curtain down on the season, and is played in May, before the summer break.

In Japan, though, cup final day now refers to the League Cup, as the standing of the Nabisco-sponsored event has grown in importance every year at the expense of Japan’s FA Cup, known, of course, as the Emperor’s Cup.

The Emperor’s Cup has kicked off early this season as far as the big clubs are concerned, as usually it does not start in earnest until the league season has finished.

I have never liked that system, because I don’t think some clubs take it seriously. They just want to get the season over with, and have a longer holiday.

The fans, too, didn’t seem that interested, as matches were poorly attended until the final on New Year’s Day. Now this is a grand occasion. It’s usually crisp and sunny, absolutely perfect football weather, and the teams have come so far they feel they may as well end the long year with a trophy for their patient fans.

The Emperor’s Cup, of course, used to be the showpiece event of the season in the old days, as it lifted domestic football on to a higher plane.

But times have changed, the J.League is an outstanding success, and a football culture is growing all around the country.

Neither the Nabisco Cup nor the Emperor’s Cup is perfect, but for me, as an outsider looking in, the former is a more prestigious title to win.

And whoever wins Saturday’s Nabisco Cup final at National Stadium will be good for the game.

Gamba against JEF, a perennial under-achiever against a perennial over-achiever.

Kansai desperate for a title, JEF offering proof of sensible management with a small fan base, and an excellent coach and many talented home-grown players.

Only football can win on Saturday.

ends

3 Nov 2005(Thu)

MACAU: November 2, 2005 – It was a strange feeling watching Japan against Chinese Taipei on Saturday afternoon here in Macau at the East Asian Games. (Chinese Taipei, of course, means Taiwan, but, for political reasons, they are referred to as the former by sports bodies so as not to upset the motherland China).

Anyway, when I entered the main stand of the sports field at Macau University of Science and Technology, there was the usual loyal band of supporters in blue, one banging a drum and the other leading the singing.

To my surprise, though, they were from Chinese Taipei, waving blue scarves adorned with the word “Taiwan” and with a slogan on the back of their blue T-shirts reading “Soul? Just.”

Like many slogans I read in Japan, I’m not quite sure what it meant, but this culture clash is always amusing.

Japan played very well and won 6-1, scoring four times in the second half.

But the Taiwanese players were not strong, especially at the back, and the big centre forward, Komatsu, took advantage of this to score twice. At 1.87 metres, he looks like the new Hirayama, and plays for Kwansei Gakuin University.

Hyodo, Japan’s captain at the World Youth Championship in the Netherlands but not here (Tokunaga is the leader of this team), scored a goal with a fine long-range drive, and he even has his own personal fan club.

After the game I managed to track down a few Japanese, who were attracting the attention of the players by waving plastic branches of cherry blossom over the fence. One of the banners read “Hyodo – Pride of WMW.” The initials stand for Waseda, Maroon and White, which was quite clever, and, to be frank, I was amazed to see such loyal support for a 20-year-old student.

Regarding the team, I really liked the central midfielder Inoha, from Miyazaki and a student at Hannan University.

He reminded me of Kumagai when I first saw him play for Japan’s youth team in Indonesia in 1994, alongside the likes of Hidetoshi Nakata and under the captaincy of Suguru Ito. Positioned just in front of the defence, he was like a midfield sweeper, collecting the loose balls, and doing the simple things right, like tackling and passing.

I know this sounds basic stuff, but it takes a lot of discipline and maturity to play the right pass all the time, the safe pass to a teammate, rather than looking for the glorious through-ball on every occasion.

Tonight (Wednesday), Japan will play Korea at the main Macau Stadium, but are in the semi-finals already.

Japan against Korea in Macau. Followed by dinner and red wine in a Portuguese restaurant, and then maybe a visit to a swish new casino so I can win lots of money and buy Vissel Kobe.

Yes, it’s tough being a football writer – but someone has to do it!

ends

31 Oct 2005(Mon)

October 29, 2005 – FIFA, quite rightly, is ecstatic about the IOC decision to increase the number of teams in the Olympic women’s football tournament from 10 to 12.

This is rightful recognition of the value of the women’s game, and its growing appeal on all continents. Last year, for example, provided Japan with two memorable sporting moments, as emotional and dramatic as many accomplishments in the men’s game.

First, the crushing defeat of North Korea at Kokuritsu to qualify for Athens.

Then, in Athens itself, the heroic 1-0 defeat of the talented Sweden team.

Well, to be precise, it was nowhere near Athens, as it was held in one of the Olympic Games’ satellite cities in the north of the country.

Despite all the gold medals Japan won in Athens (16), this one game will remain a highlight, as Japan scored a goal, could have had a couple more (just ask Homare Sawa…she was so unlucky not to net one, maybe two goals) and then played with a spirit and determination that brought tears of emotion from JFA president Saburo Kawabuchi at the final whistle.

No matter what happened after that, Japan’s women had done the nation proud, and created enough interest back home to breathe new life into the L.League.

Although the women’s game has many critics among the men, I have supported it for many years. Lacking the physical power and the pace of men, it is played at a slower tempo, with more emphasis on skill, touch and movement. Up until now, it is also played in a fair spirit, with little evidence of diving, feigning injury and time-wasting. Against Sweden, for example, Japan could have resorted to all sorts of tricks late in the game, but they kept playing an open style with a smile on their faces, which was such a refreshing change in the modern game.

Ten teams was not a good number, and 12 is far from perfect, as in Beijing we will probably be having three groups of four, and from there it must come down to eight teams for the quarter-finals. This means the top two from each group qualifying, plus the best two third-placed teams.

For me this is a highly unsatisfactory formula. Eight teams works well, and so does 16, but 10 and 12 falls in between.

But FIFA must work with what they’ve got, and that means 12 teams in Beijing.

The women’s game deserves this increase, and deserves support around the world.

ends

27 Oct 2005(Thu)

October 25, 2005 −Tsuneyasu Miyamoto is not the luckiest of players.

At the 2002 World Cup, Miyamoto became famous for his Batman-style mask to protect a broken nose.

Now, with Gamba in the running for a league and cup double −and, who knows, maybe a treble with the Emperor's Cup thrown in as well −Miyamoto is set to miss around a month's action with a right knee injury.

Miyamoto collected the injury toward the end of Saturday's 2-1 loss at home to the rejuvenated Oita Trinita, which was a double blow for Gamba in the space of a few minutes.

He looks certain to miss the Nabisco Cup final against JEF United on November 5 −but you never know with injuries these days −and that will be a huge disappointment for such a loyal club servant.

But Miyamoto knows he must not rush back, not necessarily for the Nabisco Cup final but for the rest of the season.

The reason for this is simple...hat the 2006 World Cup must be uppermost in Miyamoto's priorities.

If he comes back too early, when the ligament injury is not fully healed, and he makes it worse, then he has a much bigger problem on his hands.

If a few weeks on the sidelines becomes a few months, he would miss the start of the build-up to Japan's World Cup campaign, and he knows as well as anyone that Zico will stay loyal to a player who comes in and does a good job.

These next couple of weeks are critical for Miyamoto's World Cup campaign, as he must be patient and not let his Gamba heart rule his national team head.

Of course the Nabisco Cup final will not be the same without him, but, if there are no setbacks, he should be up and running in time for the end of the league season.

If he ends the J1 season as a league champion and with his right knee strong again, then maybe he might be feeling lucky after all.

ends

24 Oct 2005(Mon)

October 21, 2005 -- Like me, you must get fed up of reading sentences such as the following:

"Also, if they sign a Japanese player he would be good for business, and may attract Japanese sponsors to the club."

Know what I mean?

So how about this for a change:

"If a Japanese club were to sign this player, he would be good for business, as there would be a lot of interest in his exploits back in his home country."

The country in question is China, and the player is...?

Well, I am sorry, I cannot reveal his name at the moment, because he is still playing in China and it would put him in a difficult position with his current employers.

But he's a good player, with lots of international experience, and he wants to play in Japan. I know this because I am trying to help the player's agent arrange a move to the J.League.

I haven't even asked for 10 per cent commission yet, because we are only talking about talks, rather than about a transfer, but I hope the deal goes through.

First, because he's a good, hard player, as I said before, and the Chinese domestic league is a shambles. He deserves better.

Second, I would like to see J.League clubs broaden their horizions on the foreign player front, and try and make more imaginative signings.

I often feel the club front offices are brainwashed by Brazilians, and that experienced agents find naive Japanese clubs easy pickings in terms of selling a player, the quality of which can be third-rate, and the salaries and fees first-rate, on occasions.

While there have been plenty of top-notch Koreans in the J.League, China has not been well represented, although several Chinese have played in Europe, such as Sun Jihai (Manchester City), Li Tie (Everton) and Fan Zhiyi (Crystal Palace among others).

Of course an agent would say such and such a player would be good for business, but in this case it seems very reasonable.

A Japanese club signing a high-profile Chinese player could expect benefits in terms of fan support at home and, possibly, corporate support from Chinese businesses in Japan. On the other hand, the parent company of the Japanese club (for example Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota) could use this player to expand their market in China.

It's a win-win situation, provided the player is good enough to fill one of the three places for foreigners, and I can safely say he is.

Maybe you will hear more of this in the near future, as it's an interesting venture.

And if it comes off, only then will I ask for my 10 percent!

Or maybe 20.

ends

20 Oct 2005(Thu)

October 19, 2005 ・It's nice to see the JFA getting tough by replacing Ivory Coast with Togo for the Tokyo friendly on November 16.

Ivory Coast should have been coming, but said they would not have a full team, notably Didier Drogba, so Japan invited Togo instead.

I'm sure Chelsea will be delighted by that, as the last thing they need is for one of their millionaires to be travelling to Japan and back in the middle of the season, risking injury in a friendly international.

On the other hand, the Ivory Coast Football Association will be missing out on a big pay day, as the JFA, I'm sure, would have been paying them a hefty fee.

I am sure that the JFA have learned their lesson from the Nigeria fiasco a couple of years back.

The match, won 3-0 by Japan, was a joke, a complete waste of time for all concerned except Takahara, who improved his goals per game ratio for the national team significantly.

If I remember correctly ・and forgive me readers, I am approaching another birthday! ・Nigeria did not even have enough players to fill the five substitute slots. I think they had only four players on the bench, including a reserve keeper, which was a real slap in the face for Japan.

The only memorable thing about the evening was the traditional Nigerian headgear worn by the man who sang the national anthem, and I half-expected him to remove it, put on the No. 16 shirt and sit on the bench.

This time, however, the JFA have cracked down, and told Ivory Coast to forget it ・and full credit to them for doing so.

Togo will be interesting opposition. Like Ivory Coast they have qualified for the World Cup for the first time in an African revolution which has seen the likes of Senegal, Cameroon and Nigeria all fall by the wayside.

Togo have also promised to send their best team, but would anyone really notice if they didn't? The point is they will take it seriously, and will be grateful for the experience, the exposure and, of course, the cash.

Hopefully there will be no more friendly farces at the National Stadium.

ends

17 Oct 2005(Mon)

October 14, 2005 -- Watch out this weekend for Osaka.

Gamba?

No, Cerezo actually.

Take a quick look at the first division table and then at this weekend's fixtures, and the scene could be very different come Sunday afternoon.

Just in case you'd forgotten what was happening in J1 due to yet another break -- and anyone could be forgiven for this -- Gamba are top with 51 points from 26 games. Antlers are second with 48 and Cerezo third on 43.

There are still eight games to play, worth, of course, 24 points, so there is plenty of time for things to change.

Like this weekend maybe.

Gamba are away to Vissel Kobe on Saturday night, and on paper this looks a certain three points for Gamba.

But the match is a Kansai derby, and Vissel are playing for pride and for points as they try to climb off the foot of the table, five points behind Verdy. Of course it would be a big surprise if the bottom club beats the top club, but they say that the form book goes out the window in a local derby, even when 31 points separate the two teams.

On Sunday, Antlers are playing Jubilo at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa. This is not a local derby, but it's Japan's equivalent of "El Classico" between two teams steeped in tradition (well, by J.League standards).

Jubilo could win this one, as they are not exactly out of the title race yet themselves, in fourth place with 42 points.

As for Cerezo, they are at home Saturday to struggling Omiya Ardija, whose fine start to the season is now keeping them out of the two automatic relegation places...but only just.

Just think, Vissel shock Gamba in the Kansai derby...Jubilo beat Antlers in the "J.Classico"...and Cerezo, almost unnoticed, beat Ardija at home in Nagai Stadium.

Then the top positions would be Gamba (51), Antlers (48) and Cerezo (46)...only five points separating the top three with seven games remaining.

There's no pressure on Cerezo. They've been enjoying themselves climbing the table, as Gamba, Antlers, Reds and Marinos have been feeling the heat, and they should be relaxed going into the Omiya game.

So why shouldn't they continue to play in this style, leaving Gamba and Antlers to knock each other to a standstill like two boxers in the ring.

ends

13 Oct 2005(Thu)

Wednesday, October 12 -- The Uzbekistan-Bahrain match made painful viewing on Saturday night.

Especially when Bahrain took the lead early in the first half.

Although Uzbekistan equalised shortly after, you couldn't help feeling sorry for the home team.

As one TV commentator put it, surely a fairer decision by FIFA would have been to restart the match from the 39th minute, when Uzbekistan were awarded a penalty.

They were 1-0 up at the time, and a successful penalty would have made it 2-0.

In the original game, of course, Uzbekistan scored from the penalty spot, but the Japanese referee, Yoshida, quite rightly disallowed the goal because an Uzbek player had run into the box before the kick had been taken.

But instead of making Uzbekistan take the kick again, he awarded Bahrain an indirect free kick, which was completely the wrong decision -- and it still amazes me that Yoshida was not helped out by one of his assistants, or the fourth official.

When the dust had settled on Saturday's replayed first leg, the teams were level at 1-1 going into the second leg on Wednesday at Manama, Bahrain.

Bahrain will start the second leg as favourites, but the Uzbeks have the most experienced player on the field in Kasimov, and an in-form striker in Shatskikh.

I remember visiting Hiroshima for the 1994 Asian Games and the left-footed midfield general Kasimov was in the Uzbek team that won the gold medal, beating China 4-2 in the final at Big Arch.

Other players who remain in the memory were the goalkeeper Sheikin, the central defender Tikhonov, the left wing-back Lebedev, the attacking midfielder Abduraimov and the potent forward Shkvyrin.

Eleven years on, Uzbekistan are still not out of World Cup contention, but if they fall in Bahrain they will have every right to feel hard done by.

After the first leg, they appealed for a 3-0 victory, but that was way too ambitious and was ruled out by FIFA.

And who knows what would have happened if the game had started from the 39th minute? Maybe Uzbekistan would have missed the penalty, the whole flow of the game would have changed, and Bahrain may have won the first leg 4-1. Alternatively, Bahrain may have collapsed and Uzbekistan would have won 5-0.

This is the great thing about football. You just never know what will happen, apart from the fact that controversy is lurking around every corner.

ends

10 Oct 2005(Mon)

Friday, October 7, 2005 -- Who would be your Asian Player of the Year for 2005?

I'm asking this because it's awards time again. Like Christmas, it seems to start earlier every year.

Hidetoshi Nakata? No, because he's only been playing well for about half a year.

Shunsuke Nakamura? He caught the eye in the Confederations Cup, and the Celtic fans seem to like him. But, sorry Shunsuke fans, no again.

Lee Young Pyo, formerly of PSV, now at Tottenham, and building on his success from the 2002 World Cup? He's an exciting player down the left flank, but Asian Player of the Year for 2005? I don't think so.

I mention these three because they are on the list of 10 candidates released by the Asian Football Confederation on Friday. The list comprises three players from Saudi Arabia (why?), two each from Iran, Japan and South Korea, and one from Uzbekistan.

The voting panel consists of AFC executive committee members, the head coaches of the 45 national teams affiliated to the AFC, and the AFC's commercial partner, World Sport Group.

Each voter must pick three players. First place is worth five points, second place three and third place one point, and the player from the 10 on the shortlist with the most votes will be crowned Asian Player of the Year on November 30.

So who's my choice?

Well, I feel it should be someone who has excelled outside their own league, not just at their club or even in the Asian Champions League.

Somebody who has made a name for himself, put his country, and Asia, on the map.

Someone, like Nakata earlier in his career, who has proved he can step up to a higher level, and make a new audience sit up and take notice of Asian football.

Someone, in fact, like Park Ji Sung.

A World Cup semi-finalist in 2002, a UEFA Champions League semi-finalist with PSV in 2005, and now playing well at Manchester United.

Made in Japan, at Kyoto Purple Sanga, Park would be the perfect choice for Asian Player of the Year 2005.

I hope he wins it, because he deserves to. ends

6 Oct 2005(Thu)

October 5, 2005 -- You just can't keep the King out of the news, can you?

From Kobe to Yokohama to Sydney, all in the space of a few weeks, Kazuyoshi Miura's star quality is still shining brightly.

Earlier this week, the short-term transfer of Kazu from Yokohama FC to Sydney FC was agreed, meaning the Japanese sporting icon will be able to play in FIFA's revamped Club World Championship in Japan in December.

It's a fantastic bit of public relations by the Australian club, who can now look forward to some passionate Japanese backing during the event.

Australia, of course, have been given permission by FIFA to switch from the Oceania confederation to Asia, and Sydney officials hope that this move will help build a bridge between the two countries and continents.

They also know that Kazu will give his best, and will be professional in every aspect of the job. On the training pitch, with sponsors, with media, with his teammates and with the fans.

He may have lost some zip and some sparkle, but he hasn't lost his hunger or his ambition, and he will repay Sydney's investment many times over in terms of publicity and fan support.

Organisers, too, will be rubbing their hands together, as Sydney FC will give the neutral supporters in Japan some local interest.

Both Yokohama F Marinos and Jubilo Iwata failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the Asian Champions League, and the Emerson-powered Al Sadd have been eliminated now, too (I will refrain from giving my thoughts on this subject, as I don't want to upset Urawa Reds fans any more).

But now, with Kazu at Sydney, plus Sao Paulo and Liverpool as the "big two" from South America and Europe, there should be healthy ticket sales -- a factor FIFA (and Dentsu) must have been worried about after the early departures of Marinos and Jubilo.

As for Kazu, he will be moving to a wonderful city, albeit for only a couple of months.

Football (or soccer as the Aussies call it, as they have their own brand of football, Australian Rules Football) is not as high-profile as rugby league, rugby union, cricket or Aussie Rules, but they are trying to promote the new A-League just like Japan did with the J.League in 1993.

It will also give Kazu the chance to improve his English conversation, and this could assist him immensely in his career when he finally hangs up those much-travelled boots.

ends

3 Oct 2005(Mon)

September 30, 2005 -- Zico is going to have a very big selection headache before the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Just look at the names in the squad for the two-match tour of eastern Europe, and then see who's missing because of the all-star game or other reasons.

Apart from the three goalkeepers picking themselves, and several of the defenders, the competition for midfield and forward places is expanding all the time.

His four strikers for Latvia and Ukraine are Suzuki, Yanagisawa, Takahara and Okubo, but that still leaves Oguro, Tamada, Tanaka, Maki and even Kubo at home in Japan.

Midfield is clearly Japan's strength, so I can't imagine Zico picking any more than four forwards in his squad of 23 for Germany, which must include three keepers.

At the moment, my choices would be Suzuki, Yanagisawa, Okubo and Oguro.

I think this gives Zico stability and unpredictability in equal measures. I could see Suzuki (or Yanagisawa) leading the line, with Okubo in support, and Oguro on the bench, waiting to come on when defenders are tiring and finding the spaces other forwards can't see.

So where does this leave Takahara?

I know the World Cup is in Germany and Takahara is playing there, for Hamburg, but Zico will show no sentiment in this matter when the time comes.

I don't think Takahara has played well for Japan on a consistent basis for quite some time. In fact he was awful in the 2-1 defeat to Iran in Tehran, playing without confidence and unable to control the ball.

Zico knows he can trust Suzuki, Yanagisawa and Oguro, and clearly likes Tamada, no matter what kind of form the left-footed forward is in for Reysol.

Zico would like to trust Okubo, too, but obviously feels he is far from the finished product, despite his exuberant talent, while Tatsuya and Maki always seemed to be temporary call-ups.

As for Kubo? Maybe Zico has written him off already, as his long-term fitness is a huge concern.

Takahara has everything to prove to Zico on this two-match tour.

ends

29 Sep 2005(Thu)

September 28 -- Most of the time, Arsene Wenger talks nothing but sense.

But his idea to change the points system to encourage teams to score more goals is way off the mark.

Arsene's plan is to give a team a bonus point if they win by three clear goals, for example 3-0 or 5-2.

This would encourage teams to keep attacking, even if they were leading 2-0, and provide more "entertainment" for the fans.

Do you like that idea?

I must admit I don't, and it seems a remarkably naive suggestion from the French professor.

It also leads to the question, is football about winning or about entertainment?

I remember, many years ago in the north-east of England, Sunderland were playing dull and no-risk football to try and grind out results to stay in the first division.

After one particularly dour affair, a member of the press asked the Sunderland manager, Alan Durban, if he thought his team should be providing more entertainment for the fans.

"If you want entertainment you should go to the circus," replied the manager. "I have to win football matches and keep my team in the first division."

That's a good point by Durban.

Fans support winners, and I don't think many Brazilians were disappointed after they beat Italy on penalties in the 1994 World Cup final, following a 0-0 draw.

With Dunga and Mauro Silva in the middle, this was not a particularly creative or entertaining Brazilian team, but they had a brilliant striker in Romario and the right man to feed him in Bebeto.

The Brazilians have always been associated with entertaining, attacking, instinctive football, but on this occasion they knew they had to be more pragmatic, more organised, more European, to end a World Cup trophy drought stretching back to the glory days of 1970.

The problem at the moment, for Arsenal and the rest of the Premier League, is that Chelsea are winning all the time...but only just. They have an astute coach in Jose Mourinho, who knows when to attack and when to shut up shop.

For the majority of coaches, I'm sure the perfect result is a 1-0 win. Tight defence, scoring the crucial goal, and then closing out the match. At times it might not be pretty, but the winning team's fans will not complain.

And football is about winning, not about entertaining, although it would be nice to do both, like Brazil...in 1970.

ends

26 Sep 2005(Mon)

September 23, 2005 -- It's a familiar sight, isn't it?

The Urawa Reds No. 10, scoring goals and helping to win matches.

No, I'm not talking about Emerson, of course. He's long gone.

I'm referring to his replacement, Robson Ponte.

I must make it clear that he is Emerson's replacement by number only, not by position, as Ponte was signed to fill the gap left by Yamase's move to Yokohama F Marinos.

In fact, on the Sunday a few weeks ago when I went to Reds' Ohara training ground to find out where Emerson was, Ponte was already there and about to join from Bayer Leverkusen.

No, Tomi Maric is Emerson's direct replacement as a striker, but Ponte has softened the blow of losing their goal-scoring hero "Eme" to the riches of the Gulf.

Emerson and Ponte could not be more different, could they?

Whereas Emerson used his explosive pace and power to break down defences by smashing through the front window, Ponte is much more subtle and crafty. Ponte is more like a skilled locksmith, patiently picking the lock and entering through the back door.

In his six league games so far, Ponte has scored four goals, which is an excellent return for a midfield player, and one of the reasons why Reds cannot be written off in the title race.

Although Gamba (47 points) and Antlers (46) occupy the top two places after 24 games, Reds are not far behind in third place with 40. Urawa, of course, will be hoping for a Gamba-Antlers draw at Suita City on Saturday night, and aiming for three points themselves at home to Yokohama F Marinos. Although Marinos are out of the title race in a distant 10th with 32 points, they will make life as hard as possible for Urawa with so much pride at stake in front of a big crowd at Saitama.

With 10 league games to go, there are still 30 points available, so every team will keep fighting at the top and at the bottom.

ends

22 Sep 2005(Thu)

September 21 -- A few years ago, in 1994 to be precise, I was on an assignment in the United Arab Emirates.

I was walking to my seat in the Press Box at Abu Dhabi when I saw a familiar face in the stands.

At first I couldn't put a name to the face, so asked a colleague from the Asian Football Confederation who the distinguished European gentleman was in the stands.

When he said the name, instantly I recalled a recent article and photograph in World Soccer magazine.

It was Arsene Wenger.

He had just parted company with Monaco after seven years, and was in the UAE to conduct a coaching course on behalf of FIFA.

The next stop on his journey was Japan. He asked me about the J.League and said he knew the Sanfrecce coach, Baxter. But he never told me he was going for a meeting with Nagoya Grampus Eight! The rest is history.

The reason why I recall this secene is two-fold.

First, Grampus need a new manager after Nelsinho was fired on Sunday.

Second, Monaco's latest coach, Didier Deschamps, resigned on Monday.

Any connection there?

Maybe. Maybe not.

You never know in football. I am sure Deschamps will receive many offers from Europe, but, like Wenger before him, perhaps he would like a change of scenery.

During a speech at the 1998 World Cup in France, Wenger spoke of how the J.League had refreshed him. He said he was disillusioned with France, because it was the time when the Marseille match-fixing scandal was rife, and his stint in Japan had given him hope and optimism. Arsenal reaped the benefits, and still are doing.

Wenger: Monaco to Nagoya to Highbury.

Deschamps: Monaco to Nagoya? Is there a chance?

Nagoya have the money to hire Deschamps, that's for sure. Also, they are desperate, and I mean desperate with a capital "D", for a coach who can turn things around. Apart from two Emperor's Cups, Nagoya have not won any J.League honour, meaning stage championship or Nabisco Cup, although Wenger took them close.

Perhaps I am putting two and two together here and coming up with 10!

But it's worth a thought, as I am sure Wenger would recommend Deschamps to move to Japan to recharge his batteries, if that's what he needs.

ends

19 Sep 2005(Mon)

September 16 -- Has Ruy Ramos still got the magic?

Not in his spindly legs and quick and clever feet, but in his football brain out on the training field.

Kashiwa Reysol need something from somewhere, because no matter what they try the result seems to be the same: struggling along at the wrong end of the table, and annoying their loyal and passionate supporters with a series of below-par performances.

Ramos joined the "Yellow Submarine" -- that seems an appropriate title for Reysol, as they play in yellow and are always near the bottom -- this week as assistant coach to Hiroshi Hayano.

And the Hitachi club will be hoping the presence of the shaggy-haired former national team midfielder will inspire the players to achieve more, in training and on the pitch.

During the past two or three years I have often said that Reysol have too many good players to be in trouble, and the same still applies.

But nothing ever seems to work. A change of manager, a change of foreign players, some experienced Japanese players coming in...and Reysol continue to struggle.

Maybe it's a question of confidence and motivation rather than a lack of technique and ability, and maybe this is why Ramos could prove to be so valuable to the team.

His very presence on the touchline could lift the spirits of the players, and perhaps even help them to relax and enjoy their football rather than playing with so much fear and self-doubt.

At times Reysol look like they have turned the corner, and are heading up the table. Just like FC Tokyo.

But then they lose badly again, and they are back at square one.

On Saturday, Ramos and Reysol have the perfect chance to make a fresh start, when championship-chasing Gamba Osaka come to town.

After 23 games, Gamba have 47 points, which is a whopping 23 more than Reysol.

Gamba are in pole position and hoping to pull clear of the chasing pack, while Reysol are 15th, just two points clear of the automatic relegation zone.

It's an interesting move by Reysol to appoint the popular Ramos, but Hayano will surely be feeling the pressure even more with such a famous assistant.

ends

15 Sep 2005(Thu)

September 14: See what I mean!

They call it an all-star game?

So where's the player leading Gamba Osaka's charge toward a first J.League title?

Araujo, with 24 goals in 23 games, was nowhere to be seen when the J.League announced the two teams for the JOMO All-Star match at Oita on October 9.

Due to the rule that does not allow more than three players from one club, the silky Brazilian striker with the lovely left foot was overlooked, behind national team trio Miyamoto, Endo and Oguro.

Araujo's exclusion is further proof, if any were needed, that the all-star game should be scrapped after this season.

I have said before this year that I think the match has served its purpose and is now way past its "sell-by" date. It is an alien concept in the football world and means just one more match in an already crowded calendar, and an occasion I am sure the players selected would rather miss, if they were honest.

This year, too, it is sandwiched between two national team games in eastern Europe, meaning Zico cannot have all his best players in Latvia on October 8.

I really think the authorities should look long and hard at this event -- or, perhaps, "non-event" would be more appropriate -- and lay it to rest. Yes, it was good at the beginning to stir fan interest and involvement in the new professional league, but the league is now well established in Japan's sports culture and the fans are involved simply by being fans of their clubs. Let's just leave it at that.

The match is always well supported by sponsors and superbly presented by the J.League, so surely JOMO could be involved in another deal.

How about the JOMO J.League Championship, just like the Barclays English Premier League?

Or the JOMO Player of the Season?

Or even the JOMO J.League Awards Night?

Anything but the JOMO All-Star Soccer, as the absence of Araujo -- a candidate for the MVP award at the end of the season -- diminishes the event even more.

ends

12 Sep 2005(Mon)

September 9 -- It's not hard to see why Gamba Osaka are doing so well in J1 this season.

Just look at the list of leading goalscorers.

At the top is Araujo with 21 goals, six more than Verdy's Brazilian ace Washington.

In third place is the J.League's top Japanese striker, Masashi Oguro, with 14, and way down the list comes the third member of this striking triumvirate, Fernandinho, with five.

What really catches the eye, though, is the fact that all three players have played in all 22 league games. Not started all and not finished all, but they have been available for all.

The fact that they stay fit and stay out of trouble is crucial to Gamba's cause, as injuries and yellow cards are inevitable these days with so many matches.

Without wanting to open old wounds, just think how many more games Urawa Reds would have won had Emerson been available all the time, instead of missing matches through suspension.

It's vital for foreign professionals in Japan to bring with them a professional attitude, and nobody epitomises this quality more than Gamba's third Brazilian player, Sidiclei.

I remember watching him play years ago at Tochigi Green Stadium -- and missing a penalty for Montedio Yamagata against Nagoya Grampus Eight in the Emperor's Cup.

In fact it was 1998, because Philippe Troussier was also watching the game, in particular the form of Grampus striker Kenji Fukuda as the coach assembled his squad for Olympic qualifying.

I apologise to Sidiclei for bringing that incident up, but it does illustrate how long he's been around and, through hard work and a professional approach, has climbed the ladder until he's now at the very top with Gamba.

Can Sidiclei and company stay there?

Personally, I think they can. I was very impressed with Gamba from an early stage of the season, when I saw them at Saitama Stadium against Urawa, and the players now realise that a first league championship is within their grasp.

It's still very tight, of course, and won't be decided for a few weeks yet, but the Araujo-Oguro-Fernandinho combo has shown already how important it is to stay on the field and do what you are paid to do.

ends

8 Sep 2005(Thu)

September 7 -- One of the biggest bonuses of Zico's reign has been his identification and development of Akira Kaji.

One of the biggests minuses has been his under-use of Koji Nakata.

But maybe this is going to change from now on, as Zico named Nakata in his starting line-up for the friendly with Honduras on Wednesday night.

Needing two defensive midfielders in either of his formations -- 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 -- Zico has frequently overlooked Nakata, despite this being his natural position.

Under Troussier, of course, Koji was a lock, but on the left side of a three-man defence, not in midfield.

So it's good to see Zico putting Nakata in the midfield engine room, alongside another European-based player and 2002 World Cup hero, Junichi Inamoto.

This pairing should give the team balance and poise, with Inamoto allowed to push forward as Nakata holds the fort in front of the defence.

Nakata reads the game so well, and maintains the tempo and the rhythm of the team.

He is very experienced for his age, and his time at Marseille can only make him a stronger character.

Many times I interviewed managers ahead of or after games with Kashima Antlers, and on every occasion the name that cropped up was that of Koji Nakata.

They would praise the qualities listed above, and point out that it was Nakata who conducted the Kashima orchestra.

With the national team, though, there is strong competition for places in this department, and maybe Nakata might not have been selected had Ono been available.

Personally, my first choice midfielders in the engine room would be Ono and Koji, with Inamoto and Fukunishi in reserve, and these four appear to have the edge in terms of World Cup selection.

But that's a long time away, and players cannot afford to be thinking about Germany right now. To use a football cliche, they have to take one match at a time, and show their quality and, above all, their consistency at every opportunity.

Koji has his chance. I'm sure he's going to take it, and Japan's national team will be better off for it.

ends

5 Sep 2005(Mon)

September 2 – It is encouraging to read that two Japanese players have rejected a move to Italian club Treviso in recent days.

On Saturday, Tsuneyasu Miyamoto turned them down, and decided to stay with Gamba Osaka.

Three days later, Naohiro Ishikawa did the same, and will remain with FC Tokyo.

Miyamoto has been interested in moving to Europe for three or four years now, but he did not feel the timing was right on this one.

He said he did not have much time to make up his mind, but, after thinking of his family and his immediate future, he decided to stay in Osaka.

I think Miyamoto has made the right choice.

The World Cup is not far away; he is Japan’s captain; he can be at the heart of all the preparations.

Why exchange all this certainty for a list of uncertainties?

The last thing he needs is to be a squad player with a struggling team in Serie A. He may not play regularly; he may lose confidence; he may become frustrated, and this could carry over into his personal life with his young family.

On top of that, of course, Gamba Osaka are in the running for the league championship and Nabisco Cup, and why not the Emperor’s Cup, too!

Tsune said he wants to win the league championship with his friends at Gamba – and wouldn’t that be a boost for Kansai football in general?

Tsune says he will wait for the next time, which may well be after the World Cup in Germany next summer. Like Ogasawara before him, the World Cup will be a shop window for all players to show their quality and their value, and the fact that Tsune is a fluent English speaker will undoubtedly help his cause.

As for Ishikawa?

Well, I would have understood it more if he had moved to Treviso. FC Tokyo are marking time at the moment (not going forwards, but going backwards slightly), and Ishikawa has only an outside chance of making it into Japan’s World Cup squad.

Personally, I would like to see him in the squad, as he offers genuine pace and danger.

But while there is a chance to catch Zico’s eye, Ishikawa should keep playing and keep hoping. If he’d gone to Treviso, he may have disappeared off the radar altogether.

Japan is not a bad place to be, and the grass is not always greener in Europe.

ends

1 Sep 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (August 28): Seven points from three games, including a draw at Urawa Reds.

Sounds like championship form, doesn't it?

But no, it's Vissel Kobe form, down at the other end of the table.

Since the resumption of J1 on August 20, Vissel have beaten Nagoya Grampus Eight at home, drawn at Urawa and then beaten Oita Trinita at home.

Although they are still bottom of the table with 19 points, they have closed the gap right up on Oita, and several other struggling clubs are coming into view.

The catalyst of the revival has been the new captain, Atsuhiro Miura.

Did anyone see his free kick at Komaba the other night?

It was a fantastic effort, from maybe 35 metres out, that was hit with power and curve. It was a David Beckham special with the right foot, and Atsu then went and scored another one, not quite as spectacular, in the win against Trinita on Saturday.

Clearly Atsu is revelling in the role of captain and attacking midfielder, rather than out on the wing.

A right-footed left back, Atsu had lost his way at Verdy, and lost his place to Takahito Soma, who has missed Verdy's last couple of games due to sickness.

Atsu needed a fresh challenge, and Kobe has given him just that.

He is leading a team that has changed remarkably in composition from the start of the season, both on and off the field, and he has several new teammates around him, such as Kaneko and Muller at the back, Endo (Akihiro) in midfield and Ulich up front.

These transfer moves seemed like a last throw of the dice by Hiroshi Mikitani to keep the club in J1 during a season in which two managers, Matsunaga and Emerson Leao, have both been fired in double-quick time.

When I asked Vissel's third manager of the year, Pavel Rehak, if this concerned him, he gave a good reply.

"I hope I'm the last manager," he said.

Regarding a points target for the season, he said he had not drawn one up, as the form of the other teams was too unpredictable. Instead, Vissel would just concentrate on one match at a time, and try and catch the team immediately above them.

This plan is working a treat, and Atsu is proving to be an inspiration in the middle of the park.

Whether or not this new position will affect his World Cup chances as back-up to Alex is open to debate, as Zico has shown loyalty to his players.

This will be the last thing on his mind, though, as Vissel pay his wages and he has a job to do...to keep them in J1.

So far, things are looking up -- and Rehak remains the club's third manager of the year.

ends

29 Aug 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (August 27): A few weeks ago I wrote an article critical of a referee.

Some readers agreed, and others didn't, while one wrote to me in English to say my article was completely out of character.

Yes it was, and I explained that I was always reluctant to criticise referees because they have such a hard job in the modern game.

So, today, allow me to try and redress the balance, by praising a referee who had an excellent game in a recent J.League match.

It was Urawa against Kobe at Komaba Stadium, and the ref was the 30-year-old Yuki Noda.

He gave a textbook performance on how to keep the game moving, how to distinguish between a hard tackle and a foul, and how to read the minds of the players when they were thinking about time-wasting.

In the first half, Alex went past a couple of Vissel players in midfield but lost the ball. Instead of retreating to help his defence, Alex went down looking for a free kick, and feigning injury.

There was no foul, and I doubt Alex was hurt, although he was substituted at halftime, and Noda played on, despite the calls of the Urawa fans. Alex was angry with the ref when the game finally stopped, but the ref was completely right.

It's a man's game (or used to be); there is physical contact, and the game can't just stop when one player thinks it should.

A few minutes later, Vissel midfielder Saeki man-handled Ponte on the right wing. Noda saw the foul, but waited for a Reds advantage; when there was no advantage, he blew for the free kick.

Again, this is excellent refereeing, and neither side could complain.

Late in the second half, with Vissel defending a 2-1 lead, Saeki went down and you could clearly see he was considering staying down to waste time. Noda saw it, too, and raced over to tell him to get up, and that the game would not be stopping.

Well, I presume that's what he said, because Saeki got up without any trouble.

Noda looked fitter and faster than most of the players, and kept up with the play to make sure he was always in the right place at the right time.

Everyone happy now!

ends

25 Aug 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (August 24, 2005): Yuki Abe produced one of the best midfield performances I have seen this season at Kashiwa Hitachi Stadium on Sunday night.

The JEF United captain was everywhere.

One minute he's putting in a crunching tackle on Satsukawa, the next he's breaking forward to join his attack.

With the excellent Stoyanov at the back, Abe holding down the midfield and Hanyu as elusive and bright as ever, JEF controlled the game for long periods and should have won more convincingly than the 2-1 scoreline.

After the game I waited for the "Osim Show" to see what JEF's always interesting, always amusing head coach would say.

In the past he's always tried to play down his own players and their chances, preferring to keep his feet on the ground and to err on the side of caution and realism.

So when I said Abe had played a fine match, I was expecting Osim to shoot me down!

But no, he smiled and commented: "I am always happy with Abe."

And then he even said that Abe could go to Germany next year with the national team, if he does more.

More what, I asked?

"More everything. More running, more tackling, more shooting."

Osim said Abe's defensive game was already good enough, especially his tackling, his physical strength, his reading of the play and his heading, but he needed to improve his attacking game.

"He needs to become a more dangerous player," said Osim.

"He times his runs well from midfield, he can shoot from 20, 25 metres with either foot...but he needs to do more. For the next three months he needs to give 10 percent more in everything."

Osim acknowledged that the competition for places in defensive midfield is strong, with the likes of Ono, Inamoto, Koji Nakata, Fukunishi, Endo and Konno, but he feels Abe has a chance if he steps it up around the pitch.

With encouraging words like these from his experienced coach, Abe knows exactly what he has to do in the coming weeks.

And if Osim says he has a chance, he has.

ends

22 Aug 2005(Mon)

Tokyo, August 20, 2005: One of the big success stories of Zico's reign is undoubtedly Akira Kaji.

The FC Tokyo defender has made the right back/right wing-back position his own, whether Zico plays 4-4-2 or 3-5-2.

If you start picking Japan's team, there is debate and discussion about most positions.

But not Kaji's.

In 4-4-2, maybe Hayuma Tanaka would be a solid right back; in 3-5-2 maybe Naohiro Ishikawa would be a good selection on the right wing.

But the dynamic, consistent form of Kaji has left all challengers behind, and it was fitting that Kaji should score his first goal for Japan in their last qualifying match for the 2006 World Cup, the 2-1 victory over Iran.

It was a straight-forward goal from Kaji, a cool, side-footed finish, but, of course, he had to be in the right place to score it.

A great run from Tamada down the left, followed by a perfect cross -- low, curling away from the keeper -- which tempted the keeper, defender and Oguro to reach it. They all missed it, and there was Kaji, on the far post, to guide it home.

Yes, he deserved that goal, as he has repaid the faith shown in him by Zico and enabled the coach to sleep soundly over that demanding position in the team. With Alex on the left, improving all the time as a defender if losing some of his attacking sparkle, the two wing-back positions are decided a year ahead of the World Cup.

Kaji, 25, looks to have finally filled the gap left by Akira Narahashi.

I was a big admirer of Narahashi's, and so was Takeshi Okada. The Narahashi-Soma combination served Antlers and the national team well, especially at the France World Cup.

But Okada's successor, Troussier, thought Narahashi a bit wild and undisciplined, leaving his position to attack without thinking of the consequences.

In the end, Troussier compromised and picked the reliable, solid Myojin to bolster the right side, with Ichikawa in reserve, ahead of Hato, who was unlucky to miss out on the 2002 World Cup squad.

But now, Kaji has emerged, and become a Zico stalwart.

He deserved his goal against Iran, but scoring goals is not his main job.

ends

18 Aug 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (August 17): Once again Zico is showing a remarkable amount of faith and loyalty in his "shadow" squad.

For tonight's World Cup qualifier against Iran at Yokohama, he is going back to the team that lost 1-0 to North Korea in the East Asian Football Championship in South Korea.

He looks set to sideline his "third-choice" team, despite improved results against China and then South Korea.

Personally, I think Zico is wrong again.

Or maybe he is giving certain players one last chance to impress in the national team shirt before he starts to think about mixing the European players with the J.Leaguers for the final months of preparation.

I'd like to have seen at least Moniwa, Konno and Murai still in there and being given a chance to press their claims for a regular place.

As I've said before, there aren't many arguments about Zico's first-choice team when all the senior players are available, but I think there is plenty of room for these East Asian Championship players to fill out the squad, and put more pressure on the established players.

It's like Zico has already decided his first team, and his reserves, and it's a "closed shop" from now until next summer, no matter how well the new players perform when given a chance.

For the East Asian Championship, Zico had no choice but to call up some new faces, as the senior players were with their clubs in Europe, but it looks like he's going backwards by overlooking them against Iran.

If Zico did not want to recall his European players for this game -- which is quite understandable -- then why not go the whole way and test the East Asian Championship players in such a hard match.

Japan must try and win this one, as it's a World Cup qualifier, and there won't be many more pressure games in the months to come.

Iran will be fast and physical, and it would have been a good test for the likes of Moniwa, Konno and Murai. If they didn't perform, then Zico would be right to doubt them, but he is very slow, reluctant almost, to put his trust in players from outside his "family."

ends

15 Aug 2005(Mon)

August 12, 2005 -- Hopefully, by the time you read this, Hidetoshi Nakata will be with Bolton Wanderers.

It's about time, too, that he has moved to England.

He has messed about for too long in Italy, since his career started to go off the rails during his time with Parma.

Parma's coach was Prandelli, who then took over at Fiorentina, so Nakat's departure has been expected.

I have been saying for at least two years that Nakata should move to England, and I don't think his agents have worked hard enough to get him there.

He is a fluent English speaker, and his game is perfectly suited for the English style: he is strong, robust, tackles hard, is fearless in the challenge, he goes past players, he passes well and he scores goals.

Though he has not scored anywhere near enough in relation to his ability.

I think he will do well at Bolton, a northern club near my hometown, but on the other side of the Pennine Hills.

It could be a big culture shock for him, moving from Italy in general and the beautiful city of Florence in particualr, but it's about time Nakata got back to business.

At Bolton he will get playing time, and the matches and football environment will be so fresh and exciting after playing in front of half-full stadiums around Italy for too long (but not Fiorentina).

It's just what Nakata needs, and I think he can be successful in the Premier League and show his quality against the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and the rest.

Of course he would have preferred to move to a London club, and Chelsea looked a good bet a couple of years ago before they signed Mutu from Parma.

But he still has time, and he can project Japanese football in a positive image.

I still have faith in Nakata's talent and motivation, if others continue to question it.

He is still the best Japanese player, by some considerable distance.

ends

11 Aug 2005(Thu)

AUGUST 9 -- It's strange, and quite sad, how Paul Gascoigne still makes the news.

The other day I was reading a short article with a headline "Gazza says he never loved his wife."

No prizes for guessing the content of this!

In the article he claimed he only married Sheryl so he could continue seeing their two children.

None of this surprises me, as I met Sheryl in Rome in 1992, and was not impressed.

I had been reporting on the Olympic Games in Barcelona for my newspaper in Hong Kong, and my return journey enabled me to stop off at any major European city on my way back from Spain.

I looked at the airline's list and chose Rome, because Gascoigne had just signed for Lazio.

I had known him quite well in England, when reporting on Newcastle United, and have more stories than I have room for here in two months of articles!

But anyway, he was a brilliant tennis player, too, and a keen fisherman, and I can claim to have eaten a salmon for dinner caught by Gazza when he took me fishing one day in deepest Northumberland. But that's another story.

So there I was, outside Lazio's training ground one sunny morning, waiting for Gazza to arrive.

He was still recovering from his terrible knee injury, suffered a year before playing for Spurs in the FA Cup final against Forest, and had his own fitness schedule, separate from the other players.

A couple of hours later he drove up in a red BMW, maybe a Mercedes (it was 13 years ago!), and looked surprised to see me.

"What yee deein' 'ere?" he asked, in his strong North-east accent (for English, read, "What are you doing here, kind sir?").

"I've come to see you, why do you think I'm here?" I replied.

"Where are you staying toneet (tonight)?"

I told him I had booked a hotel down town, very near the Coliseum.

"It's a pity," he repiled. "Me mates all went home last night and I'm on me own in me big villa, but....."

I waited for the let-down.

"But I'm just going to the aiport to pick up Sheryl. I don't think she'd like it."

Gazza, usually so carefree and funny, was a different person.

Before he left, he took me into the training ground, and I watched the likes of Doll, Riedle and Winter, and Beppe Signori, at close quarters.

When he came back, Sheryl was in the passenger seat.

Paul tried to introduce me as a friendly reporter from his Newcastle United days -- not a tabloid gossip columnist-- but Sheryl did not want to know. She turned away, very snobbily, and Paul looked embarrassed.

I felt sorry for him at the time and thought..."Paul, what have you let yourself in for here, mate?"

Blonde hair, super-model outfit, hard, looking every step of the way that her goal in life was to become a footballer's wife, and now she had hit the jackpot.

Well, if Paul says he never loved her, I am sure she never loved him, either.

I thought that then, and I think it now.

She knew what she was doing all right.

ends

8 Aug 2005(Mon)

AUGUST 6, 2005 -- Whatever the final outcome of the East Asian Championship in Korea, Zico will surely have learned many lessons from Japan's performances, win, draw or lose.

First, isn't it refreshing to see so many new faces in the blue of Japan.

This is a long overdue process by Zico, who has stuck with the same bunch of players when clearly the squad has needed revamping.

Players such as Tatsuya Tanaka, Konno and Murai have at least injected some dash into Japan's play.

Whether they have sufficient time to adapt to the national team environment is another matter, and you are left wondering where these players would be if they had been picked a year ago.

Zico, however, has his own reasons to stay loyal to the back-up squad, who are now, finally, under pressure to keep their places.

He has created "Zico's Family", as one Japanese football watcher put it to me -- and he wasn't talking about Zico's brother!

These players have taken Zico through the World Cup qualifying campaign and won the Asian Cup, and if there is no one better, in his opinion, then why change things?

After all, why should Zico think about the future?

The only thing that matters to him is the present, and if Japan keep winning then why should he care about building a team for when he's gone?

He will be judged by what happens in Germany next summer, and for that job he wants experienced players.

The big question, though, is this: is Zico's judgement right?

A great player does not make a great coach, as some people are born to teach and not necessarily perform at a high level.

Hopefully, though, Zico wil continue with some of the new faces, especially in the "dead rubber" against Iran.

"Dead rubber", by the way, is a tennis term, used in the Davis Cup between national teams to describe a game that has no meaning.

Japan and Iran have both qualified for Germany, but Zico can still use this chance to reward some of the East Asian Championship recruits, notably Konno, Murai, Moniwa and Tatsuya.

ends

4 Aug 2005(Thu)

AUGUST 2 2005：One player in Japan has baffled me for a while now...and he still does.

That player is Sota Hirayama who has become a media darling in Japan without achieving much if anything in the real world of football.

As readers may know I have never understood the hype surrounding Hirayama.

Okay he is tall for his age very tall for a Japanese player of his age and this enabled him to dominate the air waves at schoolboy level.

He scored a lovely goal a back-post header on his Olympic team debut but of course he looked very raw and in my opinion at times uncoordinated.

In all honesty I did not think he was ready to lead the Olympic team and I still think it was a mistake for Yamamoto-kantoku to put so much faith in him. Takayuki Suzuki in the absence of Takahara would have done a much better job.

But that is in the past and not the point of this article.

I read the other day that Hirayama is going to spend some time with Feyenoord.That is an interesting move and a surprising one as I thought he was concentrating on Tsukuba University and not planning to play professional football until graduating.

I could never understand Hirayama's decision to go to Tsukuba instead of joining a J.League club after leaving Kunimi. Leaving university at 22 and turning professional is six years too late.

It is a wasted six years during which a young player could have learned so much about the game. At 22 it is very difficult to step up and a player has only six or seven years left in him to reach the top as 26-28 is regarded as the peak.

Maybe Hirayama is regretting it too and that is why he is going to train with Feyenoord.

If Feyenoord took him on it could be the perfect situation for Hirayama playing for a big club in a small league and being cared for and nurtured by a coach who could pick him for certain games and develop him slowly.

Hirayama despite the adulation in Japan is far from the finished product but if he goes to learn his trade in Holland he still has a chance.Or if he went into the J.League.

If he stays in Japan and plays for Tsukuba it is a waste of time for himself and Japan will never know how good he is or could be.

ends

1 Aug 2005(Mon)

July 30 -- FIFA's general secretary, Urs Linsi, has had some strong words about European clubs visiting Asia.

Basically, Linsi said the visits of Real Madrid, Manchester United etc. do nothing to benefit Asian football.

All they did was earn the rich European clubs even more money, when that money should be going into the local game here in Asia.

Do you agree?

Personally, I don't agree at all.

I think the visits by European clubs help promote the game on a worldwide scale, and bring the fans closer to the stars of the world game.

A few weeks ago I went to Saitama Stadium for the visits of Hamburg and Barcelona.

The first game was a waste of time, as there was hardly anyone there.

Hamburg, without Takahara, playing in Saitama? Why should anyone be interested in that?

Hamburg playing at Shizuoka Ecopa, with Takahara in the team against his old club Jubilo Iwata...now that would have made more sense.

Barcelona at Saitama was much better.

There was a friendly festival atmosphere on the trains leading to Urawa Misono. Thousands of fans wore Barcelona shirts, and thousands wore the red of Urawa.

Even without the likes of Ronaldinho and Eto'o, Barca fielded a strong team, and the match was reasonable entertainment for the supporters.

I say "reasonable" because I do not like these games anyway.

Football is not about fun and entertainment. It is about passion, tension, where the result is important.

If sponsors have the money to bring teams over, and the fans want to watch, then why criticise it?

Linsi would be far better off criticising the unprofessional behaviour of clubs and leagues around Asia.

There has been so much corruption in recent years, especially in China, why should sponsors throw their money down the drain on local leagues?

The J.League is easily the most efficient, most attractive league in Asia, and has no problems attracting fans, sponsors and TV money.

Fans can vote with their feet and stop attending games like Real Madrid against Verdy or Jubilo.

But if they keep turning up to watch, why should FIFA criticise the concept?

It is up to the clubs and the fans to stop it, not FIFA.

ends

28 Jul 2005(Thu)

July 27 -- So it's Shunsuke for Celtic.

That's a brave move by Celtic manager Gordon Strachan, and by the player himself.

Make no mistake, the Scottish league and Italian league are worlds apart from a football point of view.

Whereas the Italian league is often slow and tactical, almost like a game of chess, in Scotland it's fast and furious.

This makes me wonder whether Shunsuke will settle there, because he is not the quickest of players, nor the most physical.

If it were Hidetoshi Nakata transferring to Scotland, or to England, I would have no doubts that he could look after himself.

But Shunsuke?

Not so sure.

It will be particularly interesting to see him play in the Glasgow derby against Rangers.

This occasion goes much deeper than football, of course, because Celtic represents the Catholic community of Glasgow, while Rangers are the Protestants.

The city comes to a standstill for this game, and fans of the winning team can enjoy life much more until the next derby takes place.

The action comes thick and fast, with tackles flying in from all angles and the pace of the game never relenting.

Another change Shunsuke will face is the fact that referees allow play to flow much more, instead of the stop-start Italian style which makes Serie A difficult to watch.

Anyway, good luck to Shunsuke.

At least he will have a chance of winning trophies with Celtic, instead of mid-table slogs with Reggina, a team with only one thing on their mind: survival in Serie A.

It's a good move to get out of Italy, and Scottish football can only improve his game.

ends

25 Jul 2005(Mon)

JULY 22 -- And so, another chapter has opened in the colourful story of the charismatic Kazuyoshi Miura.

His transfer from Vissel Kobe to Yokohama FC looks like a smart move for both parties, meaning Kazu and Yokohama FC (and probably Vissel, too, actually).

Obviously he was finished at Kobe, and had the sense and the pride to realise this.

With Kobe at the bottom of the J1 table, he decided to drop down to J2 and shift roots from Kansai to Kanagawa.

Although I have no idea how much Kazu will be earning at Yokohama FC -- and, to be honest, don't actually care -- I am sure he will provide value for money.

He will bring in the crowds around J2, and will set an example to the younger players at the club with his work ethic and his professionalism.

Around the J.League, you will never hear a bad word against Kazu, as he has remained a model professional, training hard and looking after himself off the pitch.

The legs may be slower than the glory years, but the mind is just as quick and the sense of responsibility just as strong...to his team-mates, to his club and, above all, to himself.

Not that long ago I went to watch Vissel play at Omiya. Kobe lost easily, and it proved to be the last game in charge for Emerson Leao.

After the game I was waiting outside the main entrance to try and interview Mikitani-san about Vissel's desperate plight.

Before he emerged, Kazu walked past -- and there was no denying the man remains an icon.

The Omiya fans could not believe how close they were to this living legend -- which he is in Japan -- and, old and young, they took photo after photo as he made his way through the crowd.

With this enduring star appeal and personality, Kazu will provide a boost for his new team in particular and for J2 in general in the coming months.

Kazu and Shoji up front?

That sounds familiar, doesn't it?

ends

21 Jul 2005(Thu)

JULY 20 -- It had to happen, didn't it?

7-1, 7-0, 6-0....it's difficult for a manager to survive a crisis like this, and Ossie Ardiles is out of a job again.

A few months after steering Verdy to the Emperor's Cup, the Argentine coach was fired by Verdy on Tuesday.

Verdy had given him every chance to turn the sinking ship around, but the 6-0 defeat at Iwata was the last straw.

Ardiles has paid the price for the club's lack of activity during the seven-week break, while the club will have learned a valuable lesson.

A "gutsy" -- to use Ossie's own word -- performance earned Verdy a 0-0 draw in the Tokyo derby the other week, and seemed to have put them back on course after the seven-goal maulings by Gamba and Reds.

In the next match they led Vissel 3-1, but were lucky to survive in a 3-3 draw when Atsu Miura led Kobe's comeback.

Then...6-0 away to Jubilo, where Maeda was very impressive for the home team.

The Verdy team is a typical Ardiles outfit...a nice, technical team, playing attractive football where it should be played, on the ground. They have several extremely talented players, such as Daigo and Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Yoneyama, Soma and Morimoto, but, also like previous Ardiles teams, they have a soft centre and lack defensive discipline.

They do not possess the physical quality to battle teams, except up front, where Washington, Hiramoto and Morimoto are all strong, and, from a team spirit point of view, Ardiles had lost them as a group.

Even with proud Verdy fighters like the captain, "Yamataku", the team could not motivate itself anymore.

And when this happens, there's only course of action open to the club.

Ardiles, however, leaves Verdy with enough good players to survive, but they need a tough coach to push them harder and tighten the play. Anyone know where Troussier is these days?

Or Perryman perhaps?

ends

18 Jul 2005(Mon)

July 16: The J.League is trying hard to promote the concept of the "local derby" match this season.

They want fans to feel pride and passion about their team, like supporters do around the world.

But that doesn't mean fans have to get too excited by the occasion and let their emotions run away with them.

I know there's a very thin dividing line between the two states of mind, and some micro-second of madness, when the brain switches off, can spark an act which the person will regret for ever.

I am referring to the incident at the Tokyo derby at Ajinomoto Stadium last Saturday, when an FC Tokyo fan threw the narrow lid of a cigarette bin toward the Verdy fans, injuring three people.

The injured included a policeman, and the offender was seized on the spot and taken away.

I didn't know anything about this until after the game, although I had been surprised, when visiting a food kiosk for an extremely unhealthy pre-match snack, to hear the FC Tokyo fans in full voice nearby. I thought this was a bit starnge, as usually they are in their "end" to the left of the grandstand. On this occasion, however, they were in the middle of the concourse.

FC Tokyo's managing director, Yutaka Murabayashi, is usually one of the most cheerful officials around, but after the game he was clearly upset by the incident, and worried that it might tarnish the otherwise positive image of the supporters.

He said there were around 200 supporters singing songs near the Verdy fans, but the actions of just one had spoilt the occasion.

Trouble-makers, of course, are always in a minority. This is what observers say about England fans overseas.

"The problems were caused by a small minority," is the customary phrase.

Well, if you have 25,000 England fans in Marseille at the 1998 World Cup, and a small minority, say one per cent, cause trouble, that's still a lot of hooligans -- 250? Is that right? I am sorry, maths was never my strong point!

The J.League is learning lessons all the time, such as at Kashiwa Reysol earlier in the season.

It is no coincidence, of course, that the Reysol fans and the lone FC Tokyo hooligan commited their deeds when the team was not in good form.

With FC Tokyo finally having won, and Reysol, too, hopefully life will return to normal on the terraces.

It might be a good idea, though, for FC Tokyo to prevent home fans from gathering near the away end and singing songs, even if it appears harmless.

It does suggest provocation and taunting, and that's when violence can occur, from one side or the other.

ends

14 Jul 2005(Thu)

JULY 12: No one should be surprised by Emerson's move to Qatar.

"Think money," I was told by a member of the Reds coaching staff, when I went to their Ohara training ground on Sunday to get the latest news on the absent "hero."

"Don't think about football," he added.

"It's where players go at the end of their careers for one last big pay check."

In the modern game, that means Qatar, and on this occasion Al Sadd.

Emerson, too, was clearly thinking about money.

Lots and lots of it, even more than he was earning with Urawa -- and that was over US$ 1 million a year. Probably well over.

It wasn't that long ago when Emerson made a strange move in Japan.

After scoring 31 goals in 34 games for Consadole Sapporo in 2000, he didn't come up into J1 with the J2 champions.

Instead he stayed in J2, transferring to Kawasaki Frontale, who were the only team prepared to meet his financial demands. Or should I say his agent's financial demands.

He seemed quite happy in the second division, running rings around outclassed opponents, but moved to Urawa midway through the following season, in the summer of 2001.

Of course Emerson has given the Reds fans plenty to cheer about with goals galore, but they deserved better treatment from him and from his agent.

Emerson was given an extended holiday in Brazil, and when he was a couple of days late returning for the training camp it was pretty much par for the course.

But when a couple of days became a couple of weeks, the writing was on the wall that he would not be coming back to Japan at all.

While his so-called team "mates" were losing the Saitama derby to Omiya Ardija, Emerson was in Europe finalising the details of his lucrative contract.

Some people may accuse me of being naive, of being too much of Englishman in my feeling for what is right and what is wrong.

They may say that....hey, Emerson is a professional. He has to earn as much money as he can during his short career. Nobody has ever done him any favours in his life, so why should he start doing the same?

And you may have a point.

But there is more to football than money. There is personal pride, loyalty, playing for a team and playing for a club.

Those supporters who worshipped him must feel badly let down.

But they should not feel surprised.

I, for one, will not miss Emerson one bit, despite his goals and talent.

ends

11 Jul 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (July 9): If anyone could turn back the clock to just one week ago, then surely that man would be Ossie Ardiles.

This time last week, Tokyo Verdy 1969 were looking forward to the resumption of J1, like everyone else, after the seven-week break.

But in their first two games, Verdy have conceded seven goals each time and the alarm bells are now ringing at Yomiuri Land.

After Gamba had beaten them 7-1 at Banpaku last Saturday, Urawa Reds then humiliated them 7-0 at National Stadium on Wednesday night in what was, technically, a home game for Verdy.

I did not attend either game in person, but saw all the goals flying in on the TV highlights shows.

It was grim viewing for the Verdy fans, as their side looked lost and conceded goals which a professional team simply should not do.

Admittedly, Gamba have a dynamic strike force in Araujo, Fernandinho and Oguro, but they must have felt they were playing against a schoolboy side.

Against Reds, sure, Urawa got a couple of breaks with some timely deflections, but this is no excuse for Verdy.

After all, when a team lets in seven goals for two games running, it's more a matter of heart and commitment, rather than technical or tactical inadequacies.

All of which puts the Argentine coach's job on the line, starting with Saturday's Tokyo derby with FC Tokyo at "Ajista."

I hear that the club will not review Ardiles's position until the end of the month, on the completion of the six-game July schedule, but another performance like the previous two could change all that.

The first two have been a debacle, but the local derby gives Verdy the perfect opportunity to restore some pride and try to extend the slender points lead over Tokyo, who have simply forgotten how to win.

It all makes for a very spicy derby this evening.

And it makes you wonder what Verdy have been doing, or not doing, during the break to come back in such poor mental and physical condition.

ends

7 Jul 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (July 6): It was interesting to see the "Emerson Bento" for sale outside Saitama Stadium 2002 on Sunday night.

Naturally, I did not buy one, as readers know he is not exactly my favourite player.

His ability as a goal-scorer is not in question.

It's his approach to the game I don't like, always looking for a free kick or a penalty, always pretending he is injured, and always looking to get an opposing player booked or sent off.

Anyway, all this is not an issue at the moment, because he has let down the club and the fans yet again.

"When is he coming back?" I asked Guido on Sunday, after the win over Albirex.

"I don't know," he admitted.

"Where is he?" was the follow-up question.

"I don't know," said Guido again. "It's unbelievable!"

Yes it is. A player earning so much money, who is clearly capable of playing at a higher level than the J.League, just not showing up after his holiday.

According to sources, first he said his baby son had a fever, so they could not travel back, and then his wife needed a transit visa for the United States, hence another delay.

It reminds me of the Edilson fiasco with Kashiwa Reysol, when the player said he needed to go to the dentist's in Brazil and would be late back.

I really hope Reds are severe with Emerson, like they were with Alpay, as this is hardly the first time it has happened.

In fact Hans Ooft told me they had fined him a total of US$60,000 during the 2003 Nabisco Cup-winning season for being late back to Japan or late for training.

"I told him it would be cheaper to buy an alarm clock," Ooft said.

Guido is not laughing at the moment, though, and who can blame him?

There are six rounds of J1 games in July, and Reds are capable of claiming 18 points to haul in Kashima Antlers.

They already have three from one game, without Emerson, and it's unlikely he will feature soon when he comes back, as he will not be match-fit. And why should Guido leave out Tanaka or Nagai or any other player who has the good of the club at heart?

Back to the Emerson bento.

This led to a few jokes, of course. One was that you opened the Emerson bento box and there was nothing inside. It had disappeared!

Another was that the pieces of meat were, in fact, Emerson himself, having been cut up by angry fans.

Will the Reds fans continue to worship him?

Sadly, I suspect so.

ends

4 Jul 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (July 1): A few weeks ago I was sitting at home and the telephone rang.

Not the mobile phone, but the landline.

I thought it must be another fax from Urawa Reds, informing me that only 267 tickets were still available for the home game at Saitama Stadium in April 2007...even though they won't know who they are playing for another year and a half!

As I picked up the phone, expecting to hear the high-pitched tone of the fax, there was a faint voice on the other end.

"'Ello, 'ello, is this Monsieur Walker?"

Yes, you've guessed. She was French, and she worked for a football agent.

"Avez-vous le telephone number of Monsieur Alpay Ozalan, s'il vous plait?"

I said I didn't, but gave her the number of an Urawa Reds club contact, who could pass on the Frenchwoman's number to Monsieur Alpay at the earliest opportunity.

"There is a French club who wants to sign Alpay," she added.

"Yes, I think he'll be available quite soon," I replied.

"Why, is his contract finished? Is he not playing very well?" asked the Frenchwoman.

"Errr, no," I said. "He's not playing at all. He keeps getting red cards and yellow cards. In fact I think he has received more cards this season than Brad Pitt on Valentine's Day."

(Actually, I didn't say the Brad Pitt joke, as I've only just thought of it, but I will remember it for next time.)

The next day, Alpay was sent off. I was sitting at Omiya Stadium, watching them thrash Vissel Kobe, when a Japanese colleague gave me the news, via his colleague at Niigata.

Sure enough, Alpay was fired this week, six months before his contract was due to end.

For me, the writing was on the wall when he got sent off on the opening day of the season, against Kashima Antlers.

Alpay, for all his experience, had allowed Takayuki to annoy him.

That's not difficult, admittedly, as Takayuki annoys everyone, but Alpay fell for it hook, line and sinker.

He grabbed him by the chin, and Takayuki hit the deck again. In fact he fell down so often that afternoon that there is rumoured to be an imprint of Takayuki still in the turf on the edge of the penalty box. Like something you see on the X-Files.

Alpay arrived in Japan with a reputation as a hot-head. Off the pitch he is a very nice and friendly guy, but on it he goes crazy.

Call it commitment, determination...whatever you like.

But a player who goes overseas must learn to adapt to the football environment.

Japanese football can hardly be described as vicious or violent, yet Alpay just couldn't stay on the pitch long enough to hear the final whistle. Sometimes even the half-time whistle.

He has let down the club, who were prepared to give him a big break in Japanese football (and no doubt an even bigger salary), and let down himself.

It's a great pity, because he's a good player, an interesting character and could have given a lot to the game here.

I'm sorry. I must go now. The phone's ringing.

Must be that French agent again!

ends

30 Jun 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (June 29): The long wait is almost over, and the J.League first division will be reopening for business on Saturday.

It feels like the start of the season, doesn't it, as teams have been in camp, playing warm-up games, and there's been lots of talk on the transfer front.

But, of course, the J1 season is already 12 matches old, and there are another 22 rounds to go.

So, even though Kashima Antlers have a nine-point cushion at the top, it's still far from over.

As a Newcastle United fan, I know from painful experience how teams can blow big leads when they are clear at the top well into the season!

So for fans of the chasing pack, don't give up on your team, as there will be many twists and turns ahead on the long road to the championship.

Marinos manager Takeshi Okada was the guest speaker at a recent meeting of the Foreign Sportswriters Association of Japan, and he was asked if the crowds would drop with one team dominating J1.

"Don't you think Marinos can catch Kashima?" he replied, with a chuckle.

If there were two or three teams clear of the pack, Okada added, then maybe some fans of other teams might lose interest as the season wears on. But there's only one with a big lead, and several capable of catching them.

Indeed, it is going to be fascinating to see if Antlers can hang on. Much will depend on whether their captain, Mitsuo Ogasawara, stays or leaves.

The word is that Lazio would like to take him to Rome, and if he left there would be a massive gap to fill.

So who's capable of catching Kashima?

Well, Marinos for one, although I hear they are having problems signing a new striker to replace Adhemar and Ahn Jung Hwan.

Ailton, who plays in Germany, and Luizao have both been linked with the club, but no concrete news as yet.

Urawa Reds will get better and can still put in a challenge, and Gamba Osaka must have a chance, too.

They have some fine players in all areas of the pitch, especially going forward with Fernandinho, Araujo and Oguro. There is a strong backbone, too, with Miyamoto, Sidiclei and Endo, and lots of experience elsewhere, so Gamba must not be written off.

Jubilo Iwata could start to click, as they have enough good players.

So, when Saturday comes, the chase is on, and I expect Antlers to be hauled in, and the race to expand considerably over the next few weeks.

Before the next break, that is!

ends

27 Jun 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (June 25): With the World Cup in Germany less than a year away, what needs to be done in the coming months to further strengthen the team?

One of the most important things, as "Captain Tsune" said in Bangkok after victory over North Korea, is for Japan to play more teams from Europe and South America.

The Confederations Cup gave Japan the opportunity to play against teams from three of FIFA's six confederations: CONCACAF (Mexico), Europe (Greece) and South America (Brazil).

After a disappointing start against Mexico, Japan adapted well to playing the big and physical Greeks, and then picked up the pace to give Brazil a real fright.

So Japan showed that they are adaptable to both styles, and Zico must now find some common ground down the middle.

Meaning, having players who are defensively strong and physical, and others who are quick and creative in attack.

As the coach said himself in Germany, it's now a matter of balance and organisation, and finding the right combinations.

Japan's qualities, of course, are speed, movement and technical skill, but these alone are not enough to succeed at the highest level.

They need to have physical strength to win the one-on-one battles around the pitch, and the aerial power in both penalty areas to combat their opponents.

FIFA's technical study group representative, Andy Roxburgh, also said on the FIFA website that Japan must learn to change their tempo when the situation demands, and not keep playing at such a fast pace.

So, all in all, there is plenty to work on over the next few months.

Playing against South American and European teams, away from home, will help Japan develop their own special style, and enable Zico to sort out Japan's men from Japan's boys!

ends

23 Jun 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (June 22): Well, are you ready for tonight?

Could it be the Miracle of Cologne?

Maybe it could. You never know, especially as Brazil's head coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, has said he is resting the likes of Ronaldinho and Kaka for the decisive Confederations Cup clash with Japan.

But it doesn't matter who is missing, because whoever comes in will be good.

I think Japan's biggest hurdle to overcome is psychological, rather than from a footballing point of view.

I know Brazil are good, but they are not supermen, and Mexico proved this by beating them the other day.

So if Japan enter the match in this frame of mind, and try and ignore the history and the awe of the famous canary yellow shirts, then they could do all right?

Could win? Well, I don't know about that, because they must stop Brazil scoring in the first place, which will be difficult.

If Brazil score once, Japan will need to score twice, and this team does not look like it is bursting with goals, does it?

Brazil, remember, can draw and advance to the semi-finals, while Japan must win, and this is not a bad situation for Japan really.

Brazil may relax a bit, play for the draw, and then Japan can hit them with a sucker punch near the end, from Oguro, of course.

That scenario is not beyond the realms of possibility, so Japan must play calm and composed, and keep it 0-0 for as long as possible, before looking for that vital goal.

If they score too early, this may wake Brazil from their slumber, make them angry and make Japan pay for their cheek!

Whatever happens in Cologne tonight, though, Japan can count the Confederations Cup campaign a success, thanks to the 1-0 victory over the European champions Greece.

This was a fine performance by Japan, whose passing and movement ripped apart the big and clumsy Greeks.

Were Greece ever that good anyway, even in winning Euro 2004?

I was never that convinced, and they haven't done much since in their World Cup qualifying group, and Japan proved this.

Still, the performance of the Greeks, and Japan's catalogue of missed chances, should not detract from Japan's achievement.

It must rank as one of the best results in the history of Japanese football, as the Confederations Cup is the second biggest FIFA tournament after the World Cup.

So my message to the fans ahead of tonight's match is: Relax and enjoy it.

I really hope Japan can win, and lay to rest the myth that Japan will never be able to beat the mighty Brazil.

ends

20 Jun 2005(Mon)

Tokyo (June 18): It's always refreshing to hear comments from an "outsider" about the Japan national team.

Especially from an "outsider" with a little "inside" information to add to his vast knowledge of the game at large.

So the half-time viewpoint of Arsene Wenger was one of the highlights of the Japan-Mexico Confederations Cup game.

Wenger said he was impressed with three Japanese players in particular: Yanagisawa, for his movement up front; Kaji, for his power down the right flank; and Hidetoshi Nakata, for his all-round skill in organising the team.

Japan had played quite well in the first half, but lost their rhythm and shape in the second as Mexico dominated.

Yanagisawa's goal, a delicate finish at the near post into the far corner, followed an exhilarating move, thanks to some great control, vision and skill from Ogasawara and Kaji's run and cross.

But Mexico's two goals in response highlighted bad defending by Japan.

There was too much space in front of the defence for the first one, a well-struck long-range shot, and weak challenges in the air for the second. How Japan missed Nakazawa in that situation!

However, I still think Zico's 3-4-2-1 is an interesting formation, but needs finetuning in terms of personnel.

I would bring in Koji Nakata alongside Fukunishi to bolster the midfield defence, move Hidetoshi Nakata forward alongside Ogasawara, and put Shunsuke on the bench. I thought Shunsuke looked tired, slow and weak against Mexico, and a Nakata-Ogasawara pairing behind Yanagisawa would be much more dynamic and dangerous.

Japan now have a tough task to qualify, and must beat Greece and at least draw with Brazil.

If they don't qualify for the semi-finals, though, I won't be too concerned, as at least Zico has devised, after three years, a system that can play to Japan's strengths.

It's just a matter of picking the player most suited for each position.

ends

16 Jun 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (June 15): Emerson Leao at Vissel Kobe...Washington at Verdy...the Confederations Cup just around the corner...

All these factors came to mind the other day, when Leao brought his struggling Vissel team to Omiya for a Nabisco Cup group game on Saturday.

Leao, remember, was in charge of Brazil at the 2001 Confederations Cup in Japan and South Korea. At that time, Washington was leading Brazil's attack, and the playmaker was Ramon, who would also go on to play for Verdy.

After Saturday's game at Omiya I was able to ask Leao a few questions about this month's Confederations Cup, where Japan will play Brazil again, in Cologne on June 22.

Four years ago the teams drew 0-0 in group play at Ibaraki, but Leao thinks it will be a different story this time.

"The game will not be at home for Japan. It will be in Germany, and this is a big difference. Japan will lose in Germany," he said.

Leao, in fact, was not very positive about the current Japan team in general.

He knows Japanese football well, of course, having worked with S-Pulse in 1993-94 and with Verdy in 1996, and thinks Japan was stronger 10 years ago!

Brazil has all the technique, and nowadays Japan has only tactics, he said, and no outstanding individual players.

"Japan is a different team today," he said.

"There is no superstar, only the team. The difference today in games is the superstar."

Doesn't Hidetoshi Nakata come into this category, I suggested/pleaded?

"No. Japan has no big star. A superstar is Robinho, Ronaldinho, Zidane."

Mmm....very interesting.

Japan's previous coach, Philippe Troussier, would have loved to hear these words, as this was his philosophy: a team in which all players had their specific role and were equally as important, with no superstar.

Of course Leao's opinion must be respected, and no one would argue that a player such as Ronaldinho can turn a 0-0 draw into a 1-0 victory with an outrageous piece of skill.

But I can't agree that Japan was stronger 10 years ago, can you?

Ten years ago, in fact, in June 1995, I followed Japan around England in the Umbro Cup, watching them play England at Wembley, Brazil at Goodison Park and Sweden at Nottingham Forest.

Those were the days of Kazu and Gon up front, Ihara and Hashiratani at the back....

But no one in midfield of the individual quality of Nakata or Ono.

Well, we will find out soon enough how much progress Japan has made since the 2003 Confederations Cup.

ends

9 Jun 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (June 6): Well, hats off to Zico this time.

With the pressure on, the Brazilian coach made all the right calls for the Bahrain match, didn't he?

I really liked his 3-4-2-1 formation, as it played to his squad strengths: midfield.

It enabled him to field six midfield players, even without the injured Ono, and finally he found the right balance.

The back three looks here to stay, and the four across the middle gave Japan solidity and plenty of width.

With seven players ready to defend, the other three could concentrate on attack.

Nakamura and Ogasawara had the freedom to roam, in support of the solitary striker, Yanagisawa, and these three players, plus Nakata, combined for the only goal of the game.

Despite defending Suzuki after the UAE game, Zico dropped him and brought in his former Antlers teammate to lead the line.

Everything worked well on the night, and Japan dominated the game, controlled the ball and restricted Bahrain to just a a couple of half-cahnces.

What a difference a goal makes!

Suddenly Japan is relaxed and optimistic, as qualification is just around the corner.

It should, in fact, be achieved on Wednesday night in Bangkok against North Korea.

Even though Japan will be without Nakamura, Hidetoshi Nakata and Alex due to suspension, they should still be capable of winning or drawing against a team with a 0-4 record in the final qualifying round.

What on earth was Alex doing?

It was a ridiculous attempt to win a penalty, a needless dive, and another yellow card.

I hope the JFA fines Alex because incidents like this reflect badly on Japanese football in general.

Two years ago in the Confederations Cup against New Zealand, the result could have been so different if Alex had been sent off in the first half.

He was booked for a clumsy foul early on, and should have been shown the yellow card again for diving in the New Zealand box. He escaped punishment, and Japan went on to win 3-0, so it was forgotten.

The JFA should tell him to stop cheating and just play football.

ends

6 Jun 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (June 3): There's never a dull moment at Kashiwa Reysol these days.

Not many points. Not many goals. But never a dull moment.

First of all I want to make one thing clear about last Saturday's "sit-in" after the 5-1 defeat by JEF United.

The Reysol fans did not cause trouble, and were not violent.

They were just frustrated, quite understandably, and concerned, and the demonstration was peaceful and good-natured.

From what I can gather, club officials were quite upset by some of the media reporting, as it suggested the Reysol fans were misbehaving again.

They weren't. They just wanted to make their views heard when their passions were high, and spent large chunks of the demonstration showing their support by chanting a desperate "Kashiwa Reysol" for minutes on end.

The group of around 100 included several children, aged no more than three or four, maybe younger, and it was quite amusing to see them joining in the applause when one older fan made a suggestion that received widespread support.

Although the Reysol fans demanded an immediate audience with either the president or with the manager, the club sent a sacrificial lamb to bow deeply and apologise for the performance, and try to appease the fans before the forum planned for Sunday morning at Hitachi-dai.

No doubt there will be many questions put to the club's top management.

One of Reysol's biggest problems, in my opinion, is the recruitment of unsuitable foreign players.

I believe Reysol have become a soft touch for agents due to weak front-office management, and they need to set up a fresh network of contacts and expand their horizons beyond Brazil and South Korea.

Of the current crop, Cleber is an obvious exception because he looks a fine player, but you have to wonder how long he will be around if the team continues to under-perform.

On the coaching front, they have tried Brazilians, an Englishman and Japanese, but no one seems capable of turning the team around, and this must be a worry.

A tough manager is what's required, and the club do worse than check out the availability of Philippe Troussier. He wouldn't tolerate any nonsense, although I'm sure there would be players and staff shaking in their boots at the thought of the fiery Frenchman working at Kashiwa.

Good! Maybe this is what they need.

end

2 Jun 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (May 31): Did you read those comments from Philippe Troussier the other day?

Apparently, Troussier wants his job back as national coach of Japan, and accused Zico of not giving the players enough freedom on the pitch.

Did he really say that?

If he did, then it's quite a statement from Troussier, who was not known for his flexibility in formation and strategy, although he was always happy to give talented young players a chance and help to toughen them up.

So, would there be a chance of Troussier having his old job back in the near future?

To me the answer is obvious: No!

I think there's absolutely no chance of JFA president Kawabuchi even considering Troussier for the post should the results go against Japan in Bahrain and in Bangkok against North Korea, and Zico is shown the door back to Rio.

Very early in his turbulent introduction to Japan, Troussier suggested a round of J.League fixtures should be postponed to give him more time to prepare for a friendly. I think it was Troussier's first game in charge, in fact, against Egypt at Osaka Nagai.

A few days later, when Kawabuchi, then the J.League chairman, was asked to comment on Troussier's suggestion, he was very scathing of the national coach.

"He's been in Africa for 10 years. He can't come here and just start changing things in the J.League," were the jist of Kawabuchi's reaction.

No, there is no chance.

Troussier has not had a happy time since leaving Japan, first with an operation followed by lengthy recovery, then a brief spell with Qatar and a troubled few months at Marseille.

I could see Troussier taking over the China job, with a brief to build a new team from the chaos of the corrupt professional league in time for the 2007 Asian Cup and, more significantly, the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, of course.

Troussier would be perfect for this job, picking young players, smacking them about a bit and moulding them into a smooth-running, well-organised and disciplined team.

Troussier for China?

Makes more sense than Troussier for Japan.

ends

30 May 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (May 28): As a player, Zico made his name as an attacking genius.

But on Friday night he showed he could defend a bit, too.

It's just a pity that his players couldn't defend properly during the match against the UAE, conceding the only goal of the game after being carved up in clinical fashion.

Zico was defending his team in general, and one player in particular, during the post-match news conference.

He even called for the media to show support for the team and encourage the players at this delicate time -- a tactic which smacks of desperation, and one which would have been ridiculed in a country with a deeper football culture. Brazil, for example.

One player was singled out for criticism in a question from the media.

Any guesses?

A defender, maybe, such as Tsuboi, for allowing his forward to get behind him and score the goal?

Kawaguchi for being a little slow to get down to the weak shot, and for not quite covering the angle, so the ball could roll into the far corner?

No, it was Takayuki Suzuki, who, throughout his career, has provoked a wide spectrum of opinion on his qualities, or lack of them.

So I must take this opportunity to re-enforce my view of Suzuki.

At the moment, he is the best player to lead the forward line, and is a key member of the team due to his ability to shield the ball and drag defenders across the pitch, thereby creating space for his teammates to exploit.

Even though Suzuki was not in top form on Friday, Japan will need him against the big and robust Bahrain defenders.

I just wish he had Yoshito Okubo in support, but Zico resisted the temptation to recall the firebrand striker. I think this is a mistake by the coach, as, for reasons given in an earlier column, Okubo is different. He's a hungry, aggressive, lively goal scorer, but Zico appears to have abandoned him.

But I will not jump on the bandwagon to criticise Suzuki, because he has proved his value to the team time and again.

No one was criticising the new hero, Oguro, who missed an easy chance to equalise on Friday night, when putting a header wide to a cross from the right. But that miss won't worry Oguro, who will be back hunting for goals as soon as possible.

One thing everybody will agree on, and that's how crucial, and how difficult, Japan's match will be in Bahrain.

ends

26 May 2005(Thu)

May 24--With perfect timing, Yoshito Okubo gave Zico a reminder of his striking talent.

The former Cerezo Osaka star has not had the easiest of times in Spain with Mallorca, but he inspired them to a valuable victory over the weekend.

A 3-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna, where Okubo netted Mallorca's third goal, was a great effort from the islanders.

It followed Japan's 1-0 defeat at home to Peru in the Kirin Cup, and surely gave Zico food for thought for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

A fully-fit, fully-focused Okubo, to me, is still the best striker in Japan. He is hungry and aggressive, and it's only a matter of time before the goals start to flow at the highest level.

Wouldn't it be a treat to see him playing alongside a solid target man, such as Takayuki Suzuki, in the World Cup qualifiers against Bahrain and North Korea?

He could turn out to be Japan's match-winner, their ace in the pack, and score the goals to book Japan a ticket to Germany 2006.

Will Zico give him that chance?

I sincerely hope so, because Zico has championed Okubo's cause for a long while now.

Tamada is not scoring for club or for country, and Oguro does not look quite ready to jump from J.League to national team starter. For the time being, Oguro looks more effective off the bench.

As for Takahara, I thought he had two awful games in Tehran and at home to Bahrain, so his place is by no means certain.

An Okubo-Suzuki "combo" would be pretty dangerous, as Suzuki leads the forward line well and drags defenders all over the place.

Okubo could thrive in this space, bursting into the box and letting fly with either foot. Okubo is not afraid to miss, and this is an important part of his character.

Great timing from Okubo at the weekend, and hopefully the JFA are booking the plane ticket from Spain to the UAE, where Japan will train ahead of the Bahrain match on June 3.

The return of Okubo could be an unexpected bonus for Japan.

ends

23 May 2005(Mon)

(May 20): It had to come, sooner rather than later.

The announcement of the retirement of Patrick Mboma was inevitable, given his long fight against a variety of niggling injuries.

In fact, there's probably a few J.League fans who didn't even know he was still in Japan, with Vissel Kobe.

Even so, Patrick will be missed.

If ever a player befitted the nickname of "The Gentle Giant", that man was Patrick Mboma. Perhaps "Gentleman Giant" might be more appropriate, as anyone who met him could not fail to warm to his engaging personality.

The big and fearless Cameroonian set the J.League alight in his first season with Gamba Osaka, scoring a succession of magnificent goals that had the TV commentators drooling.

He was crashing them into the net from all angles, with such power you felt that if the goalkeeper got in the way, he would travel into the back of the net still clutching the ball. Or maybe he would end up through the net!

These goals came to the attention of the European clubs, even though Mboma had been in France for several seasons without making the grade.

During the 1998 World Cup in France, I attended the Cameroon-Austria match on a chilly night at Toulouse, and all the talk after the game was of Mboma leaving Gamba for Cagliari in Italy.

At the top of his game, Mboma had to test himself at the highest level, so left Japan midway through the 1998 season.

When he returned to Japan, to join Tokyo Verdy, I must admit I was a bit surprised.

He had struggled in Italy, lately with a poor Parma team, and also in England with Sunderland, and was playing in Libya when Verdy stepped in.

Mboma did a solid rather than spectacular job, taking over from Edmundo as an experienced leader for the others to follow, but again injuries interrupted his availability.

Vissel, despite being stung by the expensive mistake of signing Ilhan Mansiz, still chose to give Mboma one last chance.

It didn't work.

Nevertheless, Mboma will always be held in great affection by the Japanese fans. He will always be in debt to Japan, too, because the J.League launched his career.

I remember being in the Cameroon team hotel at Niigata, during the 2001 Confederations Cup.

The players, like a big, happy family, were sitting around in the lobby, when Mboma's mobile phone rang.

Out of respect, the other players fell silent, and Mboma adopted a child's voice in answering, "Moshi! Moshi!"

His teammates were practically rolling around on the floor in hysterics.

Mboma gave a lot to Japanese football, and Japan gave a lot to him too.

The era of Cameroon's "Gentleman Giant" is finally over, but will never be forgotten.

ends

19 May 2005(Thu)

Call it the Ono Corner Kick.

No, not Shinji.

Takeshi.

Anyone who was at Kumagaya Athletic Stadium on Saturday--and there weren't many of us--couldn't fail to notice a rather radical Sanfrecce Hiroshima corner routine during the second half against Omiya Ardija.

As the Sanfrecce player prepared to take a corner on the left side, only one teammate was in the Omiya penalty area.

Were Sanfrecce protecting an away point with the score at 0-0?

No they weren't, as another five or six players were lined up some 10 metres outside the box, and when the corner came over they charged forward in a group.

It was like two sides going into battle, and clashing in the middle ground.

Nothing came of the kick, but Sanfrecce would win the game in second-half stoppage time with a well-struck shot on the run by substitute Shunsuke Maeda.

But back to that corner.

After the game, Sanfrecce's manager, Takeshi Ono, explained that it was the second time his team had used such a tactic this season. The first one had been against Yokohama F Marinos, for the same reasons.

"It is my original move," he said, with a smile.

"Omiya have some very tall and strong players, 1.87 or 1.88 metres, so I wanted to separate my players from their markers. I didn't want any contact before the kick."

Mmm, interesting.

It was certainly amusing to see the Omiya defenders, all looking around for someone to mark but with hardly anyone in sight.

Anyway, it provided a little bit of warmth on a dull afternoon. It was cold and windy and overcast, and the floodlights were needed, despite it being a 3pm kick-off in the middle of May.

The pitch was not in good condition, either, which is unusual for the J.League.

Long before the kick-off, a team of groundstaff was needed to pick up small pebbles from the grass. It looked like North Korea had just played there.

When the game kicked off, the surface was sandy in some areas but hard in others, making for an awkward bounce of the ball.

"It was very bad," said Ono. "The pitch condition is fair to both teams but not to the spectators.

"If the pitch was better, both teams could play more exciting, technical and tactical football."

There's talk that Omiya Stadium might not be used after this season because of its small capacity, but Kumagaya is surely more at risk.

ends

16 May 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (May 14): Things just go from bad to worse for Kashiwa Reysol.

What's wrong with this club?

They have lots of money, lots of good players and some of the most passionate fans in the country.

Against Nagoya Grampus Eight recently, though, a few of them were too passionate, and attacked the visiting fans after the game, which Reysol had lost 2-0.

A line was drawn under this sad episode by the J.League on Friday, when Reysol received a record fine of 10 million yen.

Reysol had feared that the J.League might deduct some points, but the league decided against this for a good reason: they haven't got any.

Okay, so that's not strictly true, and I apologise if my joke upsets the Yellow Monkeys. After all, you are suffering enough as it is.

Actually, 10 million yen is not a lot for a club with so much wealth.

It's about the same as Ricardinho's medical bill every season, and easily affordable, but there is no doubt the incident has brought shame to the club as a whole.

Reysol officials probably prevented a heavier punishment from the J.League by suspending indefinitely 11 fans, reducing the salaries of the club president and security chief for three months, and deciding to send security guards with Reysol fans to away games to keep order.

Oh, and they also put up a bigger gate at Hitachi Stadium, so big that even a monkey can't climb over it.

As for Grampus, they escaped punishment, but were warned severely.

A warning for what?

For defending themselves after being attacked by Reysol fans?

Even though some Grampus fans had been taunting and provoking the home supporters, this is hardly a crime, but clearly the J.League wants to clamp down on this kind of behaviour before it spreads.

On the pitch, Reysol have 10 points from 11 games and are 17th, ahead of only the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Sorry, I mean Vissel Kobe.

Reysol just can't score any goals. Only nine, and none as yet from Keiji Tamada.

What's Ueslei doing at the moment?

He has a reputation for being selfish, not playing for the team, lazy on the pitch...but he scores goals. Lots of them.

Ueslei for Reysol. That makes sense, as he would score the goals to turn a 0-0 draw into a 1-0 victory.

Keep your heads up Reysol fans!

Things can only get better.

Can't they?

ends

12 May 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (May 11): As the J.League continues to develop, more and more importance is being placed on "Derby Day."

A good example of this is the Osaka derby on Saturday, when Cerezo host Gamba at Nagai Stadium.

It is promising to be an interesting match, because both teams are in good shape at the moment.

Cerezo are playing with a great deal of spirit and organisation, and have a dangerous attacking triangle of Morishima, Furuhashi and Nishizawa. They have a very well balanced team, playing a 3-4-3 formation, or maybe a 3-4-2-1, with Nishizawa as the focal point of the attack.

As for Gamba, as usual they have so many good players in all departments.

With Oguro in excellent form, as a creator and scorer, Gamba, too, have a potent attack, with the two exciting Brazilians Fernandinho and Araujo in support.

Now that Miyamoto has been restored to the centre of the three-man back line, the team is more robust and compact in midfield, with Sidiclei alongside Endo in the "engine room."

Sidiclei is a very consistent and effective performer, and knows the Japanese game well. He keeps things simple, and keeps the team ticking over, like a good "volante" should do. Nothing flash. No risks. Just playing the percentages.

Both clubs have been working hard to promote the Osaka Derby, and Weekly Soccer Magazine ran a handsome colour feature on the game in this week's edition.

In England, the local derby is one of the first matches fans look for when the new fixture list is produced for the coming season.

My hometown is Halifax (between Manchester and Leeds), and Halifax Town now play in the Conference, England's fifth division and one step down from the Football League.

I was brought up on derby after derby, as Bradford City and Huddersfield Town were both just four or five miles away.

In the week leading up to the derby match, school friends would become friendly enemies as the tension mounted.

On Derby Day itself, your friends may be going supporting the other team, but there was no way you could stand together.

If the enemy scored, the pain was too much to take. Seeing the ball in the back of your own net, seeing your players deflated, seeing (and having to listen to!) the opposition fans celebrating...it was not a pleasant experience.

But if your team won, especially away from home, life was wonderful, no matter where you were in the league table at the time.

You had won the local derby, and this gave you great power over your friends back at school, who suddenly became very humble and quiet.

The results of the derby match affected your life and your town.

This is what the J.League is trying to create, and it will take time to build up this tradition.

Hopefully there will be a big crowd at Nagai, and a fierce but friendly rivalry between the fans.

As for the result?

I have to be safe here, and say 2-2...at half-time!

I've no idea what will happen in the second half.

After all, it's Derby Day.

ends

9 May 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (May 7): Zico announces his Kirin Cup squad on Monday, and I am trying to get excited about it.

But everywhere I turn there is apathy and a general acceptance that, no, there will be no surprises, no sense of adventure. Just the same old faces.

This attitude is understandable, as Zico's squads have become totally predictable, even when he's had a chance to experiment.

The only talking point has been which players from Europe have been released, which of them are fit and which of them will start. Even that's become boring.

For Japan's Kirin Cup games against Peru and the UAE, I can't understand why Zico wants to bring back any players from Europe at all.

Why not give them a break at the end of the long European season, even if they have been sitting on the bench, and tell them: "Meet me in the UAE at the end of the month and join the practice for the World Cup qualifier against Bahrain on June 3."

That would make more sense to me, and give Zico the chance to have a look at some new faces while the pressure is off during the Kirin Cup.

So who's out there knocking on Zico's door?

Not a lot, actually, but still two or three worth calling up just to see how they go.

Alex needs a new deputy on the left flank, and Murai might be the man, although he left the field very early in Jubilo's home game with Gamba on May 4.

If not Murai then maybe Verdy's Soma. Zico saw him play against Yokohama F Marinos the other night, when he was up against Hayuma Tanaka, who is another candidate for the national squad, on the right flank as Kaji's deputy.

While Soma has potential, I think he looks raw and is still one year away from the national squad. Sanfrecce's Hattori, although 27, is very able and consistent, and would be an interesting selection.

I have long championed the FC Tokyo trio of Moniwa, Konno and Ishikawa, but the team has been losing, six in a row as we speak. If Zico didn't pick them last year when they were on fire, why should he do now when their form has dipped? Of the three, I would still take a look at Konno.

Up front, I really like the explosive Bando at Vissel, although his confidence may have been dented by his team's terrible start to the season. But he's different to the other strikers, and offers some dynamism off the bench.

As I said, there aren't too many players lighting up the J.League at the moment, but I hope Zico uses this opportunity at least to have a look at some squad candidates.

We will see on Monday...but don't hold your breath.

ends

5 May 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (May 4): The 2002 World Cup has left Japan with a number of magnificent constructions dotted around the country.

But I must admit I prefer the smaller, more compact stadiums for the purpose of watching football.

This is why the promotion of Omiya Ardija to J1 has given neutral spectators even more variety in their choice of matches in the saturated Kanto area.

I have visited Omiya Stadium twice in recent weeks for J.League matches, and on each occasion the atmosphere was excellent.

Especially against Verdy, when the visiting fans provided a dark green backdrop behind the goal, in contrast to the bright orange on the other three sides of the ground.

There's no running track, no cover for the fans, and the distance between the pitch and the spectators is very narrow.

With only 5,000 fans inside, like against Oita, there is still a good "vibe", in contrast to double that amount which would be lost in the vastness of Saitama Stadium 2002, where Omiya also play home matches.

Omiya Stadium reminds me of being back in England at a non-league ground, in other words, a club outside of the four-division professional league.

This used to happen in the English FA Cup, especially in the first round when a team from the lower divisions of the Football League was drawn to play away at a club from a regional league.

This provided part of the "romance" of the FA Cup, as the regional league team of part-time players frequently pulled off a surprise by beating their professional visitors.

Butchers, schoolteachers, bakers, delivery men....they would all make the news if they scored the winning goal to knock a Football League team out of the FA Cup.

A different town to visit...a different stadium with its matchday souvenir programme to store with the rest in the attic back home...maybe a pitch with a slope...and the wives of the players baking and selling the hot meat pies to eat at half-time.

This was all part of the day out, and these memories flood back with a visit to a homely ground such as Omiya.

I hope Omiya Stadium continues to be on the J.League list, despite the small capacity, as it is a true football ground where the fans are close to the action.

ends

2 May 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (April 30): The Japanese--officials, players and fans alike--will be delighted with the news from Zurich that the World Cup qualifier against North Korea will be moved from Pyongyang and played at a neutral venue on June 8.

This was a brave move by FIFA, and also the correct one, as the behaviour of the North Korean fans and players was appalling in the recent game against Iran.

The new venue has not been announced yet, but it could be Kuala Lumpur, as suggested by JFA president Saburo Kawabuchi, or Singapore. These are the two favourites, but nothing has been decided.

This is surely a great relief for Japan, as it removes all the administration and logisitcal hassles of visiting Pyongyang.

But why did FIFA order the game to be played without spectators?

I think this is going too far, and imposing further financial penalties on the North Korean FA, who were also fined 20,000 Swiss Francs by FIFA.

Just think if the match takes place in Singapore.

Thousands of Japanese already living in south-east Asia would flock to that game, and so would thousands more from east Asia, including Hong Kong, and also, naturally, from Japan.

The Singaporeans love their football, too, and, like all football fans around the world, still have a soft spot for North Korea after their World Cup heroics in 1966.

There could be as many as 20,000 Japanese there, plus another 10,000 locals, to make a wonderful atmosphere at this neutral venue.

It would be like a home game for Japan, and maybe this is what FIFA is trying to guard against.

The decision to move the match from Pyongyang may already be viewed as pro-Japan and anti-North Korean at these delicate political times, and to create a second "home" match for Japan might be seen as going too far in favour of one side: the blue one.

Personally, though, I feel it would be much better to play the match at a neutral venue with spectators, and give the considerable amount of gate money to the North Korean FA.

The North Koreans have three days from Friday's announcement to appeal, and seven days to state their case in detail.

I hope they do appeal the "no spectators" decision, that Japan, if asked, supports them, and that FIFA allows spectators to watch the game, hopefully in Singapore.

But you can't have everything!

ends

28 Apr 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (April 27): What is the connection between Naoshi Nakamura and a round-the-world holiday of a lifetime?

Well, there isn't one at the moment.

But there could be in a few days' time if the exciting Nagoya Grampus Eight player scores the 10,000th goal in J.League first division history.

For some reason, while studying the fixtures for the next few rounds of games, Nakamura's name came to mind as a likely scorer of that landmark goal.

Here's why.

After last weekend's games, the grand total of goals in the first division since the league kicked off in 1993 is 9,922. That means there's only 78 more to score.

In the seven rounds of matches this season, 183 goals have been scored at an average of 2.91 goals per game.

If this trend continues--and, of course, anything could happen in any game, like Gamba beating FC Tokyo 5-3--then the 10,000th goal should come in the 10th round of games, on May 4.

This Thursday...this coming Sunday...surely too early, unless Emerson can find his scoring boots.

So the J.League is preparing for a May 4 celebration.

Looking at the fixtures that day, the late kick-off is Grampus at home to Oita Trinita, a match made for Nakamura to score this historic goal.

Of course, I could be way off the mark, but it's all good fun trying to work out the possibilities.

So where does the holiday of a lifetime come into this?

As many fans know, the J.League is running a competition to guess the scorer of the 10,000th goal, and so far over 100 different players have been nominated in over 100,000 votes.

Emerson is the top choice, followed by Masashi Oguro and King Kazu down at Vissel Kobe.

First prize--not for the goal scorer, but for the fan who guesses right--is a travel voucher up to the value of 5 million yen. The lucky winner can go anyway they want, and take with them whoever they want, on a customised travel ticket.

The closing date for entries is April 30 (Saturday), by which time the guessing game might be a bit clearer after Thursday's matches.

Good luck....and don't forget that o-miyage!

ends

25 Apr 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (April 23): What have Hasebe (Urawa Reds) and the FC Tokyo pair of Konno and Ishikawa got in common?

Well, they have all caught the eye of Bologna during a scouting mission to Japan.

According to sources within the J.League, Bologna want to sign one of these three in June, so he will be on board in time for the next Italian season.

They are all "very interesting players" (as Philippe Troussier would have said).

Of the three, who would be the most likely to do well in Italy? Meaning playing in the first team on a regular basis rather than sitting on the bench.

With the Italian game relying so much on defence and tactics, this would make Konno the obvious choice, although he is a very effective player going forward, too.

Personally, I feel Konno should have been in the national squad immediately after his Olympic commitments were over. He has a fantastic "engine" and is full of intelligent movement, with and without the ball.

He tackles well, makes great runs into space and can also score goals. His progress was rapid in the youth team and Olympic team and he needed to keep going forward into Zico's squad, but, alas, it has not happened.

Of the three players mentioned, I think Konno would have the best chance of success in Italy, as he is robust and strong and reliable.

Ishikawa, too, should have been promoted to the national squad, as he is an exciting, dynamic player, and was under-used by Yamamoto-kantoku in the Olympic Games.

He is fast and explosive and just loves to run at defenders, providing natural width on the right flank.

I don't know if the Italian style would stifle his natural game, though, and turn him into an "impact" player off the bench. Ishikawa doesn't want this, and would surely prefer a more open style of football, such as Spain or Holland.

Hasebe?

The boy has natural talent, that's for sure, but a move to Italy would seem somewhat premature.

He is still learning his trade in Japan, and, at the moment, appears a bit lightweight for Italy. But clearly the Italians noticed his natural skills and his energy.

This is the common characteristic of these three players: they all work hard for the team and never give up, and have their own special, but very different, individual points.

Has the "Hasebe Factor" got anything to do with Urawa's renewed interest in Toshiya Fujita?

Probably not, but maybe. We'll soon see...

ends

21 Apr 2005(Thu)

By Jeremy Walker

TOKYO (April 20): There were several things I couldn't understand about Saturday's game between JEF United and Kashima Antlers.

The first was why did the referee, Toru Kamikawa, send off JEF's Bulgarian defender, Stoyanov, so quickly?

When Araiba, the Antlers left-back, took to the air, I thought it was Kosuke Kitajima in the No. 7 shirt because he was off the podium so powerfully.

Kamikawa instantly went for his top pocket.

What was he looking for? His red card, his yellow card or maybe even his credit card, as confusion reigned?

Surely a yellow card for diving for Araiba. After all, Kamikawa had started the match so well by showing the yellow card to Antlers striker Alex Mineiro, who had tried to win a penalty by diving after a clash with Kushino in the JEF goal.

If not a yellow for Araiba, then perhaps for Stoyanov if there had been contact. Was he the last defender? Did he deny Araiba a clear scoring chance? I thought "no" on both occasions.

But the ref produced a red card, and it shone brightly high in the spring sunshine.

I couldn't believe it, as, for me, it ruined what was becoming an enthralling match.

Also, wasn't it obvious that Araiba was going to take off after pushing the ball past Stoyanov? Everyone could see it.

I really don't like criticising referees, because they have a tough job, impossible almost, these days, but sometimes they don't help themselves with such hasty, unnecessary decisions.

But there we are. Stoyanov was off and staying off, and Antlers went on to win easily 4-2.

This was a major talking point, and I was looking forward to the sports news programmes on Saturday night analysing at great length the Stoyanov incident, and showing it from every angle possible several times.

This is what would have happened in England, and the panelists/commentators would have chatted on endlessly about such a controversial, match-changing decision.

NHK's Saturday Sports ignored it completely, although showed the game's wonderful goals: Ogasawara's imperious double...Yuto's cracker (what a good player this young Sato is)...sheer class from Haas.

Later in the evening, on two more TV channels, the red card incident was shown very quickly and not analysed at all, as far as I could understand.

There was some contact between the two players, but it looked 50-50 as Araiba ran into Stoyanov's shoulder. A red card? Surely no.

As I say, I don't like criticising referees, because it's easy and cheap, but I think Kamikawa got it wrong on this occasion and, showing unnecessary haste, spoiled the spectacle.

ends

18 Apr 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (April 16): If one Shunsuke wasn't enough, it now looks like Japanese football has another!

Meet Shunsuke Maeda, 18, of Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Some J.League fans will be aware of him already, as he made 11 appearances last season while still at high school, scoring one goal.

But at Ajinomoto Stadium on Wednesday night, the new Shunsuke was receiving as much media attention as the old one, Nakamura.

In a 4-1 demolition of a poor Verdy side, Maeda scored the first goal and gave a bright and lively performance.

His goal, midway through the first half, summed up Verdy's incompetence, as they allowed a player measuring 1.73 metres to score with a free header at a corner.

Before the game, the former Sanfrecce, Verdy and national team centre forward Takuya Takagi had tipped me off about Maeda, so I was looking forward to seeing him in action in his first year as a pro out of the Sanfrecce youth team.

I was expecting to see a Nakamura lookalike, slight of build, with a nice left foot and a languid playing style.

But this Shunsuke looked more like Oku in appearance, somewhat scruffy with his shirt hanging out and his socks halfway down his shins.

As a player, he was nothing like Nakamura, either.

For a start he was much quicker and more explosive in open play, buzzing across the front line more like Okubo. He loves to take people on, and gave the Verdy defenders a torrid night.

Inevitably, the star-hungry Japanese media flocked round Shunsuke Maeda after the game. First the TV crews, then the reporters, as Maeda was pinned against the wall for about 20 minutes.

Sanfrecce's manager, Takeshi Ono, did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Of course his club needs media attention, and needs a Japanese star, but Ono also knows that too much publicity too soon can lead a young player to think he has made it to the big time.

"I have to protect him," Ono said.

"He is a good talented player, but he has to learn much more about football, such as defending and moving without the ball. It's not good to cheer him too much because he is only young and has to learn much more."

Wise words from the manager, but on the night, with three points in the bag, Ono was happy to let the media go overboard on a Sanfrecce player.

ends

14 Apr 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (April 13): Listening to the radio this morning, it seems that the North Korea-Japan match might not go ahead after all at Pyongyang on June 8.

This makes sense to me, as I feel it would be very dangerous for Japanese fans to travel to the game. The players also.

Especially if Japan win the game, there could be some big problems for security officials, and you wonder how much effort they would make to stop any trouble.

This came to mind watching the TV news the other day, when some 10,000 Chinese demonstrated in Beijing against Japan over a number of issues.

The police just watched as the Chinese lined up to throw rocks or bottles at the Japanese Embassy.

At one point I thought the police might start handing out cuddly toys for a direct hit at an Embassy window, like at the fairground.

Apparently, they didn't try to stop them because they didn't want the demonstrators' anger turned on their own government. Interesting.

The same could happen in Pyongyang, so the possibility of moving the match makes sense.

To where?

Well, Seoul would be too political, and so now, sadly, would Hong Kong, although I think the latter would be a perfect location.

Many Japanese live there, many would travel down for the game, the magnificent Hong Kong Stadium seats 40,000, and the former British colony is football crazy.

I lived there for eight years, and still visit regularly, and often I see Chinese youngsters wearing replica shirts of Hidetoshi Nakata, Junichi Inamoto and others, including Naoki Matsuda.

The anti-Japan feeling would surely be burning in Hong Kong as well, as it is aligned much closer to the Motherland now since the 1997 handover.

If the North Korea-Japan match is to be played in a neutral venue, Singapore would make sense, or perhaps even Kuala Lumpur, home of the Asian Football Confederation.

That would be better than playing it behind closed doors in Pyongyang, because there would still be all the administrative hassle to work through.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see the developments over the next few days, but for the sake of security and logistical purposes, North Korea against Japan in Singapore sounds very attractive and safe to me.

Any Dangan Tours organised yet?

ends

11 Apr 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (April 9): Well, the experts were right again, weren't they?

One Saitama team among the early pace-setters; the other scrapping for points at the wrong end of the table...

Where the pre-season predictions fall down, though, is that it's little Omiya Ardija who have made the bright start to the new season, and mighty Urawa Reds in all sorts of trouble at the other end of the table.

It just goes to show how unpredictable football is around the world, even though, as the season wears on, Omiya and Urawa will surely move down and up, respectively.

Ardija have seven points from three league games, and they look to have spent wisely in the winter.

Just like the cherry trees, Fujimoto is in full blossom now that he's a first-team regular, and is responding to the challenge of leading a new team in J1. His experience and his confidence on the ball has been crucial in enabling Omiya adapt to life in the top flight after six seasons in J2.

Left-sided players seem to be hard to come by in most parts of the world, except Brazil and Wales, and Mikami has proved to be another solid signing, bringing balance on the left flank, behind Fujimoto.

Sakurai, ex-Reds and Verdy, started well with a great goal at Gamba, but has since been sent off and now he's injured.

No matter, new Brazilian recruit Christian is finding his form and fitness after a knee operation in September, and will be a danger to all teams with his aerial power in the box.

Fujimoto, Sakurai, Mikami and Christian...no wonder manager Toshiya Miura is full of praise for the technical staff who made the signings, as they have blended instantly into the team.

And so to Reds...

How Guido Buchwald must be wishing he could change places with Miura, at least in the current climate. No drama. No controversy. Just a few points in the bag, thank you.

Two 1-0 defeats, two red cards for Alpay, one 3-3 draw, one red card for Nene, in three games leaves Urawa in 17th place with just a point.

For today's massive game at home to Gamba, there's no Alpay (suspended), no Nene (suspended) and no Tulio (injured), so Tsuboi will be leading a makeshift defence against one of the brightest attacking teams in the league.

There could be a few goals at Saitama Stadium, and if more of them are into the Reds net than into the Gamba net, the Saitama natives will not be slow to show their disappointment.

The Omiya fans, meanwhile, will enjoy a nice day out at Niigata. For the time being they can relax after an encouraging start, but they know, deep down, that every point won now is another toward safety at the end of the season.

Yes, it's interesting times in Saitama at the moment.

ends

7 Apr 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (April 6): As you all know by now, FIFA president Sepp Blatter was in town on Tuesday, giving a press conference at a plush new hotel in Roppongi Hills.

Officially, he was here to launch the emblem for the new FIFA Club World Championship Toyota Cup Japan 2005, which will involve the six champion clubs from FIFA's six confederations in December.

After a big build-up, the emblem was...well, just like most other FIFA emblems actually.

What the massed ranks of the media really wanted to hear was news on North Korea, and particularly Japan's scheduled World Cup qualifier in Pyongyang on June 8.

But, strangely for a FIFA president, Blatter did not want to get involved, and said a disciplinary committee was investigating the crowd trouble there against Iran recently.

All the signs are, though, is that the North Korea-Japan game will go ahead as scheduled on June 8. Behind the scenes, the Asian Football Confederation is preparing all the documents for the media, and this is at an advanced stage.

There is a slight chance it may be played behind closed doors, but you get the feeling FIFA and AFC do not want to upset North Korea, otherwise they may withdraw again from international football.

Everyone was disappointed that Blatter did not take the story any further. You could say, in fact, he was talking in "Blattertudes"--a play on the word "platitude," meaning a commonplace remark.

What was more interesting on the afternoon was the situation regarding Australia moving from the Oceania Football Confederation to the Asian Football Confederation.

It seems that this will go ahead, as no one is against it.

But Blatter warned that it must not become too easy for national associations to move from one confederation to another, like Kazakhstan did from Asia to Europe three years ago. Otherwise the confederations would be split into strong ones and weak ones, and this would not be good for the world game.

There was much discussion among the media after the official press conference about this, and the general opinion was that it was not satisfactory.

It would be better for FIFA to reorganise Asia and Oceania altogether, by splitting Asia into West and East, and the East incorporating all 12 Oceania national associations.

Oceania, of course, has been messed around by FIFA, who awarded them one automatic qualifying place for the 2006 World Cup, but then took it away under pressure from South America, and turned it into half a place, meaning a two-leg playoff against the fifth-placed South American team.

But the FIFA president told us nothing new really, which was a big disappointment for the big crowd!

It will be an even bigger one if either Jubilo or Marinos do not qualify for the FIFA Club World Championship in December.

ends

4 Apr 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (April 2): How times change...

Not all that long ago, in 2002 at Saitama Stadium 2002, to be precise, Junichi Inamoto was the toast of the nation after his World Cup goal against Belgium.

This week, against Bahrain, he was on the bench, and played for only a few seconds right at the end.

You have to wonder what the future holds for the likable midfielder.

Should he stick at it in the English Premier League, or should he move permanently down a division, or even to a lower level such as Holland or Belgium?

Should he give up on Europe altogether and come home, just as Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi did at the end of last year?

The fact is, "Ina" is now no longer an automatic first-team choice for Japan, and if he remains in the wilderness he may lose his squad place altogether.

Ono and Fukunishi now look to be Zico's first-choice pairing in defensive midfield, and even when Ono was suspended for the Bahrain game, the coach moved Hidetoshi Nakata into that role.

Ina, who was looking very relaxed and full of spirit in training, eventually got on for Nakamura, who had displayed a remarkably high level of irresponsibility by casually giving the ball away in injury time as Bahrain pressed for an equaliser.

This is Ina's fourth season in England--one with Arsenal, two with Fulham and one with West Bromwich Albion, where he is back again now his loan spell with Cardiff City has finished--and he is still trying to prove himself.

Chatting to him the night before the Bahrain game, he said he must return to West Brom and try and convince manager Bryan Robson that he is worth a place in the team.

For a while, now, I've thought the English Premiership midfield was a level too high for Inamoto. His physical fitness is fine, of course, and so is his attitude, spirit and technique.

His problem, I feel, is that it's too quick, mentally, because you have to decide what you are going to do with the ball even before you receive it.

For this reason I still think Ina would be a better right-back in the English game, where he would have more time to use the ball. And it would not stop him making his trademark runs forward and having a shot at goal.

The bigger picture, though, is Ina's club career.

He must make sure he is playing regularly, and in the public eye (meaning Zico's), or the hero of 2002 may be watching Germany 2006 on TV, whether or not Japan qualify.

ends

31 Mar 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (March 30): After Japan's training session at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Tuesday, captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto confirmed what many had suspected...

That the players are running the team now, and not national coach Zico.

This is a very significant development in the reign of Zico, whose policies have left many people, including the players, scratching their heads in recent weeks and months.

Effectively, it means player-power has won the day, as Zico has been forced to abandon his clumsy 4-4-2 formation in favour of the more fluid 3-5-2 the players prefer.

This change followed a crisis meeting between Miyamoto, senior player Hidetoshi Nakata and Zico on Sunday, two days after the 2-1 defeat in Tehran.

Miyamoto said Tuesday night that Zico had not been surprised by the "suggestion," as the Brazilian was planning to revert to 3-5-2 in any case.

When asked if Zico or the players were running the team, Miyamoto responded by clearly saying: "The players are in charge."

This can mean one of two things.

The first is that the players have lost faith in the coach and have taken matters into their own hands, and this could spark the beginning of the end for Zico.

The other possibility is that Zico will now stick with the 3-5-2 formation, and finally forget about trying to play his own system, which was clearly not working. For Zico, the future is clear, because the players have pointed the way ahead.

Whatever the outcome, this development must be viewed as positive for all concerned.

Feelings are finally out in the open, and Zico must now adapt to this situation if he wants to keep his job.

The players, and fans, have shown remarkable patience, and Zico has been saved due to the fact that the team has scrambled vital victories throughout the World Cup qualifying process.

It has been clear for several months that the 3-5-2 system suits Japan's players better than the 4-4-2.

Even after Japan's very first game under Zico, a 1-1 draw with Jamaica, I said I thought his ideas, while noble, were not practical in the modern game.

After Japan's poor showing at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup in France, where they beat a J2-level New Zealand before losing to a third-string French team and then to Colombia in a match they only needed to draw to advance to the semi-finals, I "suggested" that Zico had to switch to 3-5-2.

Just because Hidetoshi Nakata is available again does not mean Zico has to change formations.

Zico cannot complain, as he has had ample time to find a solution.

His lack of coaching credentials has been exposed, and the players have finally stepped in to try and sort out the mess and give the team a new united front. I think the benefits will be seen against Bahrain.

Somebody had to do it, and that clearly wasn't going to be Zico.

ends

28 Mar 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (March 24): I am writing this "Saturday" article two days early, on Thursday morning in fact.

And there's a good reason.

This evening I am heading to Haneda Airport to join my first "Dangan Tour" with the Japanese fans.

Our destination, of course, is Tehran (well, I hope so).

Our flight does not leave Haneda until 3 o'clock Friday morning, five hours after our 10 pm meeting time, and we are not scheduled to arrive in Tehran until 9.40 Friday morning, Iran time.

Armed with our visas, travel bags and cameras, we should pass through Immigration smoothly before heading for a city centre hotel for a quick freshen up late morning.

Then it's lunch at the hotel, and the bus will leave for the stadium around 2.30 in the afternoon.

The kick-off is not until 6.05pm at the Azadi Stadium, but the Iranian fans like to arrive early...like three hours early!

So expect around 100,000 fans inside the stadium by mid-afternoon.

And expect the tension and excitement to mount in the hours, minutes and seconds leading to the kick-off.

As an English hooligan living in Japan, I am looking forward to observing the Japanese supporters from close quarters and also to standing/sitting with the fans, rather than in the Media Seats.

According to travel industry sources there are 800 Japanese fans visiting Tehran on the "Dangan Tour", with 450 in one plane and 350 in the other.

Interestingly, 20 per cent of them will be women, and they have been issued with a strict dress code for the Islamic Republic.

The two most important points are that the hair must be covered, and the clothes must be loose fitting to hide the shape of the figure.

Women don't usually enter the Azadi Stadium, although they can follow the game on TV, so I'm sure the Japanese fans will attract more than their fair share of publicity.

As for the game, well, of course it's going to be Japan's hardest in Group B.

Iran could only draw in Bahrain in their first game, as Japan were edging North Korea in Saitama, so the home team will be desperate for three points to get their qualifying campaign under way.

A draw for Japan would be a good result, and I think they can manage it.

My forecast is 0-0, which would suit Zico fine as Japan will not face Iran again until the sixth and final round of qualifying games on August 17, at home but no fixed venue at the moment.

If all goes to plan, Japan should have accumulated enough points by then to have already qualified for Germany, making the Iran match a celebration of sorts, just like the Singapore home game was last year but on a much lower scale.

After the match we head back directly to the airport, fly out of Tehran at 2am Saturday morning local time and arrive at Haneda around 9pm on Saturday night Japan time.

All being well, I should be at home in time for the Saturday night sports programmes, and catch all the highlights from the Azadi Stadium!

Enjoy the game!

ends

24 Mar 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (March 23): Defensive midfield is not an area where Japan coach Zico is short of players.

He has Ono, Inamoto and Koji Nakata from Europe, and his J.League pairing of Endo and Fukunishi.

But there's another player he might want to take a look at in the near future.

In the very near future, in fact, because if Japan don't claim this player, maybe the United States will.

The player in question is Omiya Ardija midfielder Jun Marques Davidson, who holds two passports and is still eligible to play for either country.

I saw Davidson, or Marques as his teammates call him, dominate the midfield on Saturday as Omiya beat Albirex Niigata 2-0 in the Nabisco Cup at Saitama Stadium.

Tall and powerful, his elastic legs broke up many Niigata attacks, and he strode forward purposefully from deep midfield with the ball at his feet, appearing to have all the time in the world to decide what to do next.

He also has a very good engine, and he came close to scoring a goal of his own late in the game after a long run into enemy territory.

Yes, I thought the 21-year-old Marques looked full of natural talent and quality, and the JFA would not be wasting their time by checking him out.

Jun Marques Davidson is a very interesting character.

His father is American, his mother Japanese, and they met when his mother went to the States to study to be a beautician.

He was born and raised in Tokyo, and played for Tokyo Gas Junior Youth before spending a year in England at TASIS: The American School in Surrey (Surrey being a posh county in the rich south).

After that he went to Pasadena, Calif., for three years, and came back to make his Omiya debut in 2003.

His favourite player is Arsenal's French midfielder Patrick Vieira, whom he studies on TV and tries to copy on the pitch.

"Vieira is the complete player, the perfect player," says Marques. "He is a good kind of role model for me." (Note the very American "kind of" phrase in there!)

Marques admits that he is very satisfied when his friends say he played like Vieira, and he certainly did so on Saturday.

The name Marques, by the way, was given to him by his father in tribute to his favourite basketball player: Marques Johnson, a star for UCLA before moving into the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers.

With many international matches coming up in the summer, apart from the World Cup qualifiers, Zico may need some fresh blood, and Jun Marques Davidson is well worth a look.

ends

21 Mar 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (March 19): Guus Hiddink is a well-known coach in this part of the world.

In most parts of the world, in fact.

So nobody should be surprised to see his club, PSV Eindhoven, in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

After steering South Korea to the World Cup semi-finals in 2002, Hiddink later took two Koreans, Lee Young Pyo and Park Ji Sung, back to Holland.

Park, of course, had been an outstanding success for Kyoto Purple Sanga, and he is finding his best form again this season for PSV.

Another very interesting member of the Eindhoven squad is American flyer DaMarcus Beasley.

I watched two United States games in Korea-Japan 2002, and was very impressed with the quality of their football and the maturity and ability of the individual players.

They played really well to beat Mexico 2-0 in the "CONCACAF derby" in the second round, and were unlucky to lose 1-0 to Germany in the quarter-finals.

As J.League clubs continue to throw money at third-rate Brazilians, or at players who are not fit and/or committed to the J.League cause, maybe the United States could become a new market to plunder.

I was chatting about this recently at the Marinos training ground with goalkeeper coach Dido.

The big Dutchman took his coaching badges in the United States, and was amazed at the skill level and football knowledge of the young players he came across.

He said he had suggested to his boss, Takeshi Okada, to go over and take a look at some of the American talent, and maybe Oka-chan will do that when he has a break in his hectic schedule.

I think the Americans would be a big success over here.

First, they would be determined to do well as they would be representing their country, and trying to win respect for the United States as a football (make that soccer)-playing nation. Their attitude would be first-class.

The players would be fit and well coached, and would relish playing at this level. They would also offer a physical challenge to the Japanese players.

On the financial side, I am sure they would be much cheaper than many of the Brazilians, and would provide more value for money.

With the strong links between Japan and the United States, it's a surprise that J.League clubs have not switched their attentions to the Major League Soccer market.

Well, there is always hope that some of them might show some imagination in the transfer market.

ends

17 Mar 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (March 16): It was like stepping back in time at Ajinomoto Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Behind the scenes, old Verdy favourites Ramos and Kitazawa were there, and the extrovert Paraguayan keeper, Chilavert, was watching the action from an executive lounge high in the sky.

Chilavert, now retired, of course, would have been happy to see both keepers keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw.

But maybe he would have been disappointed with their attacking contribution, as neither keeper moved up to take a free kick at the other end.

Zico's assistant and brother Edu, plus his goalkeeper coach Cantarele, were also there, and I thought that Verdy's brightly coloured keeper Takagi impressed again.

With Kawaguchi out injured, Zico needed a third keeper for the national squad, behind Narazaki and Doi (or should the order be Doi and Narazaki?).

Maybe Takagi would get the call on Monday.

Silly me. Of course he picked Sogahata of Kashima Antlers, but surely Takagi's chance cannot be far away.

With his pink top, black shorts and pink socks, plus white gloves and boots, he looks more like a jockey in his racing silks...albeit quite a large jockey. What else can he do to catch Zico's eye?

The defences were on top in general, particularly S-Pulse's four-man back line.

Shimizu's new manager, Kenta Hasegawa, has plenty of experience in defence, with Ichikawa on the right, Saito and Morioka in the middle and Yamanishi, from Jubilo Iwata, on the left.

Saito and Morioka kept the dangerous Washington under control, but it wasn't easy.

"He's very tall and strong," said Ryuzo, whose post-match outfit suggested he was on his way to a rap concert--to sing, not to watch.

"He uses his body to protect the ball. It's difficult to put in a challenge when he turns because you can't get near the ball."

Fortunately for S-Pulse, Washington's shooting was off target, and when he had a clear header near the end he directed it straight into the arms of Nishibe.

S-Pulse, in fact, had the better chances, notably when Cho headed wide in the first half.

One small point worth noting from the second half.

As Verdy pushed for a goal, the ball went out of play in front of the S-Pulse bench.

The person who gathered the ball hesitated rather than throwing it directly to the Verdy player waiting to take the throw-in. When he did decide to release it he only threw it halfway.

Kenta, standing near the touchline, finished off the job by throwing the ball to the Verdy player, before turning to his bench and suggesting this is what the other person should have done in the first place, instead of messing about and delaying the play.

An honest and hard-working centre forward in his playing days, Kenta displayed the kind of sportsmanship the game needs the world over.

As I said at the beginning, it was like stepping back in time, because this kind of sportsmanship used to be normal practice. Now it's so rare you notice it.

ends

14 Mar 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (March 12): Thanks to Japan's excellent train system, and the growing football culture here, I was able to watch three Champions League matches from two continents on Wednesday night.

The first was at Mitsuzawa Stadium, between Yokohama F Marinos and Shandong Luneng Taishan, in Group F of the AFC Champions League.

After the obligatory post-match hanging around, which all the media must do, followed by a brisk walk down Mitsuzawa Hill into town, we arrived at the English pub near Yokohama Station in time for the second half of the Milan-Manchester United game on the big screen.

Then it was time for the last train to Omiya, arriving home for the start of the Chelsea-Barcelona classic on Fuji TV.

Yes, it was an enjoyable evening...apart from the first match, of course.

Takeshi Okada is desperate to do well in the AFC Champions League this season. After winning the J.League championship in 2003 and 2004, he feels the club should step up to a higher level and challenge for the continental crown.

But their quest for the title began in depressing style with a 1-0 defeat to a Chinese team who strangled the life out of the game.

Okada needed a goal to settle his team, but Kubo, Ahn and Sakata were all injured, and the new Brazilian Adhemar was on the bench, far from fully fit.

Oshima looks like a good player, but he will need time to adjust to the faster pace after moving from Yamagata in J2, while Shimizu is quick and dangerous but not a prolific scorer.

Still, Marinos had enough chances to get something out of the game, and they now face two away games in a row.

I couldn't help feeling sympathy towards Okada and his team, and the Marinos fans, at the appalling gamesmanship displayed by the Chinese in the second half.

Players going down with cramp to hold up the game, members of the bench throwing an extra ball on to the pitch to produce further delays, and the goalkeeper deliberately kicking the ball away and asking for another from the ball boy...

It really was a poor show, and it was amusing to see one Marinos fan hurl abuse at the Shandong squad after the final whistle from just behind their bench.

He must have been suffering from a cold or a bug, because he removed his mask to shout at the Chinese players and Serbian coaching staff.

Good for him! They deserved it.

Later, Okada looked a very concerned man as he left the press conference room.

His hopes of a place in the FIFA Club World Championship in Japan in December look a long way away at the moment.

ends

10 Mar 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (March 9): Zico will announce his squad for the Iran and Bahrain World Cup qualifiers on Monday, and the big question is: Will Nakata return?

Hidetoshi, I mean, not Koji, who, admittedly, has been getting more headlines than his more famous namesake lately.

Although Japan have done well without the Fiorentina midfielder in recent months, winning the Asian Cup in China and all their World Cup qualifiers, I think the time is right to bring back the former Bellmare Hiratsuka ace.

Against North Korea at Saitama last month, Japan clearly lacked leadership in the middle of the park and someone with big-match experience to hold the team together.

This is where Nakata comes in.

He has developed into a natural leader with his allround ability and Italian experience, and, in my opinion, is still the best Japanese player by a considerable distance.

He is also fearless, not just physically in the tackle but mentally, too, and this will be an important factor in Tehran, where Japan can expect to face 120,000 excitable Iranians as well as a talented team.

Although Nakata did not play for Firoentina at the weekend, spending all the match against Reggina on the bench, this should not be a problem.

This is because the squad leaves Japan on March 17 for Frankfurt, where they will train until March 22. On that day they transfer to Tehran, and then train for two more days before the showdown on Friday, March 25.

This gives Zico plenty of time to work with the players, and find a system to integrate the "Europeans."

Japan will need Nakata in Tehran, where Zico's team could be very different from the one that struggled against North Korea.

I would like to see Zico stick with his 3-5-2 formation, and play Nakata in the central playmaker's role, behind the two strikers, but I fear he may change to 4-4-2 and try and play all his "Galacticos" in midfield.

Regarding the captaincy, I think Miyamoto should be retained, as he is an intelligent, influential leader.

Also, Nakata has enough responsibility as playmaker without the additional burden of captaincy/coach.

ends

7 Mar 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (March 5): Usually I write about Japanese football, because this is where I live and this is the football I follow.

But today's column will be more universal, after reading an article on Friday that both shocked and upset me.

It was the report of the death of Rinus Michels, the inventor of "Total Football" which took the World Cup by storm in 1974.

I was only 14 years old at the time, but that summer, watching the Dutch in West Germany via my television, changed my life.

The British are not known for embracing trends from overseas, and we (England) still thought we were the best in the world at that time, having won the World Cup in 1966.

That was only eight years ago, and a lucky Polish goalkeeper by the name of Tomaszewski--dubbed "a clown" by the legendary coach Brian Clough during his TV commentary--had prevented us from qualifying for West Germany.

That's right, England weren't even there, but we were still better than "Johnny Foreigner."

This was the dogma and propaganda produced by the biased English media.

Then along came Johan Cruyff and Company!

Wow, now this was football. Total football.

Michels, known as "the General," had a gifted generation of players at his disposal, and devised a system that required intelligence, fitness, unerring technique and communication.

Michels himself actually preferred to call it "Pressing Football," as it involved all the players pushing forward, changing positions, marking the man closest to them.

Not only did they bring the game to life with their running and vision, they also squeezed the life out of their opponents by denying them space and time.

All I remember about the 1974 World Cup is the green pitches just being covered in a blur of orange, as the genius Cruyff conducted his own symphony orchestra.

They produced beautiful football, scored beautiful goals and left rivals gasping for breath, not knowing where the next attack would come from.

Uruguay, whose violent approach was more than matched by these elegant but tough Dutchmen--yes, they could look after themselves in this department, too--Bulgaria, Argentina, East Germany and Brazil were swatted aside like flys, with only the resilient Swedes holding the Dutch to a 0-0 draw in a first round group match.

The world sat down to watch Holland tear apart the host nation, West Germany, in the final at Munich, and Michels's men were 1-0 ahead before the Germans had even touched the ball!

From the kick-off, the Dutch strung together a series of passes, before Cruyff surged into the box, to be fouled by Hoeness (not Vogts, which is the common, but wrong, version of events).

Neeskens hammered in the penalty, 1-0 to Holland, and surely it was just a matter of how many goals they would score.

In the end, they didn't score any more, as a casual, arrogant air descended on the team.

Breitner equalised from the penalty spot, and the great Muller--"Der Bomber"--scored the winner, still in the first half.

It was a traumatic day for me, as I had fallen under the orange spell.

Later, in 1988, when I was working as a football reporter in north-east England, I covered the European Championship, again in West Germany, and saw the Dutch, with Michels back in control, destory England in Dusseldorf with a Van Basten hat-trick, then beat West Germany 2-1 in the Hamburg semi-final with a late winner from the same player.

Revenge was very sweet!

In Munich, goals from Gullit and Van Basten--the latter being an acrobatic, unstoppable angled volley--beat the Soviet Union in the final.

Michels and the Dutch finally had what they deserved in 1974...a trophy.

So the death of Michels was a massive shock, and a sad day for football the world over.

Not only had he changed the game from a tactical point of view, he had opened up a whole new world for fans, coaches and players alike.

No-one will ever forget Rinus Michels, Total Football and the orange wizards who cast a spell on the 1974 World Cup.

ends

3 Mar 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (March 1): Tokyo Verdy 1969 remind me of the public bus service in England, not just in 1969 but even this year.

You wait a long time in the cold and rain and nothing happens, then two come at once!

Verdy, a trophy-free zone for so long, followed up their Emperor's Cup title on New Year's Day by winning the Xerox Super Cup at International Stadium Yokohama on Saturday.

It wasn't a great match, despite the exciting finish, because both teams looked rusty, and Marinos had several important players missing.

This must be a worrying thought for Okada-kantoku, with the likes of Kubo, Ahn, Matsuda, Sakata, Adhemar and, don't forget, Yamase all sidelined before the season even starts.

But back to Verdy, who were missing a key player of their own in Yoneyama (it's only fair to point that fact out, too).

Even before Saturday's success I thought Verdy might be a dark horse for the title this season.

Ardiles has produced a characteristically neat and tidy team, and Verdy have spent well in the winter.

Washington was wanted by a few clubs in Europe and in Japan, but Verdy pushed the boat out to secure his signature.

He bagged 34 goals in 38 Brazilian championship games last season, and it was easy to see why on Saturday.

He is a big man, but Nakazawa could not catch him in the first half, and Kurihara almost disappeared into the turf like a corkscrew when Washington twisted and turned him on the edge of the box, just before the break.

In the second half, Washington resembled a human bulldozer as he battered his way through the Marinos defence to score twice.

Although Toda was at fault for Marinos' first goal, scored superbly by Ohashi, the former S-Pulse fighter is a fine Verdy signing.

A Troussier favourite but a Zico outcast, Toda will add steel to the Verdy back line or midfield, and will make his presence felt to opponents around the park.

I have always liked Hiramoto--he reminds of Yanagisawa (Atsushi, not Masayuki)--and 2005 could be his breakout year.

Another reason why Verdy could be a dark horse is because they will be able to keep their team together, while others lose players at regular intervals for national team duty.

I pointed this out to Ardiles, but he disagreed: "No, because we will have players in the national squad too this year."

For example?

"Soma. He is a wonderful player. I think he's the best left-back in Japan."

Better than Alex and Atsu? (Ardiles knows both players very well, of course).

"I am not comparing them," he said. "They are my friends also."

Should be an interesting season at Yomiuri Land!

ends

28 Feb 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (February 26): There were some interesting facts and figures flying around the Japanese football scene this week.

Did you see how many applications there had been for tickets for Japan's next home World Cup qualifier?

Amazingly, the JFA had received over 810,000 ticket applications for the March 30 match against Bahrain at the 63,700-capacity Saitama Stadium 2002.

(I say next home match, but it's not their next qualifier, of course, because they take on Iran in Tehran on March 25).

That figure of 810,000 is more than double the previous record of 350,000 applications for the North Korea game at the same venue on February 9.

I have no idea how many applications the major football powers receive for their home World Cup qualifiers, but I cannot imagine it will be anywhere near those figures.

In fact, judging from TV highlights from around Europe and South America, most of them don't even look sold out, never mind have a waiting list of a few hundred thousand!

Looking back on the North Korea game, it's no wonder there is such a massive demand for the Bahrain qualifier.

According to a source from the marketing giant Dentsu, the average TV audience rating for Japan-North Korea was a whopping 47 per cent.

But when it came to the last few minutes, when both teams were pushing for victory with the score at 1-1, that figure climbed to over 57 per cent!

Japan, of course, bagged the winner in injury time through Oguro, and there's no calculating the amount of fervour released in those few seconds.

With the new J.League season just about to kick-off, these are encouraging statistics for all concerned with the game in this country.

But it's worth pointing out that national team fans do not necessarily support a J.League team on a regular basis.

That's a shame, as it seems they prefer the glamour and the glitz of "Blue Heaven" rather than the bread-and-butter diet of league football.

Just think, if all those 810,000 applicants for Japan-Bahrain attended one of the 15 J.League games every week (nine in J1, six in J2 now there are 30 teams), the average crowd would be 54,000!

How the J.League would dream about that...

ends

24 Feb 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (February 23): Would you like to be a referee?

Me? No thank you!

I tried it once, in the park behind my house in England one summer's evening.

It was a preseason friendly between two pub teams from the Sunday morning league. I knew both sets of players well, but was a neutral spectator at this match because I played for a different team a few miles down the road.

Well, I was planning to be a spectator, but the referee did not turn up. This is where the fun began.

"Come on. You can be the ref. It's only a friendly," was the plea from the two captains, as they handed me the whistle.

Looking back, some 25 years on, I should have said something like: "I'm sorry I can't. I have to leave at half-time and help my mother with the washing up, take the dog to the vet and then drive my grandmother to church."

Or take my grandmother to the vet...anything. But foolishly I agreed....

I quickly learned that friends off the pitch became enemies on it.

Virtually every decision was questioned, on occasions extremely aggressively.

I can't remember the score because it wasn't important. All I remember was blowing the final whistle early because I couldn't wait to get it over with.

Then, back in the pub an hour or so later, everybody was smiling and friendly again, as if nothing had happened.

From my brief experience (about 87 minutes!), I know that refs have an extremely difficult job. An impossible one, in fact.

At JFA House on Tuesday afternoon, long-time Japan ref and now chief instructor, Leslie Mottram, gave a very interesting and entertaining presentation, highlighting just some of the problems they face.

I particularly liked the section on "simulation."

This is FIFA jargon for diving, but the big Scotsman went further.

"Let's call it cheating," he said, "because that's what players are doing."

Of course he is right.

It's not simulation, it's cheating, and it is a modern-day plague around the football world.

Players who dive and don't win a free kick or a penalty complain to the referee. Defenders who are penalised when they have not touched the forward who dives also complain to the ref, with justification.

The answer is simple.

Just don't do it. Play honestly and fairly, and honour the FIFA Fair Play code.

That will make a referee's job easier, but I am sure it is not going to happen in the near future.

ends

21 Feb 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (February 19): Hey, what's going on here?

I thought England supporters loved travelling to away games, but you Japanese must be...well, crazy!

And here's why.

On Thursday afternoon I called the travel agency H.I.S. (sports event section) to try and book a place on the trip to Tehran for Japan's World Cup qualifier against Iran on March 25th.

You know the one...the "three-day, no-night" tour, because there is no hotel, just a seat on the plane.

Well, all the H.I.S. seats were fully booked, and there was a long waiting list.

"But your leaflet says the closing date for applications is not until March 10," I pleaded. "Surely I am in good time to book a seat."

The agent explained that H.I.S. was just one of four travel companies operating the trip. All four had around 80 seats, making 320 places in all.

Very kindly he gave me the telephone numbers of the other three.

I called one of them, Nishitetsu, who also arrange special packages for the Japanese media.

Once again, though, all their places were booked, and there were many on the waiting list.

"Do you think it's worth me calling the other two agencies?" I asked, putting on my saddest voice, hoping for a lucky break.

"I'm sorry. I think the situation will be the same," she replied, very sympathetically.

Oh well, at least I can save some money, and watch the Iran-Japan match from the comfort of my own living room, or maybe in a bar. And then I can go to the Nabisco Cup the next day.

I must admit, though, I was really looking forward to it.

The cost, 129,000 yen, is not bad at all.

It leaves Haneda Airport at 1.30 in the morning of March 25th (basically Thursday night), and arrives in Tehran at 9 o'clock in the morning of Friday, March 25th (all times are local).

Then there's a spot of sightseeing before going to the Azadi Stadium for the 6.05 pm kick-off.

I have never been to Iran, and wanted to witness the atmosphere inside the 100,000-plus capacity stadium for what will be a key game in Group B.

But, it seems, so did many Japanese fans, despite the tiring trip, which heads back to Japan at 2 in the morning, after the match, and arrives home at 9.30 in the evening Saturday.

I envy those of you with a booking, and wish I'd been more prepared. After all, I have lived in Japan for eight years now, and should have known better!

With so many fans on the wait list, can't the agents charter a second plane?

Please!

ends

17 Feb 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (February 16): Even though we were standing behind a fence, and the match consisted of three periods of 45 minutes each, it was great to be back!

After the drama and tension of Japan's World Cup qualifier against North Korea, it was a more relaxed atmosphere at Kodaira on Sunday afternoon.

The occasion was a practice match between FC Tokyo and Ventforet Kofu, and several hundred fans turned up, along with a considerable number of media.

Last season seemed a long time ago, so it was interesting to watch a few players who had slipped from the memory due to the high profile of the national team.

These included Konno, a real gem, in midfield, the lively Ishikawa on the right wing, and the tidy, under-rated Kanazawa at left back.

Kaji, of course, was also in the starting lineup, despite his exertions for the national team. Kaji must be one of the fittest players in the J.League, with a great engine. In fact, when his football career is over, I could imagine him taking up the marathon, as he must run close to a marathon distance during 90 minutes on the pitch!

An interesting addition to the FC Tokyo squad is Brazilian Danilo, who has replaced the injury-prone Kelly.

Aged 23, Danilo looks like he's spent most of his life on the beach. He has the appearance of an Australian surfboarder rather than a footballer, with flowing locks, a deep sun tan, a few ear-rings and an impressive tattoo which covers the lower half of his right leg.

On closer inspection, the tattoo is of himself, with the letters D-A-N-I-L-O down the side, suggesting this guy is not short of self-confidence!

On the pitch he is a very different player to Kelly.

Whereas Kelly was an out-and-out attacker, and a very clever and dangerous one when fit, Danilo plays much deeper.

He likes to take the ball off his defenders and then play a sweeping pass out to the wing, to Ishikawa on the right or Toda on the left, or look for his compatriot, Lucas, through the middle.

Danilo is a very busy player, and uses his stocky frame well to shield the ball and keep opponents at a safe distance.

During his time as national coach, Troussier often complained that this was a weak point of Japanese players. If the Frenchman could see Danilo in action, using his body to protect the ball, I'm sure he would be impressed, and advise Japanese players to study this aspect of the game.

Coach Hara has an abundance of central midfield players, such as Konno, Baba, Asari, Miura (Fumitake) and Miyazawa, so his biggest task is to integrate the individual skills of Danilo into the team, and define his role clearly.

Anyway, it was nice to be back among the J.League scene, and I'm sure several hundred fans felt the same.

ends

14 Feb 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (February 11): Masashi Oguro emerged as the most unlikely of heroes for Japan against North Korea on Wednesday night.

A relative newcomer to Zico's squad, Oguro was winning only his second cap when the coach sent him on with just 11 minutes remaining and the score locked at 1-1.

A few minutes later and he was the saviour, as he turned and fired home Japan's winner in injury time.

Twelve months ago it was Kubo against Oman; this time it was Oguro, the modest and unassuming striker from Gamba Osaka.

Oguro became the Invisible Man in the North Korean penalty box, pouncing from close range as he has done so often for his club.

The ball's loose, Oguro's there, the net bulges and suddenly it's a goal! Did anybody see who scored it?

Off the pitch, too, Oguro seemed invisible during the training camp, not just to me but to most members of the mass media.

This statement is not meant, I hope, to offend Oguro.

It's just that he was ignored for much of the time by the media in the "mixed zone"--the area through which the players must walk from dressing room to team bus, past all the hungry media.

The players can stop and talk if someone asks them, or they can just keep going.

Certain players are mobbed, SMAP-like, but others just wander through, Oguro-like.

To me, Oguro is very similar to Naoki Soma, in both appearance and mannerisms.

Just watch the way Oguro runs with his bandy legs. It could be Soma, couldn't it?

In the mixed zone, Oguro seemed to have a couple of media friends with whom he spoke on a frequent basis.

But it was very much chit-chat. The pens were not scribbling frantically, the pages weren't flying over in the notebook, and the spotlights of the TV crews were not shining on him.

He looked, and seems to be, a very down-to-earth guy. His manager at Gamba, Nishino, has trumpeted Oguro's cause for a couple of years now, and there's no doubt Gamba have another "star" name now for next season.

Maybe his short-lived days as the Invisible Man, on and off the pitch, are over after his priceless goal on Wednesday.

ends

　

10 Feb 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (February 9): Several years ago, in September 1997 to be precise, I remember attending a Japan training session at Tokyo National Stadium.

They were preparing for a World Cup qualifier at home to their great rivals, South Korea.

The match was so important that Gerry Harrison, executive producer of the brilliant television show "Futbal Mondial" (World Football), had come over from London to feature the game.

The Japanese players were laughing and joking and fooling around like schoolboys before the practice session began, a fact I pointed out to Gerry.

He was not impressed.

"Do you think it's sincere?" he said to me.

"No!" I replied, instantly and somewhat cynically.

"Neither do I," added Gerry. "They are trying to look relaxed but I think they're terrified!"

I have never forgotten that conversation, and Gerry's smart observation.

I have never forgotten the game, either, because Japan lost 2-1, despite taking the lead with a wonderful goal from Motohiro Yamaguchi.

Do you remember it, when he scooped the ball over the keeper and it dropped under the crossbar into the net?

Kokuritsu went wild, but fell silent shortly after when Korea equalised and then scored a late winner. It was the beginning of the end for head coach Shu Kamo.

I apologise for this piece of history, but I am in World Cup mood ahead of Wednesday's match against North Korea.

I attended the training session at Saitama Stadium on Tuesday night, and again there was some laughing and joking among the Japanese players.

I looked around for Gerry Harrison from London, but he wasn't there.

The difference this time, I am sure Gerry would have noticed, was that the Japanese players were relaxed and confident and focused.

It was not a show to mask the self-doubt and concern about the big match ahead. It was a true reflection of the spirit running through the squad.

Zico was extremely business-like in his official news conference, during which he confirmed that Shunsuke and Takahara would be on the bench.

This is a smart move by Zico. He is showing faith in the local players who have not let him down, but is not allowing the two European players to feel they are out of the picture.

Both Shunsuke and Takahara could still play a big part in the match, off the bench, just like Kubo did this time last year against Oman!

Japan's players are focused all right, with no self-doubt or fear, but they may have to be patient to break down a determined, fit and tough-tackling North Korean team.

I think they can do it, and win 2-0, maybe even with a late Shunsuke free kick to seal the victory!

ends

7 Feb 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (February 5): Zico, it seems, has finally learned his lesson.

And this can mean only good news for the national team ahead of Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against North Korea at Saitama.

His 24-strong squad, which was announced on Thursday, includes only two players based overseas.

These are Shunsuke Nakamura and Naohiro Takahara, although, according to the list, Koji Nakata is playing for Marseille, but has not yet started his career there.

After two satisfactory friendly games against Kazakhstan and Syria, Zico has decided to stay loyal with his J.League players. They will relish the responsibility.

So this means no place in the squad for players whose condition is not 100 per cent, physically and mentally, and who would have faced a long journey home.

The most notable absentee is Junichi Inamoto, who was expected to be recalled from Cardiff City, as Hidetoshi Nakata, Shinji Ono, Atsushi Yanagisawa and Yoshito Okubo were always an outside bet to win a place.

This is a major change in policy by Zico, and a big step forward regarding team harmony and chemistry.

This time last year, Japan were looking ahead to playing Oman at home in their first World Cup qualifying match after beating Malaysia and Iraq in a couple of tune-up games.

But the Oman game was poor. Nakamura was not fit and missed a penalty and an easy chance in the second half, and the team was a shambles.

Only Kubo's injury-time goal, after the ball had pinged about on the edge of the Oman penalty area like a game of pachinko, saved Japan.

But now, what Zico is admitting, is that the J.League players are perfectly capable of representing Japan, provided they are fit and focused.

This squad is both of those, and there will be minimum disruption to the team pattern with only Nakamura and Takahara coming back.

Of the two, I would say Nakamura is the most likely to start. He is a Zico favourite, and his left foot can unlock any defence, especially from a free kick.

This is a vital quality to have in the modern game, as so many matches at the highest level can be decided by a set-piece movement.

Takahara?

I'm not sure whether he should start. I believe Tamada deserves to keep his place alongside Suzuki, and Takahara would be a useful substitute if needed to run at a tiring North Korean defence.

Playing in a balanced 3-5-2 formation and with the team settled a week before the big match, Zico can now concentrate on next Wednesday without worrying too much about when his European players will return, how fit they will be and how much worthwhile training they can do together.

This approach, especially for the home games, is sure to produce rewards.

ends

3 Feb 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (February 1): Japan's game against Kazakhstan was too one-sided to be of great value, other than giving the players a good run-out.

But there was one special moment for me, 15 minutes into the second half.

It was when Ogasawara played the ball through to Tamada, who smashed in a left-foot shot on the run for his second goal of the night to complete the 4-0 scoreline.

(Is it really true? Did he score his first with his right foot? The replays confirmed he did!)

These two players work really well together.

Ogasawara is a class act, and has been for several years.

He has great vision and skill, two good feet, and is a tough tackler and competitor. Philippe Troussier was a big fan of Ogasawara's, right from his days in the youth team, and it's not hard to see why.

In fact I'm quite surprised that Troussier did not try to sign Ogasawara as well as Koji for Marseille in a double transfer deal.

As for Tamada, well....he has impressed me from day one.

He has a lovely left foot, a lovely first touch, and uses his pace to make excellent runs into space behind the defence.

With Ogasawara's rapier passing, no wonder these two are a major threat.

But I wonder if either of them will be playing against North Korea next week?

Zico is certain to pick Shunsuke in the playmaker's role in a 3-5-2 formation, so Ogasawara's chances of starting must be slim.

Up front, Suzuki is Zico's first-choice forward, and rightly so as he does a great job for the team. He is the attacking spearhead and gives the team shape, holds up the ball well for his team-mates and is looking sharp in front of goal.

But if Zico brings back Okubo and Takahara from Europe, I could see a Suzuki-Takahara partnership for the World Cup qualifier, with Shunsuke supplying the ammunition from midfield.

As I said last week, it's a series of tough calls for Zico.

The Brazilian coach clearly feels the players overseas are the best, as they wouldn't be there in the first place, and he certainly has a point.

But the claims of Ogasawara and Tamada--fit, in fine early-season form and with a good understanding--to be in the starting line-up on February 9 are also very strong.

Otherwise, why the warm-up matches?

ends

31 Jan 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (January 29): It's the start of another marathon football year, and Japan's opening opponents at International Stadium Yokohama on Saturday night are Kazakhstan.

The big, rugged and experienced Kazakhs may cause a few problems for Zico's men, as they could be hard to break down.

But while a victory would be welcome to boost confidence, Zico will be looking for a smooth performance as much as a big scoreline.

For Japan, there's no need to rush things, as this is going to be a busy year.

There is no point in players over-extending themselves in their first game of the season and picking up an injury in the winter cold. This could produce problems further down the road, for example against North Korea in the Group B opener on February 9.

As Zico explained Friday night after the official training session, he will try and use as many players as possible during the 90 minutes to give them match fitness.

Miyamoto, of course, is out already with a right hamstring injury, but he said he may be okay for the Syria friendly at Saitama next Wednesday.

In the meantime, Matsuda takes over in the centre of defence, and Matsuda's Marinos team-mate, Nakazawa, will be captain on his home ground.

This is a fitting reward for Nakazawa. It is no secret that he is one of my favourite players, and is a fantastic ambassador for Japanese football.

I asked "Kaiser Tsune" about the appointment of Nakazawa as captain, and he replied: "I agree with it.

"His personality is very good and he's a strong man. It's a good choice."

With Koji Nakata in Marseille to complete the formalities of his transfer from Kashima, Endo has come into the centre of midfield alongside Fukunishi.

The team has been functioning smoothly in training, and Zico will be looking for more of the same in the match against Kazakhstan.

I hope the fans are patient, and not demanding a barrage of goals against opposition who will certainly know what they are doing. No team from the old Soviet Union shoud be under-estimated.

This match is just one step toward the big one, against North Korea.

ends

27 Jan 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (January 26): Watching Japan's training match at Mitsuzawa Athletics Stadium on Tuesday afternoon makes you realise the problems Zico faces with team selection.

All the players were from the J.League, naturally, as the European leagues are in full swing.

And without the big stars, Zico fielded a compact and well-organised team, playing, of course, in a 3-5-2 formation.

Yoshi was in goal, and a very vocal Yoshi as he constantly encouraged and cajoled his defenders, and the back three was Tanaka, Matsuda and Nakazawa.

Matsuda filled in for Captain Tsune, who was resting a slight hamstring tweak in cold weather, and played a no-risks game by kicking the ball down field as far as possible at the slightest threat of danger.

The midfield had shape and balance, with Kaji on the right, Alex on the left, and Fukunishi and Koji Nakata in the middle. Koji was particularly impressive, and was the centre of attention with the media after the session due to his likely transfer to Marseille.

With such a stable four across the middle, Ogasawara had the freedom to roam across the pitch and to link up with the two forwards, Tamada and Takayuki.

The scoreline didn't matter against the team of high school boys, the most important thing was for the team to function as a unit ahead of this weekend's match with Kazakhstan.

The tough decisions for Zico come when his Euro stars return for the World Cup qualifier against North Korea on February 9 at Saitama.

Who's fully fit, mentally and physically?

Who's semi fit?

Who's playing regularly and who's on the bench?

Who's in form and who's going through a bad patch?

Does Zico stick with the 3-5-2 formation the players clearly prefer, or does he change to 4-4-2 and pack his midfield with the big names?

What Zico has surely learned from the first round of qualifiers is that it's better to field the players he knows are fit and in form rather than simply put out an all-star selection and hope for the best.

He has a few more days to make up his mind, but not long before the really serious stuff begins.

ends

24 Jan 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (January 22): There's been plenty of activity in the transfer market during the winter, especially down Iwata way.

Earlier this week, Jubilo confirmed the signings of JEF United Ichihara pair Takayuki Chano and Shinji Murai.

Chano will add experience and versatility to the Jubilo back line, while Murai will give them some zip down the left wing.

Jubilo have lacked balance on the left side since Zivkovic moved on, and Murai can do this job and provide an exciting wing combination with Nishi on the right.

Waiting in the middle for all these inviting crosses will be the fearsome Korean predator Choi Yong Soo, who had signed for Jubilo earlier after a year on loan with Kyoto in J2 from JEF United.

Murai and Choi know each other's game well, of course, from their seasons together at Ichihara, and the big Korean must be rubbing his hands together at the service available to him from both wings.

Losing Chano and Murai is a big blow for JEF, and the remaining "Goi Galacticos" will have to continue to raise their level to stay near the top of the table.

Jubilo must be a major contender for the title, especially after bringing Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi home from Europe.

A team with a backbone of Kawaguchi, Tanaka, Fukunishi and Choi will be a formidable opponent for every rival in J1, and coach Yamamoto has plenty of youth and experience at his disposal to build on this.

The arrival of target man Choi may result in a more direct approach from the coach ("Route One" we say in England), but it's still tough to prevent Choi from winning a lot of balls in the air, even when defenders know what to expect.

With some speed and craft supporting Choi through the middle, Jubilo should be capable of scoring plenty of goals this year.

Yamamoto knew he needed new blood and fresh legs in his squad, and the arrival of Chano and particularly Murai has certainly provided that.

ends

20 Jan 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (January 19): There was some good news for Yokohama F Marinos fans at the beginning of the week.

And that was that manager Takeshi Okada is in fine early-season form.

I don't know about his players, but Okada simply oozed self-confidence at the club function to announce the team's goals for 2005 on Monday.

He was happy, positive and in control, so it's no wonder he can motivate his players to perform at their maximum at the right time.

This year will be another marathon season for Japan's champions, with the A3 Championship in Korea and the Xerox Super Cup coming before the league season starts.

Then there's the AFC Champions League and the Nabisco Cup, and possibly the FIFA Club World Championship in Japan in December.

No wonder the club's motto is "Go the distance." It sounds more like a boxing phrase, and Japan's heavyweight contenders such as Urawa, Kashima and Nagoya will all be trying to knock out the champions.

Okada thinks his team will need 71 points from 34 games to win the single-stage season. In typical style, he has analysed the opponents and divided them into A, B and C categories.

He has also checked data from other leagues, and calculated that 70 per cent of the total points available is what it takes to finish on top. With these two factors in mind, he has come up with the figure of 71.

There was a glaring absence on the new list of players, with the No. 10 spot still vacant.

Italian reports have suggested this could be for Alessandro Del Piero, but Okada laughed off the link.

It's more likely to be for Koji Yamase, who could be set for a shock move from Urawa Reds. The release of Yoo Sang Chul and Yukihiko Sato has freed up a lot of money, and Okada admitted that Yamase was a target.

But he still needs a striker, and that's likely to be a foreigner with only Dutra and Ahn Jung Hwan on the books.

"Do you know any goalscorers who are available? Maybe Henry?," Okada said, with a smile.

Whoever arrives before the start of the season, one thing is for sure: they will immediately find a manager who knows his stuff and, in between the jokes and bonhommie, is deadly serious about his work.

ends

17 Jan 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (January 15): It was inevitable that Philippe Troussier would come looking for a Japanese player sooner or later for his new club in France, Olympique Marseille.

That player, as we now know, is Koji Nakata.

Nakata, of course, was one of Troussier's most important players in the build-up to the 2002 World Cup.

Despite playing all his career in midfield, Troussier saw something special in Koji and decided to put him on the left side of his three-man defence.

This happened first with the youth team, and only because Troussier's first choice in that position, Kaneko, collected a serious knee injury during a training camp at Burkina Faso.

Troussier picked out Nakata as Kaneko's replacement, and Koji did not let down the unforgiving French coach.

It was not easy for the Japanese players to adapt to Troussier's brusque and confrontational style of management, but Koji not only survived but flourished.

He was promoted from the under-20 team that won a silver medal at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria to the Olympic team for the Sydney Games and finally to the full national team.

If anything, Nakata--Koji, not Hidetoshi--was the new face of Japanese football, as Troussier rebuilt the team following the disappointment of France 98.

Troussier has not forgotten Nakata, and the Kashima Antlers star is now training with the Frenchman at Marseille.

Good luck to Koji, as he is a serious and model professional.

He has not had the best of luck with injuries recently, and, in my opinion, I think Zico did not use him as much as he should have done earlier in his reign when the midfield was packed with Japanese Galacticos but was in chaos.

Nakata is a general when he plays in midfield, controlling the flow and the pace of the game, and is a reliable, alert defender in the back three.

Troussier would not have taken Nakata to France if he did not think the player was of the required standard, and this should give Koji the confidence to make the difficult switch from J.League Comfort Zone to the intensity of Europe.

ends

13 Jan 2005(Thu)

January 11--What a perfect start to 2005!

It's going to be a busy year for Japanese football, and Yoshito Okubo grabbed the headlines with a goal for Real Mallorca against Deportivo La Coruna at the weekend.

Good old Yoshito!

I really hope he keeps it up, and that Mallorca can stay in the top flight to keep their annual matches with the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona.

At the moment I am in Hong Kong-but leave on Wednesday to return to Tokyo--and the South China Morning Post has run a massive picture of Okubo in action against Deportivo.

Despite the treatment of Japan's national team in China at last year's Asian Cup, Japanese players are very popular in this part of the world.

I have seen young Chinese boys wearing Japanese national team shirts of Matsuda and Inamoto, which goes to prove how football can bring together people from different backgrounds.

Maybe soon they will be wearing Okubo shirts.

I am delighted for the player, as he will be desperate to succeed in Europe where others have failed, especially in Spain.

I have spoken to several foreign members of the Japanese football community over the years, and all of them have said Okubo would be successful abroad.

Marcelo Baron, his former teammate at Cerezo Osaka, said he had never seen a Japanese player so single-minded, a player who was not afraid to go it alone when so many others looked for group/team support.

Last season, Albert Pobor, when he was manager of Cerezo, actually said he thought Okubo had more natural talent than Hidetoshi Nakata.

Time will tell whether Okubo is a success, but he has made a great start.

If he plays well and scores more goals but Mallorca are relegated, he could move on to another top-flight team, so there is plenty to keep him motivated in another relegation battle.

I remember Samuel Eto'o playing for modest Mallorca on loan from Real Madrid, and then joining Barcelona.

Eto'o, of course, is one of the most exciting forwards in world football, and gives young Yoshito an example to follow.

ends

10 Jan 2005(Mon)

January 7--Another season, another club for Atsuhiro Miura.

I read with interest that Atsu will be leaving Tokyo Verdy 1969 and joining Vissel Kobe for the 2005 campaign.

Surprised?

No, not really, as it was clear that Atsu was no longer a first-choice player for Verdy under manager Ardiles.

With Vissel looking to sign popular as well as experienced players, then the flying wing-back represents good business.

Although he has played on the left side most of his career, he is a naturally right-footed player, like the former Antlers and national team star Naoki Soma. There is no reason why he could not play on the right, as he once did for the national team under Troussier.

Atsu is dangerous going forward, has a powerful shot and also a long throw-in, which can be as effective as a corner kick.

A couple of seasons ago I had a long chat with Gert Engels when he was manager of Kyoto Purple Sanga.

One of the subjects was Japanese players abroad, and Engels said the one player he thought would have been a guaranteed success overseas was Atsuhiro Miura.

Engels, of course, knew Atsu very well from their time together at Yokohama Flugels, and it's clear when the pair meet now there is a mutual respect and friendship between the two.

But Atsu, of course, never got the chance to play in Europe. Engels felt his physique and his ability would have been just as effective at a higher level.

With World Cup qualifying dominating the 2005 calendar, Atsu needs regular first-team football to retain his place in the national squad, as deputy to Alex on the left flank.

For both parties, then--Verdy and the player--Miura's move to Vissel makes sense.

It saves Verdy a presumably bigger than average salary, and gives Atsu the chance to keep his form and fitness in the hoped-for Vissel renaissance.

ends

6 Jan 2005(Thu)

January 4--The loyal and faithful Verdy fans have finally got their reward.

Thanks to Verdy's victory over Jubilo Iwata in the Emperor's Cup final on Saturday, the long-suffering supporters of the once mighty Greens can hold their heads high.

It's not easy being a Verdy fan.

A few years ago they were everywhere, as Tokyo's National Stadium was packed with fans of Verdy Kawasaki, whose players received pop-star adulation.

But, after a couple of J.League championships in 1993 and 1994, the wheels began to fall off, billions of yen was spent in a desperate attempt to revive the glory days, and the club went into decline.

The fans disappeared as Marinos, Antlers and Jubilo took over the championship.

It's easy to support a winning team, of course, because this happens all over the world.

But it's not so easy supporting a losing one.

Verdy have struggled in mid-table or below for several seasons, and the days of the big transfers are over.

So Ossie Ardiles has done a magnificent job to claim the Emperor's Cup.

The fans deserver credit, too, for sticking with the team, and hopefully more will support them in the J.League next season.

ends

4 Jan 2005(Tue)

January 2--Get set for another year of World Cup fever in 2005!

Yes, I know the next World Cup in Germany is not until 2006, but in Japan the excitement and tension begins next month.

With North Korea first up in a group also consisting of Bahrain and Iran, Japan should be able to clinch one of the two automatic qualifying places quite comfortably.

I think they will have far too much experience and guile for the North Koreans and Bahrainis, although the Iranians will give Zico's men two hard games.

Still, I am very confident Japan will qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, after making their debut in France in 1998 and, of course, co-hosting the 2002 edition with South Korea.

World Cup qualifying games are more than simply football matches in Japan, they are an occasion, an event.

I will never forget the atmosphere of the games in 1997, first under Shu Kamo and later under Takeshi Okada as Japan rode a roller-coaster all the way to France, via that magical night in Johor Bahru against, remember, Iran!

In between the World Cup qualifying matches this summer there's the FIFA Confederations Cup, where the Japanese players and supporters should get a taste of what's to come the following year.

Personally, I think the 2006 World Cup will be one of the best ever, with magnificent stadiums, massive crowds and great organisation, and Japan can play an influential part in this representing Asia.

On the domestic front, the J.League will increase to 30 teams, 20 more than in the first season of 1993, with the first division expanded to 18.

Gone is the two-stage system, and the league will now operate like mainstream leagues around the world.

No play-offs, no 15-game sprints with little margin for error, but a steady, 34-game campaign when the most consistent team will be rewarded with the championship.

This system has operated only once-in 1996-when Kashima Antlers won their first league championship. It would be a good time for Antlers to bounce back in 2005 and challenge Marinos and Reds at the top.

Football in Japan is growing roots around the country, and the fans like the game for what it is now, without the need for gimmicks such as golden goals and penalty shootouts in league matches.

The J.League should have every confidence that their new league format will work, and the crowds will continue to climb in such a busy, newsy year.

ends

2 Jan 2005(Sun)

December 28--At long last, Junichi Inamoto is getting some attention, and some action, in England.

All because of his move to Wales!

As you all know, Ina has joined Cardiff City on a month's loan from West Bromwich Albion.

Although this is a step down from Premier League to Coca-Cola Championship (formerly the first division and long before that the second division), it is still a good move for Ina.

At least he will get some playing time, and the tempo of the game will not be quite as fast.

So these factors will help him build up his match fitness after his painful injury against England in Manchester last summer.

Looking at the plight of West Brom, Ina would appear to be better off where he is, as new 'Baggies' manager Bryan Robson struggles to turn around the fortunes of a club he represented with such distinction as a swashbuckling midfielder.

I was a huge fan of Robson the player, and thought he was an ideal England captain. He was brave, never gave up and at times was simply irresistible in his pursuit of goals as he drove forward from midfield.

But as a manager?

I am not the only one who is far from sure, and his recent decision to sign the Argentine journeyman Almeyda is a puzzling one.

I watched Almeyda a lot when I was following the progress of Hidetoshi Nakata at Parma, and thought Almeyda rarely looked ready to fight. He looked to be going through the motions, taking his massive pay check and then moving on to another club.

Robson expects him to bring some organisation and experience to his midfield, but Almeyda will have to show far more commitment than he did at Parma if he is going to make an impact. The fans will quickly let him know if he is trying as hard as he can!

In the meantime, Ina can concentrate on his own form and fitness with Cardiff City, away from the Premiership madness.

Zico will be hoping he regains full fitness in time for next year's World Cup qualifiers, as it looks like the Brazilian will be without Shinji Ono for the first Group B game, at home to North Korea on February 9.

ends

27 Dec 2004(Mon)

December 24--It’s been a very interesting year for baseball in Japan. That’s right, I said baseball.

Yes, I know this column is supposed to be about football, but just let me explain!

Baseball has dominated much of the sports news in recent months, but for all the wrong reasons.

Two clubs have merged due to enormous operating deficits, a new one has been allowed in, but only after much debate, and suddenly baseball realises that it must change drastically to keep its audience.

The J.League, meanwhile, has been quietly getting on with its own business.

Huge crowds for the two-leg championship play-off, a new name on the Nabisco Cup, the first division expanding to 18 teams and the J.League to 30 teams fro next season after starting with 10….

It was no coincidence that, a couple of months ago, a North American colleague admitted to me that ‘’the J.League is embarrassing Japanese baseball.’’

But you won’t find anyone in the J.League gloating about this, because they know they are still planting roots around the country and that there is a long way to go yet.

But 2004 was a very satisfactory year for the game in Japan, at club and international level.

FC Tokyo won the Nabisco Cup to give a trophy to their army of supporters, who brighten up every ground with their songs and their exuberance. Yokohama F Marinos won the first stage of the championship and then defeated second-stage champions Urawa Reds on penalties to retain the league title. Head coach Takeshi Okada was rightly voted Manager of the Year, as his experience and pragmatism was carried on to the field by his players.

Reds missed out on both trophies in Guido Buchwald’s first season as manager, but they have the spending power and the magnetism to attract better players in certain areas of the team for next season. The Nabisco Cup final, and the two championship games, did not have many goals, but from a purist’s point of view, this highlights the rise in quality, of coaching, technique and strategy, individually and collectively.

Neutrals would probably have preferred a 5-4 in 90 minutes, but too many goals in high-scoring games like this can be attributed to bad defending rather than clever attacking. It was also good to see a defender, Yuji Nakazawa, win the J.League MVP award, as I feel defenders are overlooked too often for these awards due to their lack of star quality and creative flair. Justice was done on this occasion, and Nakazawa was a worthy winner.

Nakazawa, of course, was outstanding for Japan at the Asian Cup in China, where Zico’s men defended the trophy won by Philippe Troussier’s team in Lebanon in 2000.

In addition to this, Japan won all six games in their World Cup qualifying group, conceding only one goal during the laboured 2-1 victory in Singapore, and a place in Germany is well within their grasp next year.

The biggest disappointment of the year (but not the biggest surprise) was Japan’s performance at the Olympics. Following the qualifying campaign in spring, things began to fall apart, and I am sure head coach Yamamoto would do things very differently if only he could turn the clock back.

All in all, though, it was a solid season of growth for football in Japan.

As I said at the start, baseball was dominating the sports pages for a while, as football took a back seat.

But, as they say, no news is good news.

And 2004 was a good year for the J.League.

ends

23 Dec 2004(Thu)

DECEMBER 21--The Japan Football Association can never be accused of not planning for the future.

So it was no surprise to see they have quickly lined up two opponents for a couple of home friendlies in the build-up to World Cup qualifying.

Kazakhstan will take on Japan on January 29, followed by Syria on February 2--exactly one week before their opening Group B qualifier against North Korea.

Several years ago, in 1994 to be precise, when the Asian Games took place in Hiroshima, Kazakhstan would have given Japan a tough game.

But Japan have developed and matured so quickly in recent years that a win should be guaranteed, and this will boost confidence at the start of the year.

Japan can expect the Kazakhs to be big and physical, while probably lacking pace and strength in depth.

I remember speaking to a Kazakh official at the Asian Games in Hiroshima, and he said he was convinced Kazakhstan would have won the football gold medal if they had had enough money to enter a team.

In the end, Uzbekistan won the gold, beating China 4-2 at the Big Arch, and opening a new era for Asian football.

One thing is for sure: the Kazakh players will not be affected by the winter cold, as the outclassed Malaysians were at Kashima at the start of this year!

Then it's the turn of Syria to play Japan, and the Middle Eastern team should provide a measure for the matches to come against Iran and Bahrain.

Also in 1994 I attended the Asian Youth Under-19 Championship in Jakarta, where Japan lost in the final to Syria.

It has to be said that some of the Syrians looked very experienced for their age, and a second-place finish was a fine effort by Japan.

The Japan team at that time was captained by Suguru Ito, the No. 10 and playmaker, and a certain Hidetoshi Nakata was on the wing!

Another outstanding Japanese performer was Koji Kumagai, who played in defensive midfield but was voted best defender of the tournament.

What a shame that Kumagai's career has been so badly affected by injury.

Both warm-up games will provide a few pointers for Zico and the players, but nothing can ever match the tension of a World Cup qualifier.

No one knows this more than Zico himself.

ends

20 Dec 2004(Mon)

December 17: At last, maybe, football will start using video technology at certain times to assist referees.

I hope this happens, and quickly, because I feel FIFA should have introduced this a long time ago.

The FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, always says video replays undermine the referee's authority, and that the official's decision should be final.

But surely he is missing the point. The technology should be there to help the ref, not hinder him.

I often think back to the World Cup semi-final at the Stade de France in 1998.

France beat Croatia 2-1, but the French defender Laurent Blanc was shown the red card for a non-existent foul on Slaven Bilic.

Everyone in the world could see that Bilic over-reacted in a disgraceful way, and the referee never even saw the incident because it was off the ball.

Yet Blanc, who had enjoyed a wonderful World Cup in the heart of the French defence, was suspended for the final.

I thought FIFA should have used the video on that occasion, like TV stations around the world had done, and cleared Blanc to play in the final, while handing out a lengthier ban to Bilic.

At the time, Bilic was playing for Everton in England, and even his own fans booed him when he returned to the club after the World Cup for his unsporting behaviour.

Now, the signs are good that video replays will be used to decide if it is a goal or not.

Not for offside, but to check whether the ball has crossed the line.

This is very simple to perform, and neither team can argue over the decision if it is clear on video replay.

In the past, teams have been cheated at important times due to a bad mistake by the referee or linesman. There is so much money in the game--billions of dollars--yet simple technology to improve standards is shunned.

With both UEFA and FIFA now agreeing to look into the matter, I think this is a big step forward and an encouraging sign for the future.

Handled in the right way, it should solve a lot of arguments and be fairer all round.

ends

16 Dec 2004(Thu)

December 14--A year too late, justice was done at the J.League awards night.

I was not alone in feeling that Yuji Nakazawa should have been voted J.League MVP in 2003.

After all, his team, Yokohama F Marinos, had won both stages of the J.League season.

Surely the top individual award must go to a Marinos player, but no, it went to Urawa Reds striker Emerson.

There was no mistake this time around, though, and Nakazawa won the award after helping Marinos defend their championship. They always say it is more difficult to defend a title than win it in the first place, as everyone is trying to shoot you down.

But Marinos stood firm, thanks in no small part to Nakazawa, who has emerged as a natural leader in a well-organised, disciplined and well-prepared team.

While Nakazawa was winning his first season MVP--a rare honour for a defender, who are often overlooked at the expense of the more flashy and creative players--Marinos manager Takeshi Okada defended his Coach of the Year title.

Guido Buchwald must have come a close second, after guiding his team to the final of the Nabisco Cup and to the Championship play-off, but the cold facts are that Reds did not win either.

The words of Okada, in the build-up to the two matches against Reds, turned out to be spot-on.

With injury problems for his strikers, Okada said it didn't matter that much at this stage of the season, as there were only two games to play, and Marinos would need only one or two goals.

This set the scene for the two games, and in the end Marinos needed only Kawai's first-leg header to take the title after a penalty shootout.

While some observers say the level of the J.League is in decline, I have to disagree.

I feel that the game in Japan has matured rapidly, and the tactics of the coaches and technique and understanding of the players reflects this.

I feel next season will be even better, with a single stage involving 18 teams.

Once again Marinos will be the team to be beat.

But for now they can bask in their success, especially Nakazawa, who thoroughly deserved his award.

ends

13 Dec 2004(Mon)

DECEMBER 11--It is a very smart move by Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi to return to Japan and play for Jubilo Iwata.

And it is a very smart move for Jubilo to sign him.

"Yoshi" has tried his best for three years to make a go of it in Europe, but his best just wasn't quite enough, at Portsmouth in England and then with FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark.

So, in the end, he decided to come home in order to play regularly and keep his place in the national team for the remainder of the qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup.

I am sure Yoshi has endured some hard and lonely times in England and Denmark, and there must have been moments when he was wondering why he had left the comfort zone of the J.League, where he was successful with Yokohama F Marinos and very popular with fans of all teams.

But these experiences will have helped to build his character and made him a stronger person and surely a better keeper.

He has tried to expand his playing horizons by going to Europe, and we should admire him for the decision he made.

It has not worked out how he would have liked, but we shouldn't regard him as a failure because it takes courage and ambition to move on when life is already easy and rewarding.

Under new coach Masakuni Yamamoto, Jubilo will be starting a new era next season, and they know they have a goalkeeper and a dedicated professional they can rely on for several seasons to come. That must be a nice position to be in for Jubilo officials.

Of course Kawaguchi is not perfect. Which goalkeeper is?

He tends to make errors of judgement when coming out for high balls, notably in the 2001 Confederations Cup final against France at Yokohama, and more recently at Muscat in the World Cup qualifer against Oman. On the latter occasion, Tanaka was there to clear off the line and Japan breathed again.

But Yoshi will be a big attraction to the J.League next year, and many people will be happy to see him around the country.

As I said at the start, the time was right for Yoshi to come home, and Jubilo will be stronger for his experience.

ends

9 Dec 2004(Thu)

KUALA LUMPUR (December 7): The AFC Champions League still has a long, long way to go before it can be talked about in the same breath as the UEFA Champions League.

But Asian football officials are certainly trying.

At their impressive new headquarters on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, the Asian Football Confederation conducted the draw for the 2005 AFC Champions League on Tuesday evening.

Japanese clubs have not performed well in the previous two editions of the ACL, which is Asia's top club competition.

Before, it was known as the Asian Club Championship, in the same way the UEFA Champions League was known as the European Champions Cup, or simply the European Cup.

Looking back on this year's event, AFC general secretary Peter Velappan told the gathering: "This is going to be the flagship of Asia.

"We had 88 matches played in this year's Champions League and about 600,000 in attendance, and millions on TV."

A total of 264 goals were scored, he added, including nine in the two-leg final itself.

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma won the first leg 3-1 against Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad in the western port city of Jeddah, but the Saudis then won 5-0 in Korea to emerge victorious 6-3 on aggregate.

Velappan added: "We had this epic match which once again proves that football is totally like a woman...unpredictable!"

The AFC is trying hard to build up its major club competition, and I would urge all Japanese fans to attend games next season if possible.

I always find it interesting to watch players from other countries, check their levels of technique and fitness and also look at tactics and formation. It's amazing how many talented players you see out there but who will never get a break into big-time football because Asia is ranked behind South America and Africa as a supply line for Europe's rich leagues.

Jubilo Iwata will play Chinese champions Shenzhen Jianlibao, the as yet unknown Korean League champions, plus Hoang Anh of Vietnam in Group E. This is a tough group for the Emperor's Cup holders, meeting the champion teams of East Asian rivals China and Korea.

Japan's second representative, either Yokohama F Marinos or Urawa Reds, will be in Group F with BEC Tero Sasana of Thailand, plus the winners of the Chinese Cup and also of the Indonesian Cup.

This group is easily winnable for either Marinos or Reds, and with it a place in the quarter-finals.

Japan has won the last two Asian Cups, in 2000 in Lebanon and this year in China, but a team at the top of the AFC Champions League is long overdue.

Hopefully the Japanese clubs will really try and win it next year.

ends

6 Dec 2004(Mon)

Yokohama F Marinos certainly have the man for a crisis.

An injury crisis, that is.

Ahead of the two-leg Suntory Championship against Urawa Reds, starting Sunday at International Stadium Yokohama, Okada has played down his team's injury problems.

Especially the absence of his first-choice strikeforce, Kubo and Ahn.

"It might have been a problem if we were at the start of the season, but we have only two games to go and need to score only one or two goals," Okada said this week.

This is typical Okada speak: pragmatic and logical.

Of course he is right. A 1-0 win at home and a 0-0 draw away at Saitama on December 11 would do nicely, thank you very much.

And who is to say Marinos are not capable of pulling off two such results. They achieved a 0-0 draw at Saitama in the league in mid-October in a match which looked likely to be a dress rehearsal for the Suntory Championship.

Even without a few key players, you can bet Marinos will be well-organised and very difficult to break down, even for Urawa's high-speed attack.

The two matches promise to be close, tactical encounters, with Reds expected to make all the running and Marinos relying on defence and careful counters.

At the start of the season, Okada tipped Reds to be among the threats for Marinos' league championship crown, and he has been proved right.

Okada pointed out that Reds had an advantage because they could field five "foreign" players to everyone else's three.

This was due to the winter signings of naturalised Brazilians Tulio and Alex, who are playing alongside the three imports Emerson, Nene and Alpay Ozalan.

Despite this, Reds have still shown themselves to be vulnerable on the big occasion, losing on penalties to FC Tokyo in the Nabisco Cup final and then being beaten at home by Grampus when a win would have wrapped up the second-stage title. They have to relax and play their natural game in the Suntory Championship.

Even with Marinos' injury problems, the Suntory Championship could easily go either way.

ends

2 Dec 2004(Thu)

MVP awards serve their purpose by attracting lots of attention to individual players.

But do they serve the game as a whole?

Personally, I don't think so.

Just look at the three nominees for the Asian Football Confederation's MVP for 2004.

Bahrain's A'ala Hubail, Iran's Ali Karimi and Japan's very own Shunsuke Nakamura are all attacking players.

There is no recognition of defensive players, either in midfield or at the back, and this is why I think these awards are fundamentally flawed.

For example, I thought that Yuji Nakazawa was Japan's best player at the Asian Cup in China, and throughout the first round of World Cup qualifying.

Especially against Oman in Muscat, where Japan won 1-0 to clinch a place in the eight-team final round next year.

But the role Nakazawa plays is not a glamorous one, even though he has scored some crucial goals for club and country.

On the pitch and off the pitch, I think Nakazawa would have been the ideal Asian Player of the Year, as he has worked hard at his game and reached the top thanks to his own determination.

He is a very bubbly personality, and surely would do well in Europe. The last I heard, a German club had shown interest in him, and that is quite a compliment as the Germans traditionally are some of the best defenders in the world.

After Japan's match in Muscat, an AFC insider told me they were trying to get Nakazawa on the shortlist for Player of the Year, but their efforts have failed.

Shunsuke, of course, must be the favourite to win the award, as he was voted MVP of the Asian Cup.

The other two, Hubail and Karimi, both scored five goals during the tournament, and also helped their countries qualify for the final round of World Cup qualifying next year.

Japanese and Iranian players have dominated this award in the past, so the AFC may be tempted to give it to 22-year-old Hubail in recognition of Bahrain's rise in the rankings.

The award will be presented in Kuala Lumpur on December 8, the day before the draw for the final qualifying round.

ends

29 Nov 2004(Mon)

North Korea's head coach, Yun Jong Su, made some interesting comments after the completion of Group 5 World Cup qualifying in Dubai recently.

Basically, Yun said he would like to see a unified Korean team enter the 2006 World Cup in Germany if both North and South qualified.

The draw for the final round of qualifying takes place in Kuala Lumpur on December 9th, when Japan and the two Koreas will be among eight teams.

For the time being, as Yun pointed out, North and South Korea are two separate teams, and must qualify in their own right.

If they both do qualify for Germany, is a joint team possible?

I don't see why not, as FIFA president Sepp Blatter would view the idea as the perfect way for football to build bridges when everything else fails.

The bottom line is, Asia has been given 4.5 places in the 32-team field for Germany.

This means the winners and runners-up of the two four-team groups next year will qualify automatically for Germany.

The two third-placed teams will play off for the right to meet a representative from the CONCACAF region for the last spot in the World Cup. This is what FIFA means by half a place: half for Asia, half for CONCACAF.

How Asian officials fill their 4.5 places is up to them, I suppose, just so long as they provide a team to play against CONCACAF.

If the two Koreas are in the same group and finish first and second, and a unified team is accepted by AFC and FIFA, then the third-placed team in that group could also qualify automatically.

This would leave the last-placed team to meet the third-placed team from the other group in the playoff.

The biggest problem, of course, would be time.

The two Koreas, and administrators, would have to work very quickly to produce a unified team.

They could not delay and delay like they did over South Korea's offer to North Korea to stage some first-round matches at the 2002 World Cup.

On that occasion, the North did not respond, so the plan was dropped.

This unified Korean team for Germany, however, is an idea from the North--not yet official, just from the head coach--to which the South has reacted positively.

It is an interesting concept, and one which will have administrators scratching their heads for the next few months.

There is a lot of football to be played before then, though.

First, the two Koreas must qualify independently through the official system described above.

Only then does it become an issue, but I feel AFC and FIFA would try as hard as possible to make it work.

ends

25 Nov 2004(Thu)

Guido Buchwald, Urawa Reds' White Knight, is, quite rightly, receiving much praise and attention following his team's second-stage success.

But it has not been a one-man show this season, as other people have played their part, too.

None more so than Buchwald's sidekick and fellow German, Gert Engels.

Let's not forget this was Buchwald's first job as a head coach, and his appointment of Engels as his right-hand man proved to be a master stroke.

After all, Engels has vast experience and knowledge of the J.League, having started on the coaching staff with Yokohama Flugels, then moving to JEF United Ichihara and Kyoto Purple Sanga. He won the Emperor's Cup with both Flugels and Sanga, and knows the Japanese mentality and playing strengths and weaknesses so well.

On top of that, of course, he speaks perfect football Japanese, and his ability to communicate with the players directly gives him an important advantage.

Between the new head coach Buchwald and the experienced Engels, Reds had firm and inspirational leadership.

I will never forget the scenes at Komaba Stadium in 1997, when Buchwald performed his lap of honour on the back of a white horse. This was on the completion of his playing career, and he had proved so popular that it was inevitable he would return one day in a higher role.

The man he replaced, however, must also take credit for Reds' success.

Hans Ooft, who led Urawa to the Nabisco Cup title in 2003, laid the foundations of this successful team with Wim Jansen as his trusty assistant.

They installed discipline and method into Reds' play, and the passion and loyalty of the supporters made the club an attraction for all talented young players around the country.

It must be remembered, too, that Reds' second-stage title success came without two key Japanese players in Tsuboi and Yamase.

This proves the strength in depth that exists in the squad, although defeat in the Nabisco Cup final to FC Tokyo and at home to Grampus in the league--two high-pressure matches--must make Yokohama F Marinos slight favourites to win the overall championship.

Reds will now be trying to finish the job, but the pragmatic and patient Takeshi Okada will have other ideas for the two playoff games.

ends

22 Nov 2004(Mon)

On the positive side, Japan qualified for the final round of 2006 World Cup Asian qualifying with a perfect record.

They played six and won six, and conceded only one goal, in a 2-1 victory away to Singapore on March 31.

On the negative side, I can't understand why Zico did not broaden his selection horizons in the home game with Singapore on Wednesday night.

Although they won 1-0 with a goal from Tamada, I firmly believe the national coach missed a wonderful opportunity to take a look at some new players ahead of the six-match qualifying group next year.

His selection looked like a reward to the loyal squad members who usually sit on the bench when the European players are around.

But this was not the case with the defenders, as Matsuda and Atsu Miura both got a game.

Which leads to another point of debate.

Why did Zico revert to 4-4-2 when clearly the players prefer, and the team plays better, with a 3-5-2 formation?

A few weeks ago I put forward the following team: Narazaki; Moniwa, Miyamoto, Nakazawa; Ishikawa, Konno, Koji Nakata and Murai; Ogasawara, and Suzuki and Okubo.

I thought a lineup like this would maintain the continuity and keep a strong team backbone, while giving a chance to some in-form J.League players to gain some World Cup experience.

If Zico thought this meant too many changes, and would lose the trust of his back-up players such as Matsuda, Atsu, Fujita and Motoyama, then why not just call them into the squad and let them sample life with the national team, making any call-up next year less daunting?

The group was already over and there was no pressure on Zico whatsoever, so I can't understand his selection policy.

Although Okubo won another senior cap, he failed to find the target again.

But I don't know why Zico didn't start with him, instead of bringing him on as a substitute and putting him under pressure to score his first senior goal in the time he had available.

I would have taken Okubo aside a couple of days before the game, told him he was starting the match and to relax and play his normal game. Maybe then a goal would have come, and the stigma which follows Okubo around at this level would have been over.

As I said before, Zico's record in World Cup qualifying is perfect at 6-0, but stronger opposition is waiting around the corner.

We'll know Japan's next three opponents at the draw in Kuala Lumpur on December 9th.

All I can say about next year is that I hope Zico does not revert to 4-4-2 and try to play all his European exiles in the same midfield and forward line.

Surely he has learned his lessons from the first qualifying round, and must now make tough decisions all national coaches face.

ends

18 Nov 2004(Thu)

Mysterious...secretive....the hermit nation...

Yes, of course, I am talking about North Korea, or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, to give them their official name.

Like Japan, North Korea are already through to the final Asian qualifying round for the 2006 World Cup.

While Japan were winning Group 3 in Muscat last month, North Korea were winning Group 5 in Pyongyang thanks to a 2-1 victory over Yemen and a crushing defeat for the United Arab Emirates in Thailand.

So there is a good chance that Japan and North Korea might be drawn together in one of the two four-team groups on December 9th.

This is one of the reasons I am in Dubai, checking out the North Koreans before and during their final group game, against UAE on Wednesday night.

They arrived in the UAE on Monday lunchtime after an 18-hour journey from Pyongyang via Beijing, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Bahrain. After checking in at the Hotel Holiday International in nearby Sharjah, they had an afternoon snooze and then went for a training session at the Al Sharjah Club.

I must admit I have found them extremely relaxed, friendly and open.

Their team leader is Kim Jong Sik, a former FIFA referee and therefore a good English speaker. He is supported by Ri Hak Mu, a secretary for the North Korean National Olympic Committee.

The coach is Yun Jong Su, a youthful-looking 42-year-old who is a former captain of the national team. As a player he represented his country for 10 years, and he was a member of the North Korea squad at the final qualifying round for the 1994 World Cup in Doha, Qatar, in October 1993. (Sorry to mention that, Japan fans, as the 2-2 draw with Iraq is still a painful memory, despite what has happened since).

I have attended both training sessions, and the Koreans look fit and fast, sturdy and athletic. Even in the heat of the Gulf they were training at high speed.

They have won a group consisting of UAE, Thailand and Yemen, so they deserve not to be written off.

This is why Wednesday night's game will be interesting, because not many people know too much about them.

The coach was very pleasant and chatty in an interview for the "Football Asia" magazine and website at his hotel on Tuesday morning. The only secret he kept was his formation for Wednesday's game, but he's not alone in that.

The official training session that evening was open to the media, so I sat in a chair next to the Korean bench by the touchline and just watched for myself.

They actually seemed surprised that a Westerner is interested in them, even though their team from the 1966 World Cup in England remains a legend.

ends

15 Nov 2004(Mon)

That was a big win, and a welcome three points, for Kashiwa Reysol in midweek, wasn't it?

They really needed to beat Albirex Niigata in their "away" game at National Stadium, and did so 3-1 to move five points clear of Cerezo Osaka in the scramble to avoid 16th place in J1.

With Cerezo on 19 points and Reysol on 24 with only three games remaining, it is going to be extremely difficult for the Osaka club to overhaul the Chiba team. It means Cerezo must win at least two of their remaining games, preferably all three, and two of them are away from home.

Talking about home grounds, I have built up an impression over the years as Hitachi Stadium being a "fortress" for Reysol.

It's a small, compact ground, and there's a really good atmosphere with the fans so close to the pitch.

It can also be intimidating for the away team, due to the presence of the excitable Yellow Monkeys throwing themselves into the pitch-side netting behind the goal.

But for all this, Reysol have won only one league match at Hitachi Stadium all season...and that was on the opening day, 2-1 against Oita Trinita.

That is surely the root of all Reysol's problems, as you must win your home games to build up any consistency.

Their most recent defeat was at home to Verdy, who won 2-0 with two very nicely taken goals from the young striker Morimoto.

The Verdy forward took them both with a great deal of maturity and composure, suggesting he could be a key figure in Japan's age-group teams for the next six years. Surely he will get the chance to play in Japan's next under-23 team when they try to qualify for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

The day after that Verdy win at Kashiwa, Cerezo drew 2-2 at Iwata and were only three minutes away from victory.

What I couldn't understand about the Cerezo defence is how they left Fukunishi--one of the best headers of a ball in Japan--unmarked in the penalty box to head home Jubilo's late equaliser.

Fukunishi had already scored a header in the first half, but amazingly the Cerezo defence failed to pick him up at Nanami's corner from the left, and the national team midfielder does not miss from so close to goal.

Little mistakes like this prove costly over a season, and on that day at Iwata it cost Cerezo two points, as they went home with one instead of three.

Despite their awful home form, it looks like Reysol will escape this season.

ends

11 Nov 2004(Thu)

It was inevitable that Yoshito Okubo would join the list of Japanese players heading to Europe.

Now, it appears that Spain is his likely destination. To be more precise, the Spanish holiday island of Mallorca.

This would be a big step up the ladder for Cerezo Osaka's 22-year-old Fukuoka fireball, as the Spanish first division is probably the best in Europe, and the world.

So has young Yoshito got what it takes to succeed, if he joins Real Mallorca on a six-month loan deal?

I have asked this question several times in the recent past, to players and coaches alike in the J.League, and the answer has always been the same: "Yes, he has the talent to be a hit in Europe."

I hope the deal goes through, because it would be fascinating watching Okubo perform and grow on this grand Spanish stage.

What everyone likes about him is his single-mindedness.

He just loves scoring goals, and has the confidence and self-belief to take on defenders and shoot for goal.

Even if he misses, which every striker does, including Ronaldo, he does not let this affect him, and comes back for more.

Too often in Japan I see a player with a clear shot at goal, but instead of smashing the ball he will take one touch too many and be tackled by a defender, or he will try and cross or pass to a teammate instead of taking the responsibility himself.

Not Okubo.

He knows what he wants and he knows where the goal is, and he must maintain this ruthless, killer approach in Spain.

Don't be worried about people calling you greedy or selfish, Yoshito!

You're a striker, a predator, and your business is goals...as many as possible.

Of course there is another side to Okubo, the side that has got him into trouble on several occasions in the past.

That's his temper, his anger and frustration, the signs of a player still developing as a man, as much as a footballer.

What he has to do is channel the energy in the right direction, keep a lid on his boiling pan of emotions and stay focused on his job.

Perhaps being in Spain will help him to do this. First, because the referees and assistant referees won't understand his Japanese outbursts, and second because he won't be such a big fish in a small pool, like he is in the J.League.

His aggression and power might take a few defenders by surprise in Spain, so let's hope he can bag a few goals early on and establish himself in the team.

Under new head coach Hector Cuper, Mallorca are surely going to climb the table after a poor start.

If Okubo can help them do that, he can look forward to a permanent transfer in the summer.

ends

8 Nov 2004(Mon)

Common sense has prevailed!

I am talking, of course, about Zico's decision not to select a few veteran players for Japan's "dead" World Cup qualifier against Singapore on November 17.

He announced his squad on Friday, and it did not contain the likes of Gon, Kazu and Akita--three players he was considering calling up to show his appreciation of their contribution to Japanese football.

While this was a noble gesture by Zico, it was the wrong time and the wrong place for such a move, and the Brazilian coach changed his mind due to the negative publicity it had generated.

Earlier in the week, Zico had said that criticism of the plan was showing disrespect to the players in question.

But I think Zico missed the point.

I have been against the plan from day one, since reading it at Kansai Airport on my way back from Oman, and my reasons were nothing to do with not respecting the veteran players.

Kazu is a model professional, whose work ethic and attitude should be a benchmark for others to follow.

Gon, too, has the enthusiasm which must be the envy of players half his age, and the spectacular goals record to go with it.

Akita has always been a big favourite: a rough, tough, English-style centre half, who was the rock on which Kashima Antlers' success was built.

So, no, I do not disrespect these players.

It's just that a World Cup qualifying match is not the time to hold a benefit game.

If Zico wants to reward them for their contribution, let the JFA organise a separate match just for this purpose.

How about a Japan Over 30s team against a South Korean Over-30s team in the Kirin Golden Oldies Super Challenge Cup? This would fill National Stadium, and be a fitting tribute to players such as Kazu, Gon and Akita.

Going back to Zico's squad for the Singapore match, I don't think he has gone far enough in looking at new players.

Only Okubo returns, and surely the time is right for "Young Yoshito" to notch his first senior goal.

I would like to have seen Zico pick more Olympic players, or choose from outside the group, because I think he needs to develop his squad next year in time for the 2006 World Cup.

I said before the likes of Moniwa, Konno and Ishikawa would gain great experience from this match, and there was room for a new face such as Murai on the left wing.

On the other hand, Zico cannot be accused of being disloyal to his squad members, and he plans to give a run to several players who have sat on the bench waiting patiently for their chance.

This makes much more sense than his original idea, and is a fair compromise after his decision to scrap his "Golden Oldies" plan.

The JFA can sleep more peacefully now, with their credibility in tact.

ends

4 Nov 2004(Thu)

It's the final the J.League wanted.

It's the final the sponsor, Yamazaki Nabisco, wanted.

But is it the final FC Tokyo wanted?

Somehow I doubt it.

I know they say the form book goes out of the window for a cup final, but it is hard to ignore the recent results of the two teams heading into Wednesday's Nabisco Cup final at Kokuritsu.

Urawa Reds are on fire, seven points clear at the top of the second-stage table with only four matches remaining. Surely their first stage title is just around the corner.

FC Tokyo, on the other hand, are struggling for goals and for points, which makes them the heavy outsider for the Nabisco Cup showdown.

Still, FC Tokyo and their army of fans can look back on their most recent encounter for some inspiration.

They met in the league at Ajinomoto Stadium on September 23, when Tokyo played superbly and won 1-0.

On that night, the central defensive pairing of Moniwa and Jean were outstanding, keeping out a Reds attack that had scored 21 goals in winning their first five matches of the second stage.

Earlier in the season, Reds had beaten Tokyo 2-1 at Saitama, so there has been little to choose between the teams in the league.

That's in the head-to-head meetings, though.

Since FC Tokyo's victory over Urawa, the capital club's league form has been woeful. In fact they haven't won a league game since then, drawing three and losing two. Maybe they are saving themselves for the big day?

In the same period, Reds have won four times and drawn just once in the league, so there's no doubt which team will enter Wednesday's final with their confidence sky-high.

Urawa also have the experience of the past two seasons, when they have played Kashima Antlers in the Nabisco Cup final.

Antlers won in 2002, but Reds gained revenge last year on a day which will be best remembered for the shock announcement that Hans Ooft would leave at the end of the season.

His replacement, Guido Buchwald, has done a marvellous job so far, and his team is on course to win a treble of league championship, Nabisco Cup and Emperor's Cup.

I hope, for the sake of Tokyo's excellent fans and for the club in general, which is an example for others with substantially more financial resources to follow, that the Blues will match the Reds.

But it would be a big surprise if FC Tokyo could throw the form book out of the window on this occasion.

I tip Reds to win 2-0.

ends

1 Nov 2004(Mon)

A German journalist once wrote that FIFA president Sepp Blatter had 50 new ideas every day...and 51 of them were bad.

Ｔhis phrase came to mind when learning of the developments in Zico's plan to field a "Golden Oldies" team against Singapore in Japan's final Group 3 World Cup qualifier on November 17.

It appears that many of the 16 first division clubs are against the idea, and have made their feelings clear to the head of the JFA technical committee, Kozo Tashima.

Good for them!

I hope the feelings of the clubs will be taken into consideration, and the plan will be dropped before Zico announces his squad.

According to reports, Tashima will speak to Zico about it when the Brazilian returns from yet another holiday in his home country (I thought he'd be better off checking out the young talent in the J.League, with a view to strengthening his squad for next year.)

So all is not lost for the people within Japanese football campaigning for the future, not the past.

I have been against the plan from day one, as it throws up so many questions.

For example, what if Gon Nakayama scores three against Singapore? How can Zico drop him from the squad for the next game?

What if King Kazu nets four, like he did in 1997 against Uzbekistan in a 6-3 win at Kokuritsu? Again, how can Zico then leave him out?

I think the plan is ridiculous, and thankfully it seems that many J1 teams do also. The JFA should block it.

The match against Singapore represents a wonderful chance for Zico to give World Cup experience to some fresh faces.

Although the match is meaningless in terms of qualifying for the next round, as Japan are safely through, it is still a World Cup qualifier, and that means there is pressure and expectation.

What better opportunity will Zico have to test some new players? After all, he has complained regularly that he doesn't have enough time with his players before World Cup games, but on this occasion he prefers to turn it into a testimonial match.

There is no need to bring back the Euro Stars, so here is my Japan team to take on Singapore: Narazaki; Moniwa, Miyamoto (captain), Nakazawa; Ishikawa, Konno, Koji Nakata, Murai, Ogasawara; Suzuki, Okubo.

ends

29 Oct 2004(Fri)

The Japan Football Association cannot complain about the one-match ban handed down by FIFA to Zico's interpreter, Kunihiro Suzuki.

I was sitting right behind the Japan bench at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat, and there is no doubt Suzuki was way over the top in his criticism of match officials.

For long periods it looked like Zico was trying to run the match, and tell Chinese referee Lu Jun what to do.

One example was the free kick, for a foul on Suzuki (Takayuki, not Kunihiro), that led to Japan's goal seven minutes into the second half.

As Suzuki rolled around, as he often does, even when not hurt at all, Zico was on the touchline holding up four fingers to the referee. He was indicating this was the fourth time Suzuki had been fouled, and the referee decided to show the Oman defender the yellow card.

Later in the second half, Nakamura was fouled, again near the Japanese dugout, and again Zico was at the pitch side. But his interpreter was even more vociferous, clearly taking matters into his own hands rather than translating Zico's comments.

Even if he translated them from Portuguese to Japanese, the referee would not have understood as he didn't speak either language.

Still, the referee got the point, and was furious when he approached the Japanese bench.

The interpreter was dismissed, and, not knowing the rules, tried to watch the rest of the game alongside the substitutes.

Of course this is not allowed, so he was forced to walk around half the pitch to the players' tunnel, and had a couple of plastic bottles hurled at him, as well as some Arabic vitriol, along the way.

After the game I suggested he could be suspended for the next match after his red card, and many people laughed, thinking I was joking.

But why should he escape punishment?

If a player is sent off, or a manager or player dismissed from the bench, why should an interpreter be treated differently?

After all, he is a part of the game, and part of the Japanese delegation on the bench. And he was out of order.

Japan will not miss Suzuki against Singapore on November 17, as any number of Japanese/Brazilians can help out.

Maybe Zico could install Alex as his interpreter...and play Murai on the left wing!

Or bring back Ramos as interpreter, along with Kazu, Gon and Akita!

ends

28 Oct 2004(Thu)

Shinji Murai showed good timing on Saturday.

Not just with his excellent opening goal for JEF United in their 2-0 victory at Nagoya, but also when it was scored.

Surely, as Zico looks ahead to Japan's "dead" World Cup qualifier against Singapore on November 17, the national coach is going to experiment.

Not with Kazu, Gon and Akita, as I am strongly against this idea.

But with players from the Olympic team (Moniwa, Konno, Ishikawa, Okubo?) or who are playing well in the J.League.

The Olympic team did not have an outstanding left-sided player, but there are two or three in the J.League besides Zico's usual choices of Alex and Atsu Miura.

This is why Murai scored his goal at such a good time, and quite rightly received some very positive reviews in the Sunday papers.

The 24-year-old winger gives the team such a nice balance on the left flank, as Sakamoto does on the right in JEF's tight 3-5-2 unit.

He has the skill and the pace to beat his man and either send over a teasing left-footed cross, or to go for goal himself.

I remember once, in his very early days at Ichihara, that he said how he admired Ryan Giggs--and that is the perfect role model to follow in that position.

(Off the pitch, too, Giggs is popular even with non-Man United fans. As a sidenote, most United players are detested by the opposition supporters, but never Giggs. He is always respected.)

After the game at Nagoya, JEF manager Osim said Murai could play like that more often, and could score more goals, too, as he has so much natural ability.

He certainly looked hungry to score, and beat his defender twice before striking the ball confidently past Narazaki with his trusty left foot and into the top corner of the net.

A couple of weeks earlier, Murai had looked impressive and mature playing for the Japan Selection against Hungary in the Olympic celebration match at National Stadium.

If Zico wants to have a look at a couple of new faces, Murai would not let him down on the left wing, and would also put some pressure on Alex to hold his place in the team.

Alex always looks like he's playing well within himself, saving himself for some special moment. But that moment never comes, and he's been a bit disappointing for Urawa this season. Also, with his corners and free kicks, he frequently fails to clear the first defender, and this is a very frustrating habit.

Go on Zico...give Murai a chance on the left wing against Singapore.

After all, the club deserves more recognition at this level after their consistent efforts in the league.

ends

21 Oct 2004(Thu)

There's no doubt where the "Match of the Day" will be in Japan on Saturday.

It has to be at Kashiwa in Chiba Prefecture, where Reysol take on Cerezo Osaka in a match which is crucial for the J1 survival of both teams.

Cerezo are at the bottom of the second-stage standings with only seven points, the same meagre tally as Oita and Jubilo, and Reysol are in 13th position with just eight points.

But the second-stage table alone does not tell the whole story, of course, because you need to look at the points combined from both stages to see who is in big trouble.

Overall, Cerezo are still 16th and last with 17 points, and Reysol are 15th with 20 points, four behind the team in 14th position, Oita.

So it looks like a two-horse race to avoid the bottom place, which would mean a playoff with J2's third-placed team for a spot in the expanded 18-team top flight next season.

The match kicks off at 3pm, and I'm sure there will be a big and noisy crowd at Kashiwa for this vital game.

If Reysol win they will open up a six-point lead over Cerezo, and surely that gap will be too big for Cerezo to close with only five matches remaining.

If Cerezo win they will pull level with Reysol on 20 points and give themselves hope of avoiding the playoff. It's not Cerezo's last chance, but it's pretty close to that.

With the stakes so high, both teams will be going for the win.

A draw would not be satisfactory for either side, especially the away team, so the fans can look forward to some attacking, maybe even desperate, football at the compact Hitachi Stadium.

Cerezo had a terrible result on Sunday, losing 2-1 at home to Vissel Kobe in the Kansai derby. Ryuji Bando opened the scoring for Vissel, pushing his claims for a national team call-up after an impressive display for the Japan Selection against Hungary Selection at National Stadium recently.

But Reysol, at home to Grampus, could not fully capitalise on Cerezo's home defeat.

Despite fighting back from 1-0 down at half-time with two quick goals in the second half from Myojin and Otani, Reysol then allowed a sloppy equaliser late on and Grampus stole a point. That was two big points lost for Reysol.

There are some attractive games this weekend, for example Antlers at home to Reds and Marinos at home to FC Tokyo, but the Reysol-Cerezo clash will be the most crucial for the immediate future of both teams.

Go and enjoy a true relegation dogfight!

ends

18 Oct 2004(Mon)

The World Cup qualifier in Oman went pretty much as expected.

The home team attacked aggressively at the beginning, but after this brief flurry of activity Japan took control and dominated the game.

Then, seven minutes into the second half, Takayuki Suzuki headed home a beautiful cross from Shunsuke Nakamura to give Japan the lead.

This goal, I thought, killed the game as a contest, and Japan won easily in the end to clinch first place in Group 3.

Japan's record speaks for itself: Played five, won five, 15 goals for and only one against for a maximum 15 points.

Overall it was a very mature and concentrated performance by Japan, who looked in a different class to Oman for long periods of the game.

This is a tribute to the professionalism of the J.League, and also to the experience of the players based in Europe.

Didn't Ono look like a true general?

Once again, though, I thought Japan's man of the match was Nakazawa.

Just like in the Asian Cup, he was a tower of strength at the back.

Everything Oman sent into the penalty box came straight back out again off the head of Nakazawa.

His tackling, too, was impressive, as he reads the game so well.

I have said this before and will say it again, that Nakazawa has everything it takes to succeed in Europe, and I really hope he gets his chance at the end of this J.League season.

After the game, when all the fans had disappeared and the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex was deserted and silent, I chatted with a member of the Asian Football Confederation's marketing team.

"One of these players will be a candidate for Asian Player of the Year," he said. "Guess who?"

Instantly I repiled Nakazawa.

"Right! He was outstanding again. I really hope he gets nominated," said the marketing man.

So do I, as I often think defenders are overlooked for these awards at the expense of the more creative, eye-catching, but not necessarily consistent, attacking players.

All in all it was a highly satisfactory night for Japan, who passed a potentially tricky test of character with ease.

Now they are in the last eight of the Asian qualifiers for Germany 2006. With two teams advancing from each group, and with the third-placed team also having a chance to qualify, Japan should be able to book a World Cup ticket comfortably.

But they must display the same control and maturity they showed in Muscat, and treat all opponents with respect.

Prepare for some noisy nights in 2005!

ends

14 Oct 2004(Thu)

Everyone in Japan knows the importance of Wednesday's game against Oman here in sunny Muscat.

And just because this is a small country in terms of Gulf football, don't think the locals are not aware of the significance, too.

There are three English-language newspapers here, and the match is so important that football has knocked cricket from the main sports page.

There is a big Indian community living here, and this is reflected in the vast amounts of space given to cricket on a daily basis. Even more so now, as India are playing host to Australia.

"Zico's Japan ready for Oman match," says the headline of the Oman Daily Observer.

The article points out the meticulous preparation of the Japan team, notably a gadget to measure the temperature and humidity during Monday's training session at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.

There was also a story about the Oman team being visited by the president of the government's sports ministry, and a photo of Japan training.

The Times of Oman dedicated half a page to the match, under the headline: "Excitement in the air as Japan clash looms."

The article points out the large number of Japanese roaming around town, and marvels at the fact there are around 140 media representatives here.

There is also the inevitable photo of Zico looking even more serious and grim than ever, accompanying a story which quotes him as saying Japan will play their normal game and not try to draw, which would be good enough to advance to the second round.

Japan trained hard at the match venue Monday night, working especially on corners. In what is expected to be a tight game, a set-piece, meaning a free kick or corner, could determine the outcome.

The stadium was a splendid sight, surrounded by barren mountains but with palm trees lining the roads nearby.

As Japan trained, the lone voice of a Muslim at prayer, amplified by a loud speaker, drifted across the air.

After Zico's news conference in front of the TV cameras, the main topic of debate was "nama beer."

This is not uncommon among journalists, as it usually means where are we going for a drink after filing our stories! But this time it was different.

From chatting to a few Japanese journalists, it appears that Zico was likening the expected atmosphere at Wednesday's match to the top of a glass of draft beer.

The Oman supporters will be wearing white, giving the stadium the effect of a glass of beer, but the white is only the froth, and therefore not important. The more meaningful matter is down below, meaning the beer itself and, in this case, what happens on the pitch.

Mmmmmm.....very interesting this, from Zico the Philosopher. Sounds more like Eric Cantona.

I think it's going to be a really tough test for Japan on Wednesday night but I stand by my earlier prediction of 0-0 (or maybe 1-1!) but I cannot see Japan losing.

Go and relax and have a "nama beer!"

ends

11 Oct 2004(Mon)

If Oman think they have home advantage against Japan on Wednesday, they had better think again.

On paper, of course, Oman do have home advantage, as the game is being played in their beautiful capital Muscat.

But this doesn't mean Japan will be nervous and afraid to play attacking football because they are the visiting team.

According to Japan's captain, "Kaiser Tsune," Japan actually play better away from home.

This may sound like a strange statement, considering the fantastic support Japan attract for home games.

But Tsune feels that this puts pressure on the players, as the fans are expecting "beautiful" football, non-stop attacking and, of course, goals galore.

And it just can't happen every time.

Look at the home game against Oman on February 18 at Saitama.

Japan huffed and puffed with little momentum or rhythm, and were extremely fortunate to win 1-0 with a goal three minutes into injury time by Kubo.

The ball, remember, bounced around the edge of the Oman penalty area like a pachinko machine, and Kubo hit the jackpot.

Away from home, Tsune says, Japan can relax more, play more patient football and not feel like they have to launch an all-out assault as soon as they get the ball.

The evidence is clear when Japan play in Europe, and also at the Asian Cup in China.

This is why I feel Oman will be more nervous than Japan on Wednesday night.

After all, if Japan score first, I believe the game will be over, as Oman would then need two against a team which has beaten them 1-0 in Saitama and 1-0 in China this year. In other words, two games played and no goals scored against Japan.

I think it will be Oman who will be on the defensive in the first half, making sure that Japan don't score. Only maybe in the last 30 minutes will Oman go looking for the first goal.

This will be perfect for Japan.

They will be able to play calmly, keep the ball, attack at the right time and, through Takayuki, win a free kick on the edge of the Oman penalty area.

Shunsuke steps up with his magical left foot and it's 1-0 Japan!

Honestly I cannot see Japan losing in Muscat.

Captain Tsune is right. Japan do look more in control away from home, putting all the pressure on the home team Wednesday night.

Maybe my game scenario is not quite accurate, but I predict a 0-0 or maybe 1-1 scoreline, booking Japan safe passage into the next round.

ends

7 Oct 2004(Thu)

Ever since the J.League began in 1993 I've always taken a strong interest in the attendances.

After last weekend's matches, the signs are very encouraging for the league as a whole.

At the moment in J1, the average attendance for the second stage is 19,175.

The average for the 15 rounds in the first stage was 18,763.

This makes for a season's average of 18,969, which is considerably higher than the 2003 average of 17,351 for the 240 matches.

With Urawa Reds at the top of the table and Albirex Niigata improving, I am sure the huge fan bases of these two clubs alone can help the first division finish with an average attendance of over 19,000 for the season.

If that is the case, it would be the first time to pass the 19,000 mark since 1994, when the league recorded a high of 19,598 in its second season.

After 1994, the crowds went away and came back again, which is a very healthy sign for the game in Japan.

It means that the fans of the early bubble years, who didn't understand the game and just followed the fashion, have been replaced by a growing number of genuine football supporters.

Take away the big four leagues of Europe, meaning Spain, England, Italy and Germany, and probably also France, and these J.League attendances would hold up against most other European leagues, including Holland and Belgium.

In fact there must be several clubs in the allegedly glamorous Italian Serie A who are jealous of the support the teams receive in Japan.

After the JEF United-Urawa Reds match on Saturday I spoke with Turkish tough nut Alpay Ozalan.

Anyone who's been to a match involving the Turkish national team knows that their fans are crazy, so I asked Alpay how Tokyo compared with Istanbul.

Alpay had no hesitation in saying that the atmosphere in Japan was better.

He said that in Turkey people stop going to the games if one team is dominating the championship race, whereas in Japan the fans still keep coming and still keep singing.

He was very impressed with the JEF fans, who continued to cheer for their yellow-shirted heroes long after the match was lost.

"And look at our fans. It must be two hours from Saitama but there's over 20,000 of them here," he said.

The steady increase in attendances must be the envy of many leagues around the world.

As the Japanese baseball world reaches a turning point, the J.League is quitely getting on with business, step by step.

ends

4 Oct 2004(Mon)

The good news for Urawa Reds fans is that their team is still top of the table, and Tatsuya Tanaka will surely come good again soon.

I have watched Reds' last two games, away to FC Tokyo and at home to Gamba Osaka, and Tanaka has been very quiet by his normal standards.

He's hardly had a chance to score a goal, and there has been little evidence of the blistering pace that can destroy defenders.

After the 2-1 victory over Gamba at Komaba, I asked Guido Buchwald about Tanaka.

Guido admitted that Tanaka was a "little bit down," due to his experience at the Olympic Games in Athens.

"The Olympic Games was not good for him because he did not play," said the Reds manager.

"He was for three or four weeks only a tourist, and it was not a good time for his condition and mentality."

Buchwald, however, is not worried by Tanaka's dip in form, as I am sure the Reds fans are not too concerned.

"He is coming again step by step. It is not a problem. He is a very important player for us," said the affable German coach.

I am sure that Tanaka will come good again soon, not only by scoring a few goals but also his work off the ball.

With Emerson and Tanaka together, they can give defenders a torrid time with their speed and direct running, and it will take a very good team to keep this pair out.

FC Tokyo managed it the other week in a 1-0 victory, when Jean and Moniwa were outstanding in the heart of the Tokyo defence.

I think that Moniwa, and also Konno, will be picked for the national squad shortly.

Once the Oman game in Muscat is out of the way (I cannot see Japan losing this one, as they can secure a draw quite comfortably), Zico might be tempted to bring in some Olympic players for the final Group 3 game at home to Singapore on November 17.

I would like to see Moniwa, Konno, Ishikawa and certainly Okubo in the national squad sooner rather than later, but Zico does not seem to like calling up new players at the expense of older ones who have served him loyally, even if they are not in the team.

Tanaka, too, will surely get his chance, but first he needs to rediscover his pre-Olympic form.

When he does, defenders had better watch out!

ends

30 Sep 2004(Thu)

Most readers would agree that Hidetoshi Nakata is still Japan's best player.

Some may say Shinji Ono, and you would have a strong case, as these two players have proved in Europe they are in a class of their own.

But is the Japan national team missing Nakata, despite his many qualities?

This is a very interesting situation, and clearly Zico was in no hurry to bring him back for the critical World Cup qualifier against Oman at Muscat on October 13.

In the early days of Zico's reign, I felt that the new, inexperienced national coach depended too heavily on Nakata.

He was captain, playmaker and unofficial assistant coach all at the same time. During some training sessions, in fact, Nakata did more talking than Zico himself.

Zico's reliance on one key player created the scenario his predecessor, Philippe Troussier, worked desperately to avoid, and Japan did not function as a team.

To Troussier, Nakata was just one player, with the same value to the team as Matsuda, Morioka or Koji Nakata, or Toda and Myojin. Without Nakata, Zico's Japan have looked much more like a team, because the workload is more evenly distributed.

Also, the formation has changed from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2, and the Japanese players look much more comfortable with this style.

You wonder if some of the players feel a bit intimidated by Nakata's presence, as he has a very strong personality on the pitch.

This is not Nakata's fault, of course, as the players must have the confidence to communicate and lift their game at the right time.

For the match in Oman, where a draw would be good enough for Japan to advance to the final Asian qualifying round, Nakamura will return as playmaker in the 3-5-2 formation.

When Nakata is fully fit again after his groin injury, what is Zico going to do with his leading player and captain?

I have said this before, but if Zico wants to keep his 3-5-2 formation, and keep Shunsuke as the playmaker, and have Ono and Inamoto in defensive midfield and Alex on the left wing, there's only one place for Nakata: on the right wing, instead of Kaji.

Nakata had a fine second season there for Parma, although he wanted to play more centrally, and I think he could do a great job there for Japan.

But that's in the future.

In Oman, I feel Japan will get the draw they need to advance. It looks like a 0-0 to me.

ends

27 Sep 2004(Mon)

It is always interesting--and sometimes surprising--to look back through Japan's squad for the FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria in 1999.

Japan, of course, reached the final, losing to Spain, and several players went on to play for the full national team.

They have included Akira Kaji, Koji Nakata, Yasuhito Endo, Mitsuo Ogasawara, Masashi Motoyama, Naohiro Takahara and Yuichiro Nagai.

(Shinji Ono had already played for the national team, including a brief appearance against Jamaica at the 1998 World Cup in France).

Another member of Philippe Troussier's under-20 squad in Nigeria was Ryuji Bando, who is having a fine season for Vissel Kobe.

Now 25, Bando has netted 12 goals in 19 league appearances this season, second only to Gamba's Masashi Oguro (14) of the Japanese players among the leading scorers.

His latest goal came on Thursday, a smart glancing header in the 2-2 draw with Yokohama F Marinos at Tokyo's National Stadium.

He could have had a second goal, too, but saw his penalty saved by Tatsuya Enomoto, diving to his left.

Still, Vissel looked happy enough with a point, even though Marinos were down to nine men at the end following the second-half red cards for Kurihara and Kubo.

After the game, Vissel manager Ivan Hasek was full of praise for Bando.

"He was a substitute at the start of the season, and now he is one of the best players in Japan," said Hasek.

"He has the winning spirit, and his confidence to go for the goal is growing with every game and every day in training."

Asked if he thought Bando was good enough to be called up by Zico, Hasek replied diplomatically.

"I am not the national coach. Of course I want him to stay with Vissel!" he said.

But Hasek added that Bando was one of the best finishers in Japan, and could go further in his career if he kept his feet on the ground.

"Now, there are too many people telling him he is playing very well. He must not change his mentality, because this is a problem for players in Japan when they receive too much praise. He must stay simple."

If the goals keep coming, maybe Bando will be the next member of Japan's Class of '99 to move into the senior squad.

ends

23 Sep 2004(Thu)

Today(September 22) is the 23rd birthday of Koji Yamase.

But it's doubtful the Urawa Reds playmaker will be in the mood to celebrate, following his season-ending knee injury.

He injured his left knee during the 4-1 defeat of Albirex Niigata on Saturday, and will need five or six months to recover.

This is another cruel blow for the talented youngster, who had his season cut short in 2002 after an injury to his right knee when playing for Consadole Sapporo.

Urawa showed a lot of faith in him at that time, and signed him for the 2003 campaign, during which he made 24 league appearances.

This season, the elegant ball-playing midfielder has helped Reds win their first five second-stage matches to open up a two-point lead at the top of the table.

But suddenly Yamase's season is over, leaving his teammates to fight for a hat-trick of titles with the league championship, Nabisco Cup and Emperor's Cup.

Reds' next match is Thursday, away to FC Tokyo at Ajinomoto Stadium.

On a national holiday, expect a bumper crowd at the Tobitakyu venue for the evening kick-off.

FC Tokyo are fifth in the table with seven points, eight adrift of Urawa, and this match could well be a dress rehearsal for the Nabisco Cup final on November 3.

he two teams are favourites to win their semi-finals, Reds at Nagoya and FC Tokyo against Verdy, so Thursday's game could provide one of the teams with a psychological advantage.

All Yamase can do, though, is think about next season.

He made an excellent recovery from that first serious knee injury, coming close to winning a place in Japan's Olympic squad for Athens, so he has the experience to handle the situation.

Still, it's a big disappointment for him and the team, as he is clearly one of the most naturally talented players in the J.League.

A long time ago I remember Steve Perryman, the former S-Pulse and Reysol manager, singing the praises of both Yamase and Horii when the pair played for Sapporo, and the former Tottenham captain knew a good player when he saw one.

I'm sure all Reds fans wish Yamase as happy a birthday as possible under the unfortunate circumstances.

ends

20 Sep 2004(Mon)

Not that normal fans really care about media services, but it has to be said the J.League excels in this field.

One of the highlights of the year is always the official J.League launch, held a few days before the new league season kicks off.

The managers of all J.League clubs, both from division one and two, are present, and available to be interviewed by members of the media.

This is an excellent idea by the J.League, as it provides all media--including TV, newspapers, magazines and radio--with the opportunity to meet the new managers and renew acquaintances with the "old" ones.

The reason I am relating this information is because of the form of Masashi Oguro for Gamba Osaka.

Before the start of the 2003 season--not this season--I interviewed Gamba manager Nishino at the above-mentioned J.League news conference.

I honestly thought Gamba could win the J.League championship in 2003, and wanted the manager's comments.

We went through his likely lineup, and when we got to the forwards I suggested Yoshihara or Nakayama alongside the giant Magrao.

Yoshihara, in the Olympic qualifying days of 1999, had been described as Japan's Romario by Philippe Troussier, while the "Gamba Gon" Nakayama had scored some fine goals for Japan's Olympic team at the 2002 Asian Games in Pusan, Korea.

Nishino, however, clearly favoured a player I must admit I did not know too much about.

His name was Masashi Oguro.

I have always kept an eye on him since then, as he works the left side of the forward line with industry and concentration.

Last season, Gamba did not win the championship, but Oguro bagged 10 goals.

This season, as Gamba trail Urawa Reds only on goal difference after four straight wins in the second stage, Oguro has 14 goals.

He is the highest Japanese scorer in the chart, and is second overall, behind the prolific Emerson, who already has 18 in 15 appearances.

The Osaka-born Oguro, 24, has progressed through the Gamba ranks, from junior youth to youth and then the first team, making his J.League debut in March 1999.

According to the J.League official website, Oguro now has 26 career goals in 73 appearances, which is better than one goal every three games--the mark by which strikers generally are ruled to be successful goalscorers or not.

His two against a Kashiwa Reysol side in disarray last Saturday were both scored from close range, but his consistent strike rate justifies the faith Nishino has had in him for a long time.

Can Gamba maintain their challenge?

For the sake of the Kansai region, I hope so.

ends

16 Sep 2004(Thu)

Just how long can Cerezo Osaka hold on to their best striker, Yoshito Okubo?

The 22-year-old Athens Olympian scored another two fine goals on Saturday, but his team went down 4-3 at Kashima after leading 3-1 in the second half.

You really feel that Okubo must leave the comfort zone of the J.League sooner rather than later if he is to fulfill his exciting potential, and a move to Europe when the transfer window opens at the end of the year seems inevitable.

His first goal against Antlers was a peach. It reminded me of Paul Scholes's brilliant right-foot strike for England in a World Cup group match against Tunisia at Marseille in 1998.

Okubo found space for himself on the edge of the Antlers box, and when the impressive newcomer Furuhashi played the ball to him, Okubo stroked it beyond Sogahata and into the far corner.

I'm sure I'm not mistaken, but I think I even saw a few Antlers fans behind the goal applauding; which would be a surprise, as they are not known for their generosity toward the opposition.

His second, in the second half, was scored in very different circumstances, but was still a top-quality finish.

This time it was the wily veteran Morishima who set up the chance with an exquisite pass.

Okubo timed his run perfectly, and ran straight across the two Antlers defenders, almost inviting them to make a challenge. Had they done so, I'm sure the slightest contact would have resulted in Okubo crashing to the turf, and a red card for the defender.

Both defenders, I suspect, sensed this, and Okubo was given a clear run on goal. He beat Sogahata again with another calm finish, and the loyal Cerezo fans behind the goal must have been thinking that their long journey was going to be worth the money.

But Antlers scored some excellent goals, too, notably Nozawa's equaliser on the run into the bottom corner, beating the keeper at his near post, followed by Fukai's winner when he cut in from the right and sent a left-foot shot into the far corner.

It was a happy finish for the Antlers fans, but a cruel one for Cerezo Osaka in general and for Okubo in particular.

But those goals will not have gone unnoticed on a wider scale.

ends

13 Sep 2004(Mon)

So far so good.

That's how Zico and Japan must be feeling about the qualifying tournament for the 2006 World Cup.

With a maximum 12 points from four Group 3 games, it would be tempting to think Japan already has one foot in the final, eight-team qualifying round.

But nothing could be further from the truth.

Just three points back are Oman, and the fifth round of Group 3 matches on October 13 will see Oman entertain Japan in Muscat.

Without doubt this will be the most important match for Japan since Zico took charge in July 2002.

After winning 2-0 in Singapore on Wednesday night, the Omanis were already looking ahead to this pivotal group fixture.

If Oman can win in front of their own fans in Muscat, then Japan's efforts may all have been in vain.

Oman, for sure, will not be frightened by Japan's array of stars, even though they are the Asian champions .

After all, the Omanis will feel they were unlucky to lose to Japan on two occasions already this year, both by 1-0 scorelines in World Cup qualifying at Saitama and Asian Cup group play in China.

The tiny Gulf state will no doubt be promising their players riches to beat Japan and qualify for the final round, from which 4.5 of the eight teams will head for Germany.

(The 4.5, in FIFA talk, means four automatic qualifiers, plus half a place for Asia in a playoff with the CONCACAF zone).

After losing to Kubo's injury-time goal at Saitama, Oman have virtually matched Japan goal for goal since then.

After four games, Japan have scored 14 goals and conceded only one--in Singapore--and Oman have scored 14 and conceded two.

But the experiences of the Japanese players in China and in Calcutta on Wednesday should help them in Muscat, and it will be a big surprise if they do not win this match, too.

Even though a draw would be good enough for Japan to win the group, I expect Japan to come out on top with another narrow victory.

Then the hard work really begins, when the eight group winners are divided into two groups of four, playing on a home and away basis in 2005.

ends

9 Sep 2004(Thu)

Even without Shunsuke Nakamura, Japan should have no problems beating India in their World Cup qualifier in Calcutta on Wednesday.

The Asian Cup MVP has pulled out with a back problem, but the Japanese squad has enough talent to overcome his absence.

It's true that in China, for the Asian Cup, Nakamura played a key role in the team's victory with his ability at free kicks and corners and to unlock an opposing defence with a neat pass.

(However, I would have still made Nakazawa the MVP of the tournament, as defenders are valuable players, too).

Although there will be no Shunsuke to swing in the corners and free kicks, Zico will still have Alex if he needs a good left-footer.

On his day, Alex can be very dangerous, too, but I have noticed on several occasions this season that his corners from the right wing are weakly struck, and do not clear the first defender at the near post.

I don't know if this is a Reds tactic, aiming for the near post, but I'm sure Zico will be telling him to get more elevation on his corners, and look for Nakazawa at the back post.

Elsewhere in the team, Yanagisawa has pulled out, too.

Who can blame him?

He knows he will not be a starting member, and feels it is more important to practice with his new club, Messina, for the start of the Italian season.

Although I have always admired Yanagisawa, and stuck by him through the lean times, again Japan should not miss him.

This is simply because the J.League is producing so many top-quality players, and they have many players in all positions who can now come in and do a good job. Tamada is just the latest.

India will be missing their best player, Bhaichung Bhutia, who is injured.

Their English manager, Stephen Constantine, described him as India's David Beckham, but without the tattoos.

He is an inspirational figure in the squad, and he will be missed more by India than Nakamura or Yanagisawa will by Japan.

A comfortable win for Zico's team is predicted, but this will not be the case ahead of the Oman game next month in Muscat.

ends

6 Sep 2004(Mon)

Just when Junichi Inamoto's future looked uncertain, West Bromwich Albion came in and gave him another chance in the English Premier League.

After his injury against England, and then his release by Fulham after two years on loan, "Ina" must have been worried about what the future held.

But clearly he had done enough with Fulham to impress West Brom, and they signed him just before the transfer deadline.

Although the transfer fee of 200,000 pounds will not be paid until he makes his first appearance, and will not be paid at all if he has not played before January 1, 2005, Ina still has every reason to be optimistic.

After all, the transfer will be a permanent one, not on loan, and the contract will be for two and half years, with an option for an extra year.

This, I feel, is just the boost Ina needs.

He was on loan at Arsenal, and then again at Fulham.

It always seemed he was fighting for his future, fighting to impress his employers in every game.

But when he joins West Brom, and the deal goes through, he will finally feel part of the squad. This will surely give him more confidence, and remove some of the pressure he must have felt in every game.

West Brom have not made a great start to the season, but manager Gary Megson, who was a very similar type of midfield player to Inamoto, has made some good summer signings.

They include midfielder Jonathan Greening from Middlesbrough, Nigerian forward Kanu from Arsenal, Wales striker Robbie Earnshaw from Cardiff City for a club record fee of 3 million pounds, and Romanian right-back Cosmin Contra, on loan from Atletico Madrid.

According to an article in World Soccer magazine, West Brom are the most likely of the three promoted clubs to stay up, with both Nouwich City and Crystal Palace tipped for a swift return to the old division one, now renamed the Coca-Cola Championship.

So Ina has every incentive to get fully fit, and feel that he belongs in England.

After three seasons on loan, he will feel the effort has finally paid off.

ends

2 Sep 2004(Thu)

I was standing in the queue for Media tickets for the Olympic Games closing ceremony on Sunday afternoon, behind two Indian reporters.

We began chatting.

About the Olympics?

No way!

It was far more important than that. It was about the World Cup.

More to the point, about Japan's match against India in Calcutta on September 8.

"Are Japan bringing all their stars?" I was asked.

"No idea," I replied.

"I haven't seen the squad. But it's the World Cup, so I expect Zico will want his best players."

According to the two Indian reporters, it didn't matter which players Zico brought with him, as Japan would win anyway.

"If India lose 2-0 or 3-0, this will be a good result for them," said one of the reporters. "It was 7-0 in Japan, right?"

"No chance of an upset?" I asked.

"No," came the reply. "It will be an upset if Japan don't win by five goals."

But won't a big, hostile home crowd make a difference?

"It's not a cricket match," said the other Indian reporter.

"There'll be 5,000 people there, maybe 10,000. They know India cannot win, so why should they go and see their team humiliated?"

I presume the match will be played at the Salt Lake Stadium. I went there, maybe 10 years ago, to watch an Asian Club Championship match between East Bengal and South China. I was working in Hong Kong at the time, and reporting on Hong Kong's leading club.

It is a vast, bare, concrete stadium, something like you come across in China.

There were only a few thousand people for that game, which South China won 1-0, and my main memory is fearing for my own safety.

Not from Indian hooligans, but from normal Indian people throwing firecrackers from the top deck of the stand.

They were exploding everywhere, and it was not a pleasant environment in which to watch a football match.

You never knew if a firecracker was going to go off right in front of your face.

So Japanese fans who travel to Calcutta, beware. The Indians won't whistle when the Kimigayo plays before the kick-off, but they might throw a firecracker in your general direction.

It's all very funny, of course, until someone is burned or blinded.

According to the Indian press, the pitch has been closed for two months to repair the damage from music concerts and other events.

"If the pitch had been in bad condition, and there was a rainstorm, and the Japanese players could not run or pass the ball...then maybe India could win," said one of them, laughing.

To those Japanese fans making the trek to Calcutta, keep your head down when the firecrackers start going off.

And put your money on a Japan victory. About 4-0 looks a good bet.

ends

30 Aug 2004(Mon)

How can anyone resist the lure of a Japan versus South Korea match at the Olympic Games?

Even though it started at 8.30 in the morning, and needed a train ride, a tram ride and a long walk to get to the stadium.

And even though it was women's hockey.

I had to go, for a number of reasons.

First, I like the rivalry of Japan-Korea. It reminds me of England-Scotland back home.

Second, I like hockey. It reminds me of football in many aspects: Eleven players on the team, and formations such as 4-4-2 and 3-5-2.

There are defenders, liberos, midfielders, wingers, strikers, playmakers, goal-poachers...you name it. Everything in football exists in hockey, except for the obvious fact they carry sticks, just in case you hadn't noticed.

Third, the journey to the stadium was delightful, even though I was half asleep. It followed the coastline out of Athens, past the beaches and the sparkling sea.

On a morning when the sun was burning into your skin, even at 8.30, Japan trailed 3-0 very quickly.

Captain Miura (Keiko, not Kazu) pulled one back for Japan just before half-time, but there were no further goals in the second period, and Japan lost 3-1.

While I think there are too many stoppages in field hockey, one rule I really like concerns substitutions.

I have pointed out this before, during the 2002 Asian Games in Pusan, Korea, but I feel strongly that FIFA should copy it to cut down on time-wasting and gamesmanship in football.

Here's the example.

Korea wanted to make a substitution in the second half.

The No. 6 was going to enter the field, so she stood on the touchline (sideline) holding up the number of the player she was going to replace. It was the No. 8.

They had to choose the right moment to exchange the players. The No. 8 ran to the side, took the small placard with her number on it off the player waiting to come on, the No. 6, and the substitution was complete. The game never stopped.

Imagine this was football.

A team leading 3-1 in the second half wants to make a change. The substitute comes off the bench to the touchline, the fourth official holds up the number of the player to come off, who is usually on the far side of the pitch, and then everything stops as the player walks off as slowly as possible.

Toward the end of a tight game, the closing stages are often ruined by constant substitutions to break up the flow.

If football adopted the hockey rule, this form of gamesmanship would be cut out, although I am sure players would then pretend they were injured and stay down so the game would have to stop.

The Olympics give you a chance to watch many sports, and the more you see the more you realize how little fair play and sportsmanship there is in modern football.

ends

26 Aug 2004(Thu)

It looks like Daisuke Matsui might be the next Japanese player to head overseas.

From what I read on the Internet here in Athens, French second division club Le Mans is keen to sign the Kyoto Purple Sanga playmaker.

Several months ago I chatted with Matsui's agent, Tanabe-san, at the Yokohama F Marinos training ground.

He told me that Matsui could be leaving Japan after the Olympics, and France was one of the possible destinations.

After all, Matsui is still remembered with affection in France after his eye-catching displays for Japan in the Toulon Under-21 tournament a couple of years ago.

I remember another player making his mark at that event and going on to have an exciting international career. His name was Paul Gascoigne.

There is no doubt Matsui is a skillful, elegant player.

I have always admired his balance and touch since first seeing him play for Kyoto Purple Sanga a few seasons ago.

Just before the Olympics I had a long chat with the former Purple Sanga manager, Gert Engels, who is now assistant coach to Guido Buchwald at Urawa.

Engels said he would have had no hesitation in picking Matsui for the Olympic Games, as he was a valuable player in tournament conditions.

Engels pointed out Matsui's stamina and fitness, as well as his natural ability, and this made him an important squad member for a tight schedule. (I must point out that Engels was not picking Matsui over his own Yamase; he was just giving his view on a player he knows well).

Going back to the Tanabe chat, he said it was vital that a Japanese player does not make too big a jump from J.League to Europe, where the game is much more physical and played at a quicker mental pace.

Le Mans, therefore, would be a good starting point for Matsui, and he would have the chance to play every week, which is the most important thing.

One solid season at Le Mans and then who knows?

Marseille? Paris Saint-Germain? Lyon? Monaco?

French clubs are a feeding ground for the bigger, more glamorous European leagues, namely Spain, England and Italy, but Matsui would have to be patient.

It would not happen overnight.

Le Mans would be a stepping stone to a career in Europe, not the end, as it would give Matsui the chance to adapt and develop as a player and a person.

There is no doubt he has the talent and the confidence, but he would need to be consistent and choose his moments carefully when to be flashy and when to play the percentages.

It will be interesting to see if the move comes off.

Then Japan would have three Matsuis overseas: Big Matsui, Little Matsui and Purple Matsui.

ends

23 Aug 2004(Mon)

Well, Brave Japan's run at the Olympic Games is over.

Looking at the cold facts, it wasn't much of a run actually, because they won only one game and lost two. (I'm talking about the women's team here, of course!)

But there is no doubt they have put Japan on the map in women's football with that sensational 1-0 victory over Sweden and battling display against the mighty Americans at Thessaloniki on Friday night.

Although they lost 2-1 to a very experienced United States team, Japan received much praise from the Americans, even before the game.

I could not go to Thessaloniki, as it is 500 kilometers north of Athens, but I was provided with a set of comments from American players and head coach April Heinrichs about the quarter-final.

Forward Abby Wambach, who scored the winning goal on Friday night, knew the result would no longer be a foregone conclusion. Their last three meetings had ended in a draw, the latest being a 1-1 result in Louisville, Kentucky, June 6.

"Japan might be the most underrated team in the tournament. We are going to have to bring our 'A' game," said Wambach.

"This is an awfully tough game for a top seed coming into the quarterfinals.

"They (Japan) are very tactical, very technical and very athletic. They shut us down in a lot of ways in that game and I feel we may have been lucky to pull off a tie. Knowing that, we just have to be prepared and come out ready to play."

The two teams have highly contrasting records in the Olympic Games.

The United States, ranked second in the world behind Germany in the latest FIFA rankings, won the first Olympic women's tournament on home turf in 1996, and took the silver medal in Sydney four years ago, losing the final to Norway.

Japan, ranked 13th by FIFA, lost all three games in Atlanta and failed to qualify for the 2000 Games.

Since then, though, the improvement under head coach Eiji Ueda has been dramatic, culminating in a 3-0 demoliton of the talented North Korean team in Tokyo in April to secure a berth for Athens.

The rise in quality had not gone unnoticed by United States head coach Heinrichs.

"Japan has proven itself a worthy opponent in every respect. The last couple times we have played them it has been close games," she said.

"They are athletic, technical, efficient, tactically gifted and playing with a lot of confidence."

So, the dream of a medal has died for another four years, but I am sure the women's game in Japan will enjoy a post-Olympic boost.

It deserves to, too.

ends

19 Aug 2004(Thu)

This time last week, football was the focus of the Olympic Games.

That's probably because it was the only sport in town--in several towns, in fact--as it kicked off two days before the opening ceremony on August 13.

But now?

The game seems a million miles away, not just 300 kilometers up the road in Volos, as more traditional Olympic sports grab the headlines, such as swimming and doping.

The Olympic schedule permitted me to attend both the Japan-Sweden women's game last Wednesday at Volos, and the men's game against Paraguay at Thessaloniki the following day.

Now they seem like ancient history, which is quite appropriate in this ancient capital of civilization.

Since then, the women went down 1-0 to Nigeria and the men lost 3-2 to Italy.

I didn't see any of the women's game on television--I was at the judo, watching Yawara-chan and Nomura win gold--but the main thing is that they qualified for the quarterfinals.

As for the men, the Italy match clashed with Kosuke Kitajima's gold medal in the men's 100-meter breaststroke, and when I returned to the office everyone was watching the football on TV. Japan were losing 3-1, and the match looked flat until Takamatsu scored his diving header and there was a brief fracas as the Italian goalkeeper kept hold of the ball to prevent a quick restart.

Olympic spirit? Fair play? Hey, this is football, the men's game at least, so why should they change their bad habits just for the Olympics?

I have spoken to a few Japanese journalists who attended the Italy game, and there was general surprise that Yamamoto-kantoku had started with a four-man defense, three volantes and three forwards.

And still there was no place for Ishikawa on the right wing or for the dynamic, dangerous Tanaka up front.

Since the euphoria of the Olympic qualifying tournament, there is no doubt the team has gone backwards, and the coach must be wondering where it all went wrong.

There has been little shape to the team, little motivation and even less confidence. In short, they were unrecognizable from the team that plays at home in front of 50,000 blue-shirted fans.

Now there is only pride to play for against Ghana at Volos on Wednesday night, and Yamamoto must lift his team, if nothing else for the fans who have paid so much money and traveled so far to watch this big anti-climax.

But I won't be there. Kitajima can complete his breaststroke double on the same evening, so football must take a back seat.

Well, just once every four years.

ends

16 Aug 2004(Mon)

Phew! It's hot out here!

It is now Friday afternoon, and the excitement is growing ahead of the opening ceremony.

For Japan, however, the Olympics have already started, and there were vastly contrasting moods at Volos on Wednesday and at Thessaloniki last night (was it only yesterday?)

First, Volos.

Did you watch the "Girls in Blue" (well, white and gray actually, as they wore the 'away' strip) beat Sweden 1-0?

It was a fantastic night, very proud if you're Japanese (or even English living in Japan).

They played with a lot of discipline, heart and skill to beat a very talented Swedish team, who, to me, all looked like members of the pop group Abba, although I am sure Abba at their peak was before most football fans in Japan were born!

Sweden's No. 10, the forward Hanna Ljungberg, is a very interesting player. Perugia once tried to sign her to play in Serie A, and, with her blue shirt and fantasista number, I was often reminded of Francesco Totti.

The biggest difference between the two players was that Hanna did not go round spitting on opponents, but Totti has much nicer hair.

Japan played so well that Hanna was substituted in the second half.

For Japan, I really admire Kobayashi on the left side of midfield. Her pass to release the inspirational Sawa in the first half was a real gem, struck with the outside of her right foot to slice open the Swedish defense.

Sawa could not finish, though, and I was worried at halftime that Japan might pay for their missed chances.

My fears proved groundless, and head coach Ueda, as well as the few hundred Japanese fans, lifted the players' concentration as they began to tire.

It was a great result for Japan, and JFA president Saburo Kawabuchi hugged the players after the game (what a lucky guy! I guess this is one of the perks of being president).

Kawabuchi-san also received a warm handshake from his beaming wife, which was a nice moment.

The next day I took the bus up to Thessaloniki, but what an anticlimax.

Nasu suffered from stage fright, and two schoolboy errors gave a tough and fast Paraguay two goals in the first half, enabling them to turn around 3-1 up.

Takamatsu justified his place in the starting lineup by winning two penalties, both of them converted by Ono, but honestly I thought the referee was very generous to award both spot-kicks.

At halftime, several of us, bewildered by the display, discussed the changes Yamamoto-kantoku might make. I thought it would be a good move to bring on the Otani-Arakawa combo up front, and maybe even Kobayashi on the left wing.

The coach changed only Nasu, sending on Matsui and moving a few players around to get a better balance.

The men's chances?

For me, Ishikawa must play on the right wing. He's so good he could almost get in the women's team. I'd have Tokunaga at right defense, alongside Tulio and Moniwa, and I'd also find room to play both Okubo and Tanaka, who are so dangerous.

It was a miserable night in Thessaloniki, after so many vibrant ones in Japan with the under-23s.

The Olympics will always be full of surprises, good and bad.

ends

12 Aug 2004(Thu)

I suppose it was inevitable that Shunsuke Nakamura would be named Asian Cup MVP.

After all, these awards almost always go to attacking players, don't they?

But, once again, I don't agree with it.

I feel Yuji Nakazawa should have been the MVP for a series of match-saving performances at the back and a couple of match-winning performances at the other end of the field.

But, just like in the J.League awards last season, Nakazawa was overlooked.

On that occasion, Reds striker Emerson was named MVP, and while I have no argument about his ability, I do question his attitude both on and off the pitch.

Nakazawa, on the other hand, is a marvellous advertisement for Japanese football.

He has had to work hard for his success, and only recently has he established himself in the national team.

He is a mood-maker and a leader, an inspirational figure both on the pitch and in the dressing room.

I wrote recently in this column that I fully expected Nakazawa to be the first Japanese defender to move overseas, and his displays in China can only have helped his cause. If, that is, he wants to play in Europe.

Defenders are valuable players, too, not just playmakers and forwards who score goals.

Of course Shunsuke is incredible, world-class in fact, with his left foot at dead-ball situations.

Who can ever forget his free kick past Barthez in the French goal at the 2003 Confederations Cup?

Steve Perryman, the former S-Pulse and Reysol manager, once said he thought that Nakamura could open a tin of beans with his left foot, and that statement highlights his amazing skill.

But in open play I still feel Shunsuke is lightweight, disappears for long spells and loses possession too much.

Shunsuke played a big part in Japan's success, especially early in the tournament, and I am not trying to take anything away from him, but I feel Nakazawa was the more consistent, more reliable, more dynamic player.

The people who matter never seem to agree with me, though!

ends

9 Aug 2004(Mon)

The Olympic Games?

Who cares? Not me for one.

Well, not at the moment anyway, even though I have been in Athens for a couple of days now.

The only thing on my mind is the Asian Cup final on Saturday night between Japan and China at the Workers' Stadium in Beijing.

More to the point, how I am going to watch it here in Greece.

The group games, and then the two knockout matches against Jordan and Bahrain, have been gripping viewing in Japan.

But how, or where, to watch the final, which kicks off here at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, as Greece is five hours behind China and six behind Japan.

A few minutes ago I received some encouraging news, that the final will be shown live on the EuroSport channel.

Better still, the commentary will be in Italian!

Isn't that wonderful: China against Japan from Beijing in Athens and in Italian, kicking off at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon, when all games in England used to kick off before television took over the fixture list.

News of EuroSport's screening came from an unlikely source...from a Chinese journalist!

I am writing this article from the Asahi Shimbun's plush office on the seventh floor of the Main Press Centre. In between the boxes of noodles, packs of paper for the printers and tangle of computer cables, I can see the Olympic Stadium out of the window, gleaming in the brilliant Mediteranean sunshine.

Next to our office is the People's Daily from China, and next to them the large team from Xinhua, China's official news agency!

I called in at both offices to ask about Saturday's final, but neither group would comment on the behaviour of the Chinese fans.

However, Xu Liqun, from the People's Daily, said she didn't think Beijing would be the same as Chongqing or Jinan.

"Beijing is the capital of China, and it's only a game no matter win or lose," she said.

I hope she's right, but I remember the Chinese fans rioting in Beijing in 1985 after Hong Kong had beaten China 2-1 in a qualifying match for the 1986 World Cup.

Whatever happens in the match, it should be interesting here on the seventh floor on Saturday afternoon.

I still remember watching the Japan-United States Olympic quarter-final on TV in Sydney four years ago, because I couldn't get a flight back from Adelaide the next day in time to report on the women's marathon.

I was annoyed when Hidetoshi Nakata (anyone remember him?) hit the post in the penalty shootout, and I heard Japanese media from other organisations cheering.

Is, or was, Nakata disliked that much by some people?

Or was it simply old baseball fans just happy that the football team had been eliminated?

There'll be none of that Saturday, when the nation unites behind the boys in blue.

Enjoy the game!

I will...if my Chinese source is correct and it's on EuroSport.

ends

5 Aug 2004(Thu)

So, the Real Madrid circus has come and gone for another year.

Did you manage to see one of their performances?

I use the word "performance" as opposed to "match" because this is what it feels like to me.

It's an occasion, a family outing, where the spectators wait to be entertained and marvel at the skills on display.

There's no tension like at a proper match, and the score is quickly forgotten because it is meaningless.

Real began by beating JEF United Ichihara, but not before Marquinhos had stunned the "galacticos" with a Roberto Carlos-style thunderbolt, but struck with his right foot.

Raul's goal was wonderful, chipping Kushino from the edge of the box after he had stumbled. Maybe this is why the JEF defence left him alone, thinking he could not be a danger when he was on the floor.

But Raul showed his elegant skills again, and proved that, no matter how many "galacticos" Real Madrid buy, they will never find anyone better than the local boy.

From Tokyo National Stadium the sparkling white circus moved to Ajinomoto Stadium, where Verdy were waiting to play host.

In came Zidane and Ronaldo, and the goals flowed.

Zidane's was surely the best of Real's seven goals on tour.

Isn't he an amazing player! He's so tall and strong, like a rugby player, but has the balance of a ballerina and the touch of a footballing god.

The pirouette he performed to unlock the Verdy defence looked better with each replay on the big screens, and goalkeeper Takagi must have felt like a bull facing a matador and waiting to be put out of his misery.

The match ended painfully for Zidane, though, when he was fouled heavily from behind by Hayashi.

Zidane was clearly angry by the challenge, hitting out at the Verdy midfielder, and was then in distress on the touchline as the team doctor ran around from the bench. A sad end for Zidane and his army of fans.

The last few days, though, highlighted just how much football is growing in Japan.

Reds-Inter, JEF United-Real Madrid, Japan's women against Canada, Japan under-23 against Venezuela, Verdy-Real Madrid, Antlers-Barcelona...the list goes on.

On Sunday night I caught my local train out of Gotanda. There were Antlers fans here, Barcelona fans there and Real Madrid fans everywhere. It was a great sight.

Now I hope these European football fans will support the Japanese players in the J.League, and not just wait for the circus to come to town next summer.

ends

2 Aug 2004(Mon)

Now that's more like it!

After five games without a win and three games without a goal, Japan's Olympic team burst into life at Tokyo's National Stadium on Friday night and crushed Venezuela 4-0.

Japan really needed a good performance and a few goals to boost confidence ahead of their Olympic opener against Paraguay on Aug. 12.

That's exactly what they produced, and the fact that all four goals were scored by forwards was even more good news for head coach Masakuni Yamamoto, whose "Young Blues" tore the South Americans apart in an exhilarating second-half display.

After being unable to secure the services of Naohiro Takahara to lead his forward line in Athens, Yamamoto, I believe, has taken a big gamble in entrusting the job to either Sota Hirayama or Daiki Takamatsu.

At least one of these would not have been in the squad had Takahara been available, so Yamamoto will be hoping they can repay his faith in them when they get to Athens.

Hirayama was unlucky not to score in the first half when his low shot struck the inside of the post and bounced out, but a few minutes later he should have buried a straightforward header at the back post, but directed it at the keeper.

When, in the 59th minute, he soared at the back post again to head powerfully into the net, the relief was almost visible. After all, it was his first goal for the Olympic team since a similar effort against Iran on his debut at Saitama on Feb. 8.

Okubo's goal was a cracker, controlling Matsui's clever pass with his right foot and then lashing it in with his left without breaking stride, and Tanaka gave Japan another dimension when introduced during the second half. He set up Takamatsu's diving header, and then scored the fourth himself with a crisp strike.

Just as importantly, Japan kept a clean sheet at the back against a robust and lively Venezuela national team.

The fans were, well, fan-tastic, and gave Japan a rousing send-off.

With Ono due to join up with them at the training camp in Germany next week, Yamamoto must be feeling much better than he did a week ago.

But it's important not to get carried away by Friday night's victory, as Paraguay, Italy and Ghana will be very tough and experienced opposition.

Japan will need to play at the same pace and intensity, and continue to take their chances, to get out of the group.

ends

29 Jul 2004(Thu)

You cannot fail to have heard the jeering from the Chinese fans against the Japanese players at the Asian Cup in Chongqing.

Against Thailand on Saturday night it was particularly vociferous, almost drowning out the sound of the national anthem before the game.

Whenever Thailand attacked, which wasn't often, the crowd went wild.

When Japan had possession, the crowd booed, willing a mistake.

All in all, though, this is good experience for the Japanese players, if not a particularly pleasant one.

The J.League is played in a very friendly environment, and the players rarely face any hostilty from the spectators, so this will help build character.

This is not the first time I have seen the Chinese fans behaving badly.

Shortly after I left England to work in Hong Kong in 1989, Verdy (then known as Yomiuri) went to Hong Kong to play the South China Athletic Association in an Asian Club Championship match.

The national stadium, which held only 28,000 before it was redeveloped, was packed, and the fans showed no mercy on the Japanese players, hurling abuse, as well as plastic bottles and other debris, at the bench.

I have also seen Chinese turn on Chinese, when I went to report on South China again, this time against Dalian in Liaoning province.

Although South China lost 1-0 on the night, they won through over the two legs.

The Dalian supporters were not happy with their rich, spoilt, southern cousins with the dyed brown hair and pop-star looks.

First they set fire to the stadium, with small fires burning rubbish all over the place after the final whistle, and then they pelted the minibuses taking the Hong Kong players back to the hotel.

In Hong Kong, the press were allowed to travel with the team, and I kept my head down as the missiles hit the windows. There were lines of police, but they did nothing to stop it.

The boss of the South China team had promised to take the players, and me, as his English guest, to a casino to celebrate the victory.

After returning to our seaside hotel, though, we were advised to stay in, as it would not be safe to be seen in town, with angry Dalian fans still roaming around.

So, when people refer to football hooliganism as "the English disease," I always call it "the Chinese disease."

The Japanese players are discovering this now.

ends

26 Jul 2004(Mon)

When the 2003-04 season ended in Europe, I really thought it was time Hidetoshi Nakata got out of Italy and moved to pastures new.

So when I heard he had signed for Fiorentina, I must admit to being very disappointed.

Although it is a new club for Nakata, and an interesting story surrounding Fiorentina's demise and rebirth, it means another season mired in Serie A mediocrity.

Yet more games in half-empty stadiums on a Sunday afternoon.

By all accounts, Nakata wanted to move to England, and specifically to London.

After six seasons in Italy--one and a half at Perugia, the same at Roma, two and a half at Parma and half a season at Bologna--he was ready for a change.

For some reason I imagined him joining Crystal Palace, newly promoted and needing a bit of star quality and top-flight experience.

Nakata would have given them this, as I feel his game is ideally suited to the demands of the English Premier League.

He has the physical strength and can play at a fast pace. He has the stamina and the vision. He can score goals, though not as many as he should be doing, and he can create them for his teammates.

He can also speak fluent English, so that would have helped him settle in.

So why didn't a move to England materialise?

Perhaps because English clubs can't make up their minds on Japanese players. After three years in England, one with Arsenal and two with Fulham, we still don't know whether Inamoto is a "hit" or a "miss".

Then there's the price.

Nakata would not have been too expensive regarding the transfer fee, but his salary is high and this may have put off potential buyers.

So, at 27 years old, Nakata has signed a three-year contract with Fiorentina, meaning he could stay in Italy until he retires.

I cannot see Nakata playing on much beyond that, as he has other interests outside the game and is smart enough to have prepared for his long-term future.

He's the kind of person who could walk away from the game tomorrow and not miss it.

Maybe now we will never see him in England, which is a great pity as I think he could have been a big success on the glamorous, colourful stage of the Premier League.

ends

22 Jul 2004(Thu)

It can't be long before the next Japanese player moves to Europe.

So far, all the exports have been midfielders or forwards.

Maybe the next one will be a defender, and it could well be Yuji Nakazawa.

The more I see Nakazawa, the more I feel he would be at home with a European club, and there has already been interest from Germany.

The first job of a defender, of course, is to defend.

Nakazawa does this well, in the air and on the ground. He has the perfect physique for a defender, tall but not ungainly.

He always looks very relaxed and comfortable on the ball, and uses his body well when defending. This is an aspect of play Philippe Troussier always encouraged from his players, to make their physical presence felt in every challenge.

Nakazawa has also looked very impressive going forward from his position on the left side of Zico's three-man defense.

He knows when to attack and when to stay back, and you never see him out of position and scrambling to get back as an opponent breaks down the right wing.

In the build-up to the 2002 World Cup, Troussier would often comment that Japanese defenders were just as tall and heavy as defenders from other countries, so it was a myth to describe the Japanese as being too small or too fragile to play in Europe.

Crucially, Nakazawa also has the outgoing personality to accompany his play. Marinos manager Takeshi Okada picked Nakazawa as his MVP last season, and said he had emerged as a natural leader during the team's two-stage slam.

If he continues his good form at the Asian Cup in China, Nakazawa may have the chance to move on, and make his mark as the first Japanese defender in Europe.

ends

19 Jul 2004(Mon)

It is no surprise that the unlucky Naohiro Takahara will not be going to Athens.

What is a surprise to me, though, is that the JFA waited so long in the build-up to the squad announcement Friday.

As a result, Japan will take only two over-age players in their 18-man party: Sogahata in goal and Shinji Ono in midfield.

I can't understand why the JFA dithered so long over Takahara.

Clearly the young man has a serious health problem, and I thought it would have been best for all concerned to rule him out of contention as soon as he was struck down by his second bout of deep vein thrombosis.

This was at the end of May, and I always thought it would be risky asking him to play in Athens, where it will be a very dry heat and difficult to catch your breath.

Had Takahara been fit, he would have been the perfect choice for Yamamoto-kantoku, because the team clearly lacked an attacking spearhead during the qualifying campaign.

Although Takamatsu did well when called on, I regard him as a player to come off the bench. The same can be said for Hirayama.

If Takahara had been fit, Yamamoto's three other forwards would probably have been Tanaka, Okubo and Takamatsu, with Hirayama missing out.

Now, Yamamoto is going to have to start with Takamatsu/Tanaka or Takamatsu/Okubo, with Hirayama ready to come on for a late aerial bombardment.

To be honest, I'm not sure if this attack is going to be strong enough.

When Takahara was struck down with his illness, I thought Yamamoto would have identified another forward. In this column before I have mentioned Takayuki Suzuki. I think he would have done a good job in this team as an experienced target man, although I would have hoped the JFA would tell him to show some Olympic spirit and stop diving in Athens.

As for the formation, I would be tempted to play 3-4-3, with no midfield playmaker but a forward line of Tanaka, Takamatsu and Okubo.

There is a lot of quality in defence and midfield, but I still think the team needed a new centre forward.

I think the JFA waited too long on Takahara, and should have been making alternative arrangements several weeks ago.

ends

15 Jul 2004(Thu)

Japan will be heading for China on Thursday with their confidence sky-high after winning the Kirin Cup at International Stadium Yokohama on Tuesday evening.

But it's not so much the winning of the three-nation tournament that impressed me, but more the way they beat Serbia and Montenegro 1-0.

Watching Japan's opponents, it was hard not to refer to them as Yugoslavia, especially with Dragan Stojkovic around as federation president.

The Yugoslavs were referred to as the Brazil of Europe due to the high level of their technical skills.

They were also very tall, very strong and, at times, very rough in their play.

This combination made them, and still makes them, formidable opposition, and teams need courage to come out on top.

Japan showed this Tuesday night.

They stood up to the physical test well, and did not allow Serbia and Montenegro too close to their own goal. As a result, much of Kawaguchi's work was to save long-distance shots.

I have to admit, though, I don't like the antics of Takayuki Suzuki.

I've always thought Suzuki was a diver--as well as a useful target man--and he annoyed the defenders by making the most of the slightest of contact when he had his back to goal.

Sometimes it was a free kick, sometimes it wasn't, but I still feel he is asking for trouble with this kind of behaviour.

A strict referee can show him the yellow card--this could be crucial in China during the Asian Cup--or a defender could hurt Suzuki seriously if he loses his temper due to the forward's style of play.

Maybe this was Suzuki's tactic against Serbia, as Japan's opponents are well known for losing their cool. This is why Stojkovic received so many yellow and red cards during his J.League days. Great skill, but a flawed temperament.

Toward the end of the game, Serbia's libero, Petkovic, fouled Yanagisawa from behind up Japan's left wing. Full credit to Yanagisawa for playing on, before Petkovic was shown the yellow card.

Congratulations, then, to Japan for passing such a difficult test.

Let's hope they maintain this concentration and determination against Asian rivals, and do not show their opponents in China a lack of respect.

ends

12 Jul 2004(Mon)

Every cloud has a silver lining.

This was the case for Japan in their Kirin Cup match against Slovakia at Hiroshima Big Arch on Friday night.

Zico's initial squad lacked several experienced players, such as Hidetoshi Nakata, Inamoto, Ono and Takahara.

Then, when Tatsuhiko Kubo pulled out injured, it looked like Japan might struggle for goals.

Against Slovakia, they proved this to be wrong, scoring three times, two of them from forwards. So things are never as bad as they seem to be.

Japan's first goal was a trademark strike from midfielder Fukunishi, who is an expert at set-pieces. Everyone in the J.League knows that Fukunishi must be marked closely at corners and free kicks, because he is deadly with his head at near-post situations.

Slovakia cannot have done their homework, as Fukunishi was left unmarked to head home Shunsuke's corner. It was a very easy goal for Fukunishi, and will have given him even more confidence as he fills in for the unavailable Inamoto and Ono in the midfield engine room.

Nakamura was also behind Japan's second goal, opening up the Slovakia defense with a delicate pass into the path of Suzuki, who finished in style with his right foot.

Again, Suzuki got his chance because Kubo was injured, and gave Zico his reward.

Japan's third goal really brought a smile to the face of Zico, as it was scored by his former Antlers player Yanagisawa.

Although it was something of a comedy, there was no denying the tenacity and the determination of Yanagisawa.

Pressure in midfield from Atsu Miura prompted a wayward back-pass from Slovakia, and the goalkeeper then committed a schoolboy error by trying to dribble round Yanagisawa.

The Messina man stuck to his task, though, watched the ball and came away with it, before stroking it into the empty net.

Yanagi has scored some excellent goals for Japan. This was not one of them, but it is in the record book like the others and was just what he needed after a frustrating season with Sampdoria.

Goals from Fukunishi, Suzuki and Yanagisawa...that was the silver lining for Japan, as Zico's squad grows in confidence and the coach learns more about his players as he goes along.

Maybe the "key" men are not as important as we think.

ends

8 Jul 2004(Thu)

There was a very "American" feel to the J.League when it kicked off in 1993.

Golden goals, penalty shoot-outs, no drawn matches....and, of course, an All-Star game.

Over the years, the J.League has dropped most of the gimmicks, and the game in general here is all the better for these changes.

Next season, for example, we will have an 18-team first division and a one-stage championship rather than the two-stage version.

With the normal points system already in place, three for a win and one for a draw, the 2005 J.League season will look just like any other in the mainstream football world.

So congratulations to the J.League for adapting the format to cater for the growing number of true football fans in Japan.

I wonder what the next thing to go will be?

Personally, and this may surprise many fans, I would scrap the annual All-Star game.

I find this a very alien concept in the football world, with little meaning or significance.

I watched Saturday's game from Niigata on television, and thought it was dull, despite the 3-3 draw.

I'm sure the players would have preferred a weekend off at the end of the first stage, and I'm sure the national coaches would have preferred the players to rest, too.

Several Olympians were in action, including the MVP Ishikawa. I wonder what Yamamoto-kantoku would have been thinking when Ishikawa, Tanaka, Tulio, Konno etc. were involved in physical contact. I'm sure he must have been grimacing, as an injury to a key player at this time in such a meaningless match would have been annoying to say the least.

Same with the national team players.

After the Antlers-Jubilo game recently at Kashima, I chatted with Toshiya Fujita and he said he was only 70 percent fit. With the Kirin Cup and Asian Cup around the corner, I was surprised to see Toshiya playing at the Big Swan.

There again, the guy has a big heart, and probably did not want to let down his fans. Even at Kashima, after Jubilo had lost in injury time, he still found time to sign autographs for Antlers fans outside the stadium.

Although the J.League, as usual, staged a spectacular event, and attracted high-profile sponsors and a big crowd, I can't help thinking that the All-Star game is one game too many in a crowded season.

ends

5 Jul 2004(Mon)

It's a difficult job being a national coach, for many reasons.

One of them is that you have to build a trusting relationship with the clubs who supply their highly-paid players to the national squad.

Take the case this week of Tatsuhiko Kubo.

Clearly the guy is injured, yet Zico still picks him for the Kirin Cup.

I just can't understand why he did so, after the Yokohama F Marinos asked the JFA to leave him out and rest his troublesome right knee.

Marinos officials were surprised and unhappy when they were informed, Thursday morning, of Kubo's selection.

Even though Zico has said he will not pick Kubo in his starting eleven in the Kirin Cup if he is not fit, I still think he should have left him alone for a couple of weeks.

Ever since Japan's 7-0 World Cup qualifying victory over India on June 9, Marinos manager Takeshi Okada has been saying that Kubo needed at least two weeks' rest, possibly three, at the end of the first stage of the championship.

Okada even said the club would not allow Kubo to play in the Asian Cup in China if he was not 100 percent fit.

Surely the right thing to do by Zico was just to grant Marinos' wishes and give Kubo a short break.

After all, the Kirin Cup is only two friendly matches, against Slovakia (ranked 61st in the world, alongside Thailand) on July 9 and Serbia-Montenegro (44th, but still very dangerous) on July 13.

There are four more forwards in the squad, including the 2002 World Cup tandem of Suzuki and Yanagisawa, as well as the delightfully skilfull and elegant left-footer, Keiji Tamada. Another lively player is Masashi Motoyama, so Zico still has plenty of interesting choices and combinations.

The word from the Marinos is that Kubo will withdraw from the squad anyway. The players are due to meet up Sunday evening in Hiroshima and start training Monday morning.

Presumably, Kubo will have to attend and provide medical support that he is not fit enough to play, but to me the more logical thing would have been to let him stay in his hometown in Fukuoka with his wife, who is expecting their second child around July 7.

Zico knows he can rely on Kubo to produce the goods, as the former Sanfrecce forward has been scoring some crucial goals for his country in recent games.

I don't see how his selection benefits anyone: Zico, Kubo or the Marinos.

ends

1 Jul 2004(Thu)

The Sanfrecce Hiroshima fans were going crazy, waving Brazilian flags and singing "Sampaio, Sampaio."

And this was only in the car park, long after the match at Jubilo Iwata had finished on Saturday afternoon.

The man himself, Cesar Sampaio, waved humbly to the fans one last time, climbed into the waiting taxi and was driven off into the sunset.

The J.League had lost one of its best servants.

Sampaio, now 36, had just played his 156th J1 game, and his last.

Age had caught up with the midfield master, and he no longer had the pace or the stamina to keep up with the high-speed J.League.

"The first half was okay," Sampaio said after the game.

"But in the second half I was running and running but I could not touch the ball."

That was a typically honest admission from an honest man and football player.

Throughout his career in Japan, first with Yokohama Flugels, then Kashiwa Reysol and finally Sanfrecce, I have found Sampaio a true gentleman to deal with.

I first met him in Thailand in 1995, when Flugels were playing the Thai Farmers Bank in an Asian Football Confederation event.

He had just arrived at the club, along with 1994 World Cup-winning midfielder Zinho, plus the tall centre forward Evair. Flugels had paid some US$ 10 million to sign the trio....no wonder the club went bust a few years later!

Sampaio was the classic defensive midfield player. He conserved his energy, used his brain, broke up opposition attacks with a well-timed tackle, and then launched a counter-attack with a short, clever pass.

There was nothing fancy or spectacular about his game. He just did the basics, and did them very well. He made the game look easy.

The Sanfrecce fans thanked him for last season's efforts in winning promotion. They had a huge banner at Yamaha Stadium reading "Obrigado" (Portuguese for thank you) and several waved the green and canary yellow Brazilian flags. After the game, Sampaio was overcome with emotion at the generosity of the Sanfrecce fans.

Sanfrecce manager Takeshi Ono says Japanese youngsters can learn from Sampaio on and off the pitch, during a game, during training and from his disciplined lifestyle. He was the perfect professional, according to Ono.

"His contribution is beyond description," he said.

Sampaio has been a great success in Japan, not only for his teams but also for his Brazilian nation.

Obrigado!

ends

28 Jun 2004(Mon)

This time last year, Masaaki Yanagishita was in the thick of the championship race as manager of Jubilo Iwata.

On Wednesday he was on the bench at Todoroki Stadium, watching his Consadole Sapporo team being taken apart 6-0 by the high-flying Kawasaki Frontale.

I have always been impressed with the Sapporo fans, and there were around 400 of them there Wednesday in the distinctive red and black colours.

Even as the six goals went flying into their net, the Sapporo fans continued to cheer for their struggling team.

When the final whistle blew, the two sets of players walked over to their respective fans for the customary post-match bow, but nobody was quite ready for what happened next at the visiting end.

Several of the Sapporo fans were waving away their players, angry with their second-half capitulation.

Then a plastic water bottle was thrown from the stand.

The Sapporo players were not put off by the reaction of their fans, and walked right up to the fence separating the stand from the running track.

Suddenly, a fan jumped over the fence and aimed a kung-fu kick at one of the players, in true Eric Cantona-style.

Five or six other fans followed the leader over the fence, and security guards moved in to stop the scuffles. Yanagishita also went over to try to calm things down.

Many people were in a state of shock, none more so than the Sapporo players.

I wonder what will happen now?

Will Consadole face punishment for failing to control their own supporters? Perhaps being forced to play a home game behind closed doors?

Will the fans, if identified, be banned from watching their team for the rest of the season?

Will Frontale be in trouble for failing to provide adequate security for the away fans?

The report of the match commissioner, Kunio Namba, could be crucial in the J.League investigation.

Considering the important role Consadole has in representing Hokkaido in the J.League, I think a severe warning would be appropriate.

The club could always issue its own bans on the fans who took their protests a little too far.

But whatever happens, the message from the fans will have got through to the players, who are at the bottom of the table with only nine points.

Perhaps this incident could be a turning point for the team, and something positive could come out of it after all.

ends

24 Jun 2004(Thu)

With a two-point lead and a home game to come, Yokohama F Marinos must surely be the favourites to win the first stage.

That's the logical thought process going into Saturday's 15th and final round of games.

But last season's dramatic finish to the second stage proved once again that anything can happen in the football world.

Personally, I think the first stage is far from finished.

Marinos have 33 points and are at home to Kashima Antlers.

Jubilo have 31 and are at home to Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

With all respect to Takeshi Ono and his "Three Arrows," which team would you prefer to face?

If Marinos win, they will be untouchable on 36 points.

If they draw to move on to 34 points, a Jubilo victory would also give them 34 points...and the first-stage title because of their better goal difference.

It should be a tense day, because both Marinos and Jubilo know they must win.

Last Saturday I went to Kashima, and there was an air of gloom and despair outside the Jubilo dressing room after their injury-time defeat.

In the evening, things got worse for Jubilo when Marinos won 2-1 at Kashiwanoha to take over pole position.

But now the Jubilo players have had a few days to refocus, I am sure they will be fully motivated to beat Sanfrecce on Saturday.

They discovered last weekend that Antlers will yield to nobody, even though they are not in the race themselves.

Antlers are a proud and determined club. They did not want to see Jubilo celebrating a victory at Kashima Stadium on Saturday, and they won't want to lose to Marinos and then have to witness title celebrations which are not theirs.

Marinos manager Takeshi Okada said this week: "It will not be an easy game because Antlers is a very good team with good motivation.

"But also our team has good motivation, good condition and good combination. Maybe we will play well."

They will have to play well, as there could still be one final twist to the tale.

end

21 Jun 2004(Mon)

The current problems within Ｊapanese baseball serve as a timely reminder for Ｊ.League clubs in the way they run their business.

Quite simply, clubs Ｊust can't keep on spending billions of yen if they are not bringing it in. It's basic economic sense, but too often in professional sport around the world this concept is ignored.

On some occasions it can lead to ruin, for example the Yokohama Flugels.

Those were dark days for the Ｊ.League, and I am sure many people within "Old Ｊapan" (meaning the baseball world) were predicting the beginning of the end for professional football.

But clubs tightened their belts, stopped paying ridiculous salaries to foreign players and tried to bring on more young players from within their own youth and Ｊunior youth teams.

This is not to say that some clubs don't continue to live beyond their means...spending far more than they earn...but it's nowhere near the 4 billion yen losses chalked up every year by the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes.

Ｊ.League chairman Masaru Suzuki says "almost" all clubs now understand the importance of balancing the books.

Back in England, I grew up as a Halifax Town fan. This was my hometown, near Leeds in the north of England.

Halifax Town was formed in 1911, and is now in the Conference (England's fifth division after the Premiership, first, second and third divisions).

A home attendance of 2,000 was a good day, and crowds often fell below 1,000, even when my team was still in the Football League third division.

Not a lot of money was coming in, so not a lot went out. Once every two years or so they would find a good player, develop him and sell him to a bigger club, and this money would help to keep Halifax Town running for another two years.

The Ｊ.League occasionally has seminars with marketing people from top Premiership clubs. Sometimes I think it would be a good idea to invite someone from a small club such as Halifax Town, and they can inform Ｊ.League clubs of how to survive on a low income and low fan support.

The signs are good for the Ｊ.League, though, with four new teams applying to Ｊoin for next season. Two of them will be invited into Ｊ2, as Ｊ1 will expand from 16 to 18 teams in 2005.

But the baseball problems should serve as a warning to keep the books balanced.

ends

17 Jun 2004(Thu)

A few weeks ago, Olympic team coach Masakuni Yamamoto was in an enviable position.

Japan's under-23s had just qualified for their third consecutive Olympics, and Yamamoto was given first choice of the three overage players he wanted for Athens.

After much thought and analysis, Yamamoto decided on Sogahata in goal, Ono in midfield and Takahara up front.

Up until now, only Sogahata has been given clearance to play.

The JFA is still waiting to hear from Feyenoord about the availability of Ono, and Takahara has been struck down again with the ailment which cost him his place in the 2002 World Cup.

It's understandable why Feyenoord are not keen to release Ono.

First, the Olympics is not a big priority in Europe. Second, Ono is one of the team's best players, and the 2004-05 Dutch season starts during the Olympics.

Ono may be appointed captain next season, and new manager Ruud Gullit wants him for the preseason build-up.

Takahara has still not been ruled out of the Olympics. He is back in Japan, and if the JFA medical team declares him fit, officials are confident his club, Hamburger SV, will allow him to play in Athens.

So Yamamoto must still wait, and wonder which players will be available, when he would have liked all this cleared up by now.

If Ono and Taka are not available, Yamamoto looks set to go with only one overage player: Sogahata.

Apparently, he has not asked the JFA and Zico for any other senior players, who will be on duty at the Asian Cup in China, starting July 17.

If this is the case, it's a bold move by Yamamoto, and the "Young Blues" must raise their game to repay the faith in the coach's decision.

Looking back on Japan's qualifying campaign, I thought the three weak areas were goalkeeper, left side of midfield and centre forward.

Was Yamamoto going to play Ono on the left, in defensive midfield alongside, presumably, Konno, or as attacking midfielder, behind the two strikers?

Perhaps we'll never know now.

ends

14 Jun 2004(Mon)

There's just no stopping Tatsuhiko Kubo at the moment.

Well, there is actually: an injury to his right knee.

The injury has come at a bad time for Kubo, just as he begins to estabish himself as Japan's most reliable striker.

He scored a wonderful goal against India on Wednesday night, meeting Alex's delicately-flighted pass with an exquisite left-foot volley from near the penalty spot.

Then his soaring back-post header gave Fukunishi the chance to make it 2-0, and Kubo was fouled to earn the free kick from which Nakamura curled home the third.

Zico took him off at half-time, though, to protect the knee.

Still, Kubo will not be in the Marinos starting lineup at Kobe on Saturday.

After Friday's training at Totsuka, near Yokohama, manager Okada said he may put Kubo on the bench, but would prefer not to use him at all.

The club doctor had told Okada that rest was Kubo's only cure, but the first stage had two weeks still to run. After that, the doctor said, Kubo would need two or three weeks' rest.

Kubo has really developed and matured under Okada.

I always remember him as a raw talent at Sanfrecce. He was wild and unpredictable, which made him difficult to mark.

Now he is beginning to look like the finished product, the complete centre forward who can score goals in the air and on the ground, and can create them for his teammates, too.

Troussier gave Kubo several chances, admittedly rarely for long, and waited for him to win his place in the 2002 World Cup squad. Kubo wasn't quite there, though, and Troussier selected Nishizawa instead.

The turning point for Kubo came with his two goals against China in the East Asian Championship last December, and since then he has gone to score against Oman (what a priceless goal that may turn out to be), Hungary, Czech Republic, Iceland (2) and now India.

That's eight goals for Japan in his last 11 games, which is an excellent strike rate against some strong opponents.

Zico will need Kubo to plunder the Asian defenses at the Asian Cup in China next month, so hopefully the right knee will be healed.

ends

10 Jun 2004(Thu)

Zico has called up some interesting new faces during his time as national coach.

At the back, his selection of Tsuboi has been a good move.

On the right side of midfield, Kaji is a dynamic addition to the team.

Up front, the silky skills and elegant left foot of Tamada are a joy to watch.

Another smart move by Zico has been to recall one of my favourite Japanese players, Koji Nakata, despite his recent return from a long injury absence.

Wednesday's match against India has probably come a month too soon for Koji to be considered a starting member, so Inamoto's position goes to Fukunishi, who is so deadly in the air at the near post from corners and free kicks.

Nevertheless, it's good that Zico gets Koji involved again quickly, as he still has a long future ahead of him.

When Zico took over after the 2002 World Cup, I thought Koji was grossly under-used by the new coach as he attempted to field his so-called "golden quartet" in midfield.

Koji brings balance, shape and direction to the team, qualities which were lacking when Japan's "all-star" midfield resembled Shibuya station at 11 o'clock on a Friday night...people running everywhere from all directions.

I haven't seen an Antlers game since Koji returned to the lineup--sorry Kashima fans, I'm only watching the big teams like JEF United and Verdy these days--so I was quite surprised by his appearance in the flesh, so to speak.

He looked bigger and bulkier, results probably of swimming and weight training as he waited for his knee to recover.

My first feeling was that Troussier would have loved this new-look Nakata on the left side of defense, with a bit more power and more muscle.

I cannot confirm that Koji has gained weight, and maybe he hasn't, as he is listed at 74kg by the JFA, the same as in the J.League handbook at the start of the season.

But he certainly looks to have, and this is not a bad thing in the modern game.

Koji looked right at home playing for the reserve team against a schoolboy side in a practice match Monday, especially with Ogasawara and Motoyama alongside him in midfield, and Antlers Old Boys Yanagisawa and Suzuki ahead.

It won't be long before he's back in the first team, where his experience and quiet authority can only benefit Zico's squad.

ends

7 Jun 2004(Mon)

Zico has been in charge of the national team for almost two years, and recent results in Europe are very encouraging.

I wonder why?

Personally, I think it's because he has been forced to abandon his "golden quartet" midfield and has opted to change his defensive strategy.

With a 3-5-2 formation, a system used by Takeshi Okada at France 98 and by Philippe Troussier from 1998 to 2002, the team has more balance, more organization and more confidence.

Under Zico's 4-4-2, he had defenders who could not defend, and a jumble in midfield which confused Japan's own players rather than the opposition.

Here's a few benefits of 3-5-2.

1) By playing three central defenders instead of two, Zico can actually pick Japan's best defender: Nakazawa. With 4-4-2, Zico preferred Tsuboi and Miyamoto.

2) Alex is no longer at left full-back, where his defensive deficiencies were highlighted and his natural attacking instincts were inhibited.

3) With a five-man midfield, the team has much better shape, with Kaji on the right, Alex on the left, Ono and Inamoto in the middle, and Nakamura as the playmaker. The injury to Inamoto is very cruel for the player, and came at a delicate stage of his career.

4) The two forwards, Kubo and Tamada, are match-fit, because they play every week in the J.League rather than sit on the bench in Europe. Zico has learned from this, too. Against England, eight starting members were from the J.League.

5) Only one player, Nakamura, has some freedom, within the structure of the team.

In other words, I think Zico's team is now almost the same as Troussier's, with three at the back, five across midfield and two up front.

Of course the defense is not a "flat three" relying heavily on offside and synchronisation. It is more like Okada's back three, with a libero (Miyamoto/Ihara) and two stoppers (Nakazawa/Akita and Tsuboi/Nakanishi). Personally, I prefer this style of back three, rather than the risky "flat three."

Overall, I am much more optimistic about the national team after the two European tours.

Provided, of course, that Zico has learned his lessons?

I still don't know, because it would not surprise me at all if he returned to 4-4-2 when Hidetoshi Nakata is available again.

I think that would be a massive mistake.

ends

3 Jun 2004(Thu)

No wonder FC Tokyo are producing so many good, young defenders.

All they have to do is watch and copy the Brazilian master alongside them, Jean Carlo Witte.

Coach Hara can teach them everything he knows on the training field, but when it comes down to the heat of battle, Jean is both a warrior and a leader.

Jean joined the club in February 2002, and I have never seen him have a bad game.

But because he is a robust defender rather than a creative midfielder or goal-scoring forward, he does not get the attention he deserves.

There is absolutely no doubt, though, that he is one of the best and most consistent overseas players in Japan.

On Saturday I made the trek out to Kashiwanoha Stadium, to watch the Reysol-Tokyo Nabisco Cup game.

Tokyo did not have Doi in goal or Kaji at right-back, or on the bench, because of national team commitments, but neither was missed against a weak Reysol attack without Tamada for the same reasons.

Tokyo still had Tokunaga at right-back, and Moniwa alongside Jean in the heart of the defense, with Kanazawa out on the left to give the team balance. I always remembered him as a midfield player for Jubilo, but he has adapted well to his defensive duties at Tokyo.

Maybe this is the Jean influence as well.

For me, the first job of a defender is to defend, not to attack (Alex Santos comes to mind here).

And, boy, can Jean defend!

He's strong in the air, scoring Tokyo's opener with a crisp, well-directed header to a Baba free kick, fearless in the tackle and always chooses the right option when in possession.

Sometimes he has the time and the space to play the ball out of defense, and on others a simple clearance is all that is required.

It might not look pretty, but he's a no-risk, no-frills kind of player.

Too often I see Japanese players attempt a back-heel pass or a nonchalant flick in a dangerous area with the score at 0-0, but Jean's play is about discipline and about playing the percentages.

He is not the quickest central defender, but he reads the game well and covers his ground. I noticed a couple of times on Saturday that a player might be able to get past him once, but not twice.

On Saturday, in the absence of Doi, Jean was captain...as well as player, coach, goal-scorer and professor!

ends

30 May 2004(Sun)

After Wednesday's 1-1 draw against the Turkish Select team, Japan's under-23s have just one more match to prove themselves before Yamamoto-kantoku brings in the overage players.

That last test will be against Mali's Olympic team at Sapporo Dome on Tuesday night.

By now, I'm sure all fans will have their own ideas as to which positions need strengthening in the lineup.

My personal choices would be goalkeeper, left side of midfield and centre forward, or "post player" as you say in Japanese.

I hear that Sogahata has been lined up for the goalkeeper position. That would be a good choice, as would Narazaki, Doi, Takagi, Kushino or almost any J1 keeper who is playing every week. A more experienced and commanding keeper would take some of the pressure off Tulio in terms of communication and organisation.

As for the left side of midfield, Koji Morisaki has emerged as Yamamoto's favourite among the under-23s, but Nemoto and Komano are still in the picture.

While Morisaki is a very tidy and composed player, with a sweet left foot, I still think the team needs more drive and dynamism down that flank.

My choice would be Alex Santos, played in his proper position, as an attacker rather than as a defender.

Japan's right side is very strong, with Tokunaga and Ishikawa, but the left lacks punch.

On Wednesday, Yamamoto used five forwards during the game.

Tanaka, the Reds fireball, was missing with injury, so Yamamoto started with Okubo and Takamatsu.

Hirayama replaced Takamatsu early in the second half, and so nearly scored the winning goal deep into injury time.

Sakata came on for Matsui at the same time, and finally Maeda, who I regard more as a forward than an attacking midfielder, replaced Okubo with 19 minutes to go.

I don't think Takamatsu, Hirayama or Sakata are up to the job of leading the line in Athens, so I would like to see Takahara brought in, or maybe even Takayuki Suzuki to provide the attack with a central focus.

Yamamoto may still pick Hirayama with a view to the future, but clearly he is not ready for a place in the starting lineup in Athens, where the opposition will be much stronger than Bahrain, Lebanon and the UAE.

ends

27 May 2004(Thu)

When asked for his comments on a certain individual, Philippe Troussier would always reply: "Yes, he's a very interesting player."

And that was before Troussier had come into contact with a certain Yoshito Okubo.

The Cerezo Osaka forward is, indeed, a very interesting player.

I like to study him during games, although I am not as fanatical as the female Cerezo Osaka fan who was sitting near me at Ichihara Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

With her pink "Okubo 10" shirt, she moved around the grandstand with her camera to get a better angle to photograph her young hero.

At the beginning of the match she was sitting right in front of me, but she quickly moved. At first I thought it was my after-shave lotion, but then I realized she was on "Yoshito Patrol."

After the game I spoke with Cerezo's Croatian coach, Albert Pobor, who described Okubo as "an excellent talent."

He said Okubo should leave for Europe, where he could play at any level and not just sit on the bench like so many of his fellow Japanese exports.

Pobor even said he thought Okubo was a more talented player than Hidetoshi Nakata.

"Nakata is another big player, a great player, but I think Okubo is a bigger talent than Nakata," said the Cerezo manager. "He's very fast, has good technique, he's young...he's got everything."

Very interesting, indeed.

Personally, while admiring Okubo's talent and single-mindedness in front of goal, I think he still has a lot to learn from Nakata about how to conduct himself on and off the pitch.

Nakata is composed, focused and plays with discipline. Okubo looks to have calmed down a lot since last season, which is a good thing, but at the same time you don't want him to lose his fire and his passion.

Just as long as it's channelled in the right direction.

At one point during Saturday's match at Ichihara, Okubo, having failed to get past his marker, Sakamoto, on the right wing, but having still won a corner, he threw the ball angrily at the corner flag. (Or maybe he was aiming for the linesman!)

That reaction is fine (throwing the ball at the corner flag I mean), as it showed he cared and it showed his winning spirit.

Nakata made the perfect move from Japan, to modest Perugia, where he was easily good enough to get in the team, so let's see what happens to Okubo after the Olympic Games.

As Troussier would have said, "Okubo....yes, he's a very interesting player."

But more talented than Nakata?

We'll have to wait and see.

ends

24 May 2004(Mon)

A new manager who knew his players well, a new centre forward with international experience, and two new Brazilian imports....2004 was supposed to be a renaissance year for Kashiwa Reysol.

But after 10 games of the first stage, Reysol are 16th and last in the first division with only seven points.

Six of those came from wins in the first two games, but since then they have collected just one point from a possible 24, from a 1-1 draw in the Chiba derby at Ichihara.

I must admit I'm very surprised by Reysol's plight.

I saw them in the preseason Chiba Bank Cup, when they demolished JEF United at Hitachi Stadium. They looked fit, hungry and full of goals.

But an injury to new centre forward Yamashita has held them back, and they have scored only seven goals in 10 league games.

Perhaps the demise of Reysol is reflected in the performance of Dudu, a much-heralded winter signing after his starring role for Brazil's under-20 team at the World Youth Championship in the UAE last December.

A tall, elegant and powerful defensive midfielder, Dudu, now 21, earned comparisons with the great Socrates.

Older readers will remember Brazil's "four golden men" at the 1982 World Cup: the midfield quartet of Zico, Socrates, Falcao and Toninho Cerezo.

Dudu, indeed, simply oozes class.

But his problem, according to the player himself and manager Ikeya, is that he is finding the pace of the game too fast in Japan.

Dudu, like all class players, likes to hold the ball in midfield, and stroke passes like an artist uses his paint brush, with an extravagant sweep.

But he is getting caught in possession, and is not fitting into the team pattern.

When Reysol left for Hiroshima on Friday, Dudu stayed at home, not even among the substitutes.

Despite Reysol's early problems, I cannot see them staying down at the bottom of the table. They have too many good players to be in trouble, so should be able to pull themselves into mid-table by the end of the first stage.

I still think Reysol can have a good season overall.

ends

20 May 2004(Thu)

Urawa Reds managers have not had too much luck with their overseas signings recently.

Reds fans never saw the best of Ned Zelic, and now the career of Russian "Rolls-Royce" Yuri Nikiforov looks to be over.

Manager Guido Buchwald fears the worst--that Nikiforov is finished--as the player attempts to get fit back home in the Netherlands after pre-season knee surgery.

So finding a new, commanding central defender is Buchwald's priority before the second stage of the season starts in mid-August.

Visitors to the Reds-JEF United match at Komaba on Saturday can see why Buchwald is so keen to bring in an experienced defender.

JEF looked to have the game won at half-time, leading 2-0.

Marquinhos scored the first with a sharp header at a corner from the left by Abe.

Shortly after, Marquinhos showed his quality again by holding off Tulio and then passing to his right, where Sandro was completely unmarked. Sandro applied a subtle finish, and JEF were 2-0 up inside the half-hour mark.

Worse was to come for Urawa, as Hasebe limped off before half-time, followed by Emerson four minutes into the second half.

JEF manager Ivica Osim said his players stopped playing at this point, as they thought they were home and dry.

The visitors paid the price.

Nagai pulled one back at a goalmouth scramble, and Tulio scored the equalizer from the penalty spot after Chano had brought down Alex. I can't understand why Chano made his challenge, as Alex went round him on the outside but the ball was on his right foot.

I don't think Alex could have made much use of the ball in that position, but still Chano threw himself into the tackle and gave away the penalty. Alex celebrated the award as if he'd scored a winning goal.

Call me a naive Englishman who cherishes fair play, but I don't like to see a player celebrating the award of a penalty. It looks as if this was their aim, rather than to actually score a goal!

Now completely unsettled, JEF conceded a third when more hesitant defending let in "Ya-jin" for his first league goal back in the red shirt.

Just as Urawa looked to have won 3-2, Suzuki brought down Yamagishi--he thought outside the box, the ref said it was inside--and the cool Abe made it 3-3 from the spot.

There is no doubt Reds have the firepower to challenge for the championship, but Buchwald knows he needs a new defender to stop the goals at the other end.

ends

17 May 2004(Mon)

You can't help but feel a little sorry at the moment for Junichi Inamoto.

Is he staying at Fulham, or is he leaving?

His future has been in doubt for several months now, as his loan deal from Gamba Osaka ends at the end of June.

Fulham will not pay the kind of money Gamba want for him to make the deal permanent, but the London club would like to keep him as he has proved himself to be a useful squad member.

So will Gamba allow Fulham to sign him once and for all at a bargain price?

For the sake of the player, I hope that Gamba will agree to sell Inamoto at a reasonable price, even if it is well below the $4 million fee which the clubs are understood to have agreed two years ago.

Times have changed a lot since then.

Inamoto, having spent a barren year at Arsenal, had exploded at the 2002 World Cup, scoring against Belgium and Russia to help Japan into the last 16.

He was hot property, he wanted to stay in London, despite his Arsenal experience, so Fulham was the perfect move.

After one season, Fulham were still not sure of his ability, so arranged a second season on loan from Gamba.

The transfer market has changed since 2002, though, especially at Fulham, who have been drawing some of the smallest crowds in the Premier League to their temporary home at Loftus Road.

One week we hear that Inamoto is finished at Fulham, and he'll be looking for another club.

The next we hear that a permanent deal is still possible.

This is why I feel sorry for Ina.

It must be very difficult for him to concentrate on his game with all this going on in the background.

He must feel under pressure every time he enters the pitch, as if he has to prove his value with every touch of the ball.

Hopefully, Gamba and Fulham can strike a deal, and Ina can sign, for example, a three-year contract.

A fee of around one million pounds, or $1.6 million, is a good deal for both parties.

For a player with so much international experience, and who is a good, honest professional, willing to learn and to play for the team, that fee is good business for Fulham.

Gamba, too, must accept that Ina does not want to come back to Japan, so that amount of money can help balance the books.

Once this messy issue is settled, maybe we will see the best of Ina again.

ends

13 May 2004(Thu)

The other day, I was surprised to read comments by Takeshi Okada after his Yokohama F Marinos had beaten Binh Dinh of Vietnam 6-0 in the Asian Champions League.

Oka-chan said his players lacked the killer instinct, and that they should have won by at least 10 goals.
This seemed strange to me, even a bit harsh, as 6-0 at home is not a bad result.

A few days later, I appreciate what Oka-chan was talking about.

Marinos' chief rivals in the Asian Champions League group, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, beat Persik Kediri 15-0 on Tuesday night!

That's right: Fifteen, or one goal every six minutes!

Marinos' chances of finishing top of the four-team group and qualifying for the quarterfinals now look slim, as the Koreans have a much better goal difference with only one game to play.

So what's the problem with Japanese players scoring goals?

A general observation is that they simply do not shoot enough.

There are many times in most games I watch when a player has the opportunity to shoot, but instead he will cross, or play a short pass to a teammate and the move breaks down on the edge of the box.

Japanese players must not be afraid of shooting. Or, rather, they must not be afraid of missing.

Just watch the world's best strikers on television. If they miss a chance, which they all do, of course, because no player is perfect, do they shy away from shooting the next time?

No they don't. They don't care about missing. They forget it instantly, and concentrate only on the next chance.

Maybe the list of leading scorers in J1 is evidence of this right now.

Emerson leads the way with 11 goals (40 shots), followed by Rodrigo Gral with eight (29) and Ueslei with five (46).

Six players have four goals: Ogasawara, Sandro, Araujo, Marques, Magrao and Okubo.

So, of the top nine in the chart, seven are Brazilians and only two are Japanese: Ogasawara, a midfielder, and Yoshito, who is playing for one of the weakest teams.

Other Japanese players should follow the example of these two, and take more responsibility in front of goal.

ends

9 May 2004(Sun)

This season is going to be very different at the bottom of the first division.

Instead of the bottom two teams being relegated to J2, a new format is needed to ensure a smooth transition from 16 teams to 18 in the top flight for 2005.

This means that only the 16th-placed team at the end of the current campaign is in danger of going down...and only then if they lose a play-off to the team that finishes third in the second division. The top two in J2 will be promoted automatically, as usual.

Several teams in J1 will be breathing a sigh of relief over this new format.

Notably the two who were promoted from J2 last season: Albirex Niigata and Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

This season gives the pair a bit of breathing space to adapt from J2 to J1, as the main target is to avoid the 16th position.

Of course they will be aiming higher, but, after eight rounds, both teams have won only once in the league so far this year.

Sanfrecce have seven points from a win and four draws, and Albirex have six, thanks to three draws as well as one win.

At the very bottom of the table, though, is Cerezo Osaka, with only four points, having lost six of their games.

Last year ended on an optimistic note for Cerezo as they reached the Emperor's Cup final, only to lose to Jubilo Iwata at National Stadium on New Year's Day.

But then they ran into managerial problems, and their season hit a low on Wednesday with a 2-1 home defeat to Sanfrecce.

Another team that is in trouble early on is Kashiwa Reysol.

I really thought they would have a good season this time. They have a good blend of youth and experience, and a trio of talented Brazilians, especially Dudu, who was a star of the FIFA World Youth Championship in the UAE last November/December.

But after winning their first two games, they have collected only one point from a possible 18, and on Wednesday slipped to a 2-0 defeat at home to Gamba Osaka.

As Jubilo have opened up a seven-point lead at the top of the table, the fight to avoid 16th place could be more interesting in the coming weeks.

ends

6 May 2004(Thu)

On "derby day" it is normal for current form to go out the window.

This was the case at Ecopa Stadium on Sunday, when Shimizu S-Pulse and Jubilo Iwata met in the Shizuoka derby.

Who would have thought that S-Pulse could win this one, as their early-season form had been poor to say the least?

And who would have thought Jubilo's winning run in the first division would end at six, and that their under-achieving prefecture rivals would be the team to beat them?

Form, then, went out the window, and Ota scored the only goal of the game on the hour mark.

Collecting a pass from the left-footed playmaker Araujo, Ota cut in from the right, held off two Jubilo defenders and shot into the roof of the net.

What a time to score your first goal in the top flight!

News of S-Pulse's win, or, rather, of Jubilo's defeat, must have been encouraging for the chasing pack.

After all, Jubilo had taken a maximum 18 points from their first six games, and the first stage championship was beginning to look like a one-horse race even before the halfway point...and that horse was wearing light blue and white.

But now, JEF United and Yokohama F Marinos are only four points adrift, both with 14, and there are still eight matches to play.

Marinos won well, 2-0, at FC Tokyo, and had several leading players, such as Nakazawa, Matsuda, Dutra and Kubo, missing for various reasons.

JEF United should have closed the gap on Jubilo to two points, when they entertained Kashiwa Reysol on Sunday night.

But again it was "derby day" in Chiba, and Reysol had local pride to play for as well as points. The match ended in a frustrating 1-1 draw for the home team, which kept them four points off the pace.

It is becoming a familiar story with JEF United these days. They put themselves into a great position, but just can't go that extra distance when they really need to.

Behind JEF and Marinos, four teams have 11 points: seven behind Jubilo but enough of an incentive to keep going for victory.

They have to keep believing that Jubilo will slip up again, and that they will be the ones to capitalise on any mistakes.

S-Pulse have given everyone hope, even accounting for the fact it was "derby day" when strange things happen.

ends

2 May 2004(Sun)

A German sports journalist once said that FIFA president Sepp Blatter had 50 new ideas every day.

And 51 of them were bad!

This thought came to mind the other day when I read that Blatter was saying that draws should be abolished in all games.

Every game needs a winner and a loser, was Blatter's comment, and why should soccer be any different?

If the score is level after 90 minutes, the result should be decided by a penalty shootout, added the FIFA chief.

Do you agree with him?

Do you think every game needs a winner and a loser?

I must admit I was amazed when I read Blatter's new idea, because surely the draw is part and parcel of the game worldwide.

The J.League did not allow draws for several seasons, as matches were decided in sudden-death extra time and then on penalties.

First, penalties were scrapped. Then extra time, and now the J.League swims in the mainstream of the game by awarding both teams one point for a draw after 90 minutes.

Personally, I think draws can be just exciting and tense as wins....and as important.

Was not "Japan 2 Iraq 2" in Doha '93 quite a dramatic and significant result?

Closer to home, was not "Urawa Reds 2 Kashima Antlers 2" a vital result at the end of last season?

And how Jubilo Iwata would have loved to hang on for a 1-1 draw at Yokohama on the same afternoon?

That would have given Jubilo the second-stage championship, but Kubo spoiled all that with his late header.

In cup competitions, matches need a winner, hence the extra time, golden goal, silver goal and penalties. FIFA will, however, stop the golden and silver goal, and allow the full 30 minutes of extra time to be played, followed by a shootout.

Let's hope Blatter's idea was not serious, otherwise football will become more defensive as teams try to play for a penalty shootout.

ends

29 Apr 2004(Thu)

The National Stadium has witnessed some dramatic and emotional nights over the years.

Put Saturday, April 24, 2004, right up there with them.

The Japanese women's 3-0 victory over North Korea in the semi-finals of the Asian qualifying tournament for Athens was nothing short of sensational.

The North Koreans entered the match as the red-hot favourites, but Japan's "Girls in Blue" tore them to pieces.

I don't think the Koreans knew what had hit them. It was like a blue whirlwind, which swept away everything in its path.

They just couldn't cope with the spirit, the determination and the skill of the home team, and the fans played a big part, too.

North Korea has taken over from China's "Steel Roses" as Asia's top women's team, but Japan refused to be intimidated by their reputation.

Two defensive mistakes put Japan in control before half-time.

The first one was a fluffed header, which Arakawa seized on and scored in style.

The second was an own goal, giving Japan that bit of luck all teams need from time to time.

With a two-goal cushion at the break and the fans going crazy, there was no way Japan were going to let North Korea back into this one.

They defended heroically, and scored a third with a close-range effort from Otani following a well-worked corner kick move.

What impressed me then, as I have pointed out before in the women's game, is that Japan just kept on playing.

No time-wasting, no feigning injury, no trying to con the referee, no cynical fouling....and for this reason they were a credit to the game of football in general.

It's no wonder that FIFA president Sepp Blatter is always singing the praises of women's football.

They can teach the men a lot about sportsmanship and fair play.

It was a magnificent achievement by Japan's "Girls in Blue," with the tears and emotion of TV commentator and former star striker Nami Otake completing a memorable night.

ends

26 Apr 2004(Mon)

It was very interesting to read Zico's comments out of Hungary this week. "I will continue as coach until 2006, and then I will call it a day," Zico is reported to have said to a local newspaper.

Oh really?

Following up on this, the Japanese media asked Zico about his future.

The Brazilian replied that he had no interest in coaching a J.League team, or the Brazilian national team.

Reading this, anyone would think that Japan under Zico is a growing force, and that his services as a coach would be in great demand if he left his post with the JFA.

The truth is very different, though.

Zico has taken Japan backwards, not forwards, due to his lack of coaching credentials. He has turned them from a well-organised, highly-motivated and well-drilled machine to a confused jumble of all-stars lacking direction and tactics.

I doubt if any J.League club would be interested in hiring him as their manager.

Zico was talking in the build-up to Sunday's friendly with Hungary, the result of which, I am sure, will have no influence on his future.

Neither will the game against the Czech Republic next week, or against Iceland and England in Manchester.

Japan could easily draw or maybe even beat one or two of these teams, as they are low-key preparation matches in which many substitutions will be made.

Japan's next serious match is against India at home in a World Cup qualifier on June 9, and surely they will win that one, too.

So Zico is safe through to the Asian Cup, which Japan will defend in China from July 17 to August 7.

This, I firmly believe, is when Zico's long-term fate will be decided.

If Japan don't get out of their group--and it will not be easy against Oman, Thailand and Iran--I am certain the JFA will take firm action and end the relationship.

Even if Japan finish in the top two in the group, will the JFA be satisfied with a quarter-final finish?

No, I think Zico is being very presumptious talking about the 2006 World Cup.

He faces a difficult test in China this summer, and must start showing Japan's Asian rivals a bit more respect.

ends

22 Apr 2004(Thu)

There was only one candidate for the Man of the Match award after the Verdy-Sanfrecce game at Ajinomoto Stadium on Saturday.

It was goalkeeper Yoshinari Takagi, who produced a faultless display between the posts to earn his team a 0-0 draw.

Takagi was not too happy to receive the award. He would have preferred one of the outfield players to have been named Man of the Match for inspiring Verdy to a much-needed victory, but, on the day, Verdy had to defend for long periods.

Takagi, therefore, was the only logical choice, as he made a string of acrobatic and agile saves to keep out Sanfrecce in the second half.

Although Takagi was quite angry when he returned to the dressing rooms, maybe there was some consolation in the fact that Zico's goalkeeper coach, Cantarele, and Zico's brother and assistant, Edu, were sitting in the Press seats watching the game.

With so many matches coming up for the Olympic team, who will need a goalkeeper as one of their three overage players in Athens, and for the national team in the next few months, Takagi's heroics cannot fail to have impressed Cantarele.

Hopefully Cantarele will have put the name of Takagi on the list, alongside Narazaki, Doi, Sogahata and Tsuzuki.

Takagi has a strong physique for a keeper. He is 1.85 meters tall and weighs a sturdy 86 kgs. He is 24 years old, 25 next month, which is still young for a keeper, and has now made 53 league appearances for Verdy.

Someone who has admired Takagi from day one at Verdy is their former captain, Tsuyoshi Kitazawa.

Before the start of the 2003 season, I asked Ki-chan to select his all-time Best Eleven from the J.League, going back 10 seasons to the kick-off in 1993.

He was allowed to pick three foreign players in the team.

His initial choice for goalkeeper took me by surprise: he said Takagi!

After thinking about it for a while, though, and considering Takagi's brief time in the league compared to many other keepers, Ki-chan decided on Kawaguchi.

From that point on, I have studied Takagi closely, and can see why Ki-chan was so impressed.

The Verdy fans know it, too, as they sang "Yoshinari" after the final whistle against Sanfrecce.

Like Takagi, I am sure the home fans were wishing an outfield player had been the hero of the day.

ends

18 Apr 2004(Sun)

It is not hard to respect Jubilo Iwata.

But it is hard to like them.

At Kashiwa on Wednesday night, we saw the best and the worst of Jubilo.

In the first half they played some vibrant, attacking football, scoring two goals early on and looking as if they could win by maybe five or six goals.

In the second half it was a different story.

The second half was full of spoiling, gamesmanship and time-wasting, even after Dudu had been sent off after 58 minutes to reduce Reysol to 10 men.

I just don't know why Jubilo resort to these unpleasant tactics, because they are good enough to win matches in style rather than winning ugly.

I suppose they call it "professionalism"-Dunga style!

Their first goal was wonderful.

Fujita played the ball out to Nishi on the right wing, then continued his run toward the near post.

But Nishi did not need him. Instead he crossed deep to the far post, where Gral headed the ball back into the danger zone.

The old war horse Nakayama was so close to the goal he could smell the paint on the posts, and he launched himself at the ball to score with a diving header.

The goal highlighted the team work, the understanding, the ruthless precision of Jubilo Iwata.

When Fukunishi headed home an easy second, it looked like Jubilo could score any time they wanted.

This team, however, is not the youngest. Maybe they get tired, and this is why the tactics change. They save their energy for battles to come.

Whatever the reason, I really don't like watching the other side of Jubilo Iwata.

Players feigning injury, asking the referee to show an opponent the yellow card, delaying the taking of their own goal kick, free kick or corner....the Jubilo players know every trick in the book, and try to control the game instead of the referee.

For neutrals, therefore, it is hard to like Jubilo, even if we may admire them for what they have achieved.

ends

15 Apr 2004(Thu)

Zico attended the Reds-Vissel game at Komaba Stadium on Saturday, probably to check on his national team defenders.

Three of Zico's back four, of course, play for Reds: Nobuhisa Yamada, Keisuke Tsuboi and Alessandro Santos.

Of the players on view during the afternoon, clearly the best defender was....Yukio Tsuchiya of Vissel Kobe.

This was the second time I had seen Vissel play this season, following their 0-0 draw at Niigata.

On both occasions, Tsuchiya was the outstanding individual of either side.

His match Saturday got off to a bad start, when he was harshly adjudged to have fouled Tatsuya Tanaka. Santos scored from the penalty spot, and Vissel were chasing the game after only two minutes.

From that point on, though, Tsuchiya played like a man possessed.

A couple of tackles on Tanaka were among the best I've seen in the J.League, perfectly timed, hard and fair.

He is also commanding in the air and is an inspirational leader.

He scored Vissel's equaliser himself, from close range at a left-wing corner kick, but would then have been disappointed with Reds' winner from Hasebe, as this followed another corner, this time from the right. It was a sweet finish by Hasebe, though, sweeping the ball high into the net on the half-volley.

Defeat for Vissel was cruel on Tsuchiya himself, who, at 29 years old, is surely at the peak of his playing power.

I wonder if Zico calls him into his squad for the two-match tour to eastern Europe at the end of this month.

After the game I spoke to Vissel manager Ivan Hasek.

"I hope he stays here," said Hasek, when I suggested Zico should pick him.

"He is a very good player, a very important man for my team.

"He is strong and quick, very strong in one-on-one situations, has a good mentality and scores goals. He is a great player."

Hasek does not like to single out individuals, but he could not help but praise his vice-captain Tsuchiya.

I hope Zico has a look at him.

ends

12 Apr 2004(Mon)

It was no surprise to see the name of Ivica Osim being linked with the Japan national coach's job this week.

On Tuesday, a Japanese sports newspaper reported that the JEF United Ichihara manager was at the top of a JFA list of candidates to replace Zico should the national team continue to under-perform.

Personally, I doubt that the JFA has looked that far ahead.

After all, the record books show that Japan have a 100 percent record in two World Cup qualifying matches so far, even though the team's performance has not been good.

As a colleague pointed out recently, football is not ice skating. There are no points for artistic impression. There are only points for winning, and Japan have won both.

But back to Osim.

I hear he was very angry about the article, describing it as "unbelievable."

The club also said there had been no contact with the JFA, and they had no information about the link.

Still, Osim would be a popular choice, should Zico decide he had had enough, or should the JFA decide they had had enough of him.

Experienced, pragmatic, and working with his players like a grandfather with his grandsons--strict, but enjoying their development and ready to praise at the right time--Osim has made a big impact on the J.League.

He has quickly understood the strengths of the Japanese players, such as speed, fitness, technique and team work.

JEF are very well organised, and have demolished their last three opponents in league and Nabisco Cup with a game based on passing and mobility.

I saw them against S-Pulse in the Nabisco Cup, and the Shimizu players were overwhelmed. They were unable to touch the ball for long periods, as Osim's slick machine ran rings around them.

I thought after that game that Zico could learn a lot by watching JEF United. He could learn about organisation, team discipline and attacking rhythm, and about the job of each player within the team.

He could see how the team moved as one unit, and when one player left his position, another would cover him.

Osim has his admirers in the JFA. Of course he does, as anyone who studies coaching cannot help but be impressed with what they see from JEF United.

But I still think it is too early to talk about Japan's next head coach.

The Asian Cup in China in July-August will decide Zico's future.

And maybe Osim's, too.

ends

8 Apr 2004(Thu)

It's no wonder that 15-year-old striker Takayuki Morimoto is being called the "Japanese Ronaldo" after bursting on to the J.League scene this season with Tokyo Verdy 1969.

With his shaven head, tall frame and quick-step running style, he looks a lot like a younger, slimmer Ronaldo.

He plays a bit like him, too, although by now Ronaldo would have scored five or six goals in three appearances for Verdy.

I saw Morimoto play for the first time in the flesh, so to speak, against FC Tokyo at Ajinomoto Stadium on Saturday.

Like most people, I liked what I saw.

He is strong and fast, like Ronaldo. He can beat his defender easily with his quick feet, like Ronaldo. And he knows where the goal is, like Ronaldo.

Unlike Ronaldo, though, Morimoto's shots have been saved. This is, of course, not a criticism of Morimoto, because he looks extremely promising for a teenager. It is just to highlight why Ronaldo is known as "The Phenomenom," because he is truly an amazing talent.

After Saturday's game I had a chat with Morimoto's rather more experienced strike partner, the 33-year-old father-of-five Patrick Mboma.

Patrick was already 17 years old when Morimoto was born, but still a long way from the respected figure he is today in African and world football.

"Like everybody I think he is a good player, but he also has a little pressure on him because everybody is talking about him," Mboma said.

"I advise him to be careful about this situation.

"When you start to play and play good, everybody says that you are the best, the most beautiful, and so on. So he has to keep his concentration and he has to focus on the game and on his training and try to learn every day."

Although Morimoto was substituted after 70 minutes and Verdy lost 3-2, the teenager was still the center of attention after the game.

Mboma, a former African Player of the Year, could not fail to spot the commotion in the lobby of Ajinomoto Stadium.

"I advise him not to read the newspapers, because it is always difficult," said Mboma.

"When you play good and they talk positive it's okay, but when that is not the case you start to have doubts in your mind.

"It is important for him to forget that and just focus on what he has to do on the pitch."

Mboma was making his first appearance of the season Saturday after a knee operation, and at the end of a week in which his wife had given birth to their fifth child, a daughter called Kaena.

"It's Hebrew and means rebel...because there is not enough rebellion in Japan," explained Mboma, with a laugh.

ends

5 Apr 2004(Mon)

While Jubilo Iwata have their critics as well as their admirers, at least one player seems to be a favourite of everybody.

That's Toshiya Fujita, who came to Japan's rescue in Singapore on Wednesday night.

With Japan toiling in the tropical conditions, Zico sent on Fujita for Shunsuke Nakamura in the 67th minute.

The score was an embarrassing 1-1 at the time, the home side having equalised in the 63rd minute.

Fujita gave Japan new life.

He should have scored in the 70th minute, but shot wide with his left foot at the far post after good work on the right wing from another substitute, Takayuki Suzuki.

It was looking desperate for Japan, as a draw would have been a humiliating result and poor reward for the fans who had created a fantastic atmosphere in the sultry, steaming night.

But then Toshiya struck, on 82 minutes, blasting a loose ball high into the net after the goalkeeper had dropped Nakata's left-wing corner.

What happened next impressed me as much as his desire to score the goal.

He ran to the touchline, punching the air as the Japanese fans celebrated. Then he jumped into the arms of one of the substitutes.

Now this was more like it!

Here, in the form of 32-year-old veteran Fujita, was some passion and some pride. The goal meant a lot to him and more to his team, and he actually behaved like it did.

After the game I asked Zico about Fujita's attitude, but he was very blase with his answer.

"This is what I expect from the other players as well, even if you are outside the pitch. You have the chance to go in and show what you can do," said Zico.

Nakata's assessment was more telling.

He said, in English, that other players could learn a lot from Fujita's experience.

"I do not see real enthusiasm in our team. It is always like we are playing a friendly match, not a real match. I do not understand. It's a mental thing," said Nakata.

This is the kind of answer Zico should have given. Criticise the players. Warn the Euro stars that their place in the team is under threat.

Just as the coach should have been shouting at his players during the match when lazy or casual play allowed Singapore to believe they might actually beat Japan.

No wonder Jubilo fans worship Toshiya Fujita.

ends

1 Apr 2004(Thu)

There are two major newspapers in Singapore.

In the morning it's The Straits Times, a very conservative publication, and in the evening it's The New Paper, which prefers sex and scandals.

Oh yes, and soccer.

On Monday, there were 18 pages of sport in the tabloid-size New Paper.

Eleven of them were about the English Premier League, including eight pages of reports, analysis, photographs and diagrams of the Arsenal-Manchester United match at Highbury.

That's right...eight on just one game!

There were three more on the Premier League, including a whole page on Bolton Wanderers' lucky, undeserved 1-0 victory over Newcastle United (oooohhh, it was painful writing that as a Newcastle fan. Personally, I thought this story was worth one sentence, not one page!).

There were five more pages on football (one each on Italy, Scotland and Singapore, and two on David Beckham/Spain).

So 16 of the 18 sports pages were on football. The other two were on horse racing.

The only reference to Wednesday's Singapore-Japan World Cup qualifier was a full-page advertisement by the host broadcaster, describing it as "The Lions versus The Samurai."

I asked a Singaporean journalist if the Lions could pounce on the Samurai and cause an upset.

"No chance-lah," he said (Singaporeans always end a sentence with "lah"). "With two slashes of the blade, the Samurai will win-lah."

On Monday morning I visited the match venue of Jalan Besar Stadium, which holds only 6,000 fans.

Due to a clash of dates, the 55,000-capacity National Stadium is not available, and this has led to a brisk sale of tickets on the internet.

There are seats down the two sides of the pitch only, with a wall behind both goals.

One of the walls separates the sandy pitch from the Jalan Besar swimming complex, so any wild shots on Wednesday night could be dangerous for the locals enjoying their evening swim.

Immediately behind the wall is the swimming pool shower complex, and goalkeepers in local league games have been known to have been affected by the strong smell of soap.

Who knows, maybe even the bubbles from the shower float over the wall and pop on the goalkeeper's nose?

Japan should win by three or four goals, but if Narazaki lets in a long shot because his eyes are full of soap suds, don't be surprised.

After all, this is the World Cup, and anything can happen.

Even to a Samurai.

ends

28 Mar 2004(Sun)

One of the positive things to have come out of the infamous "Kashima Kabakura" incident is that Zico has been able to call up Kashiwa Reysol forward Keiji Tamada.

Without Kubo and Okubo, Zico had no option but to look elsewhere for another J.League striker to accompany Masashi Motoyama. His other three forwards all play in Europe: Yanagisawa, Suzuki and Takahara.

Tamada is a fine choice by Zico.

As Reysol fans quickly discovered, Tamada is a predominantly left-footed player. He has a lovely first touch, an abundance of natural ability, and is a well-balanced runner.

Quite simply, he looks like a quality player in everything he does.

I spoke to Tsuneyasu Miyamoto about Tamada at the Narita City training ground this week.

Tsune said that, prior to the training camp, he thought Tamada only had a left foot.

"When I play against him I must put pressure on his left foot, but I have found that his right foot is improving.

"I think he has very high potential."

Tsune said Tamada's qualities were that he could go for goal on his own, or he can use the other players around him.

"He is not an egoist," said Tsune.

"He has spirit, a good shot and a good cross."

At the moment, Tamada is in a squad of 23 players. That number must be reduced to 18 for the match in Singapore on Wednesday night, so will Tamada make the cut?

It's unlikely that Zico will bring back the three forwards from Europe and then not pick them, so it looks like Motoyama and Tamada might be competing for the fourth place for the forwards.

If Tamada is left out, I can't imagine him being too negative about it, as he knows he has made his mark already.

He is still only 23 (24 on April 11) and Japan's national team has a busy year with a couple of European tours coming up.

Tamada will get his chance sooner or later.

ends

25 Mar 2004(Thu)

Now that Japan have qualified for the Olympic Games, the Japan Football Association needs to conduct some hard talking over selection.

The Olympic football tournament starts on August 11, two days before the opening ceremony in Athens.

This is only four days after the final of the Asian Cup, which will be held in Beijing on August 7.

Japan will be defending the Asian Cup they won under Philippe Troussier in Lebanon four years ago, and of course the JFA must plan all the way through to the final.

Will Zico want Okubo, Ishikawa, Moniwa, Tulio, Tanaka or others in his national squad for China?

Which three overage players will Masakuni Yamamoto want to bolster his under-23 team for Athens?

These are the issues to be discussed between Zico, Yamamoto and JFA technical chief Kozo Tashima when the national team returns from Singapore.

Maybe this is the formula to keep everyone happy:

1) Yamamoto has the right to choose all players of Olympic qualifying age. After all, why does Zico need Okubo when he has Takahara, Yanagisawa, Suzuki, Kubo and Motoyama? Why does he need Moniwa when he has Nakazawa, Tsuboi and Miyamoto?

2) Zico has first choice of all players who do not qualify for the Olympics. This allows him to pick all the overseas players, and still leaves plenty of players in the J.League. He does not need to pick Olympic age players and just keep them on the bench.

3) Yamamoto can then select any player over the age of 23 who is not crucial for Zico. For example, Sogahata or Doi as goalkeeper, as Narazaki is first choice, and one of those two will be the back-up keeper in the Asian Cup.

This strategy may seem strange in most countries, where the national team takes clear priority over the Olympic team.

But in Japan the Olympics are special, and Olympic football enjoys a much higher profile here than in virtually every other country.

For the three recent qualifying games in Japan against Bahrain, Lebanon and UAE, some 160,000 fans flocked to Saitama and to the National Stadium.

No other country in the world would have attracted such a huge turnout for Olympic qualifying games.

Clearly players cannot take part in both the Asian Cup and the Olympic Games, as both coaches will be holding training camps and playing warmup games.

But Yamamoto deserves to be given the best available at under-23 level, including Okubo, Moniwa, Ishikawa and the rest.

And if you asked Okubo where he would rather play, in Chongqing, known as "The Furnace," for the Asian Cup, or in Athens, I'm sure he would pick the Olympics.

ends

22 Mar 2004(Mon)

Friday began and ended in very different moods.

On Friday morning I was full of life, a spring in my step on the way to the station, and singing "O-ku-bo Yo-shi-to, na na na na na" along the way.

This was, of course, the day after Japan's epic 3-0 win against the ＵＡＥ to book a ticket to the Olympic Games.

It was a great night for Japanese football at Kokuritsu, a proud night, as Masakuni Yamamoto's young lions, after a long journey, smashed down the city gates and finally entered Athens.

Okubo, of course, was at the centre of it, scoring two goals on the night, three in all, and giving Japan a new dimension from the first leg in the ＵＡＥ.

At first I thought Yamamoto was wrong not to take Yoshito to Abu Dhabi, especially after the 0-0 draw with Bahrain in Japan's first match.

But Japan's head coach proved to be as cunning and tactical as a master card player, holding his ace until just the right time, and then playing it perfectly to collect the jackpot.

But that was Thursday night, and Friday morning.

Friday afternoon was a totally different story.

Zico was even more sombre than usual at his news conference to announce the squad for the Singapore match on March 31.

The "Kabakura Seven" were all missing, including the aforementioned Yoshito, as well as Zico's saviour against Oman, Kubo. Even Ogasawara, a Zico favourite, was not spared punishment.

But the "Kabakura Seven" was, in fact, "Eight" as Nobuhisa Yamada was also punished, even though he spent only a few minutes in the bar before realising his mistake and heading for the hotel.

Zico is always very serious at his official news conferences, unlike Troussier, who loved the spotlight and provided non-stop amusement as well as his football philosophy.

This time it was understandable, as Zico felt let down by the players, and said he didn't know if he could trust them again.

Rumour has it that one of the reasons why the players broke the curfew was because they were disillusioned with Zico's selection policy, namely picking the Europe-based players no matter how well the J.Leaguers performed in their absence.

This may or may not be true, but clearly there are problems within Zico's squad.

All the doubts and uncertainty over the direction of the national team under Zico came flooding back, taking some of the shine off the Olympic team's heroics.

That's a great shame, as Yamamoto's Young Blues had put the smile back on the face of Japanese football.

ends

18 Mar 2004(Thu)

Almost two years of hard work will be tested over 90 tense minutes on Thursday night when Japan play their final game in Group B of the Olympic qualifying campaign.

I must admit, after Japan left Abu Dhabi with seven points from three games, I thought it might be all over by now, and Japan would have enough points to make Thursday's finale against the UAE a "going away" party.

But as these latest results show, you can never predict or expect anything in football.

Japan's 1-0 defeat by Bahrain at Saitama Stadium on Sunday gave their rivals renewed hope, and Japan will have to set out to beat the UAE at National Stadium to stay on top.

Even then, a narrow victory might not be enough, if Bahrain beat Lebanon by a big margin at Nishigaoka. The matches kick off simultaneously so no team has an advantage of knowing their rivals' score.

On the other hand, Japan could draw and still go to Athens, or even lose and go through!

Anything can happen.

Japan are still in the driving seat, as they have a goal difference of plus six, compared to Bahrain's plus two. They both have 10 points from five matches, three more than the UAE, who are third with seven points and could still qualify if they beat Japan and Bahrain lose to Lebanon.

From a sporting and fair play point of view, I sincerely hope Japan qualify.

Bahrain's gamesmanship, with players feigning injury and staying down after the lightest of contact, has been a disgrace to the game, and to the "Olympic spirit," whatever that is supposed to mean these days.

Japanese fans were quick to catch on at Saitama, and full credit for jeering the Bahrain players.

I was also impressed with Japan's players for not giving Bahrain the ball back after the goalkeeper had been treated for a non-existent injury, after clearing the ball into touch near the end of Sunday's game.

This kind of behaviour is a terrible advert for the game, and for the millions of young fans watching on TV.

Steve Perryman, the former S-Pulse and Reysol manager, hated this tactic, and always said it proved one thing: that the players doing it, and their coach, obviously thought they were not good enough to win the game fairly.

I agree with Perryman 100 per cent, and I hope the referees do, too, on Thursday night.

It is going to be a tough game for Japan, and they are going to have to give maximum concentration and take their goalscoring chances.

Even though Japan beat the UAE 2-0 in Abu Dhabi, I cannot see Japan winning by more than one goal this time, if they can win at all.

For the sake of football I hope they do.

ends

15 Mar 2004(Mon)

In the last few weeks I've asked several players and coaches who they think will challenge for the J.League championship this season.

All the answers included Yokohama F Marinos, Jubilo Iwata and Kashima Antlers.

This is no surprise.

But they all included one more team: Urawa Reds.

There is a feeling around the clubs that this could be the year when Urawa finally gets it right, and the fans get the trophy they deserve.

A lot of money has been spent during the winter, especially at Urawa with the signing of Alessandro Santos.

They also have Sakai to bolster the center of midfield, the impressive Tulio at the back, plus the new German coaching team of Guido Buchwald and Gert Engels.

Buchwald, of course, was a hero of the Reds fans from 1994 to 1997, and rode a white horse around Komaba after his final match.

His assistant, Engels, knows Japanese football better than any other foreign coach after his years of experience with Flugels, JEF United and Kyoto.

With Emerson up front, the national squad quartet of Tsuzuki, Yamada, Tsuboi and Santos, and the Olympic team quartet of Tulio, Suzuki, Yamase and Tanaka....surely this is strong enough to win the championship this season.

There is no doubt Buchwald is happy to be back in Japan, to take up his first position as head coach.

"I have a very good feeling because this is my second home," he said recently.

"I missed it sometimes when I was in Stuttgart.

"When Urawa offered me the job of head coach I was surprised, and also very happy. Now I am very excited and cannot wait for the start."

Saturday's Marinos-Reds match promises to be an early-season classic, and some 51,000 tickets had been sold by Friday lunchtime.

Buchwald describes the quality of the players as much better than in his playing days. This is not a criticism of his old teammates, just a comment about the rapid progress being made throughout Japanese football.

"In my opinion all the teams are getting better and stronger in the J.League. The level has come up," he said.

The problem facing Urawa, and several other teams, is can they overcome the absence of players on national team duty?

This will play a big part in a busy season.

ends

11 Mar 2004(Thu)

Japan's Olympic team coach Masakuni Yamamoto has made two changes to his group for the second phase of the final qualifying round in Japan next week.

Yuki Abe came in for Takeshi Aoki, and Yoshito Okubo replaced Daisuke Sakata in attack.

The fact that Abe and Okubo came in was hardly a surprise, because Yamamoto had suggested he would make changes when announcing his original squad for the trip to Abu Dhabi.

Okubo for Sakata was also predictable, as Tanaka, Takamatsu and Hirayama were not going to be left out after their efforts in the first three games.

But, for me, the guide to how much this team has improved since last year is the fact that there is no place for Aoki.

For a long time he was indispenable in this squad.

The Kashima Antlers midfielder played as libero for the under-23s, and this position enabled him to display the full range of his elegant, natural ball skills. Combined with his strong physique and power, Aoki could go on and become the complete player. He still has time on his side.

But, for the moment, Yamamoto does not need him.

Now he has Tulio, who has quickly become the heart and soul of the team. He has added character and passion, and has emerged as a natural leader.

When things aren't happening for Japan in attack, he tries to get things moving by roaring forward, but making sure Konno is covering the space he has left behind.

Yamamoto now has Abe, too, as the JEF United player has recovered from his foot injury which required surgery in December.

JEF manager Ivica Osim is considering playing Abe as libero this season in the J.League, but he has been named as a midfielder in Yamamoto's squad.

I can't see Yamamoto changing either of his two central midfielders, Suzuki and Konno, although I wish Konno would stop pulling the jersey of his opponent, which I saw him do needlessly on a couple of occasions in Abu Dhabi.

But Abe will get his chance during the second phase, either at the back or in central midfield.

Aoki won't, and that goes to show how much the long delay in the final qualifying round, caused by the SARS outbreak, has benefited Japan's Olympic team.

ends

8 Mar 2004(Mon)

Was it Japan's Olympic team playing in Abu Dhabi, or was it just Sota Hirayama?

I must admit I have been a bit confused this week, as I have watched Japan's three games against Bahrain, Lebanon and the UAE.

On the first night, I quickly noticed that the TV camera was always pointed at Hirayama when there was no action to follow. For example, before kick-off or when there was a break in the game for a foul or something.

I couldn't believe how the camera lingered on Japan's 18-year-old center forward.

The game ended 0-0, of course, and the next morning I was on the train for Yokohama. I noticed a man reading a sports newspaper with the massive headline "Hirayama, no goal."

I was beginning to feel angry.

Next to me was sitting an elderly woman, talking to her daughter or maybe daughter-in-law. The old lady was talking about Japan's 0-0 draw with Bahrain, and said "Hirayama-kun" had not scored a goal.

That's great, I thought, the older generation taking an interest in football, even if it's just Hirayama.

During the second match against Lebanon I came close to turning off my TV. The Hirayama complex was driving me crazy.

Tanaka had a brilliant game, scoring the first goal with a clever header, admittedly from Hirayama's knock-down, setting up the second for Captain Keita and then picking out Takamatsu to score the third with a crossfield pass from right to left. Ishikawa's fourth, with his left foot, was a screamer!

But again the TV people seemed more concerned with Hirayama sitting on the bench.

Last night, Friday, Hirayama again was taken off, and a fantastic second half, with goals from Takamatsu and Tanaka, earned Japan a memorable victory, and brought tears of emotion from coach Yamamoto. That was a moving moment.

There was no time on TV for a Hirayama interview. Only mere mortals were interviewed such as Tanaka, Takamatsu and Suzuki.

If Troussier was still in town, he would be furious over the Hirayama hype, and probably drop him for the Japan series of games.

No fault of Hirayama's, of course, but because the media treatment was unbalancing the atmosphere of the squad.

All this media worship of a young talent confused him in Japan, especially with Shinji Ono at the beginning of the Frenchman's reign.

Football is a team game, and Hirayama is one member of the team.

The treatment he receives is unfair on the young man himself and also on his teammates, who deserve more respect and recognition.

ends

4 Mar 2004(Thu)

The Chiba Bank Cup has become one of the highest profile pre-season friendlies in Japan.

The 10th edition of this Chiba derby between Kashiwa Reysol and JEF United Ichihara was staged at Hitachi Stadium on Sunday afternoon, and the home side won convincingly 3-0. They now lead the series 8-2.

I was very impressed with Reysol. They looked sharp and hungry, and several young players are starting to establish themselves, suggesting the immediate future is brighter than the recent past.

These included Nagata and Kondo, both 20, at the back, and Otani, 19, in central midfield, alongside the veteran Shimotaira.

Off the bench came striker Yano and midfielder Yazawa, both 19, and defender Nakazawa, 21.

Reysol played with a vibrancy and a confidence I haven't seen for a few seasons, and made JEF look slow and confused.

The conditions were difficult, with a hard pitch and a swirling wind, but JEF had little to offer as an attacking force.

Without the Korean Eagle Choi Yong Soo, there was no focal point to the attack, no threat in the air, and it is going to take time for Marquinhos, a clever and skilfull player, to fit into the JEF system.

Reysol's new manager, Ikeya, was well prepared for the match.

He played Myojin on the right side of midfield, in front of the dependable, combative Watanabe (Takeshi), to stop the runs down the left flank of Murai, who is so important for JEF.

This tactic had the desired effect, and Murai looked lost for much of the game before coming off in the 79th minute. He gave the ball away too easily and couldn't find any room to work his magic down the wing. Still, this is early days, and his match fitness will improve in the next few weeks.

Reysol, on the other hand, looked ready to kick off the new season right away. Yamashita was a revelation up front, and his combination with Tamada--a left-footed striker who simply oozes class and natural talent--will keep defenders busy up and down the country this season.

The JEF fans were out in force on what was a colourful occasion: the yellow and black of Reysol's Yellow Monkeys at one end, and the brighter yellow, green and red of the away support at the other.

But only Reysol fans will have good memories of the 10th Chiba Bank Cup.

ends

1 Mar 2004(Mon)

Japan's Olympic Games hopefuls feel they have a point to prove in the United Arab Emirates next week.

But not to their Group B rivals Bahrain, Lebanon and the UAE.

No, it's to the folks back home in Japan.

As FC Tokyo winger Naohiro Ishikawa acknowledges, the players are well aware that they are being dubbed Japan's "lost generation" because of what went before them and what may come after.

"I am very accustomed to being in the age group that is not the focus of attention," Ishikawa said in an interview at the club's Kodaira training ground.

"But in some respects this brings out our strength. We have tremendous confidence and believe we can get the results we need.

"Rather than worrying about what people say, we can turn it round to our advantage and prove ourselves."

These are typically positive and honest comments from Ishikawa, who is sure to play a leading role in Japan's challenge for a third consecutive Olympic appearance.

The problem for Masakuni Yamamoto's youngsters is that they have a hard act to follow.

Just look at some of the names that went to Sydney four years ago: Nakata (Hidetoshi and Koji), Inamoto, Nakamura, Takahara, Yanagisawa, Nakazawa, Matsuda, Miyamoto...apologies to those not mentioned due to lack of space!

Following the Olympic team around in February for their three buildup games, the two players getting the most attention were 18-year-old Kunimi High School striker Sota Hirayama and Brazilian-turned-Japanese defender Tulio Tanaka.

It is easy to see, therefore, why Yamamoto's team does not have the "star quality" of Troussier's Class of 2000.

But, as Troussier himself always pointed out, there is much more to a successful team than merely talented individual players.

This is where Yamamoto's squad looks strong: well organised, great spirit, motivation, tactical awareness, and plenty of depth in most positions.

And with this extra point to prove to the doubters, they can go all the way to Athens and show they also deserve respect and recognition in their own right.

ends

26 Feb 2004(Thu)

The Yokohama F Marinos have made a solid start in their bid to win the Asian Football Confederation's Champions League.

After beating Binh Dinh 3-0 in Vietnam two weeks ago, Takeshi Okada's young team thrashed Persik Kediri of Indonesia 4-0 in their second Group G match at Mitsuzawa Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Marinos team was unrecognisable from the one that won the J.League championship last year, as most of the senior players are in Shanghai for the A3 Nissan Cup.

Before the two sets of players walked out on to the pitch, I hung around in the lobby to witness at close-quarters the mood and motivation of the players.

At first I thought the Marinos players were the ball boys, waiting to march out carrying the FIFA fair play flag.

But no, it was the team, and the Indonesian visitors must have thought they had turned up for the wrong competition and were playing in a youth tournament.

It was a cold night, but over 3,500 fans came to watch, with many of them forming an orderly line some two hours before kick-off.

The discipline and patience of the Japanese fans always impresses me, because in England everyone's in the pub until 10 minutes before kick-off and then it's a mad dash to the stadium. The most important thing then is to find the toilet, and dispose of the beer before kick-off and hope you can hang on until halftime before a second visit was necessary.

The only trouble with this tactic is that, in a stadium filled with 20,000 fans, 19,000 of them have the same idea, so it frequently called for desperate measures which we shall not discuss but leave to your imagination.

Back to more pleasant topics, and the leafy confines of Mitsuzawa.

Oka-chan is hoping to win the AFC Champions League so that the Marinos can represent Asia in the Club World Championship, which FIFA is planning to stage in Japan in December 2005.

But word from the AFC in Kuala Lumpur is that it has not been decided if the 2004 or 2005 AFC Champions League winner will carry the Asian flag against the top clubs from Europe, South America, Africa, CONCACAF and Oceania.

This means that the host country might not have a club in the intended six-team lineup, which would reduce the interest considerably.

In the meantime, Marinos and Jubilo Iwata will just try and win this year's AFC Champions League, and hope it leads to games against Real Madrid or Manchester United.

ends

23 Feb 2004(Mon)

The morning after Japan's depressing performance against Oman, I took the train to Higashi Totsuka and then a taxi to the Yokohama F Marinos training ground.

My mission, apart from finding out a few details about the forthcoming A3 Nissan Cup in Shanghai, was to talk to Oka-chan about the previous night's game.

Personally, I thought it was a shambles.

The players looked like they didn't have a clue what they were supposed to be doing. Passes were going astray, confidence was ebbing out of them with every mistake-riddled minute that ticked by, and, worst of all, Oman were beginning to think they might actually win.

Anyway, of course Oka-chan could not be too critical, but his opinion was of great value as, after all, he is the only coach to have steered Japan through the minefield of a World Cup qualifying campaign.

Oka-chan's main point was this.

Zico has two choices. Either he picks the players from J.League clubs who are fit and raring to go, or he picks the players he has brought all the way back from Europe, even though several of them have spent much of the season on the bench or on the treatment table.

Clearly Zico prefers the latter, hence the inclusion of Shunsuke, Ina and "Atsushi-Goal."

Was Ina playing? I never saw him.

Why did Shunsuke play for 90 minutes when he had only just come back for Reggina after a long injury lay-off?

Yanagi? Well, that was okay, because he had scored against Tunisia, Romania and Iraq in recent appearances for the national team.

Okada said the introduction of Ogasawara had given the team better organisation, and that Kubo was in fine physical condition.

Kubo it was, of course, who saved the day, and maybe even Zico's job, with his cool, injury-time goal.

Oka-chan's opinion should be taken on board by Zico, who, as I have said from the very beginning of his reign, is merely selecting an all-star team in the hope that they will tune in to each other's wavelength.

It's not working, and maybe the JFA should keep Okada in mind if they need him to rescue another sinking Japanese ship!

ends

19 Feb 2004(Thu)

Yoshito Okubo must be wondering what's gone wrong.

Last Thursday, after making a brief substitute appearance for Zico's Japan against Iraq, he was left out of the Brazilian trainer's squad for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Oman.

Four days later, on Monday, he was surprisingly omitted from Masakuni Yamamoto's under-23 squad to contest the first phase of the final Olympic qualifying round in the UAE from March 1-5.

At the end of last year, Yoshito was the Talk of the Town.

Suddenly, no one wants to know.

At Monday's Olympic team press conference, Yamamoto said he was considering bringing Okubo into the squad for the second phase of games in Japan from March 14-18. He said Okubo needed a rest, and that he was satisfied with the form of his four strikers in the squad.

Still, I am puzzled by Okubo's treatment.

He was kept out of the two Olympic team friendlies against Iran and Russia because he was with Zico's squad, even though he was suspended for the game against Malaysia at Kashima.

Then, with Yanagisawa coming back from Italy straight into the team to face Iraq, Okubo was on the bench.

All the time I thought Okubo--and Moniwa and Ishikawa for that matter--would have been better off with the Olympic squad, working with Tanaka and the new boy Hirayama, and on his team play with the attacking midfielders, be it Yamase, Matsui or Maeda.

It's true that Okubo faces a busy year, but he might not do if Japan don't qualify for Athens.

This is why I am surprised he has been left out for the UAE trip.

In short, Okubo is a match-winner. Explosive and single-minded in his mission for goals.

Even with Hirayama in the squad, I still think the Tanaka-Okubo combination would be dynamite. Their pace, aggressive running and endless energy would give defenders a torrid time.

Now we will have to wait until the Japan series of games to see this.

Hopefully the pressure on Okubo to produce again will not be too great.

Or, indeed, that it will not be too late.

ends

16 Feb 2004(Mon)

So, in the end, Zico selected only one Olympic team player for his national squad: FC Tokyo defender Teruyuki Moniwa.

After watching the four matches in February involving the Olympic and national teams, I would have been very tempted to pick at least one more member of the under-23 squad.

No, not Yoshito Okubo or Naohiro Ishikawa, who were also training with Zico rather than Masakuni Yamamoto.

But Marcus Tulio Tanaka, the Brazilian-turned-Japanese who had two eventful games against Iran U-23 and Russia.

Tulio really impressed me with his energy and his commitment.

He is far from the finished product, as Yamamoto pointed out after the 1-1 draw with Russia, but he has much to offer on the pitch.

My early conclusion was that Tulio is a Brazilian/Japanese version of Rigobert Song, Cameroon's all-action, never-say-die captain.

He is raw, occasionally wild, but gives everything to the cause and plays with his heart. What you see is what you get, and there are no half-measures with Tulio. If he gives only 100 percent for his team, then that's a bad day for him!

A newcomer to the squad after gaining Japanese citizenship last year, Tulio was quick to make himself heard, and this can only be good for Japan as communication, or the lack of it, remains a huge obstacle in the Japanese game.

Takamatsu's goal against Russia owed everything to Tulio, who broke from inside his own half, bulldozed through the heart of the Russian defense and headed toward goal like a runaway truck. That's the sort of initiative Philippe Troussier loved in a player.

I also liked Tulio's honest comments after the game. "I was happy a goal resulted from that play, but I really wanted to score it myself," he said.

In his two games, Japan had conceded a goal each time, so how could he be satisfied?

"We've only played well if it's zero at our end," he said.

I would think Moniwa and Tulio are certain starters in the Olympic team's back three, so Yamamoto must find just one more from several candidates. I would go for Tokunaga on the right, Tulio in the middle and Moniwa on the left. That's a tough and rugged defense that would never surrender a goal without an almighty fight.

Tulio was such a breath of fresh air to the team that I am sure he would have made a big contribution to Zico's squad, too, though not as a first-team player for some time yet.

ends

12 Feb 2004(Thu)

The room was filled with excitement and anticipation as the star of the show prepared to enter the arena.

The lights dimmed, the drums rumbled, and "Prince" was led out by the vanguard of his entourage.

No, not the pop music idol.

This was Ilhan Mansiz, nicknamed "The Prince" by his Japanese army of fans after his exploits for Turkey in the 2002 World Cup.

And it was Tuesday afternoon, at a top Tokyo hotel, when Prince Ilhan introduced himself to the mass media...all 200 of them.

He surprised many with his short hair, as opposed to the flowing locks of 2002, and he sparkled in front of the cameras in his white suit and yellow shirt over a white T-shirt.

"I want to have a bright future, so this is why I chose this suit," he said.

And the hair?

"I know that most of my fans remember me with long hair, but I am at peace with this style."

And for David Beckham?

"I know he has a lot of fans in Japan. He is a great player and I respect him. I won't be trying to win over his fans, because I have my own."

Every smile and gesture was greeted with a high-pitched roar of whirling cameras, and 19 TV crews devoured the drama.

Vissel Kobe, now with the Rakuten billions behind them, are hoping to boost their average home attendance from just under 11,000 to 20,000 this season. Prince Ilhan is the flagship of this bold new world, and is being paid handsomely for his services. So is his Turkish club Besiktas.

At times, especially when he was smiling, Ilhan reminded me of a young Richard Gere in movies such as "An Officer and a Gentleman."

Have Vissel signed a football player or a movie star?

They hope it's both, of course, and good luck to them. Kansai football needs a boost, and Vissel now have Prince Ilhan to stir up some interest.

But don't expect wondrous things from the striker.

He is 28, and remained in Turkey after his World Cup heroics. He didn't transfer to a big European club, or even to Chelsea.

At the World Cup he played in all seven games for Turkey, the first six as a substitute and the full 90 minutes only in the playoff for third place against Korea.

He scored three goals, the winner against Senegal in the quarterfinals and two against Korea in the "dead" match.

He is not a great player, but he is great for Vissel Kobe.

Catch the Ilhan Show at a stadium near you this season.

ends

9 Feb 2004(Mon)

No wonder that Tokyo Verdy 1969 manager Ossie Ardiles is "worried" about his star striker, Patrick Mboma.

Mboma was planning to have an operation at the end of last season to clear up a minor knee problem.

It would have meant him missing the African Cup of Nations but being ready for the start of the new J.League season in March.

But when the Cameroon president insisted Mboma be included in the Indomitable Lions' squad, the player delayed the surgery and went to Tunisia.

Cameroon are now in the quarterfinals, where they will meet Nigeria, after Mboma scored four times in Group C action, including a hat-trick against Zimbabwe.

Ardiles, therefore, has mixed emotions.

On the one hand he is happy Mboma is happy, scoring goals for his country.

On the other, Ardiles does not want a minor problem becoming a major one.

"He is going to have the operation straight away after Cameroon are eliminated, but to be perfectly honest I am a little bit worried," Ardiles said this week at Verdy's Yomiuri Land headquarters.

"It's touch and go if he can start the season, and he is crucial for us."

The African Cup final is February 14, and Mboma said he would need "five or six weeks" to be match fit after the operation.

So if the Lions go all the way to the final, there is little chance Mboma will be ready for the March 13 J.League kickoff.

Verdy officials were hoping that Mboma would have the operation immediately after the Emperor's Cup, and rule himself out of the African Cup.

But the draw of playing for his country proved too great.

Having stayed in the same Niigata hotel as the Cameroon squad at the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, I could see there is really a special bond between the players. They are like one big family, which made the tragic death of Marc-Vivien Foe last year in France even harder to deal with.

By the way, I hear former Verdy midfielder Ramon might be joining JEF United Ichihara. Manager Ivica Osim says he needs an experienced player who can hold the ball in midfield and conduct the attack.

JEF have also been linked with former Verdy and Marinos striker Marquinhos, as a replacement for Choi Yong Soo, now on loan at Kyoto.

All should be revealed within a week or so.

ends

5 Feb 2004(Thu)

It was very interesting, not to mention very cold, watching Japan's training session Tuesday afternoon/evening at Kashima Stadium.

I had fully expected Zico to stick with 3-5-2 after Japan played well at the East Asian Football Championship in December with this system.

But no, the head coach went back to a four-man defense.

Not only this, his formation became 4-1-3-2, with only one defensive midfielder, Endo, playing in front of the four defenders: Yamada (the Reds Yamada, not the Verdy version), Tsuboi, Miyamoto and Santos.

In front of Endo there were three attacking midfielders constantly changing positions and roaming across the pitch. These were Fujita, Ogasawara and Motoyama.

The two strikers were Kubo and Kurobe, as Okubo is suspended for Saturday's match against Malaysia after being sent off against Korea in the last East Asian championship match.

Zico's formation took many people by surprise, and seemed to indicate he was laying the foundations for when the European players return for the World Cup qualifier against Oman at Saitama on February 18.

He has two matches to prepare for the Oman game: against Malaysia and then Iraq on Thursday, February 12.

So clearly it looks like he is abandoning the 3-5-2 system which I feel suits Japan's players best and which gives the team better balance.

Against Malaysia and Iraq, Japan should be able to win without much trouble. The Malaysians, especially, will be uncomfortable in the icy temperatures on the Ibaraki coast on a February night, a world removed from the heat and humidity of their tropical country.

But I am worried about when Japan face stronger opposition with strong ambition. Yamada and Santos are better going forward than backward, and is one defensive midfielder enough?

Three players seemed to have the freedom to move around. Is this too many?

Zico, of course, still has three days to look at his options, but I didn't like the first one.

ends

2 Feb 2004(Mon)

Round about this time every year, the J.League clubs have a special day set aside for the media.

These are very enjoyable occasions, as the atmosphere is always relaxed, friendly and positive.

Clubs give the opportunity for the media to talk to their new players, talk to the manager and to the leading executives about the hopes for the new season.

On Wednesday I made the short Joban Line journey from Ueno to Kashiwa for the Reysol media afternoon, and this was an extremely beneficial experience.

It took place at Hitachi Stadium, one of my favourite grounds in Japan as it reminds me so much of an English stadium in the lower divisions.

There is no running track, so the fans are close to the pitch. The home fans are at one end, and the away fans at the other, and it takes only around 8,000 to create a really good atmosphere.

On Wednesday, of course, the stadium was deserted.

It was bathed in bright winter sunshine, giving it a gleam and a sparkle as if ready to welcome the new season, a fresh start.

I sat in one of the pitch-side dug-outs for a few minutes before the press conference began, absorbing the warm rays of the sun.

I love the "atmosphere" of an empty stadium, as it easy to close your eyes and to imagine the noise of the crowd as play moves from one end to the other.

A corner kick for Reysol is accompanied by the frenzied cry of "Goal! Goal! Kashiwa Goal!", while an opposing player who comes too close to the Kashiwa Ultras, known as the Yellow Monkeys, is greeted with a barrage of insults.

It's always amusing at Hitachi Stadium watching the security people make sure the Monkeys don't burst through the safety net and jump on to the pitch, but I am sure they only behave like that because the net is there!

By the way, 2004 on the Lunar New Year calendar is the Year of the Monkey, so maybe this is a good omen for the Kashiwa faithful.

The club has invested heavily again this season, and I am particularly looking forward to seeing the young Brazilian midfielder Dudu.

Reading this month's World Soccer magazine from London, the 20-year-old from Vitoria has already been compared to the legendary, languid Socrates, a former teammate of Zico's.

Even though Dudu will not arrive in Kashiwa for another week or so, he was still a major talking point of the Reysol media day.

Maybe 2004 will also be the Year of the Dudu.

ends

29 Jan 2004(Thu)

In a busy year for Japanese football at all age-group levels, it's important not to forget about the women's team.

The Japan Football Association certainly didn't forget on Tuesday, staging a lavish draw ceremony for Asia's qualifying tournament for the Athens Olympics women's football tournament.

The general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation, Peter Velappan, conducted the draw, assisted by four young, futsal-loving beauties.

In all my years watching football, they were the best "golden quartet" I have ever seen, far more attractive than Zico's Nakata-Ono-Inamoto-Nakamura combination!

The outcome of the draw was that Japan will play Vietnam and Thailand in Group C, and should have few problems qualifying for the semifinals, where they can expect to meet North Korea.

The North Koreans have eclipsed China's "Steel Roses" as Asia's top women's team, and Japan will have to work hard in the Tokyo semifinal on April 24 to book one of two places for Asia in the Athens lineup.

All the speakers, led by JFA president Saburo Kawabuchi, spoke of the growing appeal of women's football.

And the praise was not without justification.

I have been an admirer of the women's game for many years, after attending the Asian championship in Kota Kinabalu in 1995.

There were many aspects of the game I liked, particularly the spirit in which it is played.

Unlike the men's professional game at the highest level, there was no diving, no cheating, no feigning injury and no trying to con the referee.

For me it was a very pure form of the game, innocent and free of the negative traits listed above.

Also, with the women lacking the natural power of the men, there was a lot of emphasis on skill, technique and movement.

But this did not mean there wasn't some powerful play, and guests who attended Tuesday's Olympic qualifing draw could not have failed to be impressed by the highlights of the 2003 Asian women's championship.

The qualifying tournament for Athens will be held between April 18-26.

Group A, featuring North Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong, and Group B, with China, Myanmar, South Korea and Guam, will both be held in Hiroshima on April 18, 20 and 22.

Group C will take place in Tokyo. Japan will play Vietnam on April 18 and Thailand on April 22, with Thailand and Vietnam clashing April 20.

The semifinals will be on April 24, with Japan meeting North Korea in Tokyo if everything goes to plan, with the third-place playoff and final both at Hiroshima on April 26.

I know it's a hectic, expensive year for Japanese football fans, but I would strongly recommend a trip to watch what will surely be an exciting women's tournament.

You might be surprised by the skill level and the tactical expertise of the top teams.

ends

26 Jan 2004(Mon)

It's no wonder that the Yokohama F Marinos players returned to training on Wednesday, some seven weeks before the start of the new J.League season on March 13.

February and March will see the J.League champions playing in no fewer than five different competitions.

That's right: Five!

First up is the Asian Champions League Group G games in Vietnam and Indonesia.

Then it's off to Shanghai for the four-team A3 Nissan Cup, featuring the champion clubs from Japan, Korea and China, plus a second team from the host country.

Marinos will then play Emperor's Cup winners Jubilo Iwata in the Xerox Super Cup in Tokyo on March 6, a week before the new league season opens.

And on the last Saturday of March, the 27th, the Nabisco Cup kicks off.

"We've worked it out that we will play 62 games this season if we reach the final of all the different competitions," goalkeeper coach Dido Havenaar said this week at the club's Totsuka training ground.

"When you also look at the number of international matches, some players could be playing 80 games in the year!

"This is why we need four goalkeepers, and two complete teams."

Manager Takeshi Okada welcomed the players with the news that he wants 62 points this season, four more than last year, and 60 goals, which is also four more than last season's efforts.

To win the league championship again, says Okada, will need a goal difference of 30, compared to last year's 23 (56 goals for, 33 against).

Okada's two main targets are the J.League championship and the Asian Champions League, the continent's equivalent of the UEFA Champions League in Europe and the Copa Libertadores in South America.

A clash of dates involving the Champions League and A3 Nissan Cup in Shanghai has been averted, so Marinos can field the best players available in both competitions.

When there was a conflict of interest, Okada was right in giving priority to the Champions League ahead of the A3 Nissan Cup, as the Asia-wide competition provides a path to the Club World Championship, which FIFA is planning to resurrect in 2005.

If Marinos win the Champions League final this year and represent Asia in the FIFA event, they will be in the draw alongside the champion clubs of Europe and South America, as well as Africa, CONCACAF and Oceania.

Just think...Marinos against Real Madrid? Marinos against Boca Juniors?

The A3 Cup was a big success in Tokyo last year, but the pan-Asia events project the club, and the game in general, on a much wider scale.

ends

※
Further to writing my article this morning（January 24）, I have since discovered that the Asian Football Confederation has turned down a request to reschedule the Persik Kediri-Marinos Champions League match in Indonesia from Feb. 24 to Feb. 15. This means there is now a clash with A3.

22 Jan 2004(Thu)

The year 2004 has started on a positive note for the J.League with the news that the two-stage system will be scrapped after this season.

This means the J.League will fall into line with the rest of the football world, and have a single-stage season in 2005.

Chairman Masaru Suzuki confirmed the change at a meeting of the executive board on Tuesday, and also said the first division would be increased from 16 to 18 teams in 2005.

Both moves are good for the game here, especially the decision to abolish the two-stage system.

I have never been a fan of this, even though there have been some exciting finishes in the past couple of years.

For me, a league championship should be decided on consistency over the length of the season.

It should not be decided in a playoff, or in a penalty shootout, which happened in 1999 when Jubilo Iwata beat Shimizu S-Pulse.

Extra time, golden goals and penalty shootouts should be restricted to cup competitions, where the knockout format demands a winner.

Slowly but surely, the J.League has come to recognise this.

First, the penalty shootout was scrapped. Then golden goals and extra time, and now the two stages.

So full credit to the J.League for changing their course, and I am sure the fans will continue to support the league without the playoff.

For the past two seasons a playoff has been unnecessary anyway, as first Jubilo Iwata and then Yokohama F Marinos won both stages, costing the league something in the region of 1.2 billion yen in terms of lost revenue through sponsorship, TV rights and gate money.

As for the decision to increase the number of teams by two, this means Japan's championship will be decided over 34 matches in 2005, as opposed to 30 (2 x 15) this time.

It also gives each team two more home games, 17 instead of 15, which should help bring in extra revenue.

With a few clubs interested in joining J2, an 18-team J1 and 12-team J2 is still possible for 2005.

The future looks even more exciting without a two-stage system.

ends

19 Jan 2004(Mon)

Make no mistake. Japan cannot afford to play below their best in the Asian Cup in China this summer.

The draw for the 16-nation finals was made on January 15, and Zico's men will play Oman, Thailand and Iran in Group D, based in Chongqing.

The top two from each of the four four-team groups will advance to the quarterfinals.

Japan will open against Oman on July 20, then take on Thailand four days later and Iran on July 28.

By then, of course, Japan will already have played Oman in a 2006 World Cup qualifying match at Saitama on February 18. Japan should be too strong for Oman, who are impressive in the age-group competitions but lack experience at the highest level.

The Thais are quick and skilfull, and can give any Asian team a hard game on their day. At the 2002 Asian Games in Korea, Japan's Olympic team rose to the occasion and thrashed Thailand on their way to the final, where they lost to Iran.

Japan-Iran, of course, will always bring back memories of when the two teams met in an Asian playoff for a place at the 1998 World Cup in France.

The match took place at a neutral venue, Johor Bahru in Malaysia in November 1997, and Japan won 3-2 in sudden-death extra time with a late goal from Masayuki Okano.

For me that remains the most important goal in the history of Japanese football.

If Iran had won that playoff, and Japan had then lost to the Aussies in the inter-continental playoff, just where would Japanese football be now?

It is impossible to say, as the fallout from World Cup failure would have made a big impact on the hosting of the 2002 World Cup, and on the interest in the J.League.

Thanks to Ya-jin's golden goal, all that is history now.

But it does not mean Japan can afford to relax in this group in July.

Of course the Japanese players have the skill and the experience to finish in the top two, but their status as an Asian super power means they are there to be shot at by the minnows.

Japan can qualify from this group, but no one should expect any easy games any more.

ends

15 Jan 2004(Thu)

An interesting match in 2004 would be Kyoto Purple Sanga against Nagoya Grampus Eight.

What must surely be the best attack in J2 against one of the best defences in J1.

Of course it won't happen, unless they meet in the Emperor's Cup at the end of next season.

But the transfer activity of both clubs in the winter break suggests they are aiming high in 2004.

After signing the South Korean goal machine Choi Yong Soo from JEF United Ichihara, Purple Sanga have managed to hold on to both Kurobe and Matsui.

That's a pretty formidable attack in J2, with the aerial power of Choi and Kurobe and the silky skills of Matsui.

Their route back to J1 looks straightforward: by air, not on the ground.

And while opposing defences will be ready for this, it doesn't mean they will be able to stop it.

As for Grampus, they have followed up the signing of the veteran Akita from Kashima with the young Purple Sanga defender Kakuda.

Despite being released by Kashima after 11 years' sterling service in Ibaraki, the Akita deal is one of the best pieces of business during the winter.

His presence alone will inspire the rest of the team, and his never-say-die attitude will sort out the men from the boys in Nagoya's well-paid but under-achieving squad.

This is what Nagoya have needed for a long time, a rough, tough Japanese leader who is not prepared to settle for second best.

Purple Sanga, too, have shown they are prepared to spend big to get back into J1 at the first time of asking.

But it makes you wonder why they didn't do this a year ago after winning the Emperor's Cup.

At that time they made a huge, expensive mistake with the signing of an unfit Ko Jong Soo.

Manager Gert Engels was against the Ko deal, complaining that the only new signing was a DVD player to help in match preparation!

ends

12 Jan 2004(Mon)

You cannot fault Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi for effort and determination.

Next week he will leave Japan and return to Europe, with the goal of becoming first-choice keeper at his Danish club, FC Nordsjaelland.

Yoshi knows that unless he is playing regularly for his club, he cannot expect to play a part in Japan's qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

So he will be working as hard as ever toward this target.

There's no doubt Yoshi has had his problems since leaving Yokohama F Marinos for Portsmouth in England in October 2001.

But he remains optimistic, upbeat, and a thoroughly pleasant young man.

It was nice to catch up with him after Masami Ihara's testimonial match in Tokyo on Jan. 4.

His English now is virtually fluent, which is just as well as he is finding Danish very hard to pick up.

"I am learning to speak and to write, but the listening is very difficult," he said (in English, not Danish!).

"Fortunately, everyone in Denmark speaks perfect English, and they are very kind. It's just so cold!"

So cold, in fact, that the Danish league runs from spring to early winter, closing down from December to March.

"When I get back to Denmark we have two months to prepare for the new season," he said.

"There will be many training matches and friendlies, so I hope I can be in the team when the season starts."

Yoshi explained that he played only four times for the first team after joining Nordsjaelland from Portsmouth in September 2003.

Then an ankle injury ruled him out for over a month, during which he missed seven or eight games.

"The doctor said it was only five percent necessary to have an operation, and 95 percent not necessary. I went with the 95 percent, and now the ankle is fine after a rest."

This lack of first-team football has been evident on the two occasions Zico has picked him for Japan, as he made a blunder against Uruguay and Romania.

Yoshi could surely return to the comfort zone of the J.League, but he wants to stick it out in Europe and be a success.

He is only 28, which is young for a keeper, and still has the desire to improve.

For such a likeable person, it is impossible not to wish him all the very best in his quest.

ends

8 Jan 2004(Thu)

The world discovered in 2002 that Japan can stage a super soccer show, namely the FIFA World Cup.

Those of us who live here knew that anyway, because national team games, J.League exhibitions and other one-off matches such as the Toyota Cup are always a spectacular occasion.

At Tokyo's National Stadium on Sunday, Japanese football came together to honour one of its most distinguished and deserving servants: Masami Ihara.

More than 40 players, including past and present national team stars, as well as the legendary Korean duo of Yoo Sang Chul and Hong Myung Bo, took part in a testimonial match for Japan's 1998 World Cup captain.

Although Ihara retired a year ago, more than 31,000 fans went along to show their appreciation.

The game provided some old masters, such as Kimura (Kazushi, not Bunji!) and Ruy Ramos, the chance to turn back the clock and strut their stuff on the National Stadium stage once again.

We were also treated to a glimpse of what might have been in the troubled form of Maezono, who had the talent but lost his way.

It was after the final whistle, though, when the emotions ran high.

The music was designed to produce tears, but none from Ihara, who remained as professional as ever.

He symbolically removed his silver boots and captain's armband (sorry to be cynical here folks, but this looked suspiciously like a Nike publicity stunt), said his farewell speech on the podium, received some flowers from Gon, and performed two laps of honour.

The first was on foot, the second in the back of what looked like a pitch maintenance vehicle, but it was hard to see because of all the balloons. Maybe it was a Mercedes.

The handshakes and respect from his fellow players was genuine, as Ihara, with 123 caps and 297 J.League appearances, is one of the all-time greats for Japan.

"He was one of the first real professionals," said Hans Ooft. "I don't mean by getting a salary, but with his whole attitude and behaviour.

"When you look back 10 years from now you will say he made a huge contribution.

"As a captain he had great personality. Not a great speaker, but his presence was enough to inspire people. That is quality."

So was the afternoon itself.

ends

5 Jan 2004(Mon)

It was fitting that Rodrigo Gral should score the goal to win the Emperor's Cup for Jubilo Iwata at Tokyo's National Stadium on New Year's Day.

For the recently-completed season was a huge personal triumph for the Brazilian forward.

In 2002, Gral hardly got a chance to play because of the Nakayama-Takahara partnership which fired Jubilo to the two-stage slam.

In fact his record coming into the 2003 season was just one league goal in nine appearances.

But in 2003 he scored 21 times in J1, including eight from eight from the penalty spot, five times in the Nabisco Cup and six times in the Tennohai, including the winner against Cerezo Osaka.

That's a grand total of 32 for the three domestic competitions, which is a fine effort.

During 2003 I had a couple of long chats with Jubilo's Dutch keeper, Arno Van Zwam, about Gral's qualities.

Arno said that Gral, basically, was a penalty box poacher who did all his work close to the goal.

His goals were not spectacular, said Arno, but Gral had the natural instinct to be in the right place at the right time and put a loose ball into the net.

This is no doubt true, but maybe Gral's game developed a bit after Arno left the club and returned to Holland.

Against S-Pulse in the Tennohai semifinals he scored once, thanks to great work by Maeda, and played a part in Jubilo's other three goals.

His pass to release Nishi, who then crossed for Naruoka to head home, was a wonderful piece of play.

In the final he gave a lesson in finishing to all Japanese strikers. Collecting an accurate first-time pass from Maeda, Gral showed his control and composure in a tight situation to beat Yanagimoto in the penalty box and then slide the ball past the keeper into the corner.

It was a beautiful finish, worthy of winning a scrappy match in which Cerezo lost their shape in the second half and Jubilo took over.

So Jubilo and Gral emerged as winners, and Takahara is now just a distant memory.

ends

31 Dec 2003(Wed)

They say that 2004 is the Year of the Monkey.

But in Japan could it be the Year of the Yoshito?

The dynamic young Cerezo Osaka striker was never out of the news in 2003.

Sometimes the news was good, such as gaining the most votes in the history of the J.League all-star game, scoring 16 goals in J1 and making his national team debut at the age of 20 against South Korea in May.

Other times it was bad: 14 yellow cards and two red cards in the league, plus his sending-off against Korea in the East Asian Football Championship for his second yellow card, diving in the penalty box. Zico defended Okubo after the game, but he had no right to. The referee was correct in his view.

Since then Okubo has gone on to shoot Cerezo into the Tennohai final on New Year's Day against Jubilo Iwata.

His two goals against Antlers in the semifinal were magnificent: first the diving header to an excellent right-wing cross from Sakemoto, then the powerful shot into the top corner from 30 meters. The club is hoping that Okubo has learned his lesson after the red card against Korea, and that he starts to behave with more responsibility.

He's still only 21, though, and is still growing up as a professional footballer and as a person. He has a fiery character on the pitch, and this is what makes him stand out from the crowd.

Hopefully he can retain this fire and energy but channel it in the right direction, and not commit needless fouls or argue futilely with the referee.

Japan will need a fit and focused Okubo in 2004, as he faces Olympic friendlies and Asian qualifying games for Athens, then possibly the Games themselves in Greece in August; national team friendlies and the first round of World Cup qualifying for Germany 2006, plus the Asian Cup in China in July; as well as a busy season with his club.

The last thing Okubo needs is a mountain of yellow and red cards.

2003 was a breakout year for Okubo, but 2004 can be even better.

Let's see how he starts the new year against Jubilo Iwata.

A fantastic goal?

A red card?

Maybe both.

ends

29 Dec 2003(Mon)

It still surprises me how much money Japanese clubs throw away on foreign players, especially from Brazil, whom they seem to know little about.

Maybe it's because they think it's glamorous and exotic to bring in a new Brazilian, and they hope to hit the jackpot by finding a future national team star.

Other clubs are learning their lesson, though, and some of the transfers, or proposed transfers, I have heard about recently suggest common sense is prevailing.

First there is Amaral, released by FC Tokyo and now with Shonan Bellmare.

This is a smart move by Bellmare, as they know exactly what they are getting. Amaral might be old, 37, but he has demonstrated he is a true professional, gives everything for the team, keeps himself fit and inspires the younger players.

Signing a known quantity makes more such sense than in putting your trust in an agent with only money on his mind.

I also hear Gamba Osaka are trying to sign Sidiclei from Vissel Kobe. He's another J.League "veteran," and I have always been impressed with his attitude and play.

He may not be a "star," but he is a reliable, dedicated professional who can play at the back, in midfield and score goals.

Gamba have thrown billions of yen down the drain on foreign players, but with Sidiclei they know they would be getting value for money.

Another one looking for a club is Marcelo Baron.

He is not being retained by Cerezo Osaka, despite a reasonable haul of nine goals in his first season, and is attracting interest from J1 and J2 clubs.

Baron, too, has always done his job, first with Ventforet Kofu in the JFL, then JEF United and Shimizu S-Pulse.

He has always scored goals, and is a hard-working, conscientious player.

The club that signs him, just like with Amaral and Sidiclei, will be getting a good deal.

As I said before, clubs don't have to gamble consistently overseas, when they often end up losing money to agents and overpaid, over-rated Brazilians.

ends

25 Dec 2003(Thu)

Yokohama F Marinos' hopes of winning the league and cup "double" have gone after Kashima Antlers beat them 4-1 in the Emperor's Cup quarterfinal on Tuesday.

Back in my home country England, the "double" of league championship and F.A. Cup is much coveted by the clubs.

But it's not the same here due to the awkward timing of the Emperor's Cup, which starts in earnest after the league has been decided and when players, and fans, need a break at the end of the year.

This is why Marinos manager Takeshi Okada admitted it was "good for us" to be eliminated from the Emperor's Cup as early as December 23.

"The Emperor's Cup is not so important for us because some players have no motivation and some foreign players want to go back home," Oka-chan said after the defeat by Antlers.

"This tournament is very difficult for professional teams, and also we need rest time for next season because we have the (Asian) Champions League on February 11, so it's good for us."

Okada has hit the nail on the head with these comments, and the Japan Football Association should take a long, hard look at what was once the showpiece event of the football season.

This is the 83rd edition of the Emperor's Cup, and I must admit I thoroughly enjoy watching the matches because they are usually played in perfect football conditions: bright winter sunshine, quite cold but far from freezing.

The final on New Year's Day is always a grand occasion, and attracts a big audience to the National Stadium.

But is it worth keeping all the professional teams hanging around for up to a month after the league season has finished?

It's a difficult situation for the JFA, but changes must be made in the near future.

Not that Okada was trying to take anything away from Kashima after their excellent victory.

The resilience and hunger of the Antlers players continues to set an example to the rest of the league, although I wish Motoyama and Fukai would stop pretending to be injured all the time.

The match ended with Yoo Sang Chul furious because Sogahata followed the bad example of those two and also stayed down.

Come on guys, just get up and get on with it!

ends

22 Dec 2003(Mon)

The J.League attracted a record number of spectators to its competitions in 2003, almost 6.8 million.

This beats the previous best mark for a single season, 6.44 million, in 1995.

The reason is not a mystery, though.

Because the answer can be found in the X-Files.

Sorry, I mean the AlbireX Files!

Of all 28 J.League clubs, Albirex Niigata recorded the highest average home attendance in 2003, a staggering 30,339, as they won the second division championship.

This figure left behind the likes of Urawa Reds (28,855), Yokohama F Marinos (24,957) and FC Tokyo (24,932), who were the three best supported clubs in the top flight.

The average crowd in J1 was 17,351, the highest since 1994 (19,598) and the third best in the league's 11-year history after 1994 and the opening season's mark of 17,976 in 1993.

This is very encouraging news for the J.League, and a clear sign that the game is taking root around the country.

The J.League's target for J1 next season is an average of 20,000, which means an increase of around 2,600 fans per game in 2004.

With Albirex in the first division, this is a realistic goal, even though J1 has lost Vegalta Sendai, whose average home crowd in 2003 was 21,708.

Kazuki Sasaki, a director and the general secretary of the J.League, said this week that the 2001 Confederations Cup had been a turning point for the people of Niigata.

This had shown them the excitement of football, he said, and from this they went on to support their hometown team.

"They know Niigata is not at a world level, but they like to be part of one big group and show their support for their team," said Sasaki.

"Even when they lose, this makes their unity stronger. They have pride in Niigata, and they have a chance to show this by supporting Albirex."

It is difficult to see much J2 during the season, as the matches usually clash with J1.

But Niigata will be a popular destination for fans and media alike next season, to see the Big Swan turned into a sea of orange.

This season was record-breaking in terms of aggregate attendance for J1, J2, Nabisco Cup, all-star soccer and Xerox Super Cup, but with Albirex fans in J1 next year, I think an average of 20,000 is not out of reach.

ends

18 Dec 2003(Thu)

I have to admit I was very surprised, and even more disappointed, when I learned that Emerson would be named J.League MVP for 2003.

I thought the MVP had to come fromYokohama F Marinos, who had won both stages of the J.League, and in my opinion there were three candidates: Yuji Nakazawa, Daisuke Oku and Tatsuhiko Kubo.

My own choice was the defender Nakazawa, who, in the words of manager Takeshi Okada, had emerged as the mood-maker of the team on and off the pitch.

I thought a Marinos player deserved the award, but I don't think Emerson did.

But calm down Reds fans!

I am not saying for a minute that he is not a good player.

Of course he is, as his pace and his finishing power make him a proven match-winner. On pure natural ability, Emerson is probably the best player in the league.

I would go as far as to say he is too good for the J.League, and that he would be a success in a major league in Europe. Whether a European club would be willing to pay what Urawa pays him, though, is a different matter.

But with a high salary comes responsibility, to teammates, coaches, the club and to the fans. All the foreign players in Japan should feel this, as they are in a privileged position playing here.

This is where Emerson lets himself down.

Manager Hans Ooft told me toward the end of the season that Emerson had been fined a total of $60,000 during the year for turning up late at training.

But I am more concerned with Emerson's attitude on the pitch.

I don't like players who dive and roll around feigning serious injury to try and get opponents booked or even sent off.

I know Emerson gets fouled regularly because he is so dangerous and fast, but there are many occasions when he play-acts and tries to con the referee.

Take, for example, the home game against Verdy, who were top of J1 with just four games to go.

Reds were beating them comfortably 2-0 when, just before halftime, Emerson tried to win a penalty with a dive. He was shown the yellow card, resulting in a two-match suspension.

The two matches he missed were away to Shimizu and Nagoya. Reds needed their goal-scoring ace at this critical time of the season, but they lost both matches and were out of the title race.

I may be being too harsh on Emerson, but I believe he cost his team a chance of winning the second stage. As I said, as a well-paid foreign player he had a responsibility to the club and to the fans.

Is this an MVP?

As a player, yes, he is a match-winner, but I think fair play must come into the reckoning, too.

I think it was a bad choice by the J.League, as Emerson does not set the right example to Japanese players or to youngsters watching the game.

ends

15 Dec 2003(Mon)

Yokohama F Marinos manager Takeshi Okada believes his central defender Yuji Nakazawa should be named J.League MVP at the official awards ceremony Monday.

Oka-chan, who guided Yokohama to a two-stage slam in his first season as manager, says Nakazawa emerged as the life and soul of the team during the campaign.

"I always knew he was a good defender in one-on-one situations, but I was surprised by his positioning and his covering," Okada said recently at the club's training ground in Higashi Totsuka.

"He has improved his decision-making on the pitch, and his mentality is very strong.

"He is always positive and never lets his head go down." Okada described the 25-year-old national team defender as a solid and reliable professional.

"He always makes the mood of the team, on the training pitch and during a game," said Okada, Japan's head coach at the 1998 World Cup in France.

The other player Okada named from his championship-winning team was Olympic squad member Daisuke Nasu, who has been a revelation in central midfield.

Nasu is one of three players nominated for the Rookie of the Year, and seems certain to get the vote ahead of forward Masaki Fukai (Kashima Antlers) and central defender Mitsuru Nagata (Kashiwa Reysol).

Yokohama's South Korean defender, Yoo Sang Chul, has a different opinion to his manager Okada in his choice for MVP.

Yoo thinks that Marinos captain Daisuke Oku should be given the honor. "His play has been very consistent throughout the season. But not only that, he has shown a strong mentality to lead the team," said Yoo, South Korea's captain at the East Asian Championship.

It is interesting to hear the opinions of the people in the know, and basically the choice comes down to Nakazawa, Oku or Tatsuhiko Kubo, who scored some crucial goals in the second stage to keep Marinos in the hunt.

But who is going to argue with Oka-chan?

After all, he got everything else right this season.

ends

11 Dec 2003(Thu)

I am sure Zico is learning a lot about his J.League players during the East Asian Football Championship.

After all, he had no choice but to pick them and test them as the dates of the tournament fall outside the dates set aside for international matches by FIFA.

This meant he could not bring back his players from Europe, and I think that has been a good thing for Zico.

In the recent past, when Japan have played many friendlies at home, Zico has always tried to put out his strongest team.

Not only has this angered some of the clubs, especially Hamburg SV, but it's also given the players a hectic schedule.

Life is already tough enough for them in Europe just trying to get in the team and then holding on to their position, without the extra burden of being absent for a few days.

On top of this, Zico's policy has deprived the J.League players a taste of international football, which is played at a different rhythm and has different pressures to club football.

So, in this respect, it has been beneficial for Zico to pick the J.League players and watch them closely at this level. He needs a squad, not just a team, as injuries and suspensions will affect his selection in the World Cup qualifying campaign starting February.

As we prepare for the Japan-Korea showdown at International Stadium Yokohama on Wednesday night, Toshiya Fujita must be wondering if it was worth coming back all the way from Holland.

I really don't know why Zico selected him, because it looks like he might not even get the chance to play.

After Tuesday's training session, Zico said he planned to start the game with Ogasawara, who didn't train Tuesday because of a hamstring injury and other niggling ailments.

In his absence from training, Oku was playing with the first team, and Fujita was with the rest of the reserves.

Zico said Fujita may have to stay on the bench the whole game, or he may get a chance during the match.

Anyway, Zico said he liked Fujita's personality and spirit, so the player would be of value off the pitch if not on it.

If I had been Zico--and don't we all think we could be a good national coach!--I would have left all the players in Europe for this tournament, and concentrated only on the J.League.

My choice would have been JEF United's Hanyu. He would have been a good backup for Ogasawara and Oku, and the experience would have been good for him.

Hanyu has just finished his second full season as a professional out of university, and I think he is a very clever and, as Troussier would say, a very interesting player.

Maybe Fujita will play after all against Korea, but I still think it's a missed chance by Zico to expand his squad and look for fresh talent.

ends

8 Dec 2003(Mon)

It was inevitable that one Japanese striker would score his first goal for the national team at the East Asian Football Championship.

After all, of the four players designated as strikers on the official team list, none of them had scored once for Japan.

In the build-up to the game against China in Tokyo on Wednesday, this lack of goals from the forwards had been a major talking point at the training sessions.

But it took Japan only four minutes and 30 seconds to find the net, thanks to an early goal from Tatsuhiko Kubo.

The Yokohama F Marinos forward scored again 10 minutes from time, after earlier hitting the post. Entering the match with no goals in 14 previous appearances, albeit many of them as a late substitute, Kubo now has two in 15, and should get more against Hong Kong at Saitama on Sunday.

This situation reminded me of a joke in England about our poor public transport system, namely the bus service: that you wait at the bus stop for an hour, and then two come at once!

Although Kubo said the statistic had not been on his mind, I am sure those two goals will have lifted a psychological barrier in his play.

His first goal owed much to the tenacity and vision of Ogasawara. At first I was groaning when Ogasawara's poor free kick on the left went straight to a Chinese player, but the Antlers playmaker quickly regained possession and chipped the ball over the top into the path of Kubo.

In typical, fearless style, Kubo bulldozed his way through a defender and the goalkeeper before knocking the ball into the net with his right foot...another unusual occurence from this predominantly left-footed player.

His second goal was very coolly exectuted, as he broke away in the inside-right channel and finished in style with his left.

I think Japan will beat Hong Kong well, but the Korea game on Wednesday will be tough.

As for Kubo's strike partner, Yoshito Okubo, he is still waiting for that first goal. At the moment he looks to have caught the "Yanagisawa Syndrome"--doing everything right but then snatching at his chances.

The Chinese keeper made a great save from Okubo in a one-on-one situation in the first half, and in the second he hit the crossbar when he should have hit the net.

He will not have a better chance to open his goals account than against Hong Kong. I am sure he will score in this game, so relax Yoshito fans!

If only Yoshito would relax, too, in front of goal.

ends

4 Dec 2003(Thu)

The December edition of the London-based World Soccer monthly magazine has a picture of Rivaldo on the front cover.

"Barcelona, Milan...Spurs? Where next for Brazil's wandering star?" says the headline.

As you can see, there is no mention of FC Tokyo.

I first heard rumours linking FC Tokyo with Rivaldo at the end of last week, but forgot about it very quickly.

Then I heard it again on Monday, and that got me thinking.

First, could it be true?

Second, how could they afford to pay him?

Third, do they need him?

As a journalist, of course I should have called the club and checked out the story. I didn't, because if they said it was completely untrue it would ruin this very interesting talking point.

First, I hope it is not true, and I am sure this is so.

FC Tokyo is one of the best-run clubs in the league. They rarely make a bad signing, and, from what I can gather, they have a very sensible pay structure.

My admiration for Jean Witte in defense and Kelly in the attacking midfield role is well documented, as I think they are two of the best and most consistent overseas players in Japan. I don't know the figures, but I assume they are excellent value for money.

The signing of Rivaldo might be a good publicity stunt, but the club would have to pay him a fortune. Would this unsettle the harmony of the squad?

Would the cost put too much pressure on the club's finances?

More to the point, would he get in the team?

FC Tokyo is built for speed, with Ishikawa on the right and Toda on the left.

Kelly brings everything together perfectly on the attacking front.

While FC Tokyo need a new center forward to replace Amaral, this is not the role for Rivaldo.

As a point of discussion, not fact, I could see only one place for Rivaldo in the FC Tokyo team, and that's replacing Miyazawa at left "volante."

Let's face it, Rivaldo hasn't played much recently, and would his fitness and stamina be high enough to keep up with Hiromi Hara's flying, aggressive young team.

I am sure the reports are just speculation.

In fact I hope so, as I think it would be a bad move for FC Tokyo to get involved in deals like this.

It is not the path J.League clubs should be going down. It only leads to ruin.

ends

1 Dec 2003(Mon)

Throughout his coaching career, Takeshi Okada has always come across as a deep thinker and a very pragmatic manager.

So I was a little surprised to hear a story he told me when I called in at the Yokohama F Marinos training ground at Higashi Totsuka this week.

Looking ahead to Saturday's home game against Jubilo Iwata, Oka-chan said he had dreamed of this situation even before the fixture list for the 2003 season had been published.

"I dreamed that we would be playing Jubilo in the last game of the season, competing for the championship," he said.

"We beat Jubilo to become champions, and there were a lot of people at Yokohama."

When the fixture list came out, Jubilo and Marinos opened the first stage at Shizuoka Ecopa, and met again on the final day of the second stage at International Stadium Yokohama.

"The dream is coming true," said Oka-chan.

"It's a very good position to be in, and we are happy to play in this situation."

In his dream, Okada said Marinos had beaten Jubilo by either 2-1 or 3-2. The important thing was, he said, for it to be an entertaining game with lots of good football and a few goals.

Looking at the top of the table going into this 15th and final second-stage game, Jubilo (26 points) hold a two-point advantage over second-placed Kashima Antlers (24), and Marinos and JEF United are a further point back with 23.

Like most J.League observers this week, I have tried to calculate all eventualities regarding the Marinos-Jubilo and Reds-Antlers games.

The most likely scenario, for me anyway, is for Marinos and Jubilo to draw, and for Antlers not to win, which would be enough for Jubilo to win the title.

I know Antlers have vast experience in this situation, but I think Reds will beat them with Emerson back from suspension. He is just too hot to handle.

When Emerson does not play, Reds are not the same force, because opposing defenders can concentrate more on marking Tanaka and Nagai, and Yamase supporting them from midfield.

Oka-chan's dream did not include Antlers, and neither did his preparations for the Jubilo game.

"We can't think about if Antlers or winning or losing. We have to concentrate only on winning our match against Jubilo. There is no pressure on us, because all we can do is our best. After that, only God knows what will happen."

A Marinos victory at home to Jubilo, together with a draw or defeat for Kashima, would give Oka-chan's men the title on goal difference. This is perfectly possible, too.

It is not such a dream after all.

ends

27 Nov 2003(Thu)

It was happy and sad at the same time to be at Ichihara Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Sad because JEF United's chances of winning the second stage virtually disappeared after being held to a 1-1 draw by Oita Trinita.

Happy because of the reception the players got from their loyal fans after the final whistle. The players had given it their all, but on the day and over the year they just weren't good enough.

With just one game to play, JEF still have a mathematical chance of winning the stage, but it would be close to a miracle for the results of the other matches to fall in their favour.

So basically we are down to just three teams: Jubilo Iwata, who play at Yokohama F Marinos on Saturday, and Kashima Antlers, who are at Saitama against Urawa Reds in a Nabisco Cup final re-run. I think a draw would be good enough for Jubilo.

Three points on Sunday would have put JEF in the melting pot, too, but sadly it wasn't to be.

They fell behind in the first half, eventually equalised with a poacher's goal from Choi Yong Soo and then went in search of the winner.

Their problem, I thought, was that they pushed and panicked too early.

When "Our Korean Eagle" made it 1-1, there was still 28 minutes to play, but JEF played like the match was in injury time, and left themselves exposed at the back to Oita counter-attacks.

One thing I admire about JEF is that they keep their shape as a team. I know this is the kind of phrase and jargon that coaches and technical directors like to use, but it is vitally important.

This is essential in a five-man midfield, with Abe and the excellent Sato controlling the play, Sakamoto and Murai on the wings and Hanyu playing behind the two strikers.

I like Abe a lot, but his passing was not accurate Sunday in the heat of the battle.

Even Choi was affected by the pressure. He snatched at a couple of chances he would have buried earlier in the season, and in the first half, surprisingly, declined to shoot for goal himself, instead looking to pick out a teammate.

Manager Ivica Osim said he feared this result would happen, and that JEF was the kind of team not to win this important match.

This has been a familiar pattern at home this season, in the first and second stages.

But for a team with a small but hardy following (especially in those cold and windy conditions), JEF have done a brave job for the underdogs this season.

Their fans should be proud of them, not disappointed.

ends

23 Nov 2003(Sun)

Something was stirring on the Jubilo Iwata bench, and the thousands of visiting fans at Ajinomoto Stadium were quick to respond.

It was the biggest cheer of the match so far, as Masashi Nakayama prepared to enter the arena like a modern-day gladiator.

Jubilo trailed Tokyo Verdy 1-0 when Nakayama ran on to replace Ryoichi Maeda in the 81st minute.

Seconds later it was 1-1 when Rodrigo Gral headed a beautiful equaliser from Aleksandar Zivkovic's right-wing corner. Surely all the Verdy defenders must have been watching Gon, and forgetting about the Brazilian.

Six minutes later it was 2-1 to Jubilo, when a low cross from Yasumasa Nishino was deflected into his own goal by the very unlucky Atsu Miura.

It was cruel on Verdy, but Jubilo deserved their win as they had created many clearcut openings.

After the game, the talk was all about one man: Nakayama.

It was his first appearance in the J.League since May, and his presence had turned a 1-0 defeat into a vital 2-1 victory within minutes.

With two matches to go, it seems that everything is falling into place for Jubilo at just the right time.

I thought they were very fortunate to be awarded a late penalty to beat Sendai 1-0 recently, and then Miura's own goal gave them another timely win.

After the match I spoke to Zivkovic, who has taken over from Toshiya Fujita on the left side of midfield and is enjoying his run in the team.

"After the game it occured to me that we had scored both goals after Nakayama came in, so maybe that means something," said Zivkovic, who still talks to his good friend Arno Van Zwam once a week on his mobile. (Arno is now playing for NAC Breda in the Dutch league, by the way).

"He is very important for the team and always gives a positive energy for us. It is good for him also, because he has been training very hard.

"For almost three months he went out on the pitch and did physical training and then did gym work in the cluhouse. He deserved that today, and maybe we won for him."

It really was a remarkable turnaround by Jubilo, and there could be no denying the inspirational part Gon played in that victory.

Even though he has been absent for a long time this season, Gon has not gone just yet.

ends

20 Nov 2003(Thu)

One minute Patrick Mboma thought his international career was over, the next he was back in business.

This was the unusual scenario after Sunday's J.League game between Tokyo Verdy 1969 and Jubilo Iwata.

Myself and a colleague from another English language newspaper in Tokyo went to talk to Mboma after the game, to get his comments about the match and also about Wednesday's friendly between Japan and Cameroon at Oita.

At that time, Mboma was not in the squad, having been overlooked by Cameroon's German coach, Winnie Schaefer.

Patrick, naturally, was very upset and disappointed, as the Cameroon players are like a family and have an extra special bond after the death of teammate Marc-Vivien Foe at the Confederations Cup in June.

I asked Patrick if he thought his international career was over.

"Probably," he said.

Then Patrick's mobile telephone rang.

It was Schaefer, inviting him to join up with the squad at Oita. Earlier in the conversation, he had said he would not travel to Oita to watch the match. He would stay at home and watch it on TV because it would be too painful to be there but not be a part of the group.

"I want to change my comments!" said Patrick, after finishing his conversation with Schaefer.

"My international career is not finished!" he said, relieved and proud.

Patrick had been with the Cameroon players the previous week at a benefit match for the family of Foe in Lyon, and he thought that might be the final time he would play with them.

It was clear that the players wanted Mboma to be with them in Oita. He said they had spoken to the coach about it, and Schaefer had decided to call him up.

A bit of player power in evidence here, then.

Mboma feels he still has something to offer Cameroon with his experience and also with his play, and his presence will add some spice to Wednesday's occasion.

The Japanese defenders might not agree, though.

ends

17 Nov 2003(Mon)

Have you been following the women's volleyball World Cup on Fuji TV recently?

Yes, so have I, and it makes for gripping viewing I believe.

When the tournament started two weeks ago I was able to attend two matches at Yoyogi Gymansium, and was particularly impressed with Japan's victory over South Korea.

What always stands out for me is the behaviour of the Japanese players on the court.

There seems to be a great team spirit, but, more than that, all the players are constantly encouraging one another, shouting advice, listening to instructions.

At one point, the head coach came to the side of the court and his captain could not hear him due to the noise, even though they were standing next to each other.

OK, so I am supposed to be writing about football!

Well, the point of this is that Zico compared the two sports at a press conference Monday to announce his squad for the game against Cameroon at Oita on Wednesday.

One reporter raised the subject of lack of communication in the Japan football team, and Zico said basically that his players could learn from the volleyball. Zico himself had attended the Cuba-Brazil match at Sendai and had been impressed with the level of communication.

I totally agree with Zico on this point (maybe this is the first time I have agreed with him!)

Two days later, on Wednesday, I went to National Stadium for the Japan-Australia under-20 international. Japan lost 1-0 to a penalty kick early in the second half, but could have gone behind much earlier.

On several occasions in the first half, there was clearly no communication between goalkeeper Kawashima and his defenders when a long ball was played over the top.

Both the keeper and a defender went for the same ball, creating confusion, and a sharper team would have capitalized on this weakness.

Back in my playing days in England, only on a Sunday morning in a local pub league, there was more communication than in the Japan under-20 team.

In a situation like that, my goalkeeper would have been heard on the other side of the park, maybe the other side of the town, as he raced off his line, shouted "Keeeeepeeeer" to make sure everyone got out of the way, and then he would either pick it up or clear it.

It was basic football, with communication at the heart of it. I feel the Japanese players must be more outgoing, more passionate and more emotional on the field, and tell each other what's going on.

Just like in the women's volleyball.

ends

13 Nov 2003(Thu)

There were two very different schools of thought in evidence by two managers in the J.League at the weekend.

I am referring to Hans Ooft at Urawa Reds and Hiroshi Soejima at Vissel Kobe, and they involved players who were in danger of being suspended before their latest games.

First Urawa.

Their Brazilian ace Emerson went into Saturday's home game against Verdy with two yellow cards against his name. This meant if he picked up another yellow card against Verdy, he would face a two-match suspension as it would be his second ban of the second stage.

In true Emerson style, he scored Reds' first two goals on the way to a 5-1 victory, but, with his team leading 2-0 just before halftime, he dived in the Verdy box to try and win a penalty.

The result? A yellow card for Emerson, his sixth of the second stage, meaning he will miss two of Urawa's last three games when they really need him most.

After the game I asked Ooft if he had considered substituting Emerson when Urawa led 2-0, to prevent him from being shown a yellow card.

Ooft said my thinking was too negative. "At 2-0 the game was not safe, and Verdy scored early in the second half to give us a problem at 2-1," said the Dutchman.

"I don't like to gamble. It makes no sense."

From Komaba Stadium on Saturday we move to Ajinomoto Stadium on Sunday, for FC Tokyo against Vissel Kobe.

The player in question is Bismarck, the former Verdy and Antlers star signed to try and save Vissel from relegation.

Bismarck also went into the match on two yellow cards, and with Vissel trailing 4-0, Soejima took him off after 69 minutes.

The decision was purely because Soejima did not want Bismarck to be booked late in the game with the match already lost, and therefore earn a one-match suspension.

This was an interesting, pragmatic move by Soejima, who could count himself very unlucky to be on the wrong end of a 4-1 beating.

I am not taking anything away from FC Tokyo, who play bright, attacking football, but I thought the home team's best player was goalkeeper Yoichi Doi!

He made some fantastic saves, especially in the first half, when FC Tokyo would simply go to the other end and score a goal.

An early Doi save from a Sidiclei thunderbolt was matched by a deft palm over the bar from a Bismarck free kick.

If I had been Ooft against Verdy, I would have taken off Emerson at 2-0 to save him from himself, whereas Bismarck will be back this weekend as a key player for Vissel Kobe.

ends

10 Nov 2003(Mon)

Hands up all those J.League fans who thought that Tokyo Verdy 1969 were taking a big risk in signing Patrick Mboma.

Yes, my hand is up, too.

I have to admit I was a bit surprised when I heard that Mboma was returning to Japan at the start of this season.

After all, he hadn't played much in recent seasons, for Parma and then briefly for Sunderland, and I wondered if, at 32 years of age, he could still do a job for Verdy over the entire campaign.

But Verdy and Mboma have proved the doubters, including me, wrong.

As we enter the 12th round of second stage matches this weekend, Verdy lead the table with 20 points from 11 games, and Mboma is the club's leading scorer with 13 goals in 19 appearances. This puts him in sixth place on the scorers chart, only four behind Jubilo's Rodrigo Gral, who has netted 17 in significantly more games, 25.

Although the Cameroon star will not match his 1997 total of 25 in 28 games for Gamba Osaka, Mboma can still feel satisfied with his output.

But Verdy, of course, didn't sign him just for his goals.

They needed an experienced and inspirational leader to replace Edmundo, who did such a great job in the Verdy green.

Watching the Verdy training at Yomiuri Land on Friday morning, it's easy to see why Mboma is so important to the Verdy cause.

He lives and breathes football, and this must be infectious to his teammates who have not grown up in the same football culture.

Even in a practice match on a pitch one quarter the size of a normal field, Mboma's joy at scoring a goal was there for all to see.

After the magical sight and sound of ball hitting net, Mboma would either run away, right arm in the air, as if he'd scored in the World Cup, or pretend to punch the ground in delight.

Both forms of celebration were amusing to watch, as it reveals the sheer enjoyment of playing football and of scoring goals.

I didn't think Mboma had the match fitness to endure the whole season, and while it's true he has missed a few games, he has proved to be an excellent signing not just for the club but also for the J.League in general.

On Sunday, Patrick will represent the club at an Edo Period celebration at Tachikawa from noon to 1pm, and in the evening he will fly to France to take part in a benefit match for the family of his late teammate, Marc-Vivien Foe, at Lyon on Tuesday.

ends

6 Nov 2003(Thu)

A few weeks before his 21st birthday, Urawa Reds striker Tatsuya Tanaka has come of age in the J.League.

Tanaka, who will be 21 on November 27, cleaned up in the individual awards before and after Urawa's stirring 4-0 victory over Kashima Antlers in the Nabisco Cup final on Monday.

The day before the final, Tanaka was named as the competition's New Hero for his form in the earlier rounds.

After the final, Tanaka was announced as the MVP, and there could be little argument over this selection.

Alongside the explosive Brazilian Emerson, Tanaka has formed a fast and dynamic strikeforce for Urawa. They ripped apart Shimizu S-Pulse in the second leg of the semifinal, and did the same to Kashima on Monday.

For the first goal, a great leap and header from Koji Yamase that surprised Yutaka Akita and Hitoshi Sogahata in the Kashima goal, Tanaka sent over a dangerous cross from the right wing his left foot.

The second goal, scored by Emerson, was a sublime finish after a beautiful pass from Hirakawa.

This goal, early in the second half, virtually settled the match, because I just couldn't see Antlers coming back from 2-0 down.

Tanaka made sure of the Reds victory, though, by scoring a magnificent third goal. Collecting the ball on the left, he raced around two defenders before striking a glorious right-foot shot past Sogahata from the edge of the box.

This goal captured all Tanaka's qualities: pace, control, confidence and an instinct for goal. It can't be long before Zico has a look at him for the national team, although the national coach said earlier in the year he didn't really want to mix the Olympic team and national team.

We'll have to see about this, because Tanaka is in superb form and I'm sure would love to be let loose against Cameroon and then in the four-nation East Asian Championship early next month.

Monday was a great day for Reds, spoiled somewhat by manager Hans Ooft's announcement he would be leaving after hearing from a third party that the club president did not want to keep him next season.

Tanaka is just one of the players who has progressed in leaps and bounds this season, and the evidence was there for all to see on Monday.

ends

3 Nov 2003(Mon)

As the tension and excitement mounts ahead of Monday's Nabisco Cup final, I have a strong feeling that Urawa Reds will beat Kashima Antlers at Tokyo's National Stadium.

The same two sides met in last year's final, which Antlers won 1-0 with a deflected shot from Mitsuo Ogasawara.

Urawa could have no complaints last year, as clearly they lacked the big-match experience compared to Kashima.

But this season is different, and I would even go as far as saying that Urawa are the favourites.

This may sound strange, as they have still not won any of the three major domestic trophies since the J.League kicked off in 1993.

I have been very impressed with Urawa in the Nabisco Cup this time.

Especially their 2-0 win away to FC Tokyo in the quarter-final second leg, and then their exhilarating 6-1 victory over Shimizu S-Pulse in the semi-final second leg to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the away game.

Urawa, under the Dutch coaching duo of Hans Ooft and Wim Jansen, were on fire at Komaba, and destroyed a very dispirited S-Pulse team.

Brazilian hot shot Emerson scored a quickfire hat trick early in the second half after strike partner Tatsuya Tanaka had softened up Shimizu with two first-half goals.

There was an urgency and a belief about Reds that night, and I cannot see any reason why they will freeze in the final.

Antlers, too, showed their character in the semifinals by winning at Jubilo Iwata, but the dangerous Masashi Motoyama will be missing after recent surgery, and Hirase and Fernando are both suspended.

Toninho Cerezo's squad is stretched to the limit, and it should be a fascinating battle between Kashima's experienced defense and the Reds' young forwards.

The 55,000 or so tickets sold out in just 15 minutes, 15 minutes quicker than last season, and they have been trading for 80,000 yen on the internet.

This will be a cheap price for any success-starved Reds fans, and I believe they will not be disappointed on Monday afternoon.

I think Urawa will win 2-1.

ends

30 Oct 2003(Thu)

JEF United manager Ivica Osim must be delighted with how the second-stage table looks after 11 of the 15 games.

JEF are in fourth place, but only one point off the pace, and not many people are talking about them as potential second-stage champions.

First-stage champs Yokohama F Marinos and Nabisco Cup finalists Urawa Reds are regarded as the two favourites, more so than even table-topping Tokyo Verdy.

This is exactly what Osim wants.

I had a long, long chat with him at Nihondaira Stadium after JEF had been crushed by Shimizu S-Pulse in the 14th round of the first stage.

Looking ahead to the second stage, he said he didn't want to see his team at the top of the table too early because he felt they could not handle the pressure.

"I hope we can be fourth or fifth and stay close to the top," he said.

"Then we can sprint for the title in the last couple of games."

After last weekend's matches, when none of the leading teams won, JEF are in the perfect position to strike late.

Verdy and Marinos have 20 points, Reds and JEF have 19, and then there is a bit of daylight back to FC Tokyo in fifth place on 17.

But just look at JEF's remaining matches.

After the break for the Nabisco Cup, JEF resume on November 8 against lowly Kyoto Purple Sanga at Nishikyogoku.

A week later they are at home to another team nearer the bottom of the table than the top: Cerezo Osaka.

Then, in the penultimate round of games, JEF are at home to Oita Trinita. Osim will be desperately disappointed if JEF lose one of those three games, and he has every right to feel that they should take all nine points.

The last game of the season could be a title decider, as JEF are away to Tokyo Verdy at Ajinomoto Stadium, on November 29.

Kyoto, Cerezo, Oita and Verdy...the fixture list has been kind to JEF United.

I gather that Choi Yong Soo's late equaliser against Jubilo on Saturday produced tears in the stands from emotional Ichihara supporters.

Maybe there will be a few more tears to come.

But of joy or despair?

We will soon find out.

ends

27 Oct 2003(Mon)

It was a German journalist who once said that Sepp Blatter had 50 new ideas a day...and that 51 of them were bad!

While this is being unkind to the FIFA president, I do welcome the news that FIFA will not now hold its election for president just before the World Cup.

I have attended the last two elections for FIFA president: in Paris in 1998 and in Seoul in 2002.

I could not believe that FIFA held such an important vote in the days before kick off.

At that time, everyone should have been thinking about football and about footballers, but instead the newspapers were full of football politics and behind-the-scenes deals.

In France, Mr. Blatter beat Lennart Johansson for the vacant post after the retirement of Joao Havelange.

In Seoul, Blatter easily held off the challenge of Issa Hayatou to win a second term of office.

Originally, that term of office should have ended in 2006, just before the World Cup in Germany.

But FIFA decided recently that Blatter's term of office would be extended to 2007.

This is not a bad idea at all.

It means everyone will be thinking about football in the build-up to the 2006 World Cup, and politics and presidents will be put where they belong: in the background.

It will also mean that the FIFA president will have several months after the 2006 World Cup to tie up all the loose ends, close the books and sign all the business and financial documents before the election takes place.

Rumour has it that Franz Beckenbauer will run for president in 2007, after overseeing the running of the 2006 World Cup, which will be spectacular I am sure.

Maybe Korea's Chung Mong Joon may also push for president, as he is a very ambitious man from a very ambitious family.

Whatever, it's an excellent move by FIFA to move the year of the election.

ends

23 Oct 2003(Thu)

I know many people are worried about Japan's chances of qualifying for the Athens Olympics football tournament.

But now the draw has been made, those fears must have turned into optimism.

Japan, clearly, has got a kind draw, and will start as the favourite to take the sole qualifying place from Group B.

Just to recap.

Group A comprises South Korea, China, Malaysia and Iran. Group B is Japan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Lebanon. Group C is Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq or North Korea, and Oman.

The winner of each group qualifies for Athens.

South Korea, Japan and Kuwait were the top three seeds, so would head one of the three groups, but the good news for Japan was that they avoided China and Saudi Arabia.

Although I have always been optimistic about Japan's chances, despite the fact the team lacks the personality and the individual quality of the 2000 selection, I was concerned about them meeting China.

I saw Japan play China at the Asian Games in Pusan, Korea, a year ago, and was very impressed with the Chinese.

Japan won the game, in the quarterfinals, 1-0 with an excellent goal from the "Gamba Gon," Nakayama, but I thought China played very well and looked very dangerous.

So I was happy to see China drawn in Group A, where they will have a tremendous battle with both South Korea and Iran.

Peter Velappan, general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation, has described Group A as the Group of Death. This is true, so Group B must be the Group of Life, with Japan having a wonderful opportunity to qualify for the Olympics for the third successive time after Atlanta and Sydney.

Japan, of course, will still face some tough games, especially against the United Arab Emirates, whose teams are always well prepared and well organised because of the amount of money the federation can pay to attract a top coach.

But the fitness, team work and experience of the Japanese players, thanks to the high standards in the J.League, should be enough to see them through.

ends

20 Oct 2003(Mon)

There is no doubt that Yokohama F Marinos are strong enough to win both stages of the J.League this season, just like Jubilo Iwata did last year.

If Takeshi Okada's team can complete a two-stage sweep, the East Asian Football Federation and Zico would all be happy, because this would mean all J.League players would be available for the East Asian nations championship from December 4-10.

If a different team wins the second stage, then the players of Marinos and the second-stage champions would not be available for the East Asian championship, as the two-leg playoff will be held on December 6 and 13.

The J.League, naturally, wants a two-leg playoff, as it will bring lots of cash and exposure to the league.

Chairman Suzuki said last year that the league lost 700 million yen in projected revenue last season because Jubilo did the double. That's a lot of money, even for you rich Japanese!

The league cannot appear to favour any club, of course, but the perfect scenario for them would be this: Urawa Reds to win the second stage, and face Marinos in the playoff.

A full house of 70,000 at International Stadium Yokohama...another full house of 63,000 at Saitama Stadium 2002...the colour and the spectacle would look magnificent on television, and give local football a very high profile at the end of a year dominated largely by baseball: the rise of the Hanshin Tigers and Matsui at the Yankees.

Looking ahead to the East Asian championship, Zico will probably not have any of his leading players from Europe, as the dates are not on FIFA's international calendar, so the clubs would not have to release them.

Without these players, plus the players of Marinos and Reds if they win the second stage, then Zico will have to spread his net wider and call up some new faces.

I think this will be a good test for Zico, too, as he would have to give them a more solid game plan.

Instead of picking the best individual players and leaving captain Nakata to give the orders on the pitch, Zico would have to employ firm tactics and strategy with the players available for tough matches against China and Korea, and an easy one against a weak Hong Kong.

Reds winning the second stage, Zico having a look at some fresh faces...sounds perfect to me.

ends

16 Oct 2003(Thu)

For J.League fans in the capital, all roads will lead to Ajinomoto Stadium on Saturday for the FC Tokyo-Urawa Reds match.

It should be an exciting game, and a great occasion, as the fans of both teams will provide a noisy, colourful spectacle.

In their last home game, FC Tokyo thrashed Kashima Antlers 5-1, and the last time Urawa Reds played, in the Nabisco Cup semifinal second leg, they put six past Shimizu S-Pulse at Komaba.

It's hard to imagine Saturday's game being a 0-0 draw!

Before the FC Tokyo-Antlers match, an FC Tokyo fan asked me to go to Kashiwa on the last day of the second stage, as there would be special FC Tokyo celebrations to mark the final league game of the King of Tokyo, Amaral.

The friendly supporter said Amaral would retire after that game after such distinguished service to the club.

Against Antlers, Amaral had a fine match, scoring once with a back-post header and playing a part in several more goals.

After the game I asked him about his retirement, and this is what he said:

"I think I can continue playing for two more years after this season because my motivation is still strong," said Amaral, who will be 37 years old on Thursday.

"Of course I would like to do that with FC Tokyo if possible, because I like the team and I feel I can help the younger players with my experience.

"But I would also be interested in playing in J2. It gave me great satisfaction to help FC Tokyo get promoted to J1, and I would like the same challenge with another club if it's not possible to stay with FC Tokyo.

"I usually score 15 or 16 goals a season, and this time I have only two in the league. But I feel I am still contributing a lot to the team and creating goals for other players. I am happy with my form because the team is strong."

Amaral will be trying to improve that scoring record against Urawa in what should be a cracking match, as FC Tokyo manager Hiromi Hara faces his old team in another interesting twist.

ends

13 Oct 2003(Mon)

Is your body clock back on time after waking up at 4.25am on Thursday morning to watch Japan against Tunisia?

I am sure all the FC Tokyo fans will have suffered no after-effects from this very early start to the day due to the performances of Akira Kaji and Teruyuki Moniwa.

Both players were making their debut for the national team, and both can be proud of their performance.

Especially Kaji, who showed a very professional, confident and business-like attitude.

He is a very athletic right-back, and came close to scoring a goal late in the second half.

Even though Japan were leading 1-0, Kaji was not content to stay back and defend.

He ran up the right wing, and was sent clear with a neat pass from Takayuki Suzuki.

Kaji then did everything right by sidestepping the advancing goalkeeper and shooting for goal, but his effort was intercepted by the large, burly frame of Tunisia's captain and central defender, Khaled Badra.

Kaji's play, but probably more so his decision to support the attack and take some responsibility, earned the admiration of captain Hidetoshi Nakata.

Moniwa, too, looked at ease alongside Nakazawa in the heart of the defense, and it was Moniwa's pass down the middle which led to Japan's goal, scored beautifully by Yanagisawa.

So what does Zico do now for the Romania game on Saturday night?

Does he keep his makeshift defense of Kaji-Nakazawa-Moniwa-Miura, or recall Yamada, Tsuboi and Santos?

After all, Yamada-Tsuboi-Miyamoto-Santos only became a unit for the Paraguay friendly before the Confederations Cup, after Zico made many changes following the Argentina embarrassment.

But they did not allow a goal against Paraguay, so Zico made them his first-choice defense in France.

Will he do the same with the four who played against Tunisia?

We will find out Saturday evening, when the television broadcaster is hoping for a 20 percent viewer rating. It was only 2.1 for the Tunisia game.

ends

9 Oct 2003(Thu)

As I watched FC Tokyo thrash Kashima Antlers 5-1 at Ajinomoto Stadium on Saturday, I wondered if I was witnessing the end of an era.

The end of an Antlers era which has yielded four league championships since 1996, three Nabisco Cups and two Emperor's Cups.

This was not the Antlers of old, although of course it does not help when a team has two players sent off: Narahashi in the first half for bringing down Toda just outside the box, and Ogasawara in the second half for his second yellow card.

Ogasawara had been booked for a foul on Ishikawa in the first half, and was shown the yellow again after a tussle with Moniwa. I must admit I thought both FC Tokyo players made the most of the situation, especially Moniwa, and the second yellow was harsh on Ogasawara.

But all this should not hide the fact that Antlers crumbled in all areas of the pitch.

Even when FC Tokyo were leading 2-0 in the first half, the home fans were greeting each pass with a taunting cry of "Ole!" as they teased the Antlers players like a matador with an old, exhausted bull. Just like in the bull ring, the result was never in doubt, and FC Tokyo put the victim to the sword with three more goals.

According to an Antlers spokesperson, it was Kashima's heaviest league defeat since 1995, when Bellmare Hiratsuka beat them 7-0.

Kashima's defense is ageing, and the young replacements such as Haneda and Kaneko always seem to be injured.

Before the game I spoke with club president Hiroshi Ushijima, and he said the unlucky Koji Nakata might not play again until the second stage of next season after his knee operation.

Antlers miss Koji's guile and craft in midfield, although I have great hopes for Aoki, who could be one of the best players Japan has ever produced.

Up front, Yanagisawa and Suzuki are on loan to clubs in Europe, Hasegawa has retired, Euller was injured, and this left Hirase and rookie Fukai, with teenager Nakashima coming off the bench.

Antlers are clearly struggling for goals, and I think a second-stage challenge is beyond them this season.

Their fans have been fed a constant diet of trophies, but will have to be patient for the time being.

A final word for the FC Tokyo club. Saturday's "Brazil Day" was a lively, colourful spectacle, drawing almost 30,000 to the stadium. The home team rose to the occasion, and the goal announcements, in Portuguese, must have really shaken Antlers manager Toninho Cerezo.

There is a lot of work ahead to turn Antlers into the Mean Machine of recent years.

ends

5 Oct 2003(Sun)

It's Brazil Day at FC Tokyo's home game against Kashima Antlers on Saturday, but all eyes will be on a young Japanese player about to win his first cap for the national team.

After the exotic samba dancers have greeted fans and staged a mini-Rio Carnival parade at Ajinomoto Stadium, FC Tokyo right back Akira Kaji will be trying to show why Zico has picked him against Tunisia in Tunis on Oct. 8.

The selection of the Hyogo-born 23-year-old defender was a surprise to many, especially as he lost his place in the FC Tokyo lineup to Waseda University student Yuhei Tokunaga earlier this season. But the club's managing director, Yutaka Murabayashi, never had any doubts about Kaji's ability.

"Before the season started, in January and February, I was always saying that Kaji would be a candidate for the national team this year," said Murabayashi.

"So it's not a big surprise for me. I talked with him on Tuesday after his selection, but he's always cool so it's difficult to know how he was feeling.

"But his friends in the team say he is really excited about it." Murabayashi added that Kaji showed great resolve to fight his way back into the team after Olympic squad member Tokunaga had replaced him.

"Tokunaga was playing well so Kaji found himself on the bench.

"But he didn't complain or anything. He made a big effort in training and had a positive attitude off the pitch. Everyone at the club was very impressed with him during this time, and I'm sure the experience has made him a stronger character," said Murabayashi.

The club holds a Brazil Day once a season at home, and Murabayashi is expecting a crowd of around 35,000 for the visit of championship-chasing Kashima.

Fans will be able to drink Brazilian beer and eat Brazilian food, and the ambassdor of Brazil will be a special guest.

FC Tokyo will also present flowers to the Brazilian players of both teams, as well as to Antlers manager Toninho Cerezo, before the kickoff.

But there the generosity ends.

"We can still win the second stage," said Murabayashi.

"We are only five points off the top with seven games to go, so the first thing is to win our four home games, starting against Kashima.

"This will be our fifth Brazil Day and we've won on the previous four occasions."

ends

2 Oct 2003(Thu)

Before the start of this season I spent an afternoon at the Kyoto Purple Sanga training ground.

The purpose of my visit was to interview German coach Gert Engels, who has experienced many ups and downs during his time in the J.League, first with Yokohama Flugels, then JEF United and with Kyoto.

We spoke about Japanese players in Europe, and Gert singled out one player for a special mention.

"Of all the players I've worked with in Japan, the one I thought most would be a big success in Europe was Atsuhiro Miura," said Gert.

"He had everything...technique, physical strength, good at free kicks and corners, crossing the ball...I was convinced he would have had no problems in Europe because his playing style suited European football."

Atsu, of course, never made it to Europe, but he did make it into the national team.

He has won 16 caps for Japan, scoring one goal, and, after a lengthy absence, received a deserved call-up this week for Japan's two-match mini-tour of north Africa and eastern Europe.

With Alessandro Santos unavailable for the first game against Tunisia on October 8 because of the Nabisco Cup semifinal second leg, Zico needed a new left-back.

Hence his decision to have a look at Atsu, who is now 29, the oldest of the eight defenders chosen.

He seems to have been plagued by injuries and fitness problems in recent years, and came close to disappearing off the radar altogether at Tokyo Verdy.

But he has played a major part in the Verdy renaissance under Ossie Ardiles, and Zico feels he is ready to step up on to the international stage.

Apart from the qualities listed by Engels above, I also think Miura's long throw-ins are another weapon for Japan, as they are as good as a corner kick in penetrating the opposition penalty area.

Like Naoki Soma, injured at the moment, Miura is a right-footed left-back who can beat his marker on the outside and cross, or on the inside and shoot.

Zico has shown that if a player plays well, he keeps his place, working on the basis that "a player is only as good as his last game."

So if Atsu does the business against Tunisia, who I expect to be big, heavy and slow, maybe he will keep his place for the Romania game in Bucharest three days later.

ends

28 Sep 2003(Sun)

Japan's overseas-based players are in the news at the moment as the European season gets into full swing.

It looks like Zico is going to call up many, if not all, of them for the two friendly matches against Tunisia and Romania early next month.

A regular and always interesting topic of debate in Japan is which players out of the J.League will be the next to join them in Europe.

Every fan will have his or her own ideas, and there is never a "right" or a "wrong" answer because most of the players we talk about will probably never get a chance to play in Europe.

We always think about outfield players and frequently forget about the goalkeepers, but I believe Seigo Narazaki would be a success in Europe.

His height, 1.85 meters, is adequate for a keeper, but a frame of 76 kg seems a little light. He would have to bulk up if he went to, say, England, ready for the rough and tumble of the penalty box against bruising center forwards and central defenders.

But I think Narazaki has matured into Japan's best keeper, leaving the unfortunate Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi way behind. Hitoshi Sogahata is now his chief rival for the starting spot.

Narazaki commands his penalty area, and is better in the air than Kawaguchi in deciding when to leave his line and come for crosses. He is also an excellent, brave shot-stopper, but most keepers are. It is their positional play and judgment that makes the difference.

With Narazaki's team, Nagoya Grampus Eight, at the top of the J.League heading into this weekend, I spoke to central defender Andrej Panadic about his keeper on Friday.

"He is very safe, very good," said the big Croatian.

"He has a very, very good personality and that is why he is the captain."

Panadic said Narazaki's biggest problem was a lack of communication, which is absolutely vital for a goalkeeper in working with his defenders.

"Sometimes he is a little bit quiet, but most Japanese players are like this," he said.

"You have to talk a lot and tell each other what is going on. You must help yourself and also your teammates."

Overall, though, Panadic thinks Narazaki could make the move to Europe, no problem.

"He has the quality to play in Europe, not for Barcelona or for Real Madrid, but for a normal club.

"He is very strong and reads the game well, especially in dealing with long kicks over the defense. He is like a libero.

"Regarding the communication, you can learn this."

So next time someone asks you which players are good enough to play abroad, spare a thought for the forgotten goalkeeper.

ends

25 Sep 2003(Thu)

The first stage of the championship was tight this season, but the second stage could be even closer.

After seven of the 15 rounds, just three points separate the top eight teams, meaning there will be many "six pointers" in the remaining weeks of the season.

I don't know what you say in Japan, but in England a "six pointer" means a vital match between two teams challenging for the championship, for promotion, or even to avoid relegation.

The team that wins the game takes three points, and just as importantly deprives the rival team of three valuable points, hence the term "six pointer."

There is a definite six pointer coming up this Sunday, when Tokyo Verdy 1969 are at home to Nagoya Grampus Eight at Ajinomoto Stadium.

After Tuesday's holiday games, Grampus are at the top of the table with 13 points, ahead of Kashima Antlers on goal difference.

Verdy, Yokohama F Marinos, JEF United and Kashiwa Reysol all have 12 points, followed by Urawa Reds with 11 and Gamba Osaka with 10.

In the first stage, six teams could have won the title with two games to go, and three of them were still in the hunt on the last day, when Yokohama F Marinos clinched it.

The crowds were a bit disappointing Tuesday, though, except at Ajinomoto for FC Tokyo-Jubilo and at Komaba for Reds-JEF.

Maybe this is a sign that the teams are not playing particularly well, despite their lofty position, and the fans are not convinced.

Antlers, for example, have scored only eight goals in seven second-stage games, and this lack of firepower could cost them dear, as well as the injury to Koji Nakata.

With goals in short supply, Antlers need to keep a "clean sheet" (meaning, not conceding a goal) every game to take three points. Just one goal in the Antlers net puts the pressure on, and that's all Kyoto Purple Sanga needed at Kashima Stadium in a 1-1 draw on Tuesday.

None of the teams looks very convincing at the moment, and you get the feeling that the first one to start stringing together a few commanding performances could pull away from the pack.

I tipped Jubilo to win the second stage in August, and will stay with them even though they are down in 10th place. The more important statistic is that they are only four points off the pace with nine points.

This is nothing with 24 points still to play for, and with many "six pointers" to come.

ends

21 Sep 2003(Sun)

When a team has taken only five points from a possible 48, something has to go.

In the case of Vegalta Sendai, the thing to go was manager Hidehiko Shimizu, who was fired at the start of this week.

Sendai began the season well, winning three of their first four games and drawing the other to take 10 points from a possible 12.

But their last league win was on April 19, and since then they have drawn five and lost 11 games.

The sack was inevitable, as Sendai found themselves at the bottom of the table for the two stages combined.

Despite this long sequence of poor results, the fans have stayed loyal to the club and fill Sendai Stadium for every home game. I am sure no one in the J.League wants Sendai to be relegated, as their support would be a big loss to J1.

The club has acted very smartly in two ways over the new manager.

First, Zdenko Verdenik is a good choice.

He did a fantastic job at JEF United Ichihara, and was enticed to Nagoya Grampus Eight, much to the anger of Ichihara officials.

At Nagoya, Verdenik's team promised a lot in the first stage of 2002, but faded in the second stage.

This season, they drew too many games in the first stage, but were still near the top. I still think Grampus fired him too early, as he said at the start of the season that his target was to lay a solid platform in the first stage, which he did, and then challenge for the second stage title.

I am sure Verdenik can tighten up Sendai, but they must score goals to win matches.

The second encouraging move by Sendai was to give the Slovenian coach a contract for two years and four months, taking him through to the end of the 2005 season.

I think this is a big step forward for Japanese football, just like when clubs such as Kashima Antlers put their best players on long-term contracts rather than a one-year renewable deal.

It gives the club continuity and the manager security as he tries to build something over two or three seasons.

Although Verdenik is still in Slovenia waiting for his visa, he will have enough time to save Sendai from relegation.

There are still 10 games left, meaning 30 points at stake, and a change of manager can often produce an instant upturn in fortunes. But Sendai want a long-term improvement, hence the decision to hire Verdenik under such conditions.

ends

18 Sep 2003(Thu)

There can be no doubt that the Ｊ.League has quickly become an integral part of the Ｊapanese sports scene.

Even though it kicked off only in 1993, the league is firmly established and most of the clubs have become a part of their respective communities.

But this does not mean Ｊ.League officials are going to sit back, relax, and stop thinking of further developments.

I heard this week that at least one match commissioner appealed for fair play and an attractive match last Saturday, because another sport was beginning a national league and was fighting for a new audience.

The sport in question is rugby union, whose 12-team Top League kicked off last Saturday at Tokyo National Stadium.

The match commissioner, whose Ｊob is to bring together representatives before the game, told the meeting that rugby offered sports fans a new choice on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

It was important, therefore, for the Ｊ.League teams to put on a good, clean, attacking show to make sure the crowds keep coming to watch.

I thought this was very interesting news.

It doesn't mean the Ｊ.League is worried about rugby, Ｊust that the players have a responsibility to the game at large.

As a sports reporter, I have covered rugby in England, Hong Kong and Ｊapan, and know the attraction of the game.

Especially this year, as the Rugby World Cup will be held in Australia in October and November, and Ｊapan will play Scotland, France, FiＪi and the United States.

In England and Hong Kong, totally different audiences watched each sport.

In England, rugby was for the upper-middle classes, and soccer was the working man's game.

Rugby fans thought soccer fans were all hooligans and barbarians, and soccer fans thought rugby fans were snobs who had been born with a silver spoon in their mouth.

In Hong Kong, soccer was the sport for the local Chinese, and rugby for the expatriates from Britain, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere.

Perhaps the Ｊ.League's maＪor concern is that there may be a rugby boom in 2003 like there was a Ｊ.League boom in 1993.

The fact that 35,000 turned up to watch Kobe Steel against Suntory in the opening game of the new rugby season shows that the interest is there, and always has been in rugby due to its huge popularity in universities.

But the rugby clubs are still only company offshoots, with little identity or roots in the hometown itself.

This is where the Ｊ.League got it right, by insisting that clubs concentrate on the community as a whole and not Ｊust take the company money.

I don't think the Ｊ.League has much to worry about with rugby. Both sports can run side by side as there is a wide range of spectator out there.

Still, it is interesting to see the Ｊ.League has noticed a new challenger.

ends

15 Sep 2003(Mon)

Although it is difficult to tell if Zico and Japan are learning anything from these recent friendlies, one thing has become more clear.

That Alessandro Santos is not a defender and should not be playing at left back in Zico's four-man defense.

Even though it was a bold, adventurous move by Zico to give Santos a chance at left back, I was never convinced he would be the right choice.

The reasons for my doubts were obvious: that he's an attacking player, not a defensive one.

Problems that surfaced in the Confederations Cup in France will not go away, and this could prove costly to Japan in World Cup qualifying matches.

Against New Zealand at the Stade de France, for example, Santos was shown the yellow card for a clumsy challenge early in the game when there was absolutely no danger. Later in the first half, Santos was lucky not to be shown the yellow card again, followed by the red, after a blatant dive in the New Zealand penalty box.

Just think how different the result could have been if Japan had been reduced to 10 men when leading only 1-0.

Against Colombia, Santos committed a schoolboy error by heading the ball across his own goal, and only a fine blocking save by Narazaki prevented the South Americans from scoring earlier than they did.

In Niigata this week, Santos did the same again, showing his inexperience with a careless header to present Senegal with a corner on the right wing. This was after the Africans had scored the only goal of the game from this exact same situation.

His positioning, his tendency to drift forward and leave space behind him, his weak heading...all these show he is not the man for the job, as the first task of a defender is to defend.

If Japan played a 3-5-2 formation, then Santos's attacking flair, pace and trickery would be handy on the left side of midfield. His weak defense would not be as crucial to the team in this area, as there would be two defensive midfield players to cover across the line, and three defenders behind them to cut off attacks down the flanks.

I still think Santos has something to offer Japan, but on the left wing, maybe even off the bench, but it is clear now he is not right for the left back slot.

Zico should be able to get away with it against weak Asian opposition at the start of World Cup qualifying, but against stronger opponents, such as Senegal's Henri Camara the other night at Niigata, it is asking for trouble.

ends

11 Sep 2003(Thu)

It was a very worrying weekend for the J.League.

Unless, of course, you are a Kashima Antlers fan.

That's because Kashima hit the front after only four games of the second stage, by beating JEF United Ichihara 3-2 in a gripping match at Tokyo National Stadium.

What's more, Antlers really looked motivated and determined.

That is no surprise, as they had to watch arch rivals Jubilo Iwata win both stages last season, and then could not get close enough to mount a serious challenge in the first stage of this season.

Even without the injured Koji Nakata in midfield, Antlers still had plenty of cover in Takeshi Aoki and then, off the bench, Yasuto Honda, who is often under-appreciated by neutral observers. Honda is a real coach's player, tidying up all the loose balls in midfield or sometimes behind his defense, and filling the gaps when other players move forward.

He is a good organizer and has good vision around the pitch, knowing where he should be at the right time. For manager Toninho Cerezo, Honda must be a more than useful player to have on the bench.

It really was an enjoyable game, with plenty of goals, cards and controversy, but JEF United fell just short again.

Their manager, Ivica Osim, said exactly what he used to say after crunch games during the first stage: that first place for JEF United was too high, as it led to too much pressure every week and the players could not produce 100 percent game after game.

Before the second stage started he said he wanted JEF to be in fourth or fifth place most of the time, and then "sprint" for the line in the closing two or three weeks.

But his players once again set off at a furious pace, winning their first three matches!

Antlers ended all that, of course.

What a goal by Hirase! What a slice of luck to go in 2-1 up at halftime! What a captain in Akita to head the winning goal!

Yes, it looks like Antlers mean business in the second stage again.

ends

8 Sep 2003(Mon)

There was bad news and good news at Kashima Antlers in the past few days.

The bad news was the sad plight of Koji Nakata, one of my favourite players in Japan and, in my opinion, grossly under-used by Zico.

I believe Nakata would give Japan's midfield much more balance and shape, allowing the more attack-minded players to push forward knowing that he is controlling things behind them.

Nakata ruptured knee ligaments playing against Oita Trinita last Saturday and has been ruled out for at least six months.

He will have an operation at the end of this month, and then face a long, patient journey back to full fitness.

Hopefully he will be back for the start of next season, but Zico will miss him for the East Asian Championship in December if he does not have his European players available.

A few days later came news that Masashi Motoyama had been recalled to the national squad.

Motoyama and Nakata, of course, were both members of the Japan under-20 team that reached the final of the FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria in 1999.

This is where Nakata played on the left side of Philippe Troussier's flat three, replacing the injured Seiji Kaneko, and did so well that the Frenchman promoted him into the Olympic team and then the national team all the way through to the 2002 World Cup.

At that time, Troussier used Motoyama as a left winger, and I remember him having a wonderful game against Uruguay in Nigeria. Motoyama was so fast and elusive that the Uruguayans couldn't even foul him, never mind tackle him.

Troussier described Motoyama as the Ryan Giggs of Japan, and eventually gave him three caps: against Bolivia, the United Arab Emirates and South Korea, all in 2000.

Since Brazilian playmaker Bismarck left Kashima, Motoyama has played as an attacking midfield player rather than a left winger, and it is in this role that Zico will consider him for the Senegal match next Wednesday. It will be off the bench, of course, because he has already decided his midfield will be the same as the Nigeria match.

Motoyama has a confident, bubbly personality and will add his own special characteristics to the national squad.

Even though he has changed his role, he can still turn a match with his darting runs around the box and his eye for goal.

His last cap was almost three years ago, but he is still only 24 and has much to offer.

ends

4 Sep 2003(Thu)

It was interesting to see Gamba Osaka in action at Kashiwa on Saturday.

Now I can appreciate why they are not challenging for the championship.

Before the season started I really felt Gamba could win one of the two stages, and then go on and win the playoff.

Their road to success would be like this:

An experienced three-man defense, led by Miyamoto.

A fluid, five-man midfield, particularly strong on the flanks with new import Arce on the right and Araiba on the left.

Between them they would provide the crosses for the Brazilian giant Magrao, who would either head the ball into the net or set up chances for the darting Yoshihara to gobble up in the box.

Simple, right?

But Gamba finished nearer the bottom than the top in the first stage.

The two new imports, Arce and Galeano, were expected to be a big improvement on Marcelinho and Fabinho, but this has not happened.

I thought Fabinho did a tidy, energetic job alongside Endo in the midfield engine room last season, and his replacement Galeano has already been released by Gamba halfway through the season.

Arce just hasn't shown the drive and intensity expected of him down the right wing.

Consequently, manager Nishino has abandoned his 3-5-2 and played 3-4-3 at Kashiwa, with Hashimoto and Futagawa on the right and left sides of midfield, respectively.

Yamaguchi, who was expected to be part of Gamba's championship-winning back three alongside Miyamoto and captain Kiba, was pushed into central midfield, alongside Endo. Saneyoshi was on the right side of defense.

Magrao was absent due to injury, so Nakayama, the "Gamba Gon," led the forward line, supported by Yoshihara on the right and Oguro on the left.

Gamba did not play badly. Far from it, but they didn't look capable of challenging for the second stage.

There was a lot of hesitancy and self-doubt in their play, almost as if they did not expect to win.

They took the lead with a lovely goal from Endo, who finished off a free-flowing move from one end of the pitch to the other, but were pegged back by a great finish from the impressive Tamada.

Ricardinho ran at the heart of the Gamba defense, lost possession, but Tamada was in the right place to find the bottom corner with a sweet left-foot shot from the edge of the box.

Maybe Gamba are improving, because they held on for a 1-1 draw rather than conceding a late goal and losing.

But clearly the season has not gone to plan, hence all the changes.

It must be very frustrating for the supporters.

ends

1 Sep 2003(Mon)

It was a very close contest at Ajinomoto Stadium on Wednesday night.

No, I am not talking about the Nabisco Cup quarterfinal second leg between FC Tokyo and Urawa Reds.

I am talking about the two sets of supporters, who contributed to a big-match occasion.

Although the official attendance was 17,343, it seemed to be double that because of the amount of noise booming out from both ends.

Urawa, as we all know, won 2-0, thanks to two sublime goals from the Brazilian forward Emerson.

A 2-0 victory away to FC Tokyo, added to a 3-1 demolition of Jubilo Iwata in the first game of the second stage, suggests the Reds are making big progress.

After the game I had a chat with Hans Ooft and asked him if he thought his team could challenge for the second-stage title.

"Not yet," he replied, cautiously.

"We will take it match by match, week by week, and after match eight, nine or 10 we will know exactly what is going on.

"We don't look forward, no daydreaming, nothing."

But Ooft knows that his team, and his squad, is getting stronger.

Players such as Yamada, Tsuboi and Nagai have all had national team experience this year, and Suzuki, Yamase and Tanaka are members of the Olympic under-22 squad.

The Russian World Cup defender Yuri Nikiforov had a fine game against FC Tokyo, and Ooft will have a selection dilemma all managers love when the unlucky Ned Zelic recovers soon from his latest hamstring injury.

"I must compliment my players. They have worked very hard for one and a half years and as a team we have become stronger," he said.

Ooft, naturally, must play down the chances of his team, as he does not want to put the players under pressure so early in the stage.

But I genuinely feel Reds have a chance.

And wouldn't a Yokohama F Marinos-Urawa Reds two-leg playoff be a fantastic spectacle?

Just imagine: 70,000 at International Stadium Yokohama for the first leg, and then 60,000 at Saitama Stadium for the second leg.

A mass of Nissan blue and Mitsubishi red all around the stadium.

Truly it would be a wonderful sight, but there's a long way to go yet.

As Ooft said: "No daydreaming!"

That includes Reds fans, too.

ends

28 Aug 2003(Thu)

Ossie Ardiles knows a good midfield player when he sees one.

And he thinks he has seen a very good one at Tokyo Verdy 1969 in Yoshiyuki Kobayashi.

"I was very surprised how good he is," said Ardiles, a World Cup-winning midfielder with Argentina in 1978.

"He is very close to being in the national team. We have some others, too, but I think Yoshi will probably be the first."

Ardiles has turned around the fortunes of the once glamorous and mighty Verdy since his appointment as manager in June.

The Greens, who won the first two J.League championships in 1993 and 1994, have moved out of the relegation zone and are regarded more as second-stage title contenders than J2 candidates.

Kobayashi encapsulates that dramatic improvement.

"When I arrived here he wasn't playing. He wasn't even on the bench, and I think he'd have gone anywhere," said Ardiles.

"The previous manager criticized him and didn't want to play him, so Yoshi thought 'I'm out of here.'

"From what I have seen so far, I think he'll be fighting for a national team place very soon."

When asked to outline Kobayashi's qualites, Ardiles said: "He's a good passer of the ball...intelligent...he's always in a good position...good in the air...has a good shot. Overall he's a very good player."

Kobayashi, 25, joined Verdy from Komazawa University in 1999, and his appearance Sunday against Kashima Antlers was his 92nd in the first division.

His goal tally of only three is clearly an area in which he can improve, and he may have to rapidly if Cameroon World Cup striker Patrick Mboma is ruled out for a significant amount of time after straining his right abductor muscle Sunday.

As Ardiles points out, Kobayashi is an elegant, ball-playing midfielder with natural gifts.

He had a spell in Spain earlier in his career, and has also been unlucky with injury.

But if Zico decides to leave the likes of Hidetoshi Nakata, Shunsuke Nakamura, Shinji Ono and Junichi Inamoto in Europe for certain international matches this year, there may be time for the national coach to take a look at Kobayashi.

ends

25 Aug 2003(Mon)

The Japan Football Association was quite right to complain to the Nigerian FA about the quality of the Super Eagles team for the friendly in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Perhaps the JFA should go even further and complain to FIFA, the world governing body, which sanctions these kind of matches.

The FIFA motto is "For the good of the game," but this kind of exercise does nothing at all for the good of the game.

Presumably the JFA paid Nigeria a handsome appearance fee to come to Japan, but they expected them to bring a decent team.

Instead they got an inexperienced, disorganized rabble, and it was clear from the opening seconds that Nigeria did not have the stomach for the fight.

Although Zico was able to celebrate his first home victory in seven attempts, I thought the game was meaningless.

I am not taking anything away from Zico, because Japan can only beat the opposition that is put in front of them.

The problem facing the JFA now is the two home games against more African opposition, Senegal at Niigata next month and Cameroon at Oita in November.

Like Nigeria, the best players of these two countries all play in the top European leagues.

But will they be willing to travel halfway around the world and back again, for a friendly when they could be having a relaxing week training at their clubs, clearing up any minor injuries, and preparing for the next league game?

Zico needed his best players back because he was under pressure, and he needed a victory against Nigeria after the disappointment of the Confederations Cup.

Although Wednesday's game did nothing to answer the question--is Zico taking the national team forward or backward?--presumably the result has bought him some breathing space.

I felt the fans were cheated by Wednesday's game, as the quality of the opposition was so poor. Nigeria couldn't even find enough players to fill the bench, and the Korean referee took pity on them by declining to send off their goalkeeper for a blatant handball outside his area to deny Yanagisawa.

Let's hope these next two friendlies offer better viewing.

ends

21 Aug 2003(Thu)

We are now over one year into the Zico reign and still waiting for Japan's first win at home under the Brazilian coach.

But Wednesday's game against Nigeria at Tokyo National Stadium offers Japan a wonderful chance, probably the best chance they will get, to end that bleak run.

Nigeria's team is known as the Super Eagles, but there has been nothing super about their preparations for this match.

None of their star names are here, such as Kanu of Arsenal, Yobo of Everton and the mercurial Okocha of Bolton Wanderers, and only 12 players had arrived in time for training at the National Stadium on Tuesday night.

According to organisers, three more players flew in to Tokyo on Tuesday evening, and they were expecting four more to arrive on the morning of the match.

This is hardly the best preparation!

Compare this to Japan.

Zico has brought back all his leading players except for the unlucky Shinji Ono, so Japan will have plenty of experienced World Cup players to try and win their first home game in seven attempts.

Japan have drawn with Jamaica, Uruguay and Paraguay at home under Zico, and lost to Argentina (twice) and South Korea.

Earlier this week I spoke to Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, whose error allowed Colombia to beat Japan 1-0 in that decisive group game in Saint-Etienne in the Confederations Cup in June.

"Tsune" said the supporters expected the team to win at home, and he wanted a victory "for my family and for Zico."

The mood in the camp, according to Tsune, was geared for victory, he said.

"Even after the match against Colombia the atmosphere was good," he said.

"Maybe we felt we played a good game, and could have had a good result. We got good experience in France, but there were some bad moments when we made some mistakes, including my mistake," he said.

Despite their poor preparations, Nigeria can never be written off as they have a strong recent history on the international stage.

They are always capable of the unexpected, and their players are brought up in a true football culture. This is why so many of them move abroad, because they have the basic skills, tactical awareness and strong physique to make them a success in Europe.

But Japan should win this one, and I think they will.

ends

18 Aug 2003(Mon)

Yokohama F Marinos will find it difficult to "do a Jubilo" and win both stages of the league season.

But there is no doubt Takeshi Okada's team has a good chance.

I went to the Nabisco Cup quarterfinal first leg at Yokohama on Wednesday night between Marinos and Jubilo and was very impressed with the spirit, organization and determination of one side: Jubilo Iwata.

Marinos started slowly and did not create much in the first half, but picked up in the second half and had several clear chances to equalize. In the end, I thought a 1-0 win for Jubilo was a fair result.

They played with 10 men for 72 minutes after the early sending off of Aleksandar Zivkovic, scored a beautiful goal through Yasumasa Nishino and then defended well to keep out the home team.

This is why I think Yokohama will have a tough battle to win the second stage, as now they are the team everyone wants to beat.

Jubilo, who finished second in the first stage, still looked hungry for success on Wednesday night, but will miss Toshiya Fujita very much in the second stage.

Kashima Antlers announced their second-stage intentions, too, by thrashing Grampus 5-1 in the Nabisco Cup, and I also think Urawa Reds could challenge in the second stage.

This is not because of the addition of the experienced Russian international Yuri Nikiforov, but because Hans Ooft is building a team of good young Japanese players.

Players such as Tsuboi, Yamase, Hasebe, Hirakawa and Tanaka are giving the Reds squad much more energy and depth, and with Emerson always going to score goals, they could be in with a chance of the second stage.

JEF United, third in the first stage, will find it difficult to repeat that performance, even though Brazilian forward Sandro can contribute much more to the team than he did in the first stage. Clearly he was taking his time to settle into life in the J.League.

FC Tokyo, fourth in the first stage, concede few goals (11) but do not score enough (only 14) to be a genuine contender. Fifth-place Cerezo Osaka let in too many (29), but have lots of forward power (29 goals) to keep out of relegation trouble.

I will tip Jubilo to win the second stage, resulting in a Marinos-Jubilo championship playoff and an understrength Japan team for the East Asian Championship.

ends

14 Aug 2003(Thu)

It's no wonder the European clubs cannot understand why Japan wants to bring back their players for the Aug. 20 friendly with Nigeria in Tokyo.

But it is no wonder, either, why Zico wants them back.

In short, Zico needs wins to buy some breathing room.

And if Japan struggle against Nigeria, then against Senegal next month and Cameroon in November, his reign as national coach may be over.

Zico's first year in charge has not been satisfactory.

He has tried to change the playing system from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2, even though there are hardly any orthodox fullbacks in the J.League, and he is encouraging the players to think for themselves when this quality is not generally associated with any form of Japanese society.

For these two main reasons, Zico's Japan has not been successful. Just two wins in 10 games, and none at home.

They should have qualified for the semifinals of the Confederations Cup, especially after beating New Zealand so easily in the first game, but then lost to an under-strength French team and finally, in the match that was always going to be the crucial one for Japan, to a Colombia side lacking the talent and sparkle of previous generations.

The pressure is on Zico.

This is why he wants his best players to come back, even though the European season is just getting underway and Japanese players are settling in with their new team, new coach or new playing system.

Because August 20 is a FIFA match day, the clubs have no choice but to release their players. Many other matches are taking place on this day, but they do not involve such lengthy journeys through so many time zones in such a short space of time.

The German season is already under way, and Takahara is in Hamburg's starting lineup. The English Premier League starts this weekend, with Inamoto keen to establish himself in his third season in England, second with Fulham, and Italy's Serie A kicks off at the end of the month, with Reggina (Nakamura) playing Sampdoria (Yanagisawa). Who knows if Nakata will still be at Parma in two weeks' time?

Zico has already said he plans to play Takahara and Okubo up front against Nigeria, and continue the momentum he felt Japan gained at the Confederations Cup.

So it is baffling why Zico wants to bring back Yanagisawa to sit on the bench, play maybe 45 minutes, when he could be training and settling down to life in Genoa.

The JFA say they regard these three games as preparation for the World Cup qualifiers starting next February. They have explained this to the clubs in order to keep the relations as smooth as possible.

But surely the reason is that Zico needs to win some games and show some signs he is taking the team forward, not backward.

With his strategy so heavily reliant on individual skill rather than team discipline, this is why he needs his best individual players to come back and hope they can click into gear.

At the moment, clearly his own future is more important than that of his players in Europe.

ends

11 Aug 2003(Mon)

Here we go again!

After a few weeks' break since the end of the Confederations Cup, the spotlight will turn to the national team again next week.

On Monday, Zico will name his squad for the Aug. 20 friendly against Nigeria at Tokyo National Stadium.

I cannot imagine that he will call back all his players based in Europe, as they will be involved in preseason buildup or in early season matches.

At such a delicate stage of the season, it is vital for players to feel comfortable and focused with their clubs and make an impression on the head coach as soon as possible.

In this respect, Zico knows everything there is to know, so I am sure he will not push for the release of players such as Hidetoshi Nakata, Shinji Ono, Junichi Inamoto, Atsushi Yanagisawa, Shunsuke Nakamura and Naohiro Takahara.

That is quite an impressive list of players, isn't it?

If Zico decides just to pick J.League-based players, where does he start?

At the top, of course, meaning first-stage winners Yokohama F Marinos.

Marinos' goalkeeper coach, Dido Havenaar, rates Tatsuya Enomoto the second best keeper after Narazaki, so let's see if Enomoto can gain a place ahead of Sogahata or Doi. I think Zico will recall Sogahata, who was injured for the Confederations Cup.

In defense, Matsuda should be back. For me he is the best Japanese defender in the league, and his club partner Nakazawa may also get a recall.

In midfield, Yukihiko Sato is a candidate for the right side, and Zico will probably retain the experienced Oku. Tatsuhiko Kubo should return up front.

Jubilo finished in second place, but I am not sure how many players, other than Fukunishi, can strengthen the national team. I would like to see Maeda given a chance at this higher level.

JEF United were third, and Abe would not be out of place in central midfield. Why not have a look at Murai on the left wing, too?

FC Tokyo's defense was the meanest in J1, so Moniwa in the center and maybe Kanazawa at left back have a chance. FC Tokyo play with a back four, which is what Zico wants, and Kanazawa has fitted in well to the position. Ishikawa missed out on a place in the Confederations Cup, but should be called up.

Of the Japan-based players in the Confederations Cup squad, Narazaki, Ogasawara, Okubo, Santos, Nakata Koji, Miyamoto, Endo, Tsuboi, Yamada, Oku and Nagai should all survive, but there must be question marks against defenders Narahashi, Akita, Morioka and Hattori. These four did not play for one minute in the three games, as Zico went with Yamada, Tsuboi, Miyamoto and Santos as his defense.

If Zico sticks with a J.League team only, this could be his starting lineup against Nigeria.

Narazaki; Yamada, Miyamoto, Matsuda, Santos; Sato, Fukunishi, Nakata Koji, Ogasawara; Okubo, Kubo.

ends

7 Aug 2003(Thu)

I was shocked, and not a little angry, when I heard that Nagoya Grampus Eight had fired manager Zdenko Verdenik after the last round of first-stage games Saturday.

This is because I thought he was doing a good, steady job at Nagoya, and that he was very aware of what needed to be done to make Grampus a J.League power.

With two games of the first stage remaining, Grampus still had a chance, admittedly a small one, of winning the title.

They were also the only unbeaten team in the top flight, with five wins and eight draws from those 13 games.

But defeats in their final two games, at home to Tokyo Verdy and away to Cerezo Osaka, resulted in a disappointing mid-table finish, and Verdenik was shown the door.

The last time I spoke to him was after the Grampus-Vegalta Sendai match at Toyota Stadium on May 18.

It was the "sayonara" match of Austrian international Ivica Vastic, and he scored a great goal in the closing seconds to end his Grampus career on a high note.

After the game, Verdenik said he had wanted to keep Vastic, but the decision to release the player had been taken high up in the Toyota corridors of power.

Verdenik explained that Vastic had settled into the team, the team was playing well, and that no replacement had been fixed up. So all the time spent integrating Vastic would be wasted, and he would have to start all over again with an unknown overseas player.

He also explained that he had cleared out several players who were not prepared to fight, and replaced them with youngsters who were hungry to succeed.

He felt that the first stage would be about laying the foundations for a push for the second-stage title.

This is how the season was taking shape, as Grampus had become a difficult team to beat with the influential Panadic, supported by Omori and Koga, providing a strong wall in front of Narazaki in goal.

If Grampus had turned just a couple of those draws into wins, they could have been right at the top in the last couple of weeks, challenging F Marinos, Jubilo and JEF United.

I feel the Grampus front office acted too quickly in firing Verdenik, who had done such a fine job at Ichihara before that.

To build a championship-winning team takes time as well as money, and Grampus were on the right road.

Last season I heard that Grampus were interested in hiring another former Slovenia national coach, Srecko Katanec, after the World Cup, but he went to Greece.

With the second stage kicking off Aug. 16, it looks like yet another "new start" for Grampus rather than a championship push.

Grampus fans deserve better.

ends

4 Aug 2003(Mon)

There is no doubt that the first stage of the 2003 season has reached a gripping climax.

As we head into the 15th and final round of matches this weekend, three teams can still win the championship: Yokohama F Marinos, Jubilo Iwata and JEF United Ichihara.

A week ago, six teams were still in with a chance, with the above three being joined by Nagoya Grampus Eight, Kashima Antlers and FC Tokyo.

A tight race like this has resulted in some big crowds, which is great for the game in Japan.

But excitement is one thing; a fair championship is another.

I have never been a supporter of the two-stage system, followed by a two-leg playoff, because I feel the best and most consistent team is frequently not the champion at the end of the season. And a league championship should reward consistency.

Last Saturday I went to Nihondaira Stadium to watch Shimizu S-Pulse against JEF United. If JEF had won and both Marinos and Jubilo had lost on the same day, the Ichihara club would have been crowned champion of the first stage with one game to play.

I discussed this with a Japanese colleague before the game and we came up with the following scenario to use as evidence against the two-stage system.

Imagine JEF had won the first stage last weekend. They would have booked their place in the December playoff against the second-stage winner, and would be guaranteed to finish first or second in the league, with no threat of relegation.

So, in theory, JEF could lose their last first-stage game, then all 15 second-stage games, then the first leg of the playoff, before winning the second leg on Dec. 13 to win the championship.

This means JEF could lose 17 consecutive matches and still win the J.League championship as the best team in Japan!

Is this right?

Is this fair?

Could this happen anywhere else in the world?

I know this is an extreme case, and the above scenario would be very unlikely to happen.

But the point is that it could happen, and the J.League could end up with a champion team that had not won a game for four months (August to November), until the second leg of the playoff on Dec. 13.

So even though it is exciting at the moment, I still feel the two-stage system is fundamentally flawed.

The J.League took a big step forward in abolishing extra time, golden goals and a fourth substitute, as now we are getting matches that end in 90 minutes.

The next bold step would be to have a normal league championship.

The fans will still come, and there will still be lots of excitement.

Believe me!

ends

31 Jul 2003(Thu)

With only one round of matches to play in the J.League's first stage, Yokohama F Marinos are the clear favorites to win the title and book a place in the end-of-season playoff.

This time last week, six teams were still in the running with two matches to play: JEF United, F Marinos, Jubilo Iwata, Nagoya Grampus Eight, Kashima Antlers and FC Tokyo.

Although the chances of Grampus, Antlers and Tokyo were very slim, as they needed to win both their games and hope all five rivals would lose their last two matches, they could not be ruled out, as football is so unpredictable.

For example, who would have thought Cerezo Osaka would lose at home to Kawasaki Frontale on the last day of the first stage in 2000, handing the title to F Marinos?

Last Saturday I traveled to Nihondaira to watch JEF United, who could have clinched the first stage if they had beaten S-Pulse and both F Marinos and Jubilo had lost.

Just in case this unlikely sequence of results happened, J.League officials had taken the first-stage trophy to the stadium ready to present to the JEF players. Rumour has it they put the trophy back in its box after 15 minutes, by which time S-Pulse were 2-0 ahead.

Instead of playing like the hungry young lions of recent weeks, the JEF players were more like startled rabbits, caught in the spotlight of the pressure-packed championship race.

F Marinos and Jubilo, away to Gamba Osaka and Kashiwa Reysol respectively, handled the pressure much better. Both won to overtake JEF United, who dropped from first to third place.

I watched the Gamba-F Marinos game on J Sky Sports on Monday evening, and was very impressed with the two goals of Tatsuhiko Kubo.

His first was a soaring header at the back post, his second a flying left-foot volley which almost burst the net.

Those two Kubo goals gave F Marinos 26 goals for the season in 14 games, well behind Jubilo (33) and JEF United (32). But Takeshi Okada's men have let in only 16, the third lowest in J1 behind FC Tokyo (10) and Grampus (14).

It is true that Marinos' strength is in defense, with a back four of Yoo Sang Chul (replacing the injured Hato), Nakazawa, the blond Matsuda and the Brazilian Dutra.

When Hato returns, Yoo is expected to push into central midfield, which will make the team even stronger for the second stage.

With Kubo and Marquinhos linking well up front, and with plenty of width in the team in Yukihiko Sato on the right and Oku, supported by Dutra, on the left, F Marinos could follow Jubilo last season and win both stages.

I cannot see F Marinos slipping up Saturday at home to Vissel Kobe, who must still be in a daze after losing 8-0 at home to Oita Trinita last Saturday.

But it has been an interesting race.

ends

27 Jul 2003(Sun)

Although Japan's Olympic team was outplayed by South Korea in the 1-1 draw at Tokyo National Stadium on Wednesday night, I am still confident Masakuni Yamamoto's young men will qualify for Athens.

This is because Yamamoto has built a solid structure, and this will be very important next March when the final Asian qualifying round takes place.

Sitting high up in the stands at National Stadium, I must admit I thought it was the Korean basketball team that walked out for the kickoff.

They were much taller than their Japanese rivals, suggesting that Japan's defense could come under an aerial bombardment.

But the Koreans quickly showed that they could play skillful, attacking football on the ground, too.

The visitors had enough chances to win the match in the second half, so it was all credit to Japan's fighting spirit for hanging on for a draw.

Yamamoto's players are learning all the time, and I am sure Takeshi Aoki will be wiser for the experience of Wednesday.

It was Aoki's lazy pass that went straight to Choi Tae Uk that led to Korea's opening goal, but the Korean forward still had a lot to do after receiving the ball just inside the Japanese half. His right-foot shot was a sizzler, which fizzed through the air and into the net, but goalkeeper Kawashima will feel he should have parried it.

I don't know what Aoki was trying to do, as there didn't seem to be any Japanese player in the space to which he played the ball.

His error brought back memories of Kakuda's against Costa Rica, when the Kyoto defender passed the ball across the face of his own goal and straight into trouble.

However, I am still a firm believer in Aoki, who is an extremely talented player with lovely skills and a strong physical presence. I could see him developing into a top-class international midfielder in two or three years' time.

Japan's Olympic team has good shape, thanks to the midfield four of Ishikawa, Abe, Suzuki and Nemoto, and Yamamoto has plenty of attacking options with Okubo, Maeda, Matsui and Nakayama, the "Gamba Gon" who scored the bulk of Japan's goals at the Asian Games in Busan, Korea, last October.

Japan will be one of 12 teams challenging for three places from Asia at the Athens Olympics. The 12 teams will be drawn into three groups of four, and the winner of each group will progress to Greece.

So Japan will be up against some talented young players from around the continent next March, and by that time Yamamoto's players must have learned to cut out the careless individual mistakes. Even at this level of international football, these errors prove extremely costly.

To sum up, I think Yamamoto has a well-drilled team of experienced J.League players, but they cannot take it for granted that other teams will crumble against them.

They have to dominate their opponents more, as they often look like the away team when they are playing at home.

I still feel Japan can be in Athens next summer, but it is going to be close.

ends

24 Jul 2003(Thu)

Once again Jubilo Iwata's home ground staged a J.League classic.

Last season it was the 5-4 victory over Gamba Osaka toward the end of the first stage. This was a match decided in sudden-death extra time with an own goal by Gamba defender Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, even though the J.League Yearbook 2003 gives the credit to Norihiro Nishi.

I am sure Miyamoto will feel somewhat relieved by this, but clearly it was an own goal as he turned in Nishi's low drive.

On Sunday, Jubilo's compact stadium was bursting at the seams for the top-of-the-table clash with JEF United Ichihara.

The match finished 2-2, but either side could have won it in the closing minutes.

I thought it was a wonderful spectacle, and a great advertisement for the J.League.

I watched the match again on Sky Sports on Tuesday night, and any businessman who happened to tune in and who was thinking about investing in a Japanese sport would surely have been on the telephone the next day to the J.League marketing and sponsorship people.

Yes, it was that good: Fast, colourful, exciting.

Last week I wrote about the rise of Rodrigo Gral, and he lived up to his billing by scoring a true poacher's goal against United.

But what happened next caused me some concern.

At first I thought he was just going to reveal his white T-shirt under his blue Jubilo shirt with the slogan "100 per cent Jubilo."

But no, he continued to fumble around in his garments before producing a blue mask, which he put on and celebrated in front of the JEF United supporters behind the goal.

If this had happened in a country where the fans are not so well-behaved, there could have been a riot.

I could have imagined Rodrigo being pelted with missiles, such as plastic bottles and coins, by the away fans, and some of them even trying to jump over the fence to get to him.

There would have been complaints from opposing players about bad sportsmanship and disrespect, and from the local police about inciting fans, and Rodrigo could have been brought before the football authorities and faced disciplinary action.

Celebrating a goal is one thing, but did Rodrigo go too far with his behaviour in front of the visiting supporters?

I asked JEF's manager, Ivica Osim, about this after the game, but he was not concerned.

It was interesting to note, though, that two JEF players, Chano and Sandro, were shown the yellow card for fouls shortly after Rodrigo's opening goal.

Were the players frustrated and angry?

If so, then maybe Rodrigo's mask had done its job.

Personally, I feel his behaviour was over the top.

But it could not detract from a great game.

ends

21 Jul 2003(Mon)

Jubilo Iwata fans have found a new hero to replace Naohiro!

Rodrigo Gral is the striker who has stepped up to the plate to score the goals this season in the absence of Naohiro Takahara, last season's J.League MVP who is now playing for Hamburg in Germany.

Before Sunday's top-of-the-table game at home to JEF United Ichihara, Gral had scored 11 times in 12 games, including four out of four from the penalty spot.

This put him at the top of the J.League scoring chart, alongside JEF's Korean forward Choi Yong Soo.

So Sunday's match featuring first-place JEF (26 points) and second-place Jubilo (24) could really be described as a shootout between the league's two hottest strikers, especially with only two games to go in the first stage after this weekend.

Whereas Choi batters defenses into submission with his height, strength and and power (and occasionally his elbows), Gral is more of a goal poacher.

Before this season he had scored only once in the league, on his debut against Sapporo on March 17, 2002, but has really flourished now he has been given an extended run in the starting lineup.

Jubilo's Dutch goalkeeper, Arno Van Zwam, has watched Gral emerge from the bench to a starring role.

"He is a striker who is in the right place at the right time, and has scored many cheap goals," says Van Zwam. Here, the word "cheap" means "easy," as his goals have come from very close to the opposition goal after a flowing Jubilo buildup. "Cheap" is not meant to lessen the achievement.

"He is very sharp in front of goal and waits for his chances." So does this make the 26-year-old Brazilian similar to the veteran Masashi Nakayama?

"Nakayama is working more for the team and going to every corner. Gral seizes the moment."

One day in the office in Tokyo, a female colleague said she thought she had seen Francesco Totti playing for Jubilo Iwata in the J.League highlights on television.

I explained that, indeed, Gral looked similar in appearance to Totti, with the headband holding back the flowing blond locks, but that not even the money of Yamaha could persuade the Italian master to leave Serie A for the J.League!

Gral has also become famous for his goal celebration. A particularly cheeky one is when he removes one of his boots, presses the studs and holds it to his ear as if he is on his mobile phone.

This proves beyond doubt that, after an unconving start, Gral has settled into Japanese lifestyle.

ends

17 Jul 2003(Thu)

After a year out of the game, Philippe Troussier is finally back in management.

At the start of this week he signed a two-year contract with Qatar, and he won't have much time to look at his players.

His first big test is just around the corner, when Qatar will try and qualify for the 2004 Asian Cup in China.

Troussier knows all about this competition, Asia's equivalent of the European Championship played every four years, because he won it as Japan's head coach in Lebanon in October 2000.

But Qatar are in a tough qualifying group B, as they will have to get past the powerful Kuwait, along with the more modest Singapore and Palestine, to reach the finals in China next summer. The qualifying matches will be played between September and November, so Troussier must quickly find his best team.

I spoke to Troussier on a couple of occasions during the recent Confederations Cup in France.

While I have no doubts he will throw himself into his work in Qatar, and push the players to new levels of intensity, Troussier was very disappointed not to have landed a good job in Europe.

He was on the shortlist for the national coaching jobs of France, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, and he could have had the China job last year. The Chinese wanted him to do what he had done for Japan, identify and coach a young and dynamic group of players, but he felt the work was too similar as his Japan role.

He wanted to be among the elite, especially in the English Premier League, where Arsene Wenger and to a lesser extent Gerard Houllier have been successful.

"I expected a proposal from England, but I think the market is completely closed. No clubs are changing their manager," he said, quite wistfully. His big hope was Tottenham Hotspur, but they have kept Glenn Hoddle.

He would also have liked a club in France, Spain or Italy, and said he had turned down proposals from Egypt, Libya and Iraq.

But he has settled for Qatar, whose domestic football is in the spotlight at the moment due to a number of high-profile signings reminiscent of the J.League a decade ago.

"Qatar is not a punishment," he said, in classic Troussier style.

"Carlos Queiroz was head coach of the United Arab Emirates four years ago and now he is coach of Real Madrid."

And if Qatar meet Japan in the Asian Cup next year or in qualifying for the 2006 World Cup?

"I am a professional, and I will want my team to beat Japan. There will be no gifts from me," he said.

"But it will be strange, because I know the big power of Japan and the Japanese players know my coaching. I consider all my (Japanese) players like my sons. I can not forget what we did together for four years.

"Now it is time for another human adventure."

Although he still has his critics in Japan, I wish Troussier nothing but good luck in the Arabian Gulf.

ends

14 Jul 2003(Mon)

I was shocked and concerned by events at Tokyo's National Stadium last Saturday.　

The occasion was the league match between Shimizu S-Pulse and Yokohama F Marinos, which the latter won 1-0.

Technically it was an S-Pulse home game, and sponsor JAL worked hard to attract a very good crowd of over 30,000. This was a fine effort by JAL, and the stadium resembled a Holland game with most of the fans wearing orange.

What I did not like, though, was the gimmicks on offer.

For example, when a substitution was made, music blared out from the sound system and the change was introduced like some heavyweight boxing championship.

Honestly, I thought this was awful. Surely just a simple, low-key announcement for the benefit of the fans was all that was needed.

The S-Pulse supporters are known for their attractive melodies and for their variety of songs, but I think the club over-stepped the bounds of taste and decorum on another issue, too.

This was when S-Pulse won a corner kick. The big screen would flash up the giant words "Goal, Goal," presumably in an attempt to whip up atmosphere.

Surely this was unnecessary, and a distraction for players when they should be concentrating on the game.

Everyone knows it's a corner kick, and this automatically prompts hopes and expectations among the fans whose team is attacking.

I can understand why some clubs are keen to adopt this American-style razzamatazz sports presentation, but football does not need this.

I would appeal to the J.League to keep a tight check on this, as it does the game in general no favours at all.

While we are on the subject, I will never forget my first visit to Kyoto Purple Sanga back in 1996.

I nearly fell off my seat when the announcer, in a thick American drawl, offered the following words of wisdom: "Kiiiick, aaawwwwfff."

This is American for the English words: "Kick off."

The announcement happened at the start of the game and the start of the second half, just in case fans new to the game did not realise the match had actually started, and the players had been only warming up on their previous appearance on the pitch.

So come on, J.League.

Crack down on the nonsense.

It is degrading to true football fans...and there are many, many thousands of those now in Japan.

ends

10 Jul 2003(Thu)

Yokohama F Marinos fans have got a new name for the Brazilian defender Cafu.

They now call him Caf-Who?

OK, this is an English joke, a play upon words, and I hope it translates into Japanese.

The meaning is clear: that Cafu's decision not to join the F Marinos has brought one of the finest allround players in Asia back to the J.League.

I am talking, of course, about Yoo Sang Chul. To me he is the Bryan Robson of Korea, and that is high praise when compared to the former Manchester United and England legend.

Yoo can play anyway, probably even in goal, and he started his second spell at Yokohama playing right-back against Shimizu S-Pulse at Tokyo's National Stadium on Saturday night.

One minute he was sending over a wonderful deep cross from near the right wing corner flag into the S-Pulse box; the next he was taking the ball off Tuto's toe end deep in the Marinos penalty box.

Yoo was wearing the No. 2 jersey, the one the club had been saving for Cafu.

But Brazil's World Cup-winning captain pulled out of his deal, and Yokohama replaced him with Yoo.

After Saturday's game, Marinos manager Takeshi Okada was delighted with his new recruit.

"I was quite surprised because he had only been training with us for four days," said Oka-chan-san.

"I did not know he could play on the outside (of defense), but he was perfect! I am very satisfied."

So does this mean Okada has forgotten all about Cafu, hence the Caf-Who?

"I wanted Cafu for his professional leadership, but Yoo Sang Chul is a more functional player. He can play in many positions."

"He knows Japanese soccer and some of the Marinos players, so he is a very good addition to the squad."

Okada said Yoo would continue to play at right-back in place of the injured Yasuhiro Hato, but his position in the team could change depending on which players were injured.

"When everyone is available we are a not so bad team," said Okada, in an understatement.

"But if we have just one injured player, the performance of the team goes down."

In this respect, Yoo is the perfect signing, as he can play in any of the 10 outfield positions.

He is a dynamic player, possibly the best Asian player still playing in Asia, and it's a mystery why he did not find a club in Europe after Kashiwa Reysol allowed him to leave last year.

Probably the reason is that the bottom fell out of the European transfer market, and clubs did not have the money to sign a World Cup semifinalist or pay him what his ability and experience deserved.

Europe's loss is the J.League's gain.

More specifically, it's the Marinos' gain.

Who is Cafu?

ends

6 Jul 2003(Sun)

Popular striker Atsushi Yanagisawa will become the latest Japanese export next week when he leaves Kashima Antlers to join Sampdoria on loan for one season.

I am sure that all Japanese fans, even those from Jubilo Iwata, will wish him all the best in his mission.

I do, that's for sure, because Yanagisawa has been one of my favorite players for the past several seasons.

I have defended him on numerous occasions when colleagues have talked about his so-called lack of goals.

Granted, Yanagisawa does miss some wide open chances, but so does every striker. Even Pele did not score every time.

The important thing is how you react to the next chance.

Overall, Yanagisawa's strike rate for a forward is satisfactory.

In 177 league appearances before Saturday's farewell game against Jubilo at Kashima, "Atsushi-Goal" had scored 70 times.

That's one goal every 2.5 games, when the accepted figure for a striker is one in three.

So Yanagisawa is ahead of the game in this statistic.

But this record was compiled in the J.League, where defenders are innocent, even generous, compared to those in Italy.

If Yanagisawa is to be deemed a success in Italy, there is only one thing he needs to do, and that is to score goals regularly.

But it's not easy against some of the more street-wise and clever defenders in the world.

Sampdoria have just won promotion back into Serie A, and their target next season will be survival, just like Reggina's last season.

Hopefully Yanagisawa will get a long run in the team, a chance to establish himself, and if so, a goal target of between eight and 10 in his first year would not be asking too much.

There are many qualities to Yanagisawa's game which suggest he could do well in Italy.

He runs well off the ball, dragging defenders out of position, and he has great acceleration.

He can also finish with both feet and with his head, and is fearless in the penalty box.

Above all, when the chances come in Italy, Yanagisawa must relax and not be in too much of a hurry to score.

The sign of a great striker, for example Gabriel Batistuta, is that when the goal presents itself, he relaxes rather than panics.

So just keep cool, Yanagi, and the Sampdoria fans may soon be singing the "Atsushi-Goal" song, too.

ends

3 Jul 2003(Thu)

I must admit I feel a little confused about Japan's overall performance at the Confederations Cup, now I am back in Tokyo after two weeks in France.

Even after Japan went home early following their 1-0 defeat by Colombia, I heard nothing but positive comments from neutral observers.

"Japan deserved to be in the semifinals," was one comment.

"Japan were so unlucky," was another.

"Japan were one of the best teams here," said someone else.

At his major news conference in Paris on Saturday, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said we had seen "wonderful" football , and that he had been particularly impressed with Turkey and Japan for their ability and "innovative" contribution.

The following day I attended the final at the Stade de France. All the media had to vote for their Player of the Tournament, and a colleague from England voted for Shunsuke Nakamura.

"Even though he played only one and a half games?" I asked.

"Yes, but his free kick against France was out of this world," came the reply.

Yes, granted, it was a marvellous free kick from Shunsuke, struck with power and accuracy and which flew past Fabien Barthez. In all honesty, I had expected Yasuhito Endo to take the free kick, because the angle seemed more suited to a right-footed player, as opposed to the left foot of Nakamura.

Perhaps this free kick characterized Japan's football under Zico, because it was all about individual quality.

Going back to the voting, I chose Thierry Henry as my Player of the Tournament, followed by Turkey's Selcuk Sahin, who wore the No. 20 jersey and played in defensive midfield. I thought he showed great maturity and composure for a 22-year-old, and has a long international career ahead of him.

In third place I chose Hidetoshi Nakata. Some people may think I am being biased, but Nakata remains the driving force of the Japan team.

On an individual basis, which the MVP award is all about, I thought Nakata was all class and quality.

The sad thing is, Japan as a whole cannot come close to matching the individual talent of its captain, Nakata, no matter how hard he tries to inspire and lead his less experienced teammates.

Now I am back in Japan and have seen the reaction at home to the Confederations Cup results, which has been much more realistic and pragmatic than the observations in France, I feel that Zico still has everything to prove as national coach.

Home games against Nigeria in August, Senegal in September and Cameroon in November could hold the key to Zico's future.

France was a failure, not a success.

ends

30 Jun 2003(Mon)

Arsene Wenger cuts a striking figure.

Tall, slim, handsome and with the glow of success. Wenger is always a man in demand.

He proved to be a breath of fresh air in England when joining Arsenal from Nagoya Grampus Eight in 1996.

Intelligent, articulate, educated...exactly the opposite of the average English footballer and in stark contrast to his biggest rival, Alex Ferguson,the rough and tough Scotsman.

I was sitting high up in the stands at the Stade de France for the France-Turkey semifinal, but Wenger was clearly visible down by the pitch,talking to some TV people and then shaking hands with old acquaintances.

It was completely by chance that I came face to face with him after the game,as I was denied access to the area where the media can interview the players (somehow I had lost my ticket, among the maps of Paris, notebooks, team sheets, result sheets and other things in my bag).

My depression was lifted when I saw Wenger, virtually pinned against the wall by two Chinese journalists.

He spotted me and moved between the two Chinese reporters to shake my hand, and get out of the conversation, no doubt.

We did not have much time to chat, because he was tired of talking and being interviewed and his car was waiting, but he had some very interesting things to say about Hidetoshi Nakata and Japan.

Is it true Nakata is going to Arsenal?

"We have 10 midfielders. Where can I play Nakata? You have to be realistic," he said.

"There is no market. Every club has too many players."

I then asked him if he thought Nakata would be successful in the Premier League, and Wenger had no doubts.

"I think so, because he looks very tough compared to last season, and he has matured."

Wenger, who once told me that the job of a national coach was for etirement,commentated for Fuji TV on the Japan-France game at Saint-Etienne.

It was the only Japan match he watched in person, and said he was very impressed with how they played in a "remarkable" game.

If anything, Wenger said, Japan played too hard against France, and then paid the price in the Colombia game, losing 1-0 when they needed only to draw to go through.

I think Wenger must have been speaking to Philippe Troussier, as he said Japan should have conserved all their energy for the Colombia game after beating New Zealand 3-0. Troussier said Japan made a big mistake by playing the same team in the first two matches.

He also described Japan's football as "beach football"..enjoyable to play and watch but with no discipline and structure.

As ever, Troussier went on and on, but I can't, so see you next time!

ends

26 Jun 2003(Thu)

When the names of the Japanese players were announced to the crowd before each Confederations Cup game, most of them were unknown to the local people.

But when the name of the coach was read out, the French fans gave Zico appreciative applause.

This is because of his stature as a player, of course, not as a coach, and in particular the 1986 World Cup classic between France and Brazil.

Clearly Zico is respected around the world for his ability as a player, and for the part he played in World Cup history.

It was very sad, therefore, to see him shouting and complaining to another World Cup great, Michel Platini, after France had beaten Japan 2-1 at Saint Etienne.

Zico was annoyed with FIFA's choice of referees: Coffi Codjia of Benin for the New Zealand game, and Mark Shield of Australia for the France match.

He said that, by appointing referees from so-called developing football countries, FIFA did not respect Japan's standing in the world game.

Zico made his feelings clear to Platini, then to the media after the match, then to the media again after training the following day.

But I feel Zico's rantings came across as sour grapes after a defeat, a bad excuse from a losing coach, and did Japanese football no favors.

Maybe Mr.Codjia was too weak, otherwise he would have shown a second yellow card to Alex for diving in the 32nd minute of the New Zealand game. Alex had already been booked for an early foul, and a second yellow for cheating would have brought about his dismissal.

Maybe then, with 10 men, Japan might not have beaten the poor New Zealand team.

Against France, at first I thought the referee was harsh to award France a penalty when Jean-Alain Boumsong fell to the floor as a right wing corner came across.

But TV replays showed emphatically that he was being hampered by Inamoto, who had both arms around the Frenchman as he tried to meet the corner kick.

The referee was right on the spot, and sadly for Japan his call was correct. Ina was shown the yellow card, ruling him out of the Colombia game because he had been booked in the New Zealand match, too.

It is sad to hear Zico complaining like this about the referees.

Everyone in the Japan camp has a lot to learn from this Confederations Cup failure.

ends

23 Jun 2003(Mon)

It is clear that not many people want the Confederations Cup to take place.

Most of the teams here are under strength, with the exception of Japan and New Zealand, and even the organisers are struggling for inspiration.

Understandably, there is nothing of the passion and emotion of the World Cup,which I attended here in 1998 and thought was incredible.

The teams do not have a big travelling support, even though Turkey had some 12,000 fans to cheer them on fanatically against the United States here on Thursday night.

Turks are everywhere, of course, and absolutely love their football.

Cameroon, too, had a lot of support in the 1-0 victory over Brazil in Paris, but again there are many thousands of Cameroon people living here.

As for Japan, I have seen a few small groups wandering around or getting into France's Cafe Culture. This is a wonderful way to kill a few hours, sitting in the sun on the edge of the town square, drinking mineral water or coffee and eating the local bakery products, notably the flaky but filling morning croissants.

On Friday morning I went into the town centre of St Etienne to change Japanese yen to Euro, and noticed a concert stage set up, with a Japanese and French flag hanging in the windless summer air.

I cannot imagine many Japanese being around, though, when the match is on, as tickets will be easier to buy than in 1998.

On that occasion, thousands of Japanese fans were well and truly relieved of their money by the local French, who had bought match tickets but were only too happy to sell them on at a massive profit.

There is little tournament infrastructure this time, such as food and souvenir kiosks, publicity, special transport, hotel deals, and only the most essential services provided by FIFA.

The whole thing looks like it is being done as cheaply as possible, and as quickly as possible.

All of which makes you wonder why FIFA bother holding it.

I think the Confederations Cup should be held every four years, not two, in the year before the World Cup; just like Korea and Japan in 2001.

It is a perfect tournament to use as a dress rehearsal, not as a competition in its own right.

ends

18 Jun 2003(Wed)

Japan will start as red-hot favourites to beat New Zealand in the Confederations Cup opener at the Stade de France on Wednesday night.

But don't be surprised if the Oceania champions give Japan a hard game.

This was the view of FIFA president Sepp Blatter when he gave a news conference in Paris on Tuesday afternoon.

Blatter is convinced that all the Oceania teams are going to be stronger for one main reason: automatic qualification for the 2006 World Cup.

In the past, the Oceania confederation had to hold a playoff with another confederation, sometimes South America, sometimes Asia and sometimes even Europe, for a place in the World Cup.

But, starting in 2006, Oceania will be guaranteed one of the 32 spots, without the need for a playoff.

"I believe this will give a great incentive for all the Oceania nations to lift the level of football," Blatter said.

"Oceania got no more than it deserved: an automatic qualifying place.

"In every other FIFA tournament except the World Cup, Oceania provided teams for the final competition, so it is logical they have a place in the World Cup now."

Blatter feels that New Zealand will be keen to build a strong team to challenge the regional powerhouse Australia, and that the Confederations Cup is just the start of this.

So watch out Japan!

I saw the New Zealand under-22s lose 4-0 to Japan at Kobe Wing Stadium recently, and thought their football was quite primitive.

They looked clumsy and uncomfortable on the ball, in stark contrast to the quick and technical Japanese players.

But they will hold one big advantage over Japan on Wednesday night, as Junichi Inamoto pointed out after training on Monday.

"They are all very tall," he said.

"I am the tallest in the Japanese team at 1.81 meters, but the average height of the New Zealand team is 1.85.

"I watched them play Scotland (1-1) on video and thought, 'Oh my God!' They could be dangerous at corner kicks and free kicks, so we must be very careful."

Inamoto is right.

The Kiwis are in the mood to make a good impression, and there is no better time to do it than in the first match of the competition.

I still think Japan, despite their inexperience in so many areas of the new-look team, have too many good individual players to lose to New Zealand.

Even though there is still a lack of rhythm and pattern in Japan's training sessions, I will be very surprised if they lose to the All Whites.

I think Japan will win, but it will be close, maybe 1-0.

ends

15 Jun 2003(Sun)

If anyone doubts that Hidetoshi Nakata would be a success in the English Premier League, then just listen to Junichi Inamoto.

Ina, of course, has spent the last two European seasons in England, first with Arsenal and then with Fulham, where he will stay next season on loan from Gamba Osaka.

With reports circulating that Nakata is about to sign for Chelsea, or Arsenal or Manchester United, I took the opportunity to ask Ina about the situation at a recent training camp in Osaka.

The interview was conducted totally in English (apart from some bad Japanese from the interviewer!)

"Would Hide be a success in the Premier League, Ina-chan-san?"

"Yes, definitely," replied Ina.

"Why do you think he would be a success?"

"Because he is a very good player, and he has had good results in the Italian league," said Ina.

"Would he be okay in the fast and physical Premier League?"

"No problem, because his style is like the Premiership," said Ina.

"Would you like him to move to England?"

"Of course, because the Premiership is a fantastic league with good fans. I hope he is successful in the Premiership," concluded Ina.

After five years in Italy, Nakata looks ready to leave for new pastures.

I have to agree with Ina, that Nakata would have no problems adapting to the rough and tumble Premier League.

Nakata is fast, tough, fearless and can play in a variety of positions.

In the absence of Shinji Ono through injury, Nakata looks to be from another planet compared to the rest of the national team.

He is a mature and responsible leader, and is a fitness fanatic. Even when the starting members were excused training the day after the Argentina game in Osaka, Nakata still turned up to jog around the pitch several times and do his stretching exercises.

Although Chelsea is the favorite to sign him, I would not rule out a move to....yes, Manchester United.

Just think about it. United sell Beckham to Real Madrid or Barcelona for 30 million pounds, then buy Hide from Parma for 10 million pounds.

United get not only an excellent squad player, for the right wing, for central midfield or behind Van Nistelrooy, but also a player whose brand name can generate millions of dollars around the Far East, where United are massive in places such as Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Hong Kong.

In terms of football and business, Nakata would be perfect for United.

ends

12 Jun 2003(Thu)

There is a saying in football that one week is a long time.

If that is true, then one year seems like an eternity.

This is what was going through my mind as I walked from Nagai Stadium to Nagai Station on Sunday night.

Japan had just been crushed 4-1 by Argentina, and during the game had shown nothing of the spirit, the professionalism and the dynamism on display one year earlier in the World Cup.

It was at this same Nagai Stadium, remember, that Japan beat Tunisia 2-0 to finish on top of their group and progress to the second round for the first time in history.

On that day, goals from Morishima and Hidetoshi Nakata had sparked nationwide celebrations.

Now, though, it was a different story, as the fans went home quietly. The thing that surprised me most was that the fans did not seem particularly disappointed.

It was almost as if they had been expecting this kind of beating from a team led by the likes of Cambiasso, Aimar and Saviola.

It has to be remembered, though, that this was virtually an Argentine reserve team, with defenders Samuel and Ayala, playmaker Veron, left winger Sorin and forwards Crespo and Claudio Lopez among those missing.

Yet still Japan could dominate Argentina for only 15 minutes or so at the start of the second half, during which the never-say-die Akita headed Japan back into the game at 2-1 down after those two wonderful first-half goals from Saviola and Zanetti.

Zanetti's goal was incredible, and highlighted the gulf in class between the two teams.

First they crowded out Hidetoshi Nakata on Japan's left wing, won possession and broke quickly. Zanetti then blew past, or through, Inamoto as if he were not there, and played a pass to the feet of Saviola.

Saviola's return pass was perfectly weighted, taking out Morioka and enabling Zanetti to run round him on the outside and crash an unstoppable shot past Narazaki and into the top corner.

Zico's response to the 4-1 beating was to change the whole team, except for Narazaki and Hidetoshi Nakata, for the game against Paraguay.

This is also a worrying factor, as it is Japan's final warmup game before the Confederations Cup.

If Japan play well against Paraguay, Zico will have even more selection questions to answer.

ends

9 Jun 2003(Mon)

When Zico announced his Confederations Cup squad on Friday, one decision was expected and another was not.

Sadly, but understandably, Shinji Ono will not be playing for Japan in France.

This was expected, as he is clearly exhausted and has several injuries after two seasons of European football without a break.

After the Urawa Reds-Feyenoord friendly at Saitama Stadium 2002, Feyenoord coach Bert van Marwijk said Ono needed five or six weeks' rest, otherwise his whole career may be in jeopardy.

Common sense has prevailed on this issue, and Ono can now have a long summer holiday and then begin to focus on next season.

So while the Ono decision was expected, Zico's omission of Yoshito Okubo from the 23-strong squad was a big surprise and an even bigger disappointment.

Okubo certainly looks the part, and gave the forward line a dash of energy and vigour when he was introduced for his national team debut as a substitute against Korea last Saturday.

I think this was a wonderful chance for Zico to take Okubo, and maybe even Naohiro Ishikawa, to France and let them be part of a big international tournament.

Japan's squad needs some new faces, but Zico prefers to stay with the players who are not producing their best form in the hope that they will start to come together as a team.

It was interesting watching Japan's practice at Cerezo Osaka's training ground on Friday afternoon, after the Confederations Cup squad had been announced.

Nakayama, Suzuki and Nagai, who will all go to France, were eclipsed by the dynamic Okubo in a training match. Okubo's speed and aggressive running made him stand out, and Zico has clearly taken a liking to him.

Which makes it all the more surprising why Zico did not take him along.

Takahara and Shunsuke were both missing from the training, and will team up with the national squad on Monday.

Japan have missed Takahara badly, and need him fit and firing if they are to get out of their group in France. Wouldn't a Takahara-Okubo partnership have taken defenders by surprise?

ends

5 Jun 2003(Thu)

The Japan-Korea game did not make for pleasant viewing, did it?

I thought Korea were well worth their victory, and the 1-0 scoreline flattered Japan.

Japan could not have complained if the score had been 2-0 to Korea, or even 3-0.

It might have been, in fact, if the referee had awarded Korea a blatant penalty midway through the second half when Morioka clearly pulled the shirt of Yoo Sang Chul as he looked about to score.

On Monday I attended a World Cup symposium at a hotel in Shinagawa, and a familar face was there: Peter Velappan, general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation.

He had been in Seoul, at another World Cup anniversary function, over the weekend, and had watched the Japan-Korea game on television.

Velappan, who was FIFA's coordinator for the 2002 World Cup, said he was "quite surprised with the lack of organization and commitment, in the second half in particular, from the Japanese team."

He said the next two games, against Argentina and Paraguay, were "very critical" for Japan.

"The team must begin to show order, shape and some form of strategy, which was lacking," said Velappan.

Everyone who has followed Zico's Japan closely will not be surprised by Velappan's observations, as few people can see any strategy or organization.

What was more worrying, however, was Japan's lack of commitment and spirit.

This was evident after the final whistle, as well as during the game.

It's like they were looking for help, for advice, for leadership, and nothing was forthcoming.

As the attention turns to the Kirin Cup, all eyes will be on Hidetoshi Nakata and Naohiro Takahara.

These two in particular will be viewed as the saviours of the team, and maybe of Zico.

But by relying so much on individual players, Zico's Japan has become exactly what Troussier's Nippon worked so hard to avoid.

Velappan did not want to compare the two coaches, but he said Japan should start picking some young and untested players from the J.League.

He said Japan could afford to experiment for another year, until qualification for the 2006 World Cup begins, so that, two years before the World Cup, there would be at least 30 players in the squad.

This all seems like good advice for Japan, who have gone backwards, not forwards, in Zico's five-game reign.

ends

2 Jun 2003(Mon)

There is always a lot of tension and testosterone around in the buildup to a match between the great historical rivals Korea and Japan.

It's a game neither side can afford to lose, as the winner will be able to walk tall and produce national pride for the whole nation.

The loser must retreat and lick his wounds, and wait for the next time to seek revenge.

In the context of this fierce and often bitter rivalry, there was a touching moment at Tokyo's National Stadium on Friday afternoon.

Japan had just finished their training session, and were heading for the team bus, via the area known as the "mixed zone" where they stop and talk to reporters.

The Koreans had just arrived, and were walking solemnly to their dressing room, ready to follow Japan on to the pitch.

Suddenly, Yutaka Akita saw a familiar face, and called out, "Yong Soo!"

Choi Yong Soo, Korea's imposing center forward who plays for JEF United Ichihara, seemed startled by the greeting, but broke ranks with his teammates to approach Akita.

The pair shook hands, smiled and wished each other all the best for Saturday's showdown.

It's rare to see Choi smile at any time in Japan, on or off the pitch. During the game he remains firmly focused on the task in hand: to score a goal.

This is why he is being paid so well by the J.League club, and he responds by hitting the net on a regular basis. This season alone he has scored nine times to lead the J.League scoring chart.

Choi and Akita know each other's game well, and their own private contest within the match can go a long way to deciding the result.

It is the classic confrontation between fearless defender and fearsome attacker, and both players will stretch every muscle and sinew in their powerful frames to get the edge over his rival.

Choi loves nothing more than scoring a goal against Japan, and would probably trade in his nine J.League goals this season to get the winner on Saturday night.

Akita loves nothing more than a bruising battle against a forward as mean and aggressive and himself, as it brings out the best qualities in the veteran Antlers defender.

When the floodlights are on and the whistle blows, and the stadium is swamped in blue, the pleasantries between the two teams will be put firmly to one side.

But Akita's gesture on Friday afternoon was a great advertisement for the game itself, and for the spirit and character of the player.

ends

29 May 2003(Thu)

The J.League first division has closed down now for six weeks because of the national team's commitments.

After 10 rounds of matches in the first stage, Jubilo Iwata lead the way with 21 points, followed by JEF United (20), Kashima Antlers (19), Nagoya Grampus Eight (18) and then Yokohama F Marinos and Kashiwa Reysol, both on 17 points.

This means that only four points separate the top six teams, and an exciting finish is in store when play resumes July 5.

Attendances are up, too.

A total of 1,352,973 fans have watched the first 10 rounds at an average of 16,912, much higher than the 2002 average of 16,368.

J.League chairman Masaru Suzuki says one reason for the increase is the number of exciting matches. Another is because of the abolishment of extra time and the golden goal.

I think Suzuki-san is right on this point concerning extra time.

It was a big step forward for the J.League to scrap extra time, and end league games at 90 minutes like they do all around the world.

I am sure fans and players appreciate that, as well as coaches and television schedule planners.

Coaches know that a game lasts 90 minutes, and can use their three substitutes with tactics in mind. Before, with extra time looming, it was a question of holding back substitutes in case someone got injured. At that time, the J.League allowed teams to use three subs in 90 minutes and a fourth in extra time, which was totally against the world trend.

I think the new system is fairer, too.

I always felt sorry for a team that played well for 90 minutes, and was beaten deep into extra time by a lucky goal. They got nothing for their efforts, while the other team got two points.

Just look at Nagoya Grampus.

They have won four and drawn six of their games to remain the only unbeaten team.

If they had won those six drawn games in extra time, they would have had 24 points now (12 for four wins in 90 minutes, and 12 for six two-point wins in extra time). This means they would have been top of the table, but would not deserve to be for winning only four games in regulation.

If they had lost those six drawn games in extra time, they would have had only 12 points and be nowhere near the top. This would have been unfair, too, because their consistency deserved a higher place.

Fourth position is about right for Grampus.

Play in extra time was often scrappy as the players were tired, especially in the summer months. Winning goals tended to come from mistakes, not skillful play, and brought an unsatisfactory conclusion.

Now all the J.League needs to do is scrap the two-stage system and replace it with a single stage like in Europe.

But that's another story for another day!

ends

25 May 2003(Sun)

"It was something from God, maybe! Only in soccer is this possible."

These were the words last Sunday of Nagoya Grampus Eight's Slovenian manager, Zdenko Verdenik.

He was talking about the last-minute winning goal scored by his Austrian World Cup forward Ivica Vastic to beat Vegalta Sendai 2-1 at Toyota Stadium.

The match was billed as Vastic's final home game for Grampus.

His farewell match, before being released by the club, against Verdenik's wishes, should have been at Iwata Stadium against Jubilo on Saturday night, May 24.

That was the plan.

But when Vastic was shown the yellow card against Sendai after 76 minutes, it meant he would be suspended for the Jubilo match because it was his third caution of the season.

With 14 minutes to go, Vastic suddenly realised this would be his last match in the Grampus red.

The score was still 1-1 when the game entered the third and final minute of injury time.

In a hectic finish, Grampus were awarded a free kick some 30 meters from the Sendai goal. Ueslei touched the ball to Vastic, and he drifted to his right across the face of goal to create a sharper angle for the shot. Then he let fly with his right foot.

The ball ended up in the corner of the net, and Sendai had only enough time to kick off again before the final whistle blew.

What an incredible finish!

I know a journalist is supposed to remain impartial in the press seats, and try not to show too much emotion one way or another.

But on this occasion, when the net bulged and the crowd roared, I have to admit I threw both arms into the air in celebration.

Not to celebrate a win for Nagoya, but to celebrate the wonder of football.

As Verdenik said, the situation looked impossible.

But Vastic did the unexpected, and his short career in Nagoya was over with an unforgettable moment.

This is the magic of football all around the world. Last Sunday, it just happened to take place at Toyota Stadium.

ends

22 May 2003(Thu)

A visit to Kashiwa Reysol's Hitachi Stadium is always interesting.

Not just to watch the actions of the so-called Yellow Monkeys behind the goal, but also because the atmosphere in general is excellent.

The stadium is small, compact and the fans are close to the pitch.

It reminds me of visiting a lower division club in England, or a club from outside the professional league.

You don't need a big crowd to create a good atmosphere, but last Saturday we got one (over 12,000) for the visit of Yokohama F Marinos.

With the Yellow Monkeys at one end, and a mass of Marinos blue at the other, it was a clear sign that the J.League is serving its purposes by providing hometown teams for the people to follow.

It was an excellent match, too, with Reysol winning 3-1.

Reysol almost went down to J2 last season, but there are strong signs now of a revival. They have 16 points from nine games, just four off the pace being set by Jubilo Iwata.

The bright and energetic performance of Keiji Tamada earned him the Man of the Match award against Yokohama. He scored Reysol's third goal, a crucial strike after Marinos had fought back to 2-1 down, and played a big part in the first two, for Jussie and rookie Tatsuya Yazawa.

Slowly but surely, Reysol manager Marco Aurelio is overhauling a tired and slumping team, which fell into steep decline after coming close to winning the second-stage title in 2000.

On top of this, the Japanese players feel they are benefiting by the absence of Edilson, who returned to the club for a second spell after helping Brazil win the World Cup last summer.

Watching Reysol in that period, it seemed as though Ricardinho and Edilson were playing amongst themselves, ignoring all the Japanese players in attack.

With Edilson gone, Ricardinho is now the focal point of the team, and he is forced to pass the ball to all his teammates rather than looking for Edilson at every occasion.

The Reysol revival is far from finished yet, though.

On Saturday they played like the away team for much of the game, defending, counter-attacking and time-wasting throughout the second half.

This shows Marco Aurelio is not fully confident in his players, yet, but they are heading in the right direction.

Reysol have wasted sacks full of Hitachi money in expensive overseas signings in recent years.

But with eight Japanese players in the team compared to three foreigners, the emphasis must always be on developing homegrown players.

ends

19 May 2003(Mon)

It is clear that being relegated to J2 is not the end of the world.

Even though the fixture list for the J2 season does not include games against the glamour teams such as Kashima Antlers and Jubilo Iwata, a spell in the second division can rejuvenate a club.

Just look at Kyoto Purple Sanga, who won the Emperor's Cup last season.

And Cerezo Osaka, who came up from J2 last season behind Oita Trinita and can now beat any team in J1.

Now it is the turn of Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

After 12 rounds of matches, Sanfrecce lead J2 with 31 points, nine clear of second-placed Albirex Niigata.

I went to watch Sanfrecce play Kawasaki Frontale at Todoroki Stadium on Wednesday night, but I am afraid I brought them bad luck as they lost 1-0. This was their first defeat of the season after 10 wins and one draw.

Their manager is the bright and respected Takeshi Ono, who was Takeshi Okada's assistant coach at the France World Cup and has all the right qualifications through the JFA coaching programme.

After the defeat he was not complaining, saying Frontale deserved to win. The most important thing, he stressed, was how Sanfrecce reacted to the defeat in their next match. They must rebound with a win, he said, and insisted the confidence would not be damaged.

Running the club now, as general manager, is Toyoharu Takata, who is also a director of the JFA.

Takata played a big part in the success of the wonderful J.Village training complex in Fukushima, and is now making a success of Sanfrecce again.

"We have made a good start to the season, but there is still a long way to go," said Takata.

"Our first target is to get out of J2 this season, and in four years we want to be challenging at the top of J1."

Sanfrecce's cause has been helped, not hindered, by the SARS virus, which has put back the final round of Olympic qualifying games until next March.

This means players such as the Morisaki twins and Yuichi Komano will be available throughout the season.

Veteran Brazilian midfielder Cesar Sampaio, 35, says there is a good balance of young and experienced players.

Sampaio was an excellent signing by Sanfrecce, as the 1998 World Cup player can guide the team in attack and defense.

Even though clubs would prefer to stay in J1, a drop into J2 gives them a chance to regroup, win matches, build confidence and team spirit and attract more fans and attention from the local media.

In short, it can mean a new beginning, not the end.

ends

15 May 2003(Thu)

Zico's list of 30 players for the East Asian Football Championship made pleasant reading at the JFA headquarters in Shibuya on Tuesday afternoon.

Among the 30 names were three members of Japan's Olympic squad: Daisuke Matsui, Naohiro Ishikawa and Yoshito Okubo.

The squad will be cut to 20 before the tournament starts on May 28, but Zico said that one of the three would be included.

This immediately started the guessing game.

Which one of the three talented youngsters will be selected to join Japan's elite?

Ishikawa is a bright and quick right winger who has become a firm favourite of the FC Tokyo fans, although he is still only on loan from Yokohama F Marinos. But with Zico expecting the attacking width to come from his full-backs, not from his midfielders, Ishikawa's chances seem slim.

This leaves it a straight fight between Matsui and Okubo.

Personally, I hope Okubo gets the vote.

I have followed his career with interest since his days with Kunimi High School, and he has already put a serious injury and relegation to J2 behind him to become a force, at just 20 years old, in J1 with Cerezo Osaka.

I remember covering a Nabisco Cup game between Gamba and Cerezo at Banpaku Stadium early this season.

Okubo's pace and aggressive running caused quite a few problems for Gamba defender Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, although the Cerezo youngster was substituted before the end.

After the game, outside the changing rooms, Okubo was in tears during a conversation with manager Nishimura. It reminded me of Paul Gascoigne's uncontrollable blubbering after England's 1990 World Cup semi-final defeat by Germany!

Nishimura said Okubo was just frustrated because he couldn't show his best form, as he wanted to do his best in every game.

I love this attitude. And I love to watch Okubo on the field. When he misses a chance he is angry and tries to kick something: the turf or a water bottle by the goal or something. When he scores he is elated.

He plays with passion and emotion, and this stands out noticeably in Japan where players can often be too reserved and look as if they don't care whether they win or lose.

There is a naughty side to Okubo's game, though, as his elbows can come into play during aerial duals, and he is not afraid to foul when he feels like things are not going his own way.

It is a big step forward for Zico to pick Okubo in the 30, and I hope he makes it into the 20. My feelings on Matsui have already been recorded. A lovely, gifted player, but lacking discipline in his play.

But with Zico preferring individual flair and flashy play, maybe Matsui will be the chosen one.

ends

12 May 2003(Mon)

Did Cafu ever intend to join the Yokohama F Marinos?

Or did his agent simply use the Japanese club as a bargaining tool?

The chances of the veteran Brazilian moving to Japan in July now seem remote, after events in Italy in recent weeks.

Cafu, who has played in the last three World Cup finals for his country, was supposed to arrive in Yokohama in early July once his contract with AS Roma expired on June 30.

Marinos announced the deal, and a two and a half year contract worth around $4 million to the player (and his agent), back in January.

A few weeks later there were rumours from Italy that Cafu had, in fact, not made up his mind about what he was doing next.

I asked Takeshi Okada about this following a Nabisco Cup group game against FC Tokyo at Komazawa in March, and he said he had also heard the rumours from his own front office that Cafu might not be coming.

Okada was under the impression that Cafu had signed a pre-contract agreement, declaring his intent to sign a full contract, but added that he had not seen the documents.

Then there were reports from Italy that Cafu was negotiating with AC Milan, and that he may even stay with Roma for another year or two.

After all, he is a free agent after June 30, and can command a massive signing bonus because there would be no transfer fee involved for the buying club.

Three weeks ago I received a call from a contact who said that Cafu's agent had already contacted Yokohama and told the club his client would not be moving to Japan. Apparently, the agent said Cafu was concerned about catching SARS, so did not want to travel to Asia.

The Marinos are still hoping Cafu will join the club, insisting he has signed and returned by fax a legally binding contract.

But players, and their agents, have been known to sign more than one pre-contract agreement. This means they can keep their options open right until the end.

Agents are becoming more and more powerful in the game, some would say almost untouchable, and the laws tend to favour the rights of the individual rather than the club following the Bosman Ruling which changed the transfer scene dramatically.

I hope that the intentions of Cafu and his agent were genuine when they negotiated with the J.League club.

Did the Marinos announce the deal too early?

Or did Cafu's agent strike a preliminary deal and then use this figure when other clubs came in?

Either way, it serves as a lesson for other Japanese clubs to follow.

ends

8 May 2003(Thu)

I have always been a big fan of Daisuke Matsui.

I remember him breaking into the Kyoto purple sanga team long begore they went down to the second dibision two seasons ago.

It was not difficult to notice his natural talent, his skill on the ball and his bright and clever mind.

When he was in possession of the ball, his body movement reminded me of one of my all-time favourite England players: Peter Beardsley, of Newcastle United and Liverpool.

But these days I am becoming worried about Matsui, and beginning to wonder if he will ever fulfill his true potential.

I noticed it during the Asian games in Pusan, South Korea, last autumn, and again playing for the olympic team against Myanmar in the recent qualifying series for the Athens games.

Of course he still has the skill and the trickery, but I feel he lacks discipline in his game.

There are times to do the simple thing, such as control the ball, keep possession and play the easy pass to a teammate.

And there are times for showboating, for example if you are leading 3-0 with the clock ticking down and you want to give the fans something to cheer about.

I feel Matsui, for all his natural skill and talent, is showing off too much instead of getting his head down, concentrating and playing team football.

A few days with Philippe Troussier would have been a good medicine for Matsui, as the frenchman would never have allowed him to get away with some of the ill-disciplined play we see too often for club and country.

When the going gets tough, much tougher, in the later stages of olympic qualifying, a casual piece of play in a dangerous part of the field may prove crucial for Japan's chances.

So it is vital to stamp out this kind of play before it really matters.

As I said before, I really admire Matsui's skills, but against more ruthless opponents from more experienced, cynical countries, his desire to be flamboyant could get him into trouble by way of injury.

It is a sad reflection of the game, but I am afraid an opposing coach who has done his homework on the Japan national team may single out Matsui for special attention in the early stages of the game: And that means to foul him and reduce his effectiveness.

Myanmar fouled him a few times, including one incident which produced a red card.Visions of Shinji Ono being scythed down by a Philippines player at national stadium in July 1999 came back to me, as it was an injury from which he could not fully recover in time for the Sydney olympics over a year later.

I think Gert Engels and Masakuni Yamamoto should take a hard stance in the case of Matsui. Not just for the good of their team, but also for the player's long term future.

ENDS

4 May 2003(Sun)

It came as no surprise that Genk were not interested in keeping Takayuki Suzuki when his one-year loan deal comes to an end soon.

The reason is obvious: that Suzuki has not been able to contribute anything extra to Genk's play.

Although the Belgian League contains some established and respected European clubs such as Anderlecht and Bruges, it is not among the continent's major leagues.

Spain, Italy, England and Germany are regarded as the top four, with the likes of France, Portugal and Holland in the next group.

So the fact that Suzuki has not been able to hold down a place in a team from the mediocre Belgian league does not bode well for his future if he wants to stay in Europe.

His future, presumably, is back at Kashima Antlers, from whom he joined Genk on loan.

So was it a mistake for Suzuki to leave Japan and spend a season on the bench?

No, not at all.

There is no doubt he will have learned a lot, as the pace of the game in Belgium is fast and the football is physical.

I saw Genk play last year, a few months before the World Cup, and had the chance to interview Wesley Sonck after the game.

I found the style of football, and the atmosphere in the stadiums, like a "Little England." It was noisy and passionate and the players never gave up running and trying to score again, no matter what the state of the game was.

From this cultural point of view, I am sure Suzuki will have benefited and broadened his view of the game, and it might be a shock to return to Japan, where the game is still new on a professional level.

Suzuki's goal against Belgium in the World Cup surely contributed significantly to his move. I am sure the Belgians were impressed with his physical style and his presence in the forward line.

It is true that Suzuki did have a good World Cup, and Philippe Troussier must still be regretting not picking him and Yanagisawa for the Turkey match, preferring instead the unusual combination of Alex and Nishizawa.

The fact that Suzuki has not been able to make his mark in Belgium shows just how much progress Japanese players still need to make.

ends

1 May 2003(Thu)

Although it is much too early to start talking about end-of-season awards, one player is already well on his way to getting the recognition his play deserves.

With eight goals in six games, and two successive hat tricks, Choi Yong Soo is the hottest striker in the J.League right now.

This is the 29-year-old Korean's third season with JEF United Ichihara, and probably his last, according to Korean journalists who say he wants to finish his career in his home country.

Long before Choi came to Japan I admired his qualities in the Korean Olympic team and then the national team.

He is big, strong, single-minded in terms of scoring goals, and a team player through and through. In short, the ideal target man and leader of the line.

Even when his teammates may be struggling, just watch Choi as he fights for every ball and has only one thing on his mind: to find the net.

He is immensely popular, too, with the JEF supporters, who have really taken him to their hearts.

This is no surprise, as Choi gives excellent value for money, especially when compared to other imports.

He is on a lucrative contract, but shows he respects this by giving it his all in every game.

In the air he never gives the defenders a moment's rest, as he looks to head for goal or provide a confident and accurate knock-down to a teammate in the box.

On the ground he is always busy, moving from one side to another in search of the ball and dragging defenders out of position to create space for his colleagues.

I was very disappointed that Choi was not selected in the J.League Best XI at the end of his first goal-filled season, in 2001, or last year, alongside MVP Naohiro Takahara.

Coming into this campaign, the former Anyang LG Cheetahs striker had scored 37 goals in 49 appearances over two seasons.

That impressive goals to games ratio has got even better now, as his eight in six games in 2003 give him a career tally of 45 goals in 55 outings.

They have also helped JEF recover from that uncharacteristic 3-0 defeat at home to Vissel Kobe to move on to 13 points, just two behind the leaders, Kashima Antlers, who have 15 from six games after their late victory away to Gamba Osaka on Tuesday.

If it's true what the Korean reporters say, and that Choi is playing his final season in Japan, he is determined to leave his mark in the best possible way.

ends

27 Apr 2003(Sun)

These are still early days in the 2003 J.League season, but officials must be more than a little concerned about events down in Kansai.

Or lack of events may be more appropriate.

J.League chairman Masaru Suzuki was hoping that this year would be a breakthrough season for the Kansai clubs, and that interest would be at an all-time high with four teams in the top flight: Gamba and promoted Cerezo, Emperor's Cup holder Purple Sanga, and Vissel Kobe.

But so far it's been a big disappointment, and the fans are already giving their verdict.

Just take a look at last Saturday's games.

Vissel Kobe attracted only 6,325 for their home game against Vegalta Sendai at the Kobe Wing World Cup Stadium.

This is a terrible turnout for Vissel, considering they had won handsomely 3-0 at Ichihara the previous weekend. If they had beaten Sendai, Vissel could have gone top of the table with nine points, at least until the next day when Yokohama F Marinos played Oita Trinita.

In the event, Vissel lost 2-1, a result which may have frightened even more people off.

It was even worse down in Suita City, where only 4,828 turned up at Banpaku to watch Gamba Osaka play JEF United Ichihara.

These are two attractive teams, and proved it by playing to a 3-3 draw.

Gamba fans do not want excitement, though. They want victories, points and trophies.

Gamba were my tip for the championship before the season kicked off, and I still feel they have enough quality players to mount a challenge at some point.

At the moment they have only five points, five off the pace being set by Marinos, but still with 11 games to play in the first stage.

Again Gamba let themselves down badly against Jubilo, drawing 1-1 at home when a 1-0 victory would have given them a huge psychological lift.

Then they lost 3-2 at Oita, giving Trinita their first victory in the top division.

With Cerezo Osaka capable of scoring goals but unpredictable, and Purple Sanga struggling to match last season's efforts, already it looks bleak for Kansai.

The region needs some inspiration from somewhere.

And hopefully, for the sake of the J.League, it will come quickly.

ends

24 Apr 2003(Thu)

Everyone in the sports world has heard of the All Blacks, New Zealand's famous national rugby union team.

But what about the All Whites?

Well, that's New Zealand's national soccer team, who will play against Japan in the opening match of the FIFA Confederations Cup at Paris Saint-Denis on June 18.

But if Japan's players and coach think it is going to be easy, they could be in for a shock, according to Urawa Reds' Australian defender Ned Zelic.

Australia and New Zealand are the two major powers in FIFA's Oceania confederation, so Zelic knows the All Whites well.

Zelic is convinced New Zealand will be able to give Japan a hard game.

In fact he thinks football in the Oceania region is going to get better and better thanks to FIFA's decision to award one automatic qualifying place to the confederation for the 2006 World Cup.

"I think now all the Pacific teams are really going to improve with this chance they have been given in the World Cup," said Zelic, who has played in Australia, Germany, England and France before moving to Japan last year, first to join Kyoto Purple Sanga.

"You will see teams like Fiji and even Papua New Guinea getting stronger.

"As for New Zealand, they have not been easy to play in the past. Although we have beaten them on a regular basis, they will really start improving.

"They know now there is a place available at the next World Cup, and this is a big motivation for the players."

It was good to see Zelic in action again last Saturday, when Urawa beat Kyoto 2-0 at Komaba thanks to two terrific goals from Emerson and Keita Suzuki.

I can claim to be one of the few people to have seen Zelic play his only game for Purple Sanga just over a year ago, in a defeat at JEF United Ichihara!

He left the club shortly after that one appearance for personal reasons, but returned later in the season to play for Urawa Reds.

But a series of injuries restricted him to just one league appearance for Urawa last season, and a torn hamstring during the club's winter camp in Australia resulted in him missing the start of this season, too.

He is a quality player, skilful and elegant, and can add a lot of stability, composure and experience to the Reds team.

Zelic is a big fan of teammate Yuichiro Nagai, and was delighted for him when he scored the winning goal on his national team debut against Korea.

"For me this guy is a national team player. He has all the skills in the world and can beat one or two men at will. A guy with this potential has to be playing for the national team," said the Aussie.

ends

20 Apr 2003(Sun)

The older Gon Nakayama gets, the more you wonder when he will hang up his boots.

But it will probably not be this year, or even next, as he is still hungry for goals and still has the enthusiasm of a rookie, often more, in fact.

He is now 35, and has just played his 51st game for his country.

It was his first start for three years, since a 1-0 defeat by Korea in Seoul, and Gon was the captain.

His appointment by Zico may have come as a surprise, because Yutaka Akita seemed a more logical choice due to his position in the team, and the fact that most of the action in the Korea-Japan match was expected to be at the other end of the pitch to Nakayama.

But Gon served his role well.

He was the victim of a heavy, but fair, challenge early on by the rugged central defender Cho, when Gon was sent tumbling over the touchline and came to land just in front of the Korean bench.

The Korean fans cheered in glee.

But he picked himself, and was quite dangerous on Japan's counter-attacks.

At the start of the second half he showed his courage by getting his head to a loose ball after some casual defending by Korea, and seeing the ball bounce just wide of the far post.

A few minutes later, though, he should have scored, but snatched at his chance and blazed his shot over the bar after great work on the right flank by Narahashi.

Zico praised Gon's experience and leadership qualities, describing him as a role model for the other players.

"When other players think the job is finished, he is always willing to do some more," Zico said when he was guest speaker at the Foreign Correspondents'Club of Japan on Friday.

"This is why he is still productive and still playing at his age."

Zico said any manager would like to have a player like Nakayama in his team, and he feels sure Japan will not have seen the last of him when he does decide to finish his playing career.

"Even if he stops playing football, he will be very useful to Japanese soccer," said Zico.

Although he did not mention this, I am sure Zico wished other younger players would show even half the desire and commitment displayed by Nakayama, and the confidence on and off the pitch.

ends

17 Apr 2003(Thu)

It's amazing who you can meet when you are lost.

I flew out of Narita International Airport on Monday morning and arrived at Seoul Incheon Airport just before 2 o'clock.

There was a limousine bus from the airport to the Seoul World Cup Stadium, and the cost was only 6,000 Won (600 yen) for an hour's journey!

Well, the information desk said the bus went direct to the stadium, but in fact it dropped you off with the gleaming silver stadium in sight. Rather like getting off the train at Shin-Yokohama station and seeing the International Stadium in the distance.

The weather was beautiful and sunny, but my computer and travel bag were heavy and uncomfortable to carry, and my new shoes were rubbing the skin from the back of my heels, so the trek to the stadium was not a pleasant one.

Then I had to find the sub ground, or practice ground, because this is where Japan would be training at 4 o'clock.

I looked at the map, and set off in the right direction.

I was expecting the practice ground to have its own grandstand, so I actually walked past the unmarked entrance to it and arrived, lost and flustered, in the reception area of the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

I clearly looked hot and bothered, so a very kindly-looking Korean gentleman approached me and asked in impeccable English: "May I help you?"

Oh yes you can!

He took me back the way I had come, and through the entrance to the practice ground, which stood beyond a vast, flat carpark area being used by skateboarders in the spring sunshine.

His name was Mr. Ho Pil, and he said he was 70 years old in Korean age, but born in 1934. He was a volunteer guide, showing football fans from overseas around the stadium. He said most of the visitors were from China and Hong Kong, so, with the SARS virus in mind, I put on a mask and sat a safe distance from him (this is a joke!)

"You should put a 'comma' after Ho," he said, as I wrote his name in my notebook. "Ho is my family name."

To please him, I wrote Ho, Pil.

I asked him about Wednesday's match, and he said Korea expected to win because of their fourth-place finish at the 2002 World Cup.

The 65,000-capacity stadium sold out in five hours, and there will be around 4,000 brave souls wearing Japanese blue on Wednesday night. The rest will be in Korean red.

"How will the Korean fans greet the Japanese team and supporters?" I asked, intrigued, because this intense rivalry reminds me of when England play Scotland in Glasgow. At that time, Glasgow is not a pleasant place to be for an Englishman.

"I think the feelings are changing," said Ho, Pil.

"The history between the two countries is bad, but we must change our minds and think of the future.

"We cannot only depend on the past. The World Cup has helped a lot, and the relationship is becoming more friendly."

It was nice to hear such comments.

Even though my heels were bleeding through my socks and I may have caught SARS in the line of duty.

ends

13 Apr 2003(Sun)

There is a saying in English that "a leopard never changes his spots."

I don't know if there is a Japanese equivalent, but it means that a person can never change his natural characteristics.

On this occasion, however, I think Tatsuhiko Kubo is changing his spots!

This opinion is based on my observations from the opening weeks of the J.League.

When I think of Kubo I think of a tall and powerful center forward, fearless and aggressive and with only one thing on his mind: breaking the back of the net with a blistering left-foot shot or soaring header.

I am sure this is why Yokohama F Marinos signed him from Sanfrecce Hiroshima, to give their attack some bite and some punch.

But the Kubo I have seen this season looks different.

In situations where he used to shoot he now passes. When he used to climb high in the box, he would head for goal; now he heads the ball back across the goal.

After last Saturday's game against Vegalta Sendai at Yokohama, I chatted for a couple of minutes with Takeshi Okada as he raced from the press conference room to the changing room.

I asked him if he had asked Kubo to change his style, and become more of a team player than a swashbuckling individual.

Okada said he hadn't, but added that all 11 players had a collective responsibility to the team.

Then I asked Okada if he was surprised when Kubo, breaking down the left in the season opener against Jubilo Iwata, decided to pass the ball into the middle, where Yukihiko Sato scored. I was expecting Kubo to shoot for goal with his powerful left foot, and take the goalkeeper with the ball into the back of the net!

Okada said that yes, he too was surprised Kubo did not shoot. But of course Okada was delighted with the end result: a goal for Yokohama.

Last Saturday, a cross went into the Sendai box from the left wing. Kubo climbed high at the far post, but tried to find Marquinhos with his header, rather than have a go for goal himself.

If Kubo is deliberately changing his spots, I prefer the old version.

In many aspects, Kubo was like a box of chocolates: you never knew what you were going to get next.

He was a raw and unpredictable talent. At times it appeared that even he did not know what he was going to do next, and if Kubo didn't know, then how could a defender?

Maybe once Kubo finds the net this season he will have more confidence to go for goal himself.

I hope so, because he loses his special quality if he becomes just another team man.

ends

10 Apr 2003(Thu)

It is a sign of the troubled times at Urawa when the biggest cheer of the afternoon is reserved for a substitute getting off the bench.

But this was the case Sunday at Komaba Stadium when the Reds played host to Nagoya Grampus Eight.

The visitors had controlled most of the match, but the spirits of the home fans were raised when Koji Yamase went on as a sub for the last 17 minutes to replace attacking midfielder Makoto Hasebe.

This was Yamase's first appearance in the J.League since August 17, when he suffered a serious knee injury in the first half of Consadole Sapporo's final first-stage match of the 2002 season at home to Tokyo Verdy.

Despite this injury, Urawa still went ahead with the transfer in the winter, and Yamase seems to be well on course for a full recovery.

This is good news for Urawa and for Japan, as there is no doubt the 21-year-old Yamase is a bright and inventive playmaker. There is still room for him in Japan's Olympic team if he continues to make good progress.

With the Reds in chaos in terms of their overseas players, it is vital they have stability and emerging talent among their Japanese players.

In this aspect, things are looking up, despite the fact they have not won in the league since October 19.

At the back they have Keisuke Tsuboi, who was given a tough time Sunday by the dangerous Brazilian striker Ueslei but always stayed on his feet, the sign of a good defender; in midfield there's Yamase and the industrious Keita Suzuki; while up front, Yuichiro Nagai continues to impress many people, including the Grampus defender Panadic, and Tatsuya Tanaka has great pace and potential.

On the foreign player front, Edmundo walked out on the club toward the end of last month and is now back with Vasco Da Gama; Emerson is not fully fit but still expected to carry the forward line, and the unlucky Australian libero Ned Zelic is nursing a torn left hamstring suffered at the preseason training camp in Australia.

Zelic is hoping to do some work this week in training, and Reds fans will hope he recovers fully as he can be a big asset to the team.

At least Yamase gave the long-suffering Reds fans something to cheer about with his brief appearance Sunday.

ends

6 Apr 2003(Sun)

On April 16, Japan will play their fourth match under Zico.

It is in Seoul against the 2002 World Cup semifinalist South Korea (can that be true? South Korea in the World Cup semifinals!), and Zico will choose his squad of players from the J.League.

In a busy year for the national team, Zico has said he will call on his overseas-based players only for the tour of America, which was cancelled, and then for the Confederations Cup in France in June.

So we have to presume that when he names his squad for the Korea match on Tuesday it is not going to include any of the seven players who returned to play against Uruguay.

This means Zico is going to be desperately short of fully fit, match-sharp strikers.

His original squad of 23 for the America tour included only four forwards: Takahara and Suzuki, who are based in Europe, and Gon Nakayama and Kurobe. Nakayama pulled out of the Uruguay game injured, but was back in the Jubilo squad for Saturday's game at Gamba Osaka.

Japan's best J.League-based forward is, in my opinion, Atsushi Yanagisawa.

He received ankle and knee injuries when he was the victim of a heavy foul when Antlers played Jubilo in the A3 Mazda Champions Cup at Tokyo National Stadium on February 19, and he has only just returned to the first-team squad this weekend.

So does Zico pick Nakayama and Yanagisawa when they are clearly not ready for international football?

If not, who does he go for?

Presumably he will stay with Kurobe, who has made rapid progress after joining Kyoto in 2000 from Fukuoka University. The blond-rinsed striker was not short of confidence when he came on against Uruguay, and Japan will need this positive approach, as well as courage and commitment, when they face Korea in their own back yard.

Top of my list of forwards for this game would be Tatsuhiko Kubo, now of Yokohama F Marinos.

He is strong, aggressive, fearless and powerful in the air. Like Takahara and Yanagisawa, he covers a lot of ground off the ball with his tirless running, creating space for other players and also setting up chances.

I still think Kubo was desperately unlucky not to be in Philippe Troussier's World Cup squad, as he possesses that element of surprise. He is still raw, despite his years of experience.

With Kubo you never know what is going to happen next. And if Kubo doesn't know what he's going to do, how can the defenders?

He is an explosive player, and would be my first choice against Korea. Kurobe, too, would stay involved, and I would pick Yanagisawa if he has no problems after Saturday's game at Reysol.

But Zico has not got many options, has he?

Perhaps a formation with only one central striker, such as 4-3-2-1, may be the answer, with Ogasawara and Alex behind Kubo, and a line of three "volante" in front of the back four.

ends

3 Apr 2003(Thu)

Zico was there. Saburo Kawabuchi was there. Masakuni Yamamoto was there and so were all his Olympic team players.

But there was only one person everyone wanted to talk to.

Philippe Troussier.

The Frenchman has returned to Japan for the first time since the 2002 World Cup, when he achieved his mission to guide the co-host nation into the second round.

On Tuesday he was at Toyota Stadium in Toyota City, Aichi prefecture, working for a TV company broadcasting the Japan-Costa Rica under-22 international.

Everyone was wondering if Troussier would be talking to the media after the game, and the Japan Football Association kindly organized a brief post-match conference with Zico, his predecessor as national coach, and JFA president Kawabuchi, who was one of the Frenchman's biggest critics during his stormy four-year reign.

Having arrived at the stadium a couple of hours before kick-off, I went searching the corridors in the hope of bumping into Troussier by chance.

I must admit I have missed him. I have missed his humour, his philosophy, his training sessions and his dedicated approach to the game.

Suddenly, a door in front of me opened and out walked Troussier, flanked by his interpreter and a representative of the TV station he was working for.

Troussier was quick to brandish his accreditation pass, which read "Official."

"Look!" he said. "Now I am a member of the media. Now I can ask questions instead of answering them."

I asked him how his knee was, following an operation at the end of last year.

To prove he was back to full fitness, Troussier performed a quick Irish-style jig, not quite as extravagant as Leonardo Di Caprio in "Titanic," but just as entertaining.

"I will see you after the game. I cannot talk now because I have to meet Captain," he said, with a wink, before being escorted from the scene by the TV staff member.

He was referring, of course, to Kawabuchi-san, who has changed his nickname from Chairman to Captain after taking over as the figurehead of Japanese football.

After the game, mischievously I asked Troussier if Kawabuchi had asked him to take over from Zico as national coach, following the Brazilian's unconvincing start.

Troussier thought for a moment and replied: "Yes...but of Japan's over-45 team."

On a more serious note, Troussier said the current crop of Olympic players could become as good as his own team at Sydney 2000 if they continued to work hard and learn.

"This is the start of their build-up to the qualifying campaign for Athens, and they have shown the right attitude. It was a positive result," he said, after Japan's 1-1 draw.

"I am sure they will improve the longer they are together."

I asked Troussier how he felt when the "Kimigayo" national anthem was played before kick-off.

"I feel a bit Japanese," he said.

"When Japan lose I cry at home in Paris. When they win I drink to celebrate. Football is all about drinking. You drink when you lose because you are sad, and drink more when you win."

Troussier's presence even seemed to lighten up the serious Zico, who described Yuki Abe's brilliant curling free kick as a "sugoi shooto."

Now that's quite a compliment from Brazil's free kick master.

ends

30 Mar 2003(Sun)

The change in Hidetoshi Nakata on and off the pitch is a remarkable transformation for all those who have followed his career closely.

Take events at Kashima's World Cup Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, for example.

During the training session, he was in control of his teammates, giving out more instructions than Zico. He spoke to his teammates on an individual basis or in small groups, and looked like the perfect captain.

As Zico said, he cannot be on the pitch himself, so he needs someone who understands his tactics and who has the communication skills and experience to pass them on.

After training, the media gathered around the players' exit hoping to catch the players before they jumped on the team bus and headed back to the hotel.

Nakata was one of the last out, maybe hoping he would go unnoticed as the Japanese media chased after Ono, Nakamura, Inamoto and the rest.

But, recognizing a couple of foreign journalists working in Tokyo, he stopped.

"Can we ask you some questions, Hide?" we said.

"OK, but only a few," he said, in confident, fluent English.

Throughout the question and answer session (I am sure you have seen the content of this in the Japanese media during the week), he was relaxed and always quick to show his sense of humor.

"Are you going to be captain against Uruguay?"

"I don't know. Maybe." came the reply, when he knew all along he would be.

"Does Zico expect you to lead the other players because of your experience?"

"I don't know. Please talk to him."

While continuing to be a little evasive and elusive, but in a jokey manner, this approach was nothing compared to how he used to be when he played for Bellmare Hiratsuka, and in his early years in Italy, starting with Perugia in 1998.

At times then he came across as a loner, distant to his fans and appearing to lack true passion and feeling--but never ability and courage--for the game when he was on the pitch.

I once remember him scoring a wonderful free kick against Hong Kong. Whereas David Beckham would have run off, arms outstretched, to receive the applause of his fans, Nakata looked embarrassed and just turned and trotted back to his own half.

I asked him why he did not celebrate extravagantly like other players.

"It was just a moment in time, nothing special," he said, and later added that he just happened to be good at football. It could have been something else.

"Who knows? I may have been a pianist, but it was soccer," he said.

Even Ossie Ardiles, former manager of S-Pulse and F Marinos, once said Nakata looked like he didn't care enough about the game, although he would have made him captain of the national team two or three years ago.

Nakata does care, clearly, and he is well respected in Italy by teammates and rivals alike as a person and a player.

It's just that soccer will not be his whole life all his life. One day he will move on.

For the moment it is, and his experiences in Italy have turned him into a mature, responsible leader.

The change is astonishing.

ends

27 Mar 2003(Thu)

Japan's third match under head coach Zico is just around the corner, and the Brazilian still has everything to prove.

Even though World Cup legend Pele thinks Zico's experience with Brazil's national team and knowledge of the game should make him a success in the role, I still have my doubts.

Lack of preparation, lack of strategy and lack of tactical discipline characterized Japan's two earlier games under Zico, a 1-1 draw with Jamaica and 2-0 defeat by Argentina.

In the buildup to Friday's friendly against Uruguay at Tokyo's National Stadium, Zico is now talking about the possibility of changing his formation from 4-4-2 to the 3-5-2 favored by his two immediate predecessors, Philippe Troussier and Takeshi Okada.

In a recent Tokyo press conference, Zico said if the players did not feel comfortable with four defenders, he may switch to three.

Clearly Zico is taking his time to lay down his policy, despite the fact the major reason for his appointment by JFA president Saburo Kawabuchi was because he knew the Japanese game and the players so well after so many years with Kashima Antlers.

Japan's strengths are in midfield, and their defenders are mobile and versatile rather than physically robust, so a 3-5-2 system makes more sense to me.

If Zico wants to play his golden quartet in midfield--Hidetoshi Nakata, Shunsuke Nakamura, Shinji Ono and Junichi Inamoto--it is easier to do this with a five-man midfield. These four would be supplemented by Koji Nakata, whose defensive qualities would give the team much more balance.

Nakamura could be on the left, Nakata on the right, where he is playing so well for Parma, with Ono occupying the central role behind the two strikers, who look certain to be Takahara and Suzuki, with Kurobe coming off the bench for his first cap.

Inamoto and Koji Nakata would provide the defensive stability in the center of midfield, with both of them able to join the attack at the right time.

At the back, if Zico plays three defenders it could be Morioka on the right, Miyamoto in the middle and Akita (or Hattori) on the left.

If he plays four back it could look like: Narahashi, Akita, Miyamoto (or Morioka) and Hattori. I would still prefer to have seen Soma brought back at left back, as anyone who watched the A3 Mazda Champions Cup would have seen Soma is in much better condition than Hattori. Soma, too, offers more going forward.

All in all, a 3-5-2 formation suits Japan much more, as there just aren't the orthodox full backs to play 4-4-2.

But I think Zico will persist with 4-4-2 for the time being.

Whatever formation he plays against Uruguay, he needs a good performance and preferably a first victory.

We need to know in which direction Zico's Japan is heading.

Forwards or backwards.

ends

23 Mar 2003(Sun)

The decision of the Japan Football Association to cancel the national team's two-match tour of the United States was predictable and expected.

It was also right.

Some people, especially North Americans in Japan, have been critical of the JFA, saying they panicked and that there would have been no danger.

But who knows what may have happened, and what may still happen around the world following the U.S.-led attack on Iraq without approval from the United Nations?

The main fears, of course, are for repercussions from Islamic extremists who view the attack as the start of a "jihad" -- a holy war between Christians and Muslims.

And if these terrorists can achieve what they did on Sept. 11, 2001, they can do anything, anywhere.

So I think it is right and proper that the JFA puts the safety of the players first and foremost.

As much as everyone wanted the matches to take place, there is simply no need at this moment to take an unnecessary risk in flying to a country at war, and flying from city to city on the west coast when the threat of terrorism, however small, exists.

It is a sad situation that the world has come to this, but it is hardly the fault of the JFA, and there is no point criticizing the JFA for being too cautious.

It is a much better policy to stay at home, hold a training camp as Zico wants to do, and hopefully play a friendly international on March 29, possibly against Uruguay.

Zico's original squad of 23 included seven players based in Europe, but whether these players will travel to Japan remains in doubt.

Shunsuke Nakamura's Italian club Reggina did not want him to go to the United States, and it's unlikely they will want him to travel back to Japan just for a training camp.

Hamburg SV felt the same about Naohiro Takahara, as they simly did not want him flying about the world at such a delicate situation.

I heard the news that the tour was off before the Jubilo Iwata-Yokohama F Marinos J1 opener at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa on Friday afternoon.

No one was surprised by the JFA decision, and not many seemed surprised that Jubilo were 2-0 down inside 10 minutes and lost 4-2 to Takeshi Okada's revamped team.

Jubilo's preseason build-up has not been smooth, and several of their experienced players looked tired and slow.

This could be due to over-training, rather than under-training, as new manager Masaaki Yanagishita is working his players hard.

But Yanagishita has an impossible task this season, after Jubilo won both stages last year under Masakazu Suzuki.

There is only one direction Jubilo can go, and that's down, not up.

Yanagishita must decide whether to overhaul the team and bring in fresh faces, or persist with the ageing heroes from 2002.

A fascinating season is in store for the J.League.

ends

20 Mar 2003(Thu)

It was very interesting to read through Japan's under-22 squad for the April 1 friendly against Costa Rica at Toyota Stadium in Aichi prefecture.

Of the 23 players named by head coach Masakuni Yamamoto, 22 of them belonged to J.League clubs.

Only one, midfielder Yuhei Tokunaga, was a student, from Waseda University.

I think this statistic shows the reason why Japanese football is improving so much at the highest level.

A few years ago, an under-22 team representing Japan would have been drawn almost entirely from university teams.

Just look at some of the top players in the J.League, or players who have retired recently.

Masami Ihara, Japan's 1998 World Cup captain, was at Tsukuba University, as was Jubilo Iwata goal machine Masashi Nakayama.

Jubilo's other experienced players such as Toshihiro Hattori (Tokai University), Hiroshi Nanami (Juntendo University) and Toshiya Fujita (Tsukuba University) all entered the professional ranks at a late stage.

Around the world it is very rare for a player to attend university and then be signed by a professional club.

In England, for example, a player can sign "schoolboy forms" with a professional club at the age of 14, and then join as apprentice professionals at the age of 16. When they are 17 they become professional players.

People go to university in England to benefit their career, but these careers do not include professional football. Clubs would not be interested in signing someone from university because they would feel he is five years behind a player who joined a club at 16 in terms of professional training and tactical knowledge.

High school-university-football club was the normal career path in Japan, so it is easy to see why Japan did not qualify for the World Cup until 1998.

Their players were behind other countries because they lacked this professional environment. In this aspect, the J.League has provided the perfect base for a player to join from high school and progress up the ladder.

There are still exceptions, as we discovered when Zico announced his squad to travel to the United States.

Teruaki Kurobe thoroughly deserves his chance for the part he has played in the rise of Kyoto Purple Sanga from J2 to Emperor's Cup winners.

Kurobe, too, was a late starter, having attended Fukuoka University. He joined Kyoto in 2000 and made his professional debut shortly after his 22nd birthday.

This is extremely late in professional football, but three years later Kurobe is in the national squad.

In the pre-J.League days, players did not have this professional set-up, which is why so many of the senior players have university backgrounds. Another one that springs to mind is Naoki Soma, who went to Waseda.

Now it's the turn of Tokunaga.

But there will not be many more in the future.

ends

16 Mar 2003(Sun)

Don't be jealous now when I tell you this next piece of information.

But it was very pleasant talking to Pele about Japanese football in Tokyo the other night!

The only problem with Pele is that he is such a good ambassador for the game, such a diplomat as he represents MasterCard around the world, that his answers are often predictable.

In fact I could have written Pele's answers before I had asked him the questions!

OK, I will tell the truth.

Pele was not actually in Tokyo. He was in Berlin, Germany, at a sponsor press conference during which MasterCard revealed they had spent $200 million in the past few years promoting their involvement in the global game.

I was at the Cerulean Tower in Shibuya, on the 16th Floor to be precise in the office of the local MasterCard operation. I spoke to Pele via telephone, as media from around Asia had a few precious moments with the World Cup legend.

I asked Pele what he thought about Zico's appointment as national coach, considering Zico's lack of experience as a coach at club or national team level.

Pele said he had "no doubt" Zico would be a success.

"He worked as a supervisor for the Brazilian national team at the France World Cup, and also has his own team in the Brazilian second division," said Pele.

"He has talent, experience and knows the game."

But then Pele added significantly: "But it's normal that a coach needs a little bit of luck. I wish him very good luck in Japan."

Pele begins most answers with "no doubt."

He is so eager to please that even if you asked him if Singapore could win the next World Cup he would begin his reply: "No doubt. But first they must have a strong league and give their players experience outside their own country."

Here is another question to Pele from a colleague in Tokyo.

"Is it realistic for Japan to talk about reaching the quaterfinals of the 2006 World Cup?"

Pele said: "No doubt. Japan did well last year and has a good team. But playing outside your own country in Europe is a little more complicated. And don't forget they will not have the support of their own fans."

This to me suggested Pele did not think Japan could reach the last eight in 2006.

Personally, I don't think anyone in Japan should be talking about the 2006 World Cup quarterfinals. First I think they should be talking about qualifying, as this is not going to be a foregone conclusion with South Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iran also in the battle.

But was it an interesting experience chatting to Pele?

No doubt!

ends

13 Mar 2003(Thu)

They say that first impressions are often the best.

If this is so, then Gamba Osaka need to sharpen up if they are to realise their potential and win the J.League championship this season.

I went to Banpaku Stadium on Saturday afternoon to watch the Gamba-Cerezo Nabisco Cup derby match, as it gave me a good opportunity to see two Kansai teams in action before the start of the league season.

I have tipped Gamba to win the championship this year, and will continue to do so, even though they looked a little slow up front.

But two important points emerged from the game.

First, they won, 1-0, without playing well, thanks to a late goal from substitute Matsunami. He must be a wonderful player to have on the bench, as he always tries his best when he gets the chance and is always dangerous.

Second, Gamba did not condede a goal, against a potent Cerezo attack led by new captain Akinori Nishizawa, supported by the precocious Yoshito Okubo, with the veteran Hiroaki Morishima behind and the awkward-to-mark Marcelo Baron coming off the bench.

Gamba's three-man defense stood firm, with the impressive Yamaguchi on the right, Miyamoto in the middle and the under-rated Kiba, the captain, on the left.

Gamba manager Akira Nishino feels his two new South American players, Francisco Arce of Paraguay on the right flank and the Brazilian Galeano in central midfield alongside Endo, will be a big improvement on last year's duo: Marcelinho Carioca and Fabinho.

Arce, who has a very similar running style to the Marinos-bound Cafu, will torment defenses with his free kicks, corners and crosses this year, and the big center forward Magrao should profit immensely from this service. Araiba will also provide quality crosses from the left, so Gamba will be able to attack with width on both sides.

Asian Games hero Satoshi Nakayama impressed for Gamba when he came on, working hard down the left wing, but Gamba missed the spark of Yoshihara.

Yoshihara, once described by Philippe Troussier as the Romario of Japan for his penalty-box prowess, is a dynamic, aggressive player, who is a real handful for opposition defenses.

When he is in top condition he will help Gamba's cause a lot.

As for Cerezo, a 0-0 draw would have been an encouraging result, but Matsunami's late, scrambled goal spoiled everything.

I was very impressed with the Cerezo midfielder Kudo, who has a good touch on the ball and always takes the easy passing option when he has possession.

So often players attempt an ambitious or adventurous pass, which may come off once in 10 attempts, but Kudo prefers the shorter, simpler pass. I am sure his manager, Nishimura, prefers the easy option, too.

Late in the game, Kudo dropped back to right-back, and he was beaten by Futugawa before the Gamba playmaker crossed into the middle for Matsunami's goal.

It was a cruel ending for Kudo and Cerezo, but this is the difference between J1 and J2, and they know they must concentrate and contest every ball ferociously for the whole game.

Gamba are good enough to win the championship, but need a fully-fit Yoshihara in the forward line.

ends

9 Mar 2003(Sun)

A few weeks ago I called Steve Perryman at home in England to chat about Kazuyuki Toda joining Tottenham.

The conversation began on a positive note, but ended on a depressing one.

This was nothing to do with Toda, his former player at Shimizu S-Pulse.

It was about Kashiwa Reysol's Brazilian striker Edilson. To put it bluntly, Perryman said Edilson was the worst professional footballer he had ever worked with.

Perryman said his attitude was bad, that he did not show the kind of responsibility expected of such an experienced player, and for a player who was being paid handsomely, and that he pretended to be injured to get out of matches.

Perryman, who had been sacked by Reysol a few weeks before, could not understand how Reysol tolerated Edilson, as he knew the player was taking advantage of his situation as a World Cup-winning Brazilian.

A few weeks on, Perryman has been proved right again.

The Reysol players reported for training on Jan. 28, but Edilson has not been seen since the end of last season.

According to a club source, Edilson has produced more excuses than goals in the past few weeks.

First he said he could not return due to business matters. Then it was because he needed to visit the dentist (don't they have a dentist in Chiba prefecture?). Then it was for private, family reasons.

The latest news is that Edilson is due back in Japan on Saturday, the day Reysol begin their Nabisco Cup group against Vegalta Sendai.

This is appalling behavior from Edilson, who has the same manager as Emerson, who was also late back for Urawa Reds, apparently due to visa problems because he needed a new passport (didn't he realize this several months ago?).

I hope the clubs are firm with these players and punish them, as they are earning fabulous salaries in Japan and living a luxurious lifestyle.

Just like Will last season, when he kicked Marinos teammate Daisuke Oku after being sent off and was promptly sacked, they should appreciate the life Japan is giving to them.

I also hope the J.League steps in, and punishes the players, especially Edilson, as they are bringing the game into disrepute.

Japanese football is young and fresh, and thousands of children around Japan are switching on to this wonderful world of soccer.

This is another reason why clubs should be careful who they sign, and how they treat them, as young fans and even young Japanese players will look up to the foreign "stars" as an example.

The older Japanese players will probably just shrug their shoulders, because they have seen it all before: Another foreign mercenary taking gullible Japanese football for a ride.

Edilson signed a two and a half-year contract with Reysol last summer, meaning he still has two years to run on that lucrative deal.

So what will happen next?

Will Edilson receive a nice fat pay-off to leave the club, so they can sign someone, another Brazilian probably, who really wants to play for them (or says he does)?

It is hard to feel much sympathy for Reysol, too, after what Perryman described about last season.

But the long-suffering Reysol fans deserve better, and I hope they remove the puzzling "Gorgeous Edilson" banner this season.

ends

6 Mar 2003(Thu)

After losing all three games without scoring a goal in the recent A3 Mazda Champions Cup, some people had already written off Jubilo Iwata for the new season.

They included the Yugoslav head coach of China's Dalian Shide, Milorad Kosanovic.

After his team had beaten Jubilo 1-0 in the last round of Mazda matches, Kosanovic said Dalian's time was coming up and Jubilo's was going down. He also said Kashima Antlers were the favorites to win the league title this year.

One person who did not doubt Jubilo's ability, however, was Gert Engels, Kyoto Purple Sanga's German manager.

Before the Xerox Super Cup game last Saturday, Engels said it would be "dangerous" to play Jubilo after they had lost three straight games.

And he was proved right.

After a poor first half, which ended 0-0, Jubilo finally found their form and ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.

Although Brazilian striker Rodrigo Gral, who looks a lot like Francesco Totti in appearance, received a lot of attention after the game for scoring two goals, the Jubilo player who galvanized the team was the reliable Toshiya Fujita.

In the first half, Kyoto's offside trap had worked well, catching out the Jubilo forwards on regular occasions.

It needed something special to break through, and Fujita was the man who made it happen.

The J.League MVP in 2001 was overshadowed last season by the 26 goals of Naohiro Takahara, but this did not mean Fujita's form went down.

He is as vital to the team as any player, because he has a quick footballing brain and never stops thinking and running.

It was Fujita's deep runs from midfield which caused confusion in the Kyoto defense, and he also showed composure and exquisite skill in a tight area in the penalty box before stroking home the game's first goal.

He created the second one, too, after a well-timed run and shot, which was parried into the path of the Braziian. He could also claim an assist for the third goal, as his accurate corner from the right was back-headed by Takashi Fukunishi for Gral to score with an easy diving header.

On the day, Fujita was fantastic, showing the kind of form and leadership qualities which earned him the MVP award two seasons ago.

Jubilo looked liberated after the first goal, but they still have a lot to do to be the power they were last season.

Strikers thrive on confidence, and Gral needed those two goals to lift his spirits and those of his teammates.

We will have to wait and see if Gral becomes a permanent fixture in the team alongside Nakayama.

But we don't have to wait to realise that the lively, clever Fujita will be a key man again for Jubilo this season.

ends

2 Mar 2003(Sun)

There are no prizes for guessing who is the star of the show in the J.League's new pop song, to be released March 19.

And there are no prizes for guessing who is on the cover of the March edition of "Grun," the magazine for supporters of Nagoya Grampus Eight.

It's Chikara Fujimoto, of course.

Fujimoto's winter transfer from relegated Sanfrecce Hiroshima to Grampus was one of the major talking points of the off-season in Japan.

Because "Cheeky Chikara" is as bright and clever on the pitch as he is off it.

The pop song is entitled "We can fly," and the "boy band"-style video features Fujimoto along with several other J.League stars, including Koji Nakata, Eisuke Nakanishi, Hiroaki Morishima, Tsuneyasu Miyamoto and Masashi Nakayama.

Out of all of them, including even "Gon," Fujimoto looks the most natural in front of the TV camera, relaxed and confident and very expressive, just like he was when he was the chief guest on the Saturday night "Super Soccer" TV show.

I also remember arriving in Paris with the Japan national team for a couple of friendly matches, against Senegal and Nigeria, and Fujimoto was the main attraction for the waiting French and foreign media.

But that is only because they thought he was Hidetoshi Nakata!

The two do look alike, it's true, and Fujimoto just loved the limelight! He was not bothered at all that it was a case of mistaken identity.

Nagoya's Slovenian manager, Zdenko Verdenik, likes what he sees of Fujimoto.

"He has no problem to be included in our team," said the former JEF United Ichihara manager.

"He is a very good player. He has good ability, and understands very well how to play behind the two top. I think he is very important for us."

In the past, critics have pointed out that Fujimoto can play too much for himself and not for the team.

Again, Verdenik is aware of this.

"I have spoken to him about it, because I have seen that sometimes he wants to do too much alone.

"Now he is prepared to change and try to do more for the team."

Grampus fans will be hoping that Fujimoto is as big a hit on the field as he is in the video.

ends

27 Feb 2003(Thu)

Kyoto Purple Sanga's new signing from South Korea, Ko Jong Su, has been ruled out of Saturday's Xerox Super Cup against Jubilo Iwata, and will miss the start of the new league season, too.

According to the club's German manager, Gert Engels, Ko is not in good shape and struggling to keep up with his new teammates at the Kagoshima training camp.

The 24-year-old playmaker, whose career has been affected by a serious knee injury, was signed to replace 2002 World Cup hero Park Ji Sung, who has joined Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.

But Kyoto's fans will have to wait a few weeks longer before the former Suwon Blue Wings star will be ready to challenge for a place in the first team.

"He still has to build up his physical condition, and we kope the knee is going to be okay," said Engels, whose team won the Emperor's Cup last season to qualify for the Super Cup against the reigning league champions at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

"I don't think he trained for a couple of months before joining us, so he's a little bit overweight.

"But he is not old, and I hope he will recover and gain strength and power."

Ko was Korea's equivalent of Shunsuke Nakamura, with a brilliant left foot, deadly at corners and free kicks, and a pin-up for the female fans.

At the age of 19 he appeared in all three of Korea's games at the 1998 World Cup in France, twice as a substitute, but he was not chosen for last year's squad by Dutch coach Guus Hiddink due to the knee injury.

Engels is well aware of Ko's qualities.

"He is a good player, that's for sure," he said.

"He has a good touch with his left foot, a good shot and has good ideas.

"He is a classic game-maker, but our team requires more movement and running. He is working hard, and is aware that we do not like players who play only offense."

Kyoto's opening J1 game is a Kansai derby at home to Gamba Osaka on March 23, and the league then takes a break due to the national team's two-match tour to the United States. Engels hopes Ko will be ready for when the league resumes in early April.

Engels insisted that reports that Ko would be paid $800,000 for the year were way off the mark, and the figure is much lower.

But still, it looks like a heavy gamble by Kyoto to pay so much to a player whose long-term future is far from secure.

ends

23 Feb 2003(Sun)

Jubilo Iwata's technical adviser and former captain, Dunga, is confident his struggling team can get it right in time for the new J.League season on March 21.

But he has warned the players it will be much harder to defend the championship this year than it was to win both stages last season.

Jubilo, under new manager Masaaki Yanagishita, have been a major disappointment in the A3 Mazda Champions Cup, the inaugural east Asian club tournament that concludes Saturday at National Stadium in Tokyo.

After losing their opening game 2-0 to South Korea's Songnam Ilhwa last Sunday, they went down by the same score against fierce rivals Kashima Antlers on Wednesday.

Kashima can clinch the championship Saturday, and the $400,000 first prize, with only a draw against Songnam, whereas Jubilo will be fighting for pride against China's Dalian Shide.

Brazil's 1994 World Cup-winning captain said: "It is very important to win this last game because it will give confidence not only to the players but also the manager and supporters.

"I hope our players can express on the field what they have been doing every day in training, especially in shooting from middle distance, say 25 or 20 meters. They also need to change the rhythm of the game."

Commenting on Jubilo's slow start, Dunga said: "It's normal that it will take two or three games, but I think the level is going up in every game and every training session.

"I am confident we will continue to be strong when the league season starts, but it's going to be more difficult this time as the other teams will be more aggressive and enthusiastic when they play against Jubilo.

"Against Kashima there was more good crosses than in the first game, and in the second half there was more speed and we were able to change the tempo.

"But at the moment we need more balance in the team. (Naohiro) Takahara has gone, Nakayama and Nanami didn't play against Kashima, and the youth players need more time to work together and more coordination."

With Takahara now at Hamburg in Germany, Yanagishita has played Norihiro Nishi up front in both Mazda matches.

But Dunga feels that Nishi, usually a right winger, is not the answer to Jubilo's scoring problems.

"Nishi finds it difficult to play with his back to the other goal. He is better when he is facing the goal and he can use his speed and dribbling and shooting ability."

ends

20 Feb 2003(Thu)

Koji Nakata has achieved a lot on the football field during his short career.

Nakata is still only 23, but has already represented Japan in the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria, the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2002 World Cup.

At club level he has won a succession of domestic titles with Kashima Antlers, whom he joined from Teikyo High School.

In the ongoing A3 Mazda Champions Cup, Nakata's career moved another step forward when Antlers' Brazilian manager, Toninho Cerezo, appointed him captain for his team's opening game against Dalian Shide last Sunday.

After the match, which Antlers won 3-1 in impressive style, Toninho said he had seen Nakata grow from a child to a man since taking over at the club in 2000.

The captaincy, explained Toninho, was to give Nakata more confidence and responsibility, and to prove the manager's trust in him.

Nakata's position in the team, as a defensive midfielder, makes him an ideal choice to be captain. He can see all aspects of play, in defense, midfield and attack, and is at the center of the tactical strategy.

Toninho has praised Nakata's "wide vision and deep insight" into the game, but felt he still had to grow into the role of captain.

The reason?

He is too shy, said Toninho, when I spoke to him Monday after a training session at Nishigaoka Stadium.

"A captain has to talk a lot and be more forceful with his teammates."

Toninho said Nakata would continue as captain in the Mazda tournament, which finishes Saturday, and there was a big chance he would be appointed team skipper for the league season.

Yasuto Honda was captain last season, and his deputy was another veteran Yutaka Akita. With Honda injured, Toninho bypassed Akita and handed Nakata the captain's armband as he looked to the future.

Nakata had an outstanding game, and has developed into one of Japan's most complete players.

He can tackle, pass, score goals, and reads the game well. He learned a lot under Philippe Troussier, who played him on the left side of his three-man defense, and now has vast experience at international level.

Whether Nakata continues as captain for the season remains to be seen.

Toninho will be watching him closely, and encouraging him to be more authoritative and more demanding of his teammates.

But it was a good start last Sunday by Captain Koji.

Another player who is blossoming early is Takeshi Aoki, who played alongside Nakata in Kashima's midfield engine room.

I think Aoki could be a magnificent player. He is tall, strong, comfortable on the ball and with a mature vision of the field. He strides forward effortlessly when in possession, and strokes a pass like an artist with a paint brush on the canvas.

Nakata and Aoki could be a dynamic midfield pairing in what is promising to be an exciting season for Kashima.

ends

16 Feb 2003(Sun)

Football managers have very different ways of going about their job.

Some are high-profile, always in the spotlight and always with something to say, such as Philippe Troussier.

Others are low-profile, revealing little of substance to the outside world while keeping a firm grip on the team, such as salary-man lookalike Masakazu Suzuki.

Suzuki was as low-profile as they got, so when he stood down after guiding Jubilo Iwata to the "perfect" championship last season, the news had little impact in the Japanese soccer world.

With a minimum of fuss and no fanfare, Suzuki's assistant, Masaaki Yanagishita, made the step up from head coach to manager of the league champions.

Yanagishita had his first taste of mass media attention in Tokyo on Friday night when he attended the official managers' press conference of the four-team A3 Mazda Champions Cup.

He is young, at 43, but still has vast experience with the club.

From 1993 he has been on the coaching staff, working with the satellite team, the senior team and the youth team, so no one knows the Jubilo players better than him at all levels.

He has vowed to continue to play the attractive, attacking style which swept Jubilo to the first and second stage titles last season, and is experienced enough to acknowledge that one man cannot replace Naohiro Takahara.

Last season, Takahara scored 26 goals in 27 league games to earn the top scorer award and also the J.League MVP honor.

It was no surprise when he headed off to Europe, to join Hamburger SV in northern Germany, but it was a surprise when Jubilo did not buy a replacement.

"That's because Takahara is irreplaceable," Yanagishita admitted Friday night.

So, too, was the veteran striker Masashi Nakayama, said the new manager.

"We have many other players with scoring ability that cannot be replaced by a single player. Therefore, we have to replace Takahara as a team, not as an individual."

Yanagishita mentioned two players who could partner Nakayama in the A3 Mazda Champions Cup.

He could use the Brazilian, Rodrigo Gral, who scored just once in nine appearances last season, or the 20-year-old Yasumasa Nishino, who has made only one league appearance for Jubilo since joining from Toyama No. 1 High School, the same school as Kashima Antlers' Atsushi Yanagisawa.

Nishino is tall at 1.83 meters and sturdy at 79 kilograms, and is already making his mark at Olympic team level.

With Ryoichi Maeda, another talented youngster, also a possibility to start up front alongside Nakayama, new manager Yanagishita will be as interested as anyone to find out what is his best combination in the post-Takahara era.

ends

13 Feb 2003(Thu)

Eisuke Nakanishi has done it. Akira Narahashi has done it. And Yutaka Akita has done it, too.

Done what, you may ask?

The answer, of course, is that they have returned to the national team starting line-up under head coach Zico after a long absence under his predecessor, Philippe Troussier.

According to Kentaro Oka, president of JEF United Ichihara, his new signing Shigeyoshi Mochizuki could be next in line for a recall.

Mochizuki, who has joined JEF from Vissel Kobe, played 15 times for Japan from 1997 to 2001, scoring only one goal.

But it was a very important goal, winning the Asian Cup final for Japan against Saudi Arabia at Beirut, Lebanon, in October 2000.

When asked if he thought the 29-year-old midfielder still had a future with the national team, Oka said: "Yes, I think he has some possibility to be a national player again because his play is very attractive.

"If he does well in the JEF United team, Zico will select him as a member of the national team. I think he has much possibility this season."

Mochizuki, who played for Nagoya Grampus Eight from 1996 to 2000, before joining Kyoto Purple Sanga for a brief spell, is one of JEF's two major winter signings, along with Brazilian midfielder Sandro from Samsung Suwon Bluewings in South Korea.

With a new manager, too, in the vastly experienced Bosnian, Ivica Osim, club chief Oka feels JEF could be ready to win their first trophy since being a founding member of the J.League in 1993.

"We have a new coach, who is very famous and a very good coach, and some new players, especially Mochizuki and Sandro, so I feel our level will be higher than last year," said Oka.

"We surely want to win a championship this season, and I feel we have the most probability to do so."

Certainly JEF look to be very strong in attack.

The big South Korean forward, Choi Yong Soo, returns for his third season, to lead the line with his characteristic aggression and courage.

New manager Osim could play Choi as the lone target man, with Katsutomo Oshiba and Sandro behind him.

With Shinji Murai on the left wing and maybe Naotake Hanyu on the right, this would be a very strong forward line.

Mochizuki and Yuki Abe would provide the defensive stability in midfield, in front of a back three which includes the versatile Nakanishi as well as the Slovenian World Cup defender Zeljko Milinovic.

No wonder Oka feels JEF could make the breakthrough this year, in what is promising to be the most exciting and interesting J.League season on record.

ends

10 Feb 2003(Mon)

The draw for the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup will take place in France on Wednesday.

This is when Japan will know their fate, and their three first-round opponents for the eight-team tournament in France next June.

But there are many people in the game who will not be looking forward to the draw, or even to the tournament itself, because they feel there is just too much football being played.

Critics of the tournament, which brings together the champion nations of FIFA's six continental federations, plus the World Cup holders (Brazil) and an invited guest (Turkey), would prefer the Confederations Cup to be scrapped.

These include Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, and one of his French stars, Robert Pires.

"Germany, Italy and Spain refused to play in this Mickey Mouse cup," Wenger said this week.

"France will play New Zealand! That is really exciting," he added, very sarcastically.

(This is not a fact, either, as the draw is not until February 12.)

Pires, who was the 2001 Confederations Cup MVP when it was held in South Korea and Japan, has been very critical of the timing of the tournament.

It starts five weeks after the European club season has finished, and Pires says players will risk injury for the new season because they will not be in good condition.

Even though I thoroughly enjoyed the 2001 edition in Japan, watching Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Australia and France all play in Japan, I have to agree with Wenger.

There is too much football, and too much demand on the players.

The World Cup gives the players little rest once every four summers, and the European Championship does the same.

This means two of every four summers are filled with top-class international football, leaving only two summers free every four years for the players and the fans to have a break.

With the Confederations Cup to be played every two years, this crowds the calendar even more.

For example: European Championship in 2000, Confederations Cup 2001, World Cup 2002, Confederations Cup 2003, European Championship 2004 (in Portugal), Confederations Cup 2005 (in Germany), World Cup in 2006 (in Germany)!

It's crazy!

The eight teams to play in this year's Confederations Cup are: France and Turkey from Europe, Brazil and Colombia from South America, Cameroon from Africa, the United States from CONCACAF, New Zealand from Oceania and, of course, Japan from Asia, after Philippe Troussier's team won the Asian Cup in Lebanon in 2000.

The teams will be drawn into two groups of four, and FIFA has already decided that the European teams and South American teams will be in different groups.

This means that Brazil and Turkey will be in one group, with France and Colombia in the other.

Japan could get an extremely tough group if Zico's men are in with Brazil, Turkey and the United States. I think Japan would be lucky to even draw one of these games, never mind win one.

On the other hand, France, Colombia and New Zealand would give Japan a chance to finish in the top two and qualify for the semifinals.

But on current rankings, you would have to say that only New Zealand is weaker than Japan, so whichever teams Japan must play will be difficult.

Pires does not want to play. Wenger does not want any of his highly-paid players to play.

Maybe FIFA should listen more carefully to the critics.

ends

6 Feb 2003(Thu)

I know this is an early time to be making a prediction about a season which is still seven weeks away, but here is my choice to win the 2003 J.League championship.

Wait for it.....

I am tipping Gamba Osaka!

OK, so you think I must be crazy picking a team that has never won a stage, never mind the championship.

But I got good vibes from Gamba last season, and feel that, under Akira Nishino, they can continue to improve.

I honestly thought they were good enough to win the title last season. In fact they should have won the first stage, and if they'd done that they would have had a 50-50 chance of taking the overall crown.

I was one of the fortunate few thousand to witness one of the best games the J.League has ever produced.

Gamba led Jubilo 4-2 at Iwata with eight minutes to go, but lost 5-4 in sudden-death extra time to an unfortunate own goal by the unlucky Miyamoto.

If Gamba had held on to win that match in 90 minutes, I am convinced they would have had the momentum and the motivation to go on and clinch the first-stage championship.

At the end of last season they replaced two of their three foreign players, and I really like the signing of veteran Paraguay international Francisco Arce, from Brazil's Palmeiras.

I think he is a super player, far more than just the dead-ball expert he is made out to be.

This will give Gamba added strength on the wings, as the 31-year-old Arce is expected to replace Morioka on the right side of Nishino's 3-5-2 formation. With the stylish Araiba on the left, Gamba's "Little and Large" front two of Yoshihara and Magrao should have plenty of crosses to feed off in the penalty box.

Although Marcelinho Carioca was used as a substitute in the second half of the season, often coming off the bench and on to the right wing with good results, it was no surprise he was released. If a foreign player cannot command a regular first-team place, he is a waste of money.

But I was a little surprised Gamba did not give Fabinho another season. I quite liked him alongside Endo in the middle of the park.

Gamba's second new foreign player, Marcus Aurelio Galeano, is a 30-year-old Brazilian journeyman, latterly of Botafogo.

If he does a steady job, Gamba can be a very strong team.

With Yamaguchi, Miyamoto and Kiba at the back, and the under-rated Futugawa playing behind the top two, Gamba can challenge for the title.

They still have to find a place for the Asian Games hero Nakayama.

The trouble is: Do Gamba themselves believe they can win the championship?

There seemed to be a mental block when they led Jubilo 4-2 last season. They did not appear to believe they could actually win the match, and Jubilo pounced on this weakness in typically ruthless style.

Jubilo and Antlers, of course, can never be written off.

Urawa Reds could be dynamite with Emerson and Edmundo together, and so could Yokohama F Marinos under Takeshi Okada and with Kubo in the forward line and Cafu, eventually, on the right.

Nagoya Grampus have made a great signing in Fujimoto from relegated Sanfrecce, and might be ready to show some consistency in Verdenik's second year as coach.

But watch out for Gamba!

And remember where you read it first....

ends

2 Feb 2003(Sun)

All good things must come to an end.

And it looks as though Amaral's long and distinguished career withFC Tokyo will be over at the end of the coming season.

The 36-year-old Brazilian center forward has played for the clubsince 1992, when it was known as Tokyo Gas.

When FC Tokyo joined the J.League in 1999, Amaral's goals helpedthe club win promotion to the first division at the first time of asking,and they have been there ever since.

Last season, Amaral scored 15 times in 29 league games, statisticswhich the club just could not ignore, despite his age.

The managing director, Murabayashi-san, said this week:"Amaral is a very special person and special player for FCTokyo.

"I don't think we'll ever find someone else like him.

"FC Tokyo has only a five-year history, but Amaral goes backmore than 10 years with this team.

"But he will be 37 years old this year, and everybody knowshis level now is not at the top."

There is no doubting Amaral's popularity at Tokyo Stadium inChofu.

Fans refer to him as "the king of Tokyo," while a giantbanner proclaims "King Amaral Stadium."

This is why FC Tokyo have given him a new contract for 2003, andwhy officials such as Murabayashi-san will try and make it a special yearfor the player.

"We are planning to market more Amaral merchandise and alsouse his No. 11 in special promotions," said Murabayashi.

"For example, there is a No. 11 Gate at Tokyo Stadium which wewill refer to as 'Amaral Gate,' and every No. 11 seat in the stadium willbe called an 'Amaral seat.'"

Despite having one of the smallest budgets in J1, especially whencompared to Yokohama F Marinos (Nissan), Urawa Reds (Mitsubishi) andNagoya Grampus Eight (Toyota), FC Tokyo is one of the best-run clubs froma business point of view.

They are keeping the same three foreign players for next season,Amaral, the attacking midfielder Kelly and central defender Jean Witte,as they try to keep improving under manager Hiromi Hara.

The signing of Jo Kanazawa from Jubilo Iwata should also give theteam more balance, as they definitely lacked a left-sided midfielder lastseason.

On the right remains the exciting Olympic team prospect Ishikawa,who looks to be staying with FC Tokyo permanently now that Yukihiko Satohas moved in the opposite direction, to Marinos.

Just what Yukihiko thinks about the signing of Cafu, though, isanother matter, as the Brazilian World Cup veteran will occupy the rightflank.

At the same time, Verdy are now hoping that Marinos will allow themto sign Hayuma Tanaka on a full transfer rather than on loan.

ends

30 Jan 2003(Thu)

Many people connected with the J.League will no doubt miss Steve Perryman.

He has been in the news again recently since his former player at Shimizu S-Pulse, Kazuyuki Toda, moved to the club which Perryman captained with such pride, Tottenham Hotspur.

I called Perryman at his London home on Saturday to find his reaction to the Toda transfer.

Unlike most people, Perryman was not surprised, because he had been recommending Toda to Tottenham for the last two years!

"For some reason they did not take the bait, but maybe they were spurred into action because he had been training with another club in the Premier League," said Perryman, referring to Sunderland, where Toda had a trial and impressed their manager, Howard Wilkinson.

Toda finally joined Spurs on a one-year loan deal, which is costing the North London club around $300,000 as a fee to S-Pulse, plus whatever Toda's wages will be.

Perryman, though, will be missed in Japan because of his honesty and his principles of fair play.

He always tried to encourage his teams to play attacking football, and disliked players who cheated, wasted time, dived and who pretended they were injured when there was nothing wrong with them.

"Japan has started late in the football world," he told me on Saturday.

"It can look around the world and take the best things from Brazil, from England, from Holland or wherever.

"And it can also reject things it does not like and does not need. For example in England, yes we will take the passion of the fans, but no we do not want the hooligans."

Perryman always talks such sense.

During his time with S-Pulse, the rivalry with the other Shizuoka club, Jubilo Iwata, was intense.

But Perryman often thought Jubilo got preferential treatment from referees and from officialdom in general, prompting him to once say the "J" in J.League stood for "Jubilo."

Believe it or not, Perryman is actually taking some of the credit for Jubilo's two-stage title sweep last season!

He feels Jubilo won both stages because they "focused on playing football rather than on cheating."

In particular he recalled a game at Nihondaira in April 1999 between S-Pulse and Jubilo, which Jubilo won 5-2.

"We had got it back to 4-2, and one of our players, Hattori, went to retrieve the ball to take it back to the center circle," recalled Perryman.

"But he was stopped from doing this by two Jubilo players, who pinned him into the back of the net.

"There was a bit of pushing, and the referee decided to show Hattori the red card. So the player who had been trying to restart the game was sent off, and the two who stopped him stayed on the field!

"After the game I said to the Jubilo manager that this was the worst day for Japanese football in the history of the J.League."

Perryman criticised Jubilo in the media, and feels his words may have had some effect.

"It takes people to speak out and sometimes make enemies," said Perryman.

"If Jubilo had played football against us all the game they could have beaten us 10-2, not 5-2, because they were so much better than us."

Perryman is missed, maybe not by Jubilo Iwata, but by people who also want to see fair play.

ends

26 Jan 2003(Sun)

It is not only the Yokohama F Marinos fans who should be delighted by the signing of Cafu.

The whole of the J.League, too, should be excited that Brazil's 2002 World Cup-winning captain will be playing in Japan once his contract with AS Roma ends at the end of June.

Cafu is now 32, but will be 33 when he starts playing for F Marinos.

This is not old enough to be termed "over the hill," especially as he is fit and still a first-choice player for his club.

The 2002 World Cup was Cafu's third finals tournament in the famous canary yellow jersey, and to show just how important he was to the team, he played every second of Brazil's seven games. That's a total of 630 minutes, 10 and a half hours, without being substituted!

Only three other Brazilians managed this feat, goalkeeper Marcos, central defender Lucio and midfielder Gilberto Silva, who has adapted so well to English football after his move from Atletico Mineiro to Arsenal.

Cafu, presumably, could have stayed in Italy and joined a lower-ranked team than Roma.

Or surely he could have moved to another European country, as his attacking qualities down the right flank, his leadership and his experience would have been invaluable for teams seeking a respected and authoritative captain.

But no, he chose Yokohama, who could afford to pay him Serie A level wages due to the generous backing of Nissan.

Yokohama, who will be managed by Takeshi Okada next season, needed someone with star quality to replace Shunsuke Nakamura, whose move to Reggina has been made permanent.

There is no doubt Cafu will bring in the crowds, and the team should gain many new fans next season as people come to watch the stylish Brazilian.

Cafu, whose full name is Evangelista de Moraes Marcos, began his career with Sao Paulo in 1989. He had one season in Spain, with Real Zaragosa, in 1994-95, before returning to Brazil to join Palmeiras.

In 1997 he moved to Italy to play for Roma, and will have spent six seasons there by the time his contract finishes on June 30.

It will be interesting to hear Cafu's thoughts on his former Roma teammate Hidetoshi Nakata, especially as Roma look like they need Nakata's attacking flair this season.

I wonder if Cafu thinks it was a mistake for Roma to sell Nakata to Parma, although it was hard for Roma to turn down an offer of $26 million for a player who mostly sat on the bench!

Cafu coming to Yokohama is a sign of approval for the J.League in general from the man who has played in three World Cup finals, and won two of them, in 1994, on penalties, and last year.

ends

23 Jan 2003(Thu)

Japan, China and South Korea are surely on to a winner with the A3 Mazda Champions Cup.

A news conference in Tokyo this week introduced the new competition, which features the champion clubs of these three east Asian nations.

The inaugural tournament will take place at Tokyo's National Stadium from February 16-22, and will bring together Japan's big two of Jubilo Iwata (league champions) and Kashima Antlers (Nabisco Cup holders), together with China's Dalian Shide and Seongnam Ilhwa from Korea.

The prize money on offer is extremely attractive to all four clubs, with $400,000 of a total $850,000 going to the team that finishes top of the group.

Club football is the backbone of the game, not national team football, and the sport's regional governing body, the Kuala Lumpur-based Asian Football Confederation, is constantly stressing this fact.

The AFC will, therefore, welcome a high-profile tournament like the A3 Mazda Champions Cup, as it does not challenge their own AFC Champions League.

Hopefully the fans in Japan, too, will look forward to the six games at Tokyo's National Stadium.

Clearly last year's World Cup brought together Japan and Korea, and this new event is a continuation of that partnership. And with China qualifying for the World Cup for the first time, the game there is enjoying a boom.

Before moving from Hong Kong to live in Japan in 1997, I visited the country several times to watch AFC events such as the Club Championship, Asian Cup Winners Cup and Asian Super Cup. (These three tournaments have now been brought under one new format, the AFC Champions League).

But I was often dismayed by the lack of interest from the public and from the media.

Personally, I find it fascinating to watch footballers from other countries, say Thailand or Iraq, and compare the technique, strategy and fitness with their Japanese rivals.

The game is basically the same around the world, which is what makes it so popular, yet it can be so different at the same time in terms of attitude, approach and mentality.

China will stage the second A3 (A3 meaning the three Asian powers of Japan, Korea and China) in 2004, with Korea taking over in 2005.

According to Kim Won Dong, director general of the Korea League, the final target is to have a 12-team East Asian Super League, with four clubs each from the three leagues playing home and away.

The matches would be played midweek, allowing the three leagues to continue at weekends, and it could start as early as 2006 if sponsors can be found to cover the costs and offer worthwhile prize money.

After the success of the World Cup, there is a new energy in Asian football.

I would encourage fans to support the A3 Mazda Champions Cup, to compare the players from China and Korea with Japan's own stars.

It should be a great week of football.

ends

19 Jan 2003(Sun)

Tokyo Verdy have succeeded in raising a few eyebrows with the signing of Patrick Mboma.

And that was probably the whole point of the deal. After losing Edmundo at the end of last season, Verdy needed some star quality to bring in the fans.

Mboma will certainly do that, as he remains a hero in Japan after his time with Gamba Osaka in 1997 and 1998.

But will he, at 32 years old, provide value for money for Verdy and their major sponsor, Nippon TV?

This is a difficult question to answer, but I think the Verdy officials are being over-optimistic if they think they will get a full season out of the Cameroon center forward.

Mboma has not looked fully fit for a couple of seasons now.

As a subscriber to Sky-Perfect TV to follow the career of Hidetoshi Nakata, I noticed that Mboma was unable to make his mark in a poor Parma team last season.

In midseason, Mboma left Parma and joined Sunderland in the English Premier League.

I was interviewed by an English journalist at the time of the transfer and said I did not think Mboma was a good signing. Although at his peak, in Japan, he was a very explosive player, scoring some spectacular goals for Gamba, he was past his best and too slow for the pace of the English game.

At the World Cup, Mboma was substituted in all three Cameroon games, against the Republic of Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Germany.

He scored Cameroon s opening goal in a 1-1 draw against Ireland at Niigata, and was listed among the Indomitable Lions four outstanding players by FIFA, along with Rigobert Song, Samuel Etoo and Salomon Olembe.

So he proved he still has the star quality, but whether he can do it on a regular basis over a long season remains to be seen.

It is a bold move by Verdy, and one that is sure to attract a lot of media attention due to the high profile of the player in the J.League.

After all, Mboma was a massive hit during his time with Gamba. He scored 29 league goals in 34 appearances before leaving the club after the 1998 World Cup to join Cagliari in Italy.

His powerful left foot earned him the nickname of Boom Boom, and he went on to play a leading role for Cameroon and becoming African Footballer of the Year.

Verdy will need to protect Mboma during the year, and hope he can fill the gap left by the team leader Edmundo.

But he has a hard act to follow.

ends

16 Jan 2003(Thu)

It is always a pleasure to report on the closing rounds of Japan's high school tournament in the new year.

I admire the organization of the championship and enjoy the atmosphere in which games are played. The football is honest and the players are trying their best for the honor of their school.

What has always surprised me, though, is the number of media people who report on this event.

At Tokyo's National Stadium on Monday, for example, there were 240 reporters, 140 photographers and 20 TV networks, including six major stations.

After the game, the players were chased after by so many media people that the scenes resembled Ronaldo after the World Cup final at Yokohama!

Now, I am not criticizing this approach; just trying to highlight how different it is from Europe and South America.

In Japan, these players were 17 and 18 years old and still at high school. Some of them will be joining a J.League club; others will go to university.

In England, at this age the best young players are already with professional clubs. They can join from school as a trainee at 16 and turn professional at 17, such as Wayne Rooney has just done at Everton.

The high school final in England?

I don't even know if there is one, because the media would never attend. The result of the final might get one line in a big national newspaper, such as The Daily Telegraph, but no one would be interested except the players and their parents.

But in Japan this is a major media event, and it has its good and bad points.

Yes, I think it's good to identify the best young players, many of whom go on to become J.League regulars.

But is all this publicity, all this media attention, good for them at such an early age?

During my six years in Japan, foreigners and some Japanese alike have pointed out that "stardom" comes too easily in Japan. Players are put on a pedestal and are the subjects of major magazine articles before they have achieved much in their careers.

Philippe Troussier said this treatment made the players soft, took away their hunger to keep progressing and gave them the belief they had already made it into the big time.

Dunga, too, once asked me not to write too much about the young Jubilo forward Maeda after he had scored a wonderful solo goal at Ecopa. He said players in Japan received too much attention too quickly in their careers.

And the former JEF United Ichihara manager, Jozef Venglos, was always reluctant to talk about his good young players like Abe and Hanyu for fear the publicity would make them big-headed, even though, privately, he admired their qualities.

For me, the high school championship is very enjoyable to attend, but the achievements of these players must be put in context with the big picture of the football world.

ends

12 Jan 2003(Sun)

One of the biggest disappointments of Japan's 2002 World Cup was the comments of midfielder Kazuyuki Toda after the defeat by Turkey.

Toda said on TV that he never wanted to see Philippe Troussier again. Many Japanese friends have informed me of this, and I must admit I was shocked by his words.

After all, Troussier gave Toda his big chance.

Toda made his debut for Japan against Canada on May 31, 2001, in the Confederations Cup at Niigata.

His combative qualities, and his ability to break up opposition attacks, made him a mainstay in Japan's midfield engine room, alongside Junichi Inamoto.

Toda played every minute of all four Japan games at the World Cup, and won praise from Hidetoshi Nakata on his own website.

Yes, I believe Toda should have been grateful to Troussier for giving him his big chance, and also that Toda owed him a debt of gratitude.

Hopefully the fact that Troussier's successor, Zico, ignored Toda for his first two games may have humbled the S-Pulse midfielder.

Anyway, the point of this article is that Toda now has a chance to join Japan's European contingent. He has been invited to Sunderland for a two-week trial, and clearly wants to stay.

He did not have a happy season last year due to a bad relationship with S-Pulse's manager at the time, Zdravko Zemunovic.

But the situation is much brighter now with this offer from Sunderland.

I know Sunderland well, and reported on many matches there when I was working for a newspaper in the north-east of England. It is one of the coldest parts of England, but the fire and the passion of fans in the north-east is the greatest.

They quickly work out who can play and who can't, and whose heart is in it and who is not showing enough effort.

Toda can be guaranteed to give his all, but whether he has the ability to make the grade at such a high level remains to be seen.

The pace of the Premiership is several gears higher than the J.League and also than international football. Toda will not have time to dwell on the ball like he does in Japan, as he will be tackled heavily and quickly.

In Toda's position, the Premiership has the likes of Roy Keane at Manchester United, Patrick Vieira at Arsenal and Salif Diao at Liverpool, who are all world-class players.

Toda may be able to impress Sunderland manager Howard Wilkinson with his attitude and effort in training, but if he plays in a practice match he will quickly have to adapt to the speed and the power of the English game.

I still think he was wrong to say what he did about Troussier, but wish him well in his quest to improve himself as a player.

ends

9 Jan 2003(Thu)

One player is never more important than the team.

But in the case of Sanfrecce Hiroshima, center forward Tatsuhiko Kubo would make a huge difference when they try to make a swift return to J1 next season after being relegated on the last day of last season.

At the moment, Kubo is undecided on his future.

He has been offered a new contract by Sanfrecce, but he is also attracting the interest of several J1 clubs, notably Yokohama F Marinos.

So far he has not said what he's doing, and this offers Sanfrecce a glimmer of hope that he might stay in Hiroshima.

Club official Shigeru Manabe explains: "Kubo has been a very good player for us and we want him to stay with Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

"This is why the club president, the coaching staff and his teammates are trying to persuade him to stay, but of course we have information that several teams are trying to get him."

Kubo is the spearhead of the Sanfrecce team, and has scored 67 league goals since making his debut in April 1996.

He is powerful in the air, fast and fearless, and was very unlucky not to win a place in Philippe Troussier's 23-strong World Cup squad.

I would have picked him ahead of Akinori Nishizawa.

Kubo was never going to be a first-choice player at the World Cup, but he would have offered something different, something unpredictable, coming off the bench.

Against Turkey, for example, when nothing was working for Japan, a fresh and hungry Kubo might just have brought a reward in the second half.

We'll never know now, of course, but Kubo certainly has a lot to offer.

Jubilo Iwata are another club interested in signing him, as a replacement for Naohiro Takahara, especially as Masashi Nakayama is not getting any younger.

Kubo works hard off the ball, just like Takahara, and could form an effective partnership with Nakayama.

And playing in a talented Jubilo team, there would not be as much pressure on Kubo to score goals as there was at Hiroshima.

Off the field, though, Kubo is a quiet character and prefers a quiet life, and he may yet decide to stay in Hiroshima with his young family and try and take them back into J1 at the first time of asking.

There is also a huge question mark against the future of Kubo's teammate, Chikara Fujimoto, who, on his day, is a very clever and bright creative player.

He may be joining Nagoya Grampus Eight, though, as the Toyota-powered team looks for more invention and flair in midfield.

So these are troubled times for Sanfrecce, despite the excellent signing of the Brazilian veteran Cesar Sampaio from Kashiwa Reysol.

Whether Kubo and Fujimoto will be alongside him next season remains to be seen.

ends

6 Jan 2003(Mon)

Think back to Japan's silver medal in the FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria in 1999, and which players come to mind?

Of course Shinji Ono, although he missed the final against Spain due to suspension.

Then there's the Kashima Antlers trio of Masashi Motoyama, who was outstanding on the left wing, Mitsuo Ogasawara in central midfield and Koji Nakata on the left side of Philippe Troussier's back three.

And how could we forget Naohiro Takahara, who took over the captain's armband from Ono for the final.

Does anyone, though, remember Kazuki Teshima?

Along with his Kyoto Purple Sanga teammate Shigeki Tsujimoto and Nakata, Teshima was a regular member of the defense.

But while the likes of Ono and Takahara have secured moves to Europe, and Motoyama, Nakata and others have progressed to the national team, Teshima's progress has gone largely unnoticed.

All that should change now, though, after the 23-year-old captain's eye-catching display for Kyoto in the Emperor's Cup final victory over Kashima Antlers on New Year's Day.

Troussier's legacy was there for all to see, as Teshima controlled a very tight Purple Sanga back three, catching out the Antlers strikers offside time and again.

Despite the creative talent of Ogasawara and the mobile forwards Atsushi Yanagisawa and Euller, Antlers found very little space to work in and created very few chances.

According to Kyoto's German manager, Gert Engels, this was all due to his inspirational young skipper Teshima.

"He is very quick, organizes the defense well and covers well for his fellow defenders," said Engels.

"When you have Teshima in the middle, this allows the defenders to the right and left to be more aggressive, because they know Teshima will be covering for them."

I asked Engels if he thought Teshima had been a late developer, compared to his teammates in the under-20 side in Nigeria in 1999.

"No, I don't think so," the German insisted.

"I just think he's under-estimated, and does not get the attention other players get. I don't know why.

"He has been a key player for us now for two years."

Those two years have put Kyoto on the J.League map, first winning the J2 championship in 2001 and then finishing a highly creditable fifth on their return to the top flight.

The Emperor's Cup success, against an Antlers team including Ogasawara and Nakata but not the injured Motoyama, crowned an exciting return.

And also gave Teshima the attention his manager thinks he deserves.

ends

3 Jan 2003(Fri)

When Teruaki Kurobe scored his spectacular deciding goal in the Emperor's Cup final, he did much more than win an historic first trophy for Kyoto Purple Sanga.

He gave hope to all Kansai clubs that they are capable of challenging for honors next season and breaking the domination of the Big Two: Jubilo Iwata and Kashima Antlers.

Kurobe sealed Kyoto's exciting 2-1 victory over Antlers with a sizzling left-foot shot from the edge of the box which flew into the top corner, past goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata.

It came after 80 minutes, leaving Kyoto with only 10 minutes to negotiate and deny Japan's cup kings from Kashima of a Nabisco Cup and Emperor's Cup double.

Kyoto held on to spark wild scenes of celebration, not just from the Kyoto fans but all the neutrals.

After all, it's a refreshing change to see a new name on the famous old trophy, spreading the glory around Japan.

So it was a proud day for Kurobe, for Kyoto and for Kansai in general, as it represented the first success by a Kansai club since the J.League kicked off in 1993.

Gamba Osaka, one of the league's 10 founding members, plus Cerezo Osaka, Purple Sanga and Vissel Kobe had never won a major title between them: meaning J.League overall championship, Nabisco Cup and Emperor's Cup.

Antlers, in contrast, went into the final with nine major titles since 1993: four league championships, three Nabisco Cups and two Emperor's Cups.

And Jubilo Iwata have won three league championships, including this season, and one Nabisco Cup.

Looking back on Purple Sanga's win, Kurobe stressed the importance of the victory for the whole of the Kansai region.

"I think this trophy can stimulate all the clubs in Kansai next season," he said.

"Today we were the challengers and it would have been a natural result if we had lost.

"But when the game kicked off I think our energy and determination to win the trophy were evident.

"We have proved that we can come from a low position and win a title, and I think this should give more confidence to the Kansai region next season.

"Personally, after this, I cannot wait for next season to kick off!"

Antlers looked capable of killing the game once Brazilian striker Euller had headed home from close range after 15 minutes when Atsushi Yanagisawa's delicate chip had struck the crossbar.

But the decision of Kyoto's German manager Gert Engels to move his South Korean World Cup star Park Ji Sung from the right wing to a free role behind the strikers paid dividends in the second half.

After just five minutes of the second period, Park stole in to head home a right-wing free kick from Shingo Suzuki.

This changed the whole complexion of the game, and Kyoto pushed forward with an impressive five-man strikeforce, spearheaded by Kurobe.

When the center forward saw his chance for glory after 80 minutes, he took it in confident style.

It was a memorable day for Kyoto, and hopefully this can be the catalyst for a more competitive league next season now that Kansai has broken through this psychological barrier.

ends

30 Dec 2002(Mon)

Having looked back on 2002, it's now time to turn our attentions to 2003.

So here is my personal wish list for the new year. I have three wishes.

First, I hope that soccer continues to grow in Japan in 2003, and that the fans continue to support it.

Since the J.League kicked off in 1993, there have been a couple of crisis moments in terms of support from the public and from the corporate world.

The most serious of these was when the Yokohama Flugels merged with the Marinos at the end of the 1998 season, after one of the Flugels' two main sponsors withdrew.

Attendances were dropping dramatically at this time, too, but in the past couple of seasons they have bounced back.

Hopefully now, the J.League can look forward to stability, and fans will support the game because it has become part of society rather than because it is a trendy thing to do.

One J.League bubble has already burst, but the fan base is now more solid. Even with the World Cup long gone, I feel sure people will continue to watch J.League.

I also wish that Japanese players will continue to go abroad and improve themselves in the European leagues.

Naohiro Takahara is the latest Japanese export, and his move to Hamburg puts top-class Japanese players in three of Europe's four big leagues: Germany,England and Italy.

Even though J.League stars are leaving home, there seems to be many exciting young prospects coming through, so this should keep the fans interested.

My third wish is for the J.League itself to fall into line with the rest of the soccer world and switch to a one-stage league system for 2004.

Abolishing extra time and the golden goal for 2003 is a massive step forward as games will now end at 90 minutes with a draw and a point for each team.

This is how it works around the world, with extra time and golden goals deciding kncokout cup games rather than league games.

The J.League has admitted that extra time and golden goals are not part of the mainstream soccer world; well, neither is a two-stage system and playoffs.

It is unfair and inconsistent, and hopefully Jubilo's success in both stages in 2002 will encourage the J.League to think again at the end of next season.

So these are my three big wishes for the J.League in 2003: fans supporting the game for what it is; top players continuing to go abroad, and an end to the two-stage system.

I hope my three wishes come true.

And that yours do, too.

Happy new Year!

ends

26 Dec 2002(Thu)

As the year end approaches, it's always good fun taking part in surveys about events of the past 12 months.

I've just contributed to a sports poll being conducted by the broadcaster CNN and Sports Illustrated magazine, and am delighted to report that Japan is at the top!

There were two categories: Sports Story of the Year for 2002, and Athlete of the Year.

The organizers offered a few suggestions, and I had no hesitation in voting for "The Success of the first World Cup in Asia" as the sports story of the year.

I really feel the work done by Japan and South Korea both on and off the field has led to a new perception of Asian football. The players, the leagues,the fans and the administrators are now shown much more respect after successfully co-hosting an event of the magnitude of the World Cup.

Most of the world, with the notable exceptions of the United States and Japan, regard the World Cup as much more important than the Olympic Games.

Perhaps this will change in Japan, too, in the coming years.

While the Olympics is hosted by one city, with a few other minor venues for certain sports, the World Cup takes over a whole country, in this case two countries.

After I voted in the poll, the latest result came through, and the Asian World Cup had claimed over 50 per cent of the votes registered!

This shows the impact it made around the world, and FIFA can feel proud of Japan and Korea.

The second category was Athlete of the Year, and I have to admit I did not vote for Ronaldo in this section, even though he was on the shortlist.

The fact that Ronaldo came good at the right time, during the month of the World Cup, carried him to every soccer award possible, including the FIFA World Player of the Year, France Football's European Player of the Year and World Soccer's World Player of the Year.

In this category, though, I voted for the American cyclist Lance Armstrong, who won his fourth consecutive Tour de France in 2002.

This is surely the toughest sports event in the world. To win it once is an incredible feat. To be a multiple champion like Armstong makes him a living legend.

And to have done this after recovering from cancer is simply out of this world.

Ronaldo himself is on his way to becoming a living legend, but it must be stated that the opposition throughout the World Cup was not great.

It will not be remembered as a great World Cup on the pitch, but off it is a different story.

It's the best story of the year!

Merry Christmas to all readers.

ends

22 Dec 2002(Sun)

Although the Asian Football Confederation was hoping for five automatic places at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, officials must still be delighted with what they were awarded by FIFA in Madrid this week.

Asia will have four and a half places in the 32-team lineup, meaning four direct places and the possibility of a fifth team after a playoff with a nation from CONCACAF, the region representing North and Central America and the Caribbean.

This is exactly the same number of slots Asia had for the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, although two of the four direct places went to the cohosts.

Saudi Arabia and China grabbed the other two qualifying places, but Iran lost to the Republic of Ireland in a two-leg playoff, denying Asia the chance of a fifth place on their "home" territory.

Personally, I think Asia should feel very satisfied with the outcome of the Madrid meeting, especially as South America lost a playoff spot and will have only four teams in Germany.

Admittedly, four from 10 in the South American confederation is a high ratio,but the South American qualification competition is packed with quality, apart from Venezuela.

Asia, on the other hand, has an abysmal record at the World Cup.

Before Korea-Japan 2002, Asia had played 44 matches in the World Cup finals tournament and won only four: North Korea against Italy in 1966; Saudi Arabia against Morocco and Belgium in 1994; and Iran against the United States in 1998.

South Korea won through to the semifinals in June, beating Poland, Portugal,Italy and Spain (on penalties) along the way, while Japan reached the second round before losing to Turkey.

But look at the performances of the other two Asian teams!

Saudi Arabia, in their third consecutive World Cup, were embarrassed 8-0 by Germany, while China, on their debut, were out of their depth and failed to mount a challenge in a group which also included Brazil, Costa Rica and Turkey. (The group looks much stronger now than it did before the tournament kicked off!)

The fact that Asia could now have five teams in the next World Cup seems a very generous decision by FIFA, especially as South America will have only four.

Japan, who will be looking to play in their third straight World Cup after qualifying for the first time in 1998, should not have too many problems finishing in the top four in Asia.

Even if they finish fifth, they should be capable of beating the fourth-ranked team from CONCACAF, whose strongest nations are traditionally Mexico and the United States.

The AFC target of five direct places was always a dream, but Asia has clearly proved to be a winner on FIFA's political table if not on the World Cup pitch.

ends

19 Dec 2002(Thu)

When Naohiro Takahara first joined Masashi Nakayama in the Jubilo Iwata forward line, it was a case of "The Sorcerer and the Apprentice."

This was the title of an old folk story, and was about a wizard who taught all his magic tricks to a young and enthusiastic student.

Watching Nakayama and Takahara always reminded me of this story.

Nakayama was the wise old wizard who knew everything.

Takahara was the eager beginner, working alongside him and hoping that the magic would rub off on to him.

So, when the 23-year-old Takahara was named J.League MVP for the 2002 season,the education was over.

Nakayama had done his job, and so too had Takahara in learning so well from the master.

Takahara could not have had a better teacher than the player they call "Gon."

On the pitch, Gon is a goal machine. He is a penalty box predator who knows by instinct exactly where to be and when to be there. He also can sense where the goal is, and has a remarkable habit of hitting the target, again by nature.

Even with these gifts, though, a player must still work hard for the team, and Gon can never be accused of being a selfish player, despite his fantastic goals record.

Off the pitch, Nakayama's attitude is exemplary. He loves his football, and this also shines through in Takahara. Both players train hard and are constantly trying to improve their own individual performances.

Takahara fully deserved his award as MVP, not simply for scoring 26 goals in 27 games but also for leading the team from the front alongside the 1998 MVP Nakayama.

Taka now seems set to move to Germany to join Hamburger SV (the SV stands for Sport Verein, meaning Hamburg Sports Club), where he will have to start learning all over again.

He will have to adapt to the physically powerful German game, and deal with clever and mobile defenders who will not be afraid to chop him down if he looks capable of escaping their tight and rugged marking.

It will be a great experience for Taka to play in one of Europe's four major leagues--Germany is ranked alongside Italy, Spain and England--and he is now ready to make his mark.

Wherever he plays in his career, Taka knows he will never have a better professor than the soccer sorcerer Nakayama.

The student has completed his apprenticeship.

ends

15 Dec 2002(Sun)

Although Edmundo wore the famous Verdy green for just over one season, he deserves a place in the club's Hall of Fame.

It was with great sadness that I learned he would not be returning to Verdy next season, as the club sponsor Nippon Television could not come up with the extra payment, believed to be 200 million yen, to keep Edmundo.

Edmundo arrived in Japan in October 2001 with a reputation as a hot-head and a trouble-maker who preferred to do the samba at the Rio Carnival than train with his teammates.

It was a massive gamble by Verdy, but it paid off when Edmundo inspired them to safety in the final five games of the 2001 season.

The following year, Nippon TV agreed to pay an extra 200 million yen on top of their usual budget so Verdy could keep Edmundo for the whole year.

Once again Edmundo displayed natural leadership qualities, not only scoring 16 goals but giving the team direction, purpose and coordination.

The Brazilian manager, Lori Sandri, had a trusty lieutenant on the pitch in Edmundo, and gradually the whole team grew in confidence.

Verdy will miss him desperately next season, and it's no surprise that Yokohama F Marinos is one of the clubs showing an interest in signing Edmundo, thanks to the financial backing of Nissan.

After a promising season, Verdy look to be in trouble already for next year.

The rejuvenated left-back Naoki Soma is returning to Kashima Antlers, hence Kashima's release of Augusto, and Verdy are trying to hang on to the young right-back Hayuma Tanaka, who is only on loan from the Marinos. If the two clubs cannot agree a transfer fee, then Verdy may be allowed to extend the loan period for another year.

But there will be a gaping hole in the team without Edmundo.

He has been one of the best foreign players in the history of the J.League, and deserves to be among the Verdy legends such as King Kazu, Luiz Carlos Pereira, Ruy Ramos, Tsuyoshi Kitazawa and Nobuhiro Takeda (my Verdy legends also include Naoto Sakurai, as he think he is a wonderful player to watch!).

It was a very moving story to hear of the death of Edmundo's brother in Brazil, shot to death in a car.

All the Verdy players joined in a prayer for Edmundo's brother before the last league game, and an emotional Edmundo then scored twice against Vegalta Sendai and set up the other for Hideki Nagai.

What a finish to his league career with Verdy, but still there's the Emperor's Cup.

ends

12 Dec 2002(Thu)

The gulf in class between Hidetoshi Nakata and Shunsuke Nakamura was there for all to see as Parma beat Reggina 2-0 in Italy's Serie A on Sunday.

Japan's national coach Zico, who was among the crowd of 14,000 at Stadio Tardini, hit the nail on the head.

He told Parma's official web site: "He (Nakata) is more mature than Nakamura. He has played in Italy for a longer period and this was useful for him to grow and become a star."

Even though Nakata is only one year older than Nakamura, 25 to 24, it was a man against a boy at Parma's home stadium.

Although Nakata did not excel as an individual, he played a very mature, confident and responsible game.

Last season, in an attempt to justify his $26 million price tag from Roma, he seemed to be trying too hard. He was always looking for the defense-splitting pass, or looking to do something special when he had the ball.

After all, he was the expensive new recruit, the No. 10, the playmaker, so the pressure was on Nakata to prove his value.

This season, however, Nakata has found a new home on the right side of Parma's three-man attack, with the Brazilian Adriano in the middle and Romanian Adrian Mutu on the left.

Adriano and Mutu have scored 13 league goals between them this season, but Nakata is playing exceptionally well too, but playing well for the team, not as an individual.

What impressed the most on Sunday was his excellent control, his calmness in possession and his new-found ability to let the ball do the work, meaning the easy pass, the easy option, is often more effective than the spectacular.

Now he looks like a leader in Serie A, as he does for the national team, and that is proof of how far he has developed since his debut for Perugia in September 1998.

Nakamura, however, is still raw in terms of Italy. He shows flashes of brilliance, both with his passing and dribbling, but lacks the consistency Nakata now has.

This will come in time, though, as Nakamura is an intelligent player who wants to learn. He faces a tough season with a poor team, as Reggina have won only seven points from 13 games and look certain to make a swift return to the Serie B.

But Nakamura is doing well enough to suggest that he could stay in Serie A even if Reggina are relegated, as he will always be dangerous when the game stops because of his left-footed corners, free kicks and penalties.

And the game in Italy stops frequently due to constant fouling, so Nakamura should be able to add to his five goals already this season.

On Sunday, though, despite some nice moves and touches, Nakamura was a long way behind Nakata in terms of consistency and teamwork.

8 Dec 2002(Sun)

Shortly after the dust had settled on the World Cup, Kyoto Purple Sanga's German manager Gert Engels praised the attitude of his South Korean forward Park Ji Sung.

Yes, there had been interest from Europe in Park, said Engels.

But no, Park was not going around telling everyone he wanted to leave Japan and play overseas.

Engels found this a refreshing attitude by his young Korean.

Now, Park has the chance to team up with South Korea's World Cup coach, Guus Hiddink, at PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch first division.

But he is taking his time to make up his mind, and Engels still hopes Park will stay in Kyoto and sign the lucrative two-year deal on offer from the club.

"He likes it here," said Engels this week.

"This is his first professional club and his name is now associated with Kyoto Purple Sanga. He speaks good Japanese and is close friends with several of the players. At this moment he does not know what he is going to do, so therefore I can be a little bit optimistic that he might stay."

At 21, Park has a long career ahead of him, and Engels feels it is important that the youngster has a rest and does not jump too quickly into Europe.

"He hasn't had a holiday for two years because of World Cup preparations and club commitments, so if he stays in Japan he can have a long break before next season in March. He could then go overseas in summer because I am sure there will be other offers for him.

"But if he goes to PSV in January he will be straight back into training and then play in the second half of the season."

Engels says Kyoto has produced an attractive offer for Park, so money will not be a factor in the player's decision.

"He won't go because PSV have offered him a little bit more, and he won't stay if they have offered him a little bit less. I know he will make his decision on what's best for his soccer career."

Whether Park goes or stays, his attitude is an example to others.

Life in Japan is good, the J.League is good, he's a key member of his team, and he's near his home in Korea.

The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.

ends

5 Dec 2002(Thu)

At the end of the league season, it's always fun to choose your best eleven.

Have you picked yours yet?

Well, here is mine, and naturally Jubilo Iwata provide several members after dominating both stages of the league championship.

I have picked six Jubilo players, which is a fair reflection of the team's strength.

Jubilo have played a 3-5-2 formation, and my first Jubilo player would be Hideto Suzuki on the right side of defense.

Although Suzuki still loses his self-control and self-discipline on occasions, he is quick and aggressive. Not much gets past him down Jubilo's right flank.

My other two defenders in a 3-5-2 system would be FC Tokyo's Brazilian central defender Jean, plus Naoki Matsuda of the Yokohama F Marinos. Jean has been outstanding for Tokyo and is one of the most under-rated foreign players in Japan, while Matsuda's leadership and stylish defending helped his team finish second to Jubilo in the overall standings.

Jubilo excel in all areas, of course, and their midfield five is very fluid and powerful.

Takashi Fukunishi and Toshihiro Hattori have been consistent and reliable in the midfield "engine" room, providing a solid base from which to build the attacks through the middle or down the wings.

These two deserve a place at the expense of other players with good credentials in this department, such as Koji Nakata of Kashima Antlers and Yasuhito Endo of Gamba Osaka.

On the right wing I would have Kyoto's Park Ji Sung. He is a dynamic and tenacious player, and will surely do a good job for PSV Eindhoven. On the left I would have Jubilo's Toshiya Fujita, an intelligent, creative and versatile player, fully deserving of his MVP award last year.

The playmaker role would go to Verdy's Brazilian Edmundo, who has held together the team, given it direction and purpose, and scored some good goals, too. He has been a great signing for Verdy and the J.League, and must be challenging for this year's J.League MVP award, which will be announced Dec. 16.

This leaves the strikers.

Several players have strong claims, such as Gamba's giant Brazilian Magrao, Urawa's lightning fast Emerson, and Nagoya's consistent Ueslei.

But I would look no further than the two Jubilo men, Naohiro Takahara and Masashi Nakayama.

They have scored 42 league goals between them, with a league-high 26 in 27 games for Taka, and work so well together.

Oh yes, the goalkeeper!

Again, several candidates, but Hitoshi Sogahata stands out for his consistency in high-pressure games for Kashima.

So here's my J.League Best XI for 2002, in a 3-5-2 formation: Sogahata; Hideto Suzuki, Jean, Matsuda; Park Ji Sung, Fukunishi, Hattori, Fujita, Edmundo; Takahara, Nakayama.

ends

1 Dec 2002(Sun)

As a foreigner living in Japan, there is no escaping the fact that North Americans and the rest of the world have a different idea of sports.

To most North Americans, baseball, American football, basketball and, to a lesser degree, ice hockey are regarded as the four major sports.

Of these four, only basketball can truly claim to be anywhere near as popular as normal football, or soccer as it is known in the States to distinguish it from their own version of the game. (The word "soccer" is, in fact, an English word, and was used to differentiate between rugby football and association football, soccer's full and correct name, when the two sports were developing in the mid-1800s).

I am sorry. I digress from the main theme of the article.

And that is, that many Americans think soccer scores very highly over baseball in one specific area: relegation.

Compare the J.League and Japanese baseball, for example.

The J.League championship has already been decided, but there is still huge interest in the final round of league games on Saturday because three teams can still be relegated.

Consadole Sapporo, of course, were relegated several weeks ago, but Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Vissel Kobe or Kashiwa Reysol could join them in J2 next season.

So while Jubilo's players and fans can celebrate and relax away to Nagoya Grampus Eight, Sanfrecce, Vissel and Reysol will be fighting for their lives on the very last day of the season. The possibility for drama and tension at the three games involving these teams is immense, as the whole picture could change with the very last kick of the ball in the very last league game of the season.

Now see what happens in Japanese baseball.

Yomiuri Giants had won the Central League weeks before the end of the season, and likewise the Seibu Lions in the Pacific League.

With only six teams in each league, the others were just left to play out the long and dreary season.

There is only the pennant race, and once a team has been eliminated from that the season is virtually over.

There is no threat of relegation at the bottom end of the table, so the season just goes on and on, with players and fans alike looking forward to getting it over with and starting again the following year.

Yes, several Americans I know think relegation is a great idea to keep the season interesting for as long as possible.

After all, for some teams, especially those which gain promotion the previous season, staying in the top division is an achievement in itself.

Next season, Oita Trinita and Cerezo Osaka will not be talking about winning the J.League. They will be talking about consolidation, meaning that their job is simply to stay in the first division and not be relegated.

If that can be achieved, then they can start thinking about building on this foundation in future seasons.

Since relegation was introduced into the J.League in 1999, there is much more to play for during the season.

If an American agrees that something is right about soccer, then that speaks for itself!

ends

28 Nov 2002(Thu)

Operating on one of the smallest budgets in the first division, FC Tokyo have to be careful and convinced when they sign a new player.

In Brazilian central defender Jean, they have one of the most under-rated foreign players in the league this season.

The 25-year-old has had an outstanding debut season in the Tokyo blue after joining the club from Bahia FC to replace libero Sandro.

At Tokyo Stadium last Sunday, for example, Jean was magnificent in the heart of the Tokyo defense as the home team beat Urawa Reds 1-0 in extra time.

Urawa's much-vaunted Brazilian strikeforce of Emerson and Tuto rarely got a sight of goal thanks to the determined defensive work of Jean and Teruyuki Moniwa, who shows great promise for a 21-year-old.

Defense starts much further forward, though, in any team, and Tokyo's forwards and midfielders also contributed to a solid team performance in an exciting spectacle watched by a crowd of over 36,000.

Jean was more than satisfied with Tokyo's performance in particular, and with his first season in Japan in general.

"First I concentrated on fitting into the team, then on fitting into the J.League," said the modest Jean.

"It has been my first season in Japan, so I've had to concentrate hard on my own performance in every game.

"If we all do that, the results will be good, and that is what happened."

After 14 of the 15 second-stage games, FC Tokyo are fourth in the table on 22 points, 10 behind newly-crowned champions Jubilo Iwata. Gamba Osaka are second on 27 and Kashima Antlers third on 23.

In the final round of games Saturday, Tokyo are away to Kashima.

"It's important to go there and win because we want to finish as high up in the table as possible," added Jean.

As for the future, he said: "We have a lot of young players in the team and they will improve with experience.

"On top of that, we can all improve our individual quality.

"The manager (Hiromi Hara) has a concept of solid defense and counterattack, and we have followed that well this season to become a strong team.

"We all believe in the manager's concept and this enables us to produce a good performance on the pitch."

It's unlikely that Jean will be among the J.League Best XI on the annual awards night on December 16, but FC Tokyo fans know he is one of the best defenders in the league.

And so do Tuto and Emerson.

ends

24 Nov 2002(Sun)

The sudden and tragic death of Prince Takamado is a massive loss for Japanese soccer, according to the man who sparked the young prince's interest in the game, Shun-ichiro Okano.

Prince Takamado, who died of a heart attack suffered while playing squash on Thursday, had been the honorary patron of the Japan Football Association since 1987.

But he had followed the game for many years before that.

I interviewed Prince Takamado at his Akasaka residence last December, and he recalled how, as an elementary school student, he watched Mitsubishi Diamond Soccer on Japanese TV, hosted by Okano.

From that point on, the sports-loving prince always viewed Okano as the voice of Japanese soccer, and the two became firm friends later in life.

"Prince Takamado contributed very much to the progress of Japanese football, so I was really shocked by his sudden passing away," said Okano, a former president of the JFA.

"He was so active in many sports, not only football, and also in music and the arts. He had so many interests in culture and sports."

Okano said Prince Takamado worked tirelessly to support Japan's bid for the 2002 World Cup, frequently hosting receptions for visiting dignitaries.

"During the World Cup, Prince Takamado attended 19 games, which was the highest number of anyone in Japanese football," he said.

"I visited 18, and sat next to Prince Takamado on many occasions.

"I remember watching the Japan-Tunisia game at Osaka. When Japan won to qualify for the second round, he stood up, raised both arms in the air and we embraced each other.

"At the World Cup final, we sat behind our Emperor and Empress and the president of Korea, Kim Dae Jung, and his wife. It was a very proud moment."

The 2002 World Cup, Prince Takamado said, gave cohosts Japan and Korea a wonderful opportunity to improve mutual understanding and respect.

"The most important thing for the World Cup is to restore the relationship between Korea and Japan, which has been somewhat distorted for the past half a century," he said.

"It is a very good chance for both countries to realize they are equally important and influential in Asia and in the world. We should go hand in hand in cooperating and propelling the Asian culture and economy into the 21st Century."

Looking back on the prince's life, Okano added: "I have many wonderful memories of Prince Takamado. We played football together, chatted together and also had many serious discussions about the future of Japanese football.

"He is a big loss, a very big loss, to the JFA."

For Japan in general and Japanese soccer in particular, World Cup year has ended on a very sad and tragic note.

To have such loyal support so high in Japanese society helped give the game more profile.

His role in the rise of Japanese soccer should not be under-estimated.

ends

19 Nov 2002(Tue)

It will be interesting to see how Japan tackle Argentina at Saitama Stadium on Wednesday night.

In theory, Japan should be the more confident, the more adventurous team.

After all, Japan reached the second round of the World Cup in June; they are playing at home in front of another big and noisy crowd; and they have extra motivation to win for national coach Zico, who returned home to Brazil on Sunday following the death of his mother.

Argentina were one of the World Cup's biggest flops, along with France. They won only one game, 1-0 against Nigeria; lost the "big one" 1-0 to England; they went home after the first round; and their preparations for this first post-World Cup game have been non-existent.

I attended the Argentina training session at Nishigaoka Stadium in Tokyo on Monday night. Only 10 players were there, including one goalkeeper, and the training consisted of jogging, stretching and kicking the ball about in a small circle of players.

On top of that, Pablo Aimar and Juan Roman Riquelme will be missing because of injury, so head coach Marcelo Bielsa's plans were further disrupted.

So will Japan attack, or will they be cautious against Argentina's talented team?

If I were Japan's head coach (and doesn't every football fan want to play this role?), I would adopt the latter approach.

Despite their World Cup failings, scoring only two goals, I still think Argentina are one of the strongest teams in the world.

I thought they were the best team at the 1994 World Cup, and could have gone on to win if it had not been for Diego Maradona's drug abuse.

In 1998, exhausted after that second-round epic against England, they were very unlucky to lose to a majestic Dennis Bergkamp goal in the quarterfinals at Marseille.

This year they played some wonderful attacking football, but incredibly could not produce the goals despite their galaxy of star strikers: Batistuta, Crespo, Ortega, Claudio Lopez, Veron, Aimar...the list goes on.

At the other end they conceded only two goals--David Beckham's penalty and Anders Svensson's brilliant free kick for Sweden--and their defense should be even stronger in Japan with the return of captain and libero Roberto Ayala, who missed all three World Cup games because of injury.

Japan, playing under Masakuni Yamamoto in Zico's absence, should be well organized this time, especially with two defensive midfielders in Takashi Fukunishi and Koji Nakata, although they will desperately miss the presence and calming influence of Hidetoshi Nakata, Shinji Ono and Junichi Inamoto.

I think Japan will do well to avoid defeat. A draw would be a fantastic result for Japan, but Argentina would not be satisfied with this, unlike Italy a year ago at the same venue when they were happy to return home with pride in tact.

Argentina have a point to prove, meaning this is a terribly difficult match for Japan.

ends

18 Nov 2002(Mon)

Japan's top striker Naohiro Takahara has been advised to follow in the footsteps of Shinji Ono, and head for Holland.

The 23-year-old forward has scored 24 goals for Jubilo Iwata this season and was named MVP of the first stage.

It is rumoured that his agent is trying to line up a winter transfer to either Italy or England. Takahara is sponsored by Puma, and this has led to speculation he may be going to Everton, who are also sponsored by the same company.

However, Takahara's Dutch teammate Arno Van Zwam believes the young striker would be better off moving to Holland.

"He is 23 and needs to be playing every week, not sitting on the bench," said the goalkeeper, who has lost his first team place during the second stage.

"I don't think he is the kind of forward for England. He might end up sitting on the bench for one season like Inamoto did at Arsenal, and wasting one year of his career.

"Or he might lose his place in the national team, like Kawaguchi did before the World Cup because he was not playing for Portsmouth."

Van Zwam says he has told Takahara to aim for the Dutch league.

"This would be a good move for him because he would be playing every week.

"Look what's happened to Ono. He won the UEFA Cup in his first season with Feyenoord and now everyone in the football world knows him.

"Takahara could play for one or two seasons in Holland and then maybe move to Spain or Italy. By then he would still be only 25, so he has a long career ahead of him.

"The time is right for Takahara to go overseas, not to South America this time but to Europe. If he is smart he should go."

Takahara had an unhappy time with Boca Juniors in Argentina, scoring only one league goal, and also missed the World Cup due to a lung infection.

But he has shown tremendous character to fight back and is now the J.League's leading scorer and on course to be named the season's MVP, following teammate Toshiya Fujita.

Everton have shown they are quite prepared to hire Asian players. The Merseyside club has two Chinese World Cup players in midfielder Li Tie and defender Li Weifeng.

Everton's strikers include 17-year-old wonder boy Wayne Rooney, Canadian Tomas Radzinski and the burly Kevin Campbell, so Takahara would not command a first-team place every week.

ends

14 Nov 2002(Thu)

I am very surprised by some of Zico's selections, and by his method.

I attended his press conference in Tokyo on Monday afternoon and left feeling quite bemused.

First, I am amazed that he announced his team for the friendly against Argentina on November 20, just like he did before the Jamaica game.

Most national coaches do not name the team until the day of the game.

Sometimes it is to keep the opposition in the dark, to keep them guessing.

On other occasions it is to keep his own players on their toes, to keep them motivated and committed.

The fact that Zico has already named his starting lineup may take some of the energy out of the training and preparation.

For example, two bright young prospects in Keisuke Tsuboi and Yasuhito Endo already know they will not be starting the match.

I wonder if this affects their attitude in training.

If they thought they had a chance of playing, maybe they would be more intense in their preparation. Perhaps they will not be as sharp now as they would have been if they'd thought they still had a chance of making the starting lineup.

Of course the media will be very grateful to Zico for announcing his starting lineup so early, but this does not mean it is prudent of a coach to do so.

Argentina's Marcelo Bielsa will also be very grateful, as he can select his team accordingly.

I cannot imagine Bielsa fielding anything other than an attacking lineup when looking at the quality of the players. His squad is frightening, and Japan will need to have high motivation and strong tactical discipline to hold Argentina at Saitama Stadium.

On the selection front, the recall of Eisuke Nakanishi, at 29, highlights the shortage of natural fullbacks in Japan as many teams play 3-5-2 rather than 4-4-2.

Nakanishi had a fine game for Japan against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup in France, playing on the right side of Takeshi Okada's back three, alongside Masami Ihara and Yutaka Akita on the left.

I remember Nakanishi marking Claudio Lopez out of the game, and that is a fine achievement.

For JEF United, Nakanishi can play in any of the three defensive positions, but again he is playing in a back three and not as an orthodox fullback. It will be interesting to see him at leftback, as he is naturally a right-footed player.

I cannot understand why Zico recalled Yoshiharu Ueno, especially as he will play Takashi Fukunishi and Koji Nakata as the two defensive midfielders.

If Ueno is not going to play, I thought it would have been better to bring in a youngster who could benefit from the experience, such as Yuki Abe.

However, the fact that Zico will play two defensive midfielders is an encouraging sign, as Jamaica gained the upper hand in this department in Zico's first match as national coach.

Japan's forwards look strong, and will need to be decisive in front of goal when they get their chances.

It will be a very hard match for Japan against a highly motivated Argentina team, and Zico's coaching expertise will face a severe test.

ends

10 Nov 2002(Sun)

With only four rounds of J.League games left, Sanfrecce Hiroshima are in terrible trouble near the bottom of the table.

Consadole Sapporo have already been relegated with only 10 points, and Sanfrecce (19 points) seem certain to join them as they trailed Vissel Kobe and Kashiwa Reysol by seven points after 26 of the 30 league games.

Seven points is a huge gap to close, especially when there are only 12 more points to play for before the end of the season.

So this weekend offers Sanfrecce a last realistic chance to save their season.

On Saturday they are at home to Vissel Kobe, who will be without suspended Brazilian playmaker Harison. The following day, Reysol must take on Jubilo Iwata away without the suspended trio of Tomokazu Myojin, Kensuke Nebiki and Tomonori Hirayama.

So Sanfrecce have a great chance to close the gap on the two teams above them and hang on to their J1 status, which they have held since the J.League kicked off in 1993.

I believe Sanfrecce's problems began before the season even started.

They were very slow to hire foreign players, and only one, the big Cameroon defender Michel Bilong, has truly established himself in the team.

The young defender Tulio Tanaka is also classed as an overseas player, but the overall quality of the foreign players is simply not good enough to give the team a solid backbone.

Jubilo Iwata have proved that you don't need star foreign players if your Japanese players are good enough, but Sanfrecce's are not in the same class as Jubilo's in all departments of the team.

So clubs can learn a valuable lesson from Sanfrecce's poor planning in terms of player recruitment.

I will be sad to see Sanfrecce go down.

They have always been an attractive team to watch, playing nice football on the ground and showing good tactical discipline.

Tatsuhiko Kubo has had his problems this season, leading to only six goals, but he remains a dangerous and aggressive center forward. I still think Philippe Troussier made a mistake in not picking him for the World Cup squad.

I would have picked Kubo ahead of Akinori Nishizawa, as he offers something different and would have been useful against Turkey when Japan needed lifting.

I also admire Chikara Fujimoto, a clever and eye-catching player whose skills have not gone unnoticed in Europe.

The young midfielder Kazuyuki Morisaki made a big impression during the Asian Games in Pusan, captaining the team after injury to Takeshi Aoki, and wing-back Yuichi Komano was also a member of the squad.

Sanfrecce have been affected by injuries, too, especially to defender Kenichi Uemura earlier in the season, but this is part and parcel of the game. Every team suffers injuries, so it's important to have a strong squad and strong leadership on the pitch.

Talking to club official Shigeru Manabe this week, he said the relegation problems had crept up on them slowly, as they had always managed to lift themselves out of trouble in previous seasons.

Suddenly, Sanfrecce's plight was desperate, as no one at the club ever thought they would be sucked into the relegation battle.

But it has happened.

The problems, however, started at the end of last season when the club was slow to organize the team for this season.

The club is still suffering because of this.

ends

7 Nov 2002(Thu)

All the pre-match talk had been focused on Urawa Reds' first appearance in a cup final.

But anyone predicting a romantic ending to the Nabisco Cup would have been left with a red face, as Kashima Antlers proved their quality and ruthless professionalism yet again.

Although neutral observers may have felt sorry for the Reds and their loyal fans, there was no questioning the superiority of Kashima on the big day.

Antlers' Brazilian manager Toninho Cerezo took a huge risk by fielding five players who had not been fit to start the team's previous league game, against Consadole Sapporo on Oct. 27.

The five were right-back Akira Narahashi, central defender Fabiano, midfielders Mitsuo Ogasawara and Masashi Motoyama and striker Euller.

Before the game it seemed that Toninho's tactics were to play his strongest side for as long as possible, and then start making substitutions as the match progressed and the returning players grew tired.

But Kashima's starting lineup remained in tact for 87 minutes, when Motoyama was replaced by the more defensive Jun Uchida. A couple of minutes later, Yoshiyuki Hasegawa went on for Euller.

Toninho's tactics had worked triumphantly, as the experienced Antlers players tamed Reds' explosive attacking partnership of Emerson and Tuto.

Tuto had a poor game, squandering Urawa's one clear chance presented on a plate by a mistake from Akita, while Kashima defended superbly against the pace of Emerson.

In desperation, Urawa's Dutch manager Hans Ooft sent on the former Antlers defender Ichiei Muroi after 78 minutes and decided to attack Kashima in the air rather than on the ground.

This made it easier for Kashima to defend their lead, as danger man Emerson hardly saw the ball in the closing stages when his pace could have troubled the tiring Antlers defenders.

It was a perfect team performance from Kashima, epitomized by the central midfield duo of Yasuto Honda and Koji Nakata.

These two keep the team ticking over, picking up a lot of loose balls in midfield and usually settling for the easy pass rather than the ambitious one in order to retain possession.

Surely national coach Zico must realize that Koji Nakata deserves a place in central midfield for the visit of Argentina on Nov. 20, as he brings balance and shape to the team.

Ogasawara proved to be the match-winner once again against Urawa, although his shot took a cruel deflection off Masami Ihara for the only goal of the game after 59 minutes.

He is a clever, determined and confident midfield schemer, much admired by former national coach Philippe Troussier. In fact, the Frenchman likes him so much that if he takes over a European club in the new year, expect him to be calling Kashima to sign Ogasawara and maybe Nakata, too.

They will be a big loss to Kashima, but looking at their squad, the replacements are there already.

ends

5 Nov 2002(Tue)

My article was written based on an interview with Emerson I read in the Daily Yomiuri. I also spoke in detail to the author.

If Emerson was not eligible to play for Japan because he had played for Brazil, surely he would have known this fact wouldn't he???

My understanding is that a player who has played for his national team up to the age level of under-21 cannot then play for another country.

Did Emerson play for Brazil Under-21s or for the youth team??? If he played for the youth team, he is still eligible to play for Japan.

Like Ryan Giggs. Did you know that Ryan Giggs played for England Schoolboys under the name of Ryan Wilson, then changed his name to Ryan Giggs to take his mother's family name after his mother and father divorced. To annoy his father even more, he took his mother's nationality and played for Wales rather than England.

My point was: if a player comes over here in good faith, for example, Alex, and earns the right to turn Japanese, then fine.

What I was trying to say was that it would be bad policy if Japan tried to import Brazilian players and then gave them citizenship quickly so they could play for Japan. I think Japan would lose its identity.

And Consadole did want to keep Emerson, because Oka-chan told me personally. They could not afford to because his wage demands were huge after such an incredible season.

I will have to check on Emerson's background, but from reading his comments, surely he would know or not if he were eligible to play for Japan. Clearly he thinks he is.

Anyway, it's nice to read so much feedback!!!

Best wishes, Jeremy Walker

3 Nov 2002(Sun)

S-Pulse's "baron of the skies" is considering his future outside of Shimizu after being left on the sidelines for much of the season.

The 1.86-meter Brazilian center forward has proved his value in the air during his four J1 seasons, two with JEF United Ichihara and two with S-Pulse.

But S-Pulse's Yugoslav manager, Zdravko Zemunovic, feels Baron's heading ability is not part of the Shimizu game plan.

The coach prefers a more patient, passing game involving lots of movement off the ball. If Baron is selected to lead the attack, it would encourage the other players to hit the long ball to the big target man, and S-Pulse would lose their identity.

This is the feeling of Zemunovic, but naturally Baron does not agree.

The 28-year-old striker, who has scored a respectable 51 goals in 111 J1 appearances since 1999, feels there is no reason why he could not spearhead the attack.

In fact he thinks it would be the perfect combination to have Alessandro Santos to his left and Ahn Jung Hwan to his right, a trio combining speed, skill on the ground and power in the air.

"It's a big shame for me I am not in the team, because this is the first time in my career I have been on the bench for so long," said Baron this week, after a five-minute appearance as a substitute in a 1-0 defeat at Kashiwa.

"I am trying to take it like experience, and trying to be positive, but I cannot find anything," he admitted, honestly.

"I think we can play together as three top, with the other two players working behind me."

Baron is so uncertain of the future that he is already preparing for the worst.

"The contract talks begin at the end of November; that's when they decide if they want you to stay," he said.

"At the moment I am not in the team, so I do not know what they are thinking. Maybe they are not going to hire me again next year."

If S-Pulse do decide to release Baron, he has no intention of moving too far away.

"I would be happy to stay in Japan," he said.

With his goals record and his knowledge of Japanese language and the J.League, he still has something to offer in terms of heading ability and power in the air as an old-fashioned leader of the line.

ends

31 Oct 2002(Thu)

It was a moving experience to be at Ibaraki Stadium on Sunday when Consadole Sapporo were relegated to the second division.

Consadole had contributed to a very entertaining game, going in front on two occasions through Takafumi Ogura.

Kashima Antlers came back each time, with two smart finishes from Atsushi Yanagisawa, so the game went to extra time at 2-2.

Consadole, against all the odds, were still fighting bravely for their place in J1.

But a goal from young left-back Tatsuya Ishikawa on 102 minutes gave Antlers the 3-2 win and two points in their bid to catch Jubilo Iwata, while condemning Consadole to J2 with four J1 games remaining.

I will miss Consadole next season, as will the J.League's top flight in general.

Not only is the club the northernmost outpost of the J.League, thereby giving identity to Hokkaido, Consadole also have excellent fans.

Especially away from home, where their distinctive red and black colors always look impressive in the "away" fans end or section of the stadium.

After Sunday's game, the Antlers fans, not known for their generosity of spirit, even chanted "Consadole" as a tribute to the efforts of the visiting team in a long, hard season.

Consadole fans responded with a chorus of "Kashima Antlers" before pledging their loyalty to their own club with a booming and defiant "We are Sapporo, we are Sapporo!" (to the catchy tune of "Ooo-aah, Can-to-na").

This was a lovely moment, and why foreigners involved in the J.League frequently feel it is like stepping back in time because of the respect, family atmosphere and lack of violence between the rival fans.

Long may this continue!

Consadole had three diffrerent managers during the season, starting with Tetsuji Hashiratani, who was given a tough baptism in the managerial game.

They were also unlucky with injuries, notably to the bright and intelligent Koji Yamase.

But Consadole have bounced back before and can do it again. They joined the J.League in 1998 but lasted only one season in J1 before dropping to J2 in 1999 and 2000, winning the second division championship in 2000.

They were 11th in J1 last season thanks largely to the 24 goals of Brazilian Will, but could not find the same kind of firepower this time and suffered the consequences.

I wish Consadole--and their fantastic fans--a speedy return to J1.

ends

27 Oct 2002(Sun)

There are many reasons for wanting to watch the Toyota Cup game between Real Madrid and Olimpia of Paraguay at International Stadium Yokohama on December 3.

Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Raul, Roberto Carlos...there are five excellent reasons to begin with.

But I am also very interested by the new format being used for the first time in the Toyota Cup if the match goes to extra time.

At a news conference in Tokyo this week, the Japan Football Association made the following announcement:

"If, on completion of the first period of extra time (lasting 15 minutes), one of the two teams has scored more goals than the other, that team shall be declared the winner.

"If no decisive goal has been scored by the end of the first 15-minute period of extra time, a second 15-minute period of extra time shall be played."

If the teams are still level after that, penalties will be used to decide the winner.

This new rule, ending a game halfway through extra time, has been put forward by European governing body UEFA.

UEFA's South American counterparts, CONMEBOL, agreed to the proposal, so Toyota Cup organizers were happy to adopt it for the first time in the world outside of Europe.

The reason behind it is because the Europeans dislike the "golden goal" finish to a match in "sudden death" extra time.

European coaches feel the golden goal rule is unfair to the team that concedes the goal in extra time, as it does not give them any possibility to fight back and equalize.

They also think it can produce a scrappy and untidy end to the match. For example, do you remember the Euro 2000 semifinal between France and Portugal?

France were awarded a penalty in extra time, and when Zidane scored, the match was over and the Portuguese were still furious. (They had no right to be angry, however, as the Portuguese defender clearly put out his arm to stop the ball near the goal. It was a clear penalty.)

The Europeans hope that their method, which would have been used for the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen in Glasgow last season, is a form of compromise.

There is no golden goal; there is an opportunity for the team that goes behind in extra time to equalize; but the match will not continue for the whole of the 30 minutes' extra time if one team is ahead at the end of the first period of extra time.

For example, Real Madrid and Olimpia may be level 1-1 after 90 minutes.

Real could score in the first period of extra time, Olimpia could equalize and then Real could score again, all in the first period of extra time. When the whistle blew to end the first period of extra time, Real would be in front 3-2 and the match would be over.

Is this a good idea?

Personally, I like sudden-death extra time to decide knockout cup matches (not league matches).

After all, the teams have had 90 minutes to win the match.

If one team scores first, they deserve to win. Why should the other team be given a chance to equalize?

There are many debates around the world on how to end a match if the scores are level after 90 minutes, so it's worth checking out the Toyota Cup format this time.

Although the biggest surprise of all will be if Real Madrid have not won inside 90 minutes.

ends

24 Oct 2002(Thu)

No, he hasn't watched the Japan-Jamaica game.

And no, he is not interested in managing a club or a national team before next year.

Philippe Troussier, for the time being at least, is happy to stay at home and keep out of the limelight.

"I haven't seen it, and I don't want to see it," Troussier said about Japan's first match under Zico last Wednesday.

"I need a break for six months and I do not want to talk about Japan. I have refused all proposals to talk about Japan. Only after six months will I wake up."

The most pressing business on Troussier's mind now is his appointment with the surgeon's knife in Paris at the start of next month.

"I have decided to have surgery on my right knee and I will need two months of rehabilitation," he added.

"It's an old problem dating back to when I was a player 20 years ago, and it's time to clean up the knee.

"Sometimes I have some pain, but it's not a big problem. I think I'm just getting old."

Troussier left Japan in July after steering the national team into the second round of the World Cup.

Since then he has been inundated with offers from clubs and national associations, but says he is in no hurry to make his next move.

"This is why I have said 'no' to Ipswich Town last week, to China, Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco, Iran and Saudi Arabia," said the 47-year-old Frenchman.

"There was also some contact with Sunderland and Standard Liege, and three days ago from Croatia's national team.

"I wasn't interested in China because it would have been the same challenge I had in Japan for four years. And also they wanted a quick reply, and I said I needed a rest.

"I feel a bit like a lion in a cage, with my wife as the trainer, but at the moment I'm a lion with three legs.

"After six months I will be in good shape to fight everybody," he joked.

A return to Japan has been penciled into his diary for early January, when he will give a lecture at the invitation of his previous employers at the Japan Football Association.

Despite saying he needed a break from talking about Japan, Troussier was aware that the Urawa Reds were top of the first division, and was keen to learn of the form of Mitsuo Ogasawara, the young Kashima Antlers midfielder he selected in his World Cup squad at the expense of fan favorite Shunsuke Nakamura.

"I am not surprised about Urawa Reds because they have good offensive potential," he said.

"It's good to see other teams at the top."

He picked out Urawa Reds striker Yuichiro Nagai as one to watch.

"He was one of the best players in my youth team in Nigeria in 1999 and scored a beautiful goal in the semifinal against Uruguay. I also picked him in my group of 40 players because I think he can be a very special player in the national team.

"Ogasawara, too, is a very nice player, with a good attitude. He is a very interesting player for the future."

Troussier was speaking from his home in Paris, and will spend his rehab in Rabat, Morocco.

ends

20 Oct 2002(Sun)

There are two ways to analyze Zico's first match as Japan's national coach, the 1-1 draw with Jamaica.

The first is to congratulate him on having the courage to field his four "golden men"--namely Hidetoshi Nakata, Shunsuke Nakamura, Shinji Ono and Junichi Inamoto.

They are four very talented players, and Zico let them all loose at the same time to see what happened. He gave the players themselves the responsibility of finding a pattern, trusting in their ability and experience.

In short, it was an experiment, and there was nothing to lose.

The second way to look at Japan's performance was to say that it was a mess, lacking rhythm, cohesion and a tactical strategy. Philippe Troussier would have been shocked to hear Zico's advice to the midfield four: "Be flexible, and change positions amongst yourselves during the match."

This was the Zico way, but it wasn't the Troussier way as the Frenchman built a solid, disciplined team that ran like clockwork. Replace one part and the engine would continue to run smoothly.

Under Troussier, team work was first and foremost, and only when a player understood his responsibility to the team order could he have the freedom to show some of his individual flair. This is why Troussier took a long time to warm to Hidetoshi Nakata, because he felt he was too much of a one-man show.

(Personally, I never felt this about Nakata. I always thought the biggest problem was that Nakata's level was so much higher than that of his teammates, and other players could not read his moves or his passes.)

It was not a good start by Japan, as Zico gave himself very little time to prepare a new strategy with some players who had been out of the team for a few years, notably Akira Narahashi and Yutaka Akita.

What I have always been worried about with Zico's appointment is his lack of coaching experience.

He may be a celebrity, he may have been a great player for Brazil, he may be more media friendly than Troussier, but does this make him a good coach?

Of course he needs time, just like Troussier did, but their situations are different in that Troussier was rebuilding the team after the France World Cup. Zico does not have to do this, as he has inherited a group of talented and experienced internationals.

Zico has to prove he can take the team to the next level, and his lack of planning and strategy for the Jamaica game, other than simply sending out what he regarded as his best players, suggests he has some thinking to do.

Argentina is the next test, on November 20, and if Zico does not make progress in this game, then maybe he needs help on the coaching side.

After all, at Kashima Antlers he has always been the Technical Director overseeing the manager/coach, rather than actually working with the players day in, day out.

I don't want to sound too pessimistic about the first game, as maybe it was just an experiment, but I firmly follow Troussier's philosophy that the best players do not necessarily make the best team.

There must be balance, discipline and strategy.

ends

17 Oct 2002(Thu)

China's head coach, Shen Xiangfu, believes Japan can go all the way to the Athens Olympics thanks to the new Nakayama.

For the past decade, Jubilo Iwata's Masashi "Gon" Nakayama has been a mainstay of the national squad, playing in two World Cups.

But Shen feels that in the Asian Games' under-23 tournament, Japan has unearthed another striker of the same name and just as effective: Satoshi Nakayama.

The 20-year-old Gamba Osaka forward scored a total of five goals in the under-21 team's run to the silver medal.

After failing to score in Japan's Group D opener against Palestine, Nakayama then netted in five consecutive games, against Bahrain, Uzbekistan, China, Thailand and Iran.

His goal and his performance in leading a three-strong attack against China in the quarterfinals at Masan City left a deep impression on Shen.

"Japan's team work and organization is very good," Shen said.

"When you also consider the technique of each individual player, this makes them very difficult to play against."

Shen said it was hard to pick out individual players.

"Almost every player in the Japanese team is the same level, but if I had to choose one who particularly impressed me then that was the No. 19, Nakayama.

"He covers a lot of ground all across the forward line and never stops running. He also scored an excellent goal against China to beat us; that was an expert finish."

China had gone into the quarterfinal against Japan as the favorite, having beaten Japan 1-0 in Shanghai in August. Both teams were fielding their under-21 teams in Pusan to prepare for next year's Asian qualifying campaign for the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Shen said there was very little to choose between the two teams, and it could have been 1-0 to China just as easily as it was to Japan at Masan.

"A coach cannot do a lot to improve his team so much in just one month; it's impossible," he added.

"So the difference was in the quality of shooting.

"China had 17 shots and could not score once, while Japan had only five in the game, and Nakayama scored.

"If our shooting had been better, the result would have changed."

Shen spent eight years, from 1988 to 1995, playing and coaching in Japan with the Fujitsu club, now known as Kawasaki Frontale.

"At that time we were only part-time players, not professional, and the level of the Japanese players has improved a lot since then," he said.

"I think and hope that both China and Japan can qualify for the Athens Olympics."

On the way home from Pusan on Tuesday, I bumped into the Iranian team at Gimhae Airport before they took a flight to Tehran.

The Japanese players they were impressed with were Nakayama again, and also the captain, Kazuyuki Morisaki, who played very maturely in the center of midfield.

But they said South Korea was a better team than Japan.

Japan will not and should not worry about that, however, as they came home with the silver medals. The Koreans won only the bronze.

ends

13 Oct 2002(Sun)

The improvement in Japan's young lions has been evident as the team has progressed through the Asian Games, all the way to Sunday's final against Iran.

None more so than Yuki Abe.

The 21-year-old JEF United Ichihara player has made his mark as a central midfielder, similar in style to Junichi Inamoto, in the J.League.

But here in Busan, Abe has stepped in to cover for the injured captain and libero, Takeshi Aoki, who was hurt in the physical 1-0 victory over Uzbekistan last Saturday.

Against China in the quarterfinals (1-0) and Thailand in the semifinals (3-0), Japan have not conceded a single goal.

This is due to excellent team defending, which starts with the forwards putting pressure on the opposition defenders and thereby making it easier for Japan's midfielders to regain possession of the ball. Keita Suzuki has excelled in this role, and thoroughly deserved his spectacular goal against Thailand which virtually settled the match.

Suzuki is not a leader, though; not yet, anyway.

But at the back, Abe has emerged quickly as a natural and inspiring player.

Against Thailand he was Japan's best player, staying concentrated and committed during some casual play by his teammates in the early stages of the game.

On one occasion, Hikaru Mita lost the ball in midfield, but Abe rescued the situation with a well-timed covering tackle.

In the second half, the Thais continued to push forward, but Abe proved to be a giant in the air, too, winning many valuable headers in and around his own penalty box.

After the game against Uzbekistan, I spoke to one of the Asian Football Confederation's technical delegates, Kwok Ka Ming, a former national coach of Hong Kong and very respected in coaching circles.

He praised Japan's technique and organization, but said they lacked a leader on the pitch and this could prove to be vital later in the tournament.

Indeed, against Thailand the Japanese players were silent for long spells as the Thais constantly encouraged each other.

The Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium was nearly deserted, so it was easy to hear what was going on down on the field.

From the Japanese point of view, this was not much at all, as all the noise was being made by the Thais.

Philippe Troussier always used to comment on the lack of talking and communication within the team, and would frequently encourage the players to start shouting and talking during training when the atmosphere was silent.

Communication is a vital part of the game, and Japan's youngsters are still learning this.

In Abe, they have found someone who can lead, and his presence in the center of defense has proved to be invaluable.

ends

10 Oct 2002(Thu)

Zico's first national team squad, announced in Tokyo on Monday, was predictable for one thing: the number of "star" players he chose.

His predecessor, Philippe Troussier, preferred a team without stars; a functional team with players who would do their job in a professional, business-like way.

Zico's philosophy is clearly the opposite: he will pick the best players and then pick his team.

Troussier's policy was to pick players to fit his system, and that the best players did not always make the best team.

This is why Shunsuke Nakamura was left out of the World Cup.

Troussier thought there was no room for him, with Shinji Ono, Toshihiro Hattori and Alex all competing for the place on the left side of midfield, and Hidetoshi Nakata, Hiroaki Morishima and Mitsuo Ogasawara his first three choices for the attacking midfield role.

Therefore, even though Shunsuke was immensely popular with fans, the media and sponsors alike, Troussier remained true to his philosophy and did not pick him.

It is also indicative of the difference in thought process that Zico omitted two players who were Troussier men through and through: Kazuyuki Toda and Tomokazu Myojin.

Troussier once said that his perfect team would consist of eight Myojins, players who would do their job without any frills or star quality, and three players who could make the difference to the team and the result.

Zico will build his team without one Myojin, never mind eight!

The recall of Hiroshi Nanami was also predictable, even though there is no way Zico can find a place for Nanami, Nakamura, Alex and Ono in the same team.

Of course Zico's selections will make the fans and the media happy, as well as JFA president Saburo Kawabuchi, who loves to promote star names.

But will it lead to a balanced team?

He cannot put all these admittedly talented players on the pitch at the same time, so has Zico got the tactical knowledge to get the best out of the whole squad?

On the pitch, could there be too many player egos fighting for the spotlight instead of fighting for each other?

I was very happy to see the recall of Akira Narahashi, even though I think Yasuhiro Hato was again unlucky to be overlooked.

Narahashi has been the best right-back in Japan for the last six years or so, and it was a puzzle to me why Troussier never considered him for the role on the right side of his five-man midfield.

I agree that sometimes he loses his discipline, both in the tackle and in when choosing his moment to go forward, but he is hard and aggressive and will play with pride and with a lion's heart.

The players are there to entertain.

But is the system there to win football matches?

ends

6 Oct 2002(Sun)

Football is the greatest game, of course, but this does not mean it is perfect.

Far from it.

I feel football can still learn from other sports, and being here in Pusan, watching the Asian Games, makes this even more obvious.

The other day I went to see Japan play India at men's hockey.

This is a very similar game to football in terms of team and tactics. There are 11 players in a team, including the goalkeeper, and there are defensive liberos, man-markers, midfield playmakers and ace strikers.

There is also defense, midfield and attack, so it's very easy for football fans to watch hockey.

What I liked best about the game, though, was the use of substitutions.

I don't know about you, but I get fed up of watching football teams use substitutions to halt the flow of the game, late in the game.

How many times have you seen a team which is leading 1-0, or holding on for an important draw, send on one substitute with a couple of minutes to go, and then another in injury time when there is only seconds remaining.

Of course this is in the rules, but the whole game stops for 30 seconds or so as the team brings off the player on the far side of the pitch, and he takes an age to walk over to the dugout and shake hands with the player coming on before the game can restart.

Why does the whole game have to wait for this charade?

Football can therefore learn from hockey.

When a hockey player wants to enter the field, he leaves his team bench and heads for the halfway line carrying a sign with the number of the player the team wants to substitute.

The player whose number is being held up runs to the side, takes the sign and the substitute runs on.

The game never stops!

It is the responsibility of the player being substituted to get off the pitch as quickly as possible so his team can have 11 men.

I thought this system worked really well, and it would be interesting to see it tested in a football match. I am sure it would stop all the time-wasting and the gamesmanship and keep the game moving in the closing stages.

Another sport football can learn from is rugby, which is being played here in the seven-a-side version and the full 15-a-side version.

Rugby is a hard, fast and very physical sport, and injuries occur regularly.

But in rugby, when a player is injured badly enough to need treatment, the team doctor can come on to the pitch and have a look at him, even though play is still going on around.

Again this would be a useful exercise in football, to stop players from conning the referee by faking injury. Again, the whole game stops in football to attend to one player who is often not hurt at all.

Yes, football is still the best game in the world.

But it is not without its problems.

ends

3 Oct 2002(Thu)

Yes, of course we felt sorry for the Palestine football team.

After all, when they played Japan in the Asian Games last Saturday, there were only 16 players on the team sheet.

Japan had 20, the maximum number allowed.

Palestine were four players short because they were not allowed through Israeli check points back in their troubled home land.

Of the 16 players who did make it to South Korea, there was only one professional from the Jordan League.

Some 90 per cent of the rest lived in the West Bank under curfew, which prevented them from training like the other teams in the tournament.

One of the players, we were told after Japan had beaten Palestine 2-0, had just had his home demolished by Israeli bulldozers.

The Israelis had given him and his family of 16 only 20 minutes to get their modest belongings together and leave, before it was demolished.

So this was the background to the Japan match, and puts life in perspective when we complain in Japan about the train being delayed for a few minutes.

But it was impossible to feel anything but contempt for the Palestinian football players in the match against Japan.

They kicked off with only one aim: to take a point from a 0-0 draw.

They played with only one striker, but there is nothing unusual in this, but the way they went about trying to deny Japan made for unpleasant viewing.

The goalkeeper stayed on the ground at every opportunity, feigning injury, and the weak referee from South Korea, under pressure from the goalkeeper's teammates, had no alternative but to call for the medical team.

This is a common tactic of west Asian teams. When the pressure is on, the goalkeeper goes down and stays down. How can the match continue with the keeper lying in the middle of his penalty box?

The keeper also wasted time as much as possible, just standing with the ball at his feet as the Japanese forwards retreated to the halfway line, waiting for him to kick it. Eventually, a Japanese player ran towards him, forcing him to pick up the ball and get play moving.

All around the field, Palestinian players were rolling around in apparent agony after the slightest contact with a Japanese player. It was a shambles of a match, and a disgrace to the spirit of the Asian Games.

In the end, Japan won well with second-half goals from Tatsuya Tanaka and Yuichi Nemoto.

Just as importantly, they kept their discipline and their concentration as Palestine's players continued with their behavior...but only until Tanaka's opening goal on 67 minutes.

Strangely enough, the nonsense stopped after this, because Palestine had to come out and try and equalize.

It was a good lesson for the Japanese youngsters as they enter the cynical world of international football.

But it was painful to watch.

ends

30 Sep 2002(Mon)

Japan may not have the glamour players of four years ago in Thailand, but the under-21 team competing in the Asian Games in Busan is a tight, well-knit unit.

This is according to Urawa Reds' promising young midfielder Keita Suzuki, who will be competing for a place in Japan's engine room when they kick off their campaign against Palestine on Saturday.

"It's true we don't have any star players," admits Suzuki.

"But we are strong as a team. We move well and think together, so this gives us a good advantage."

Japan will compete in Group D against Palestine, Bahrain on Tuesday and Uzbekistan next Saturday.

Only the winner of the six groups will qualify automatically for the quarterfinals, where they will be joined by the best two second-placed teams.

For the first time, the Asian Football Confederation is making the Asian Games football tournament an under-23 competition with room for three over-age players, just like in the Olympics.

But Japan will be at a disadvantage because their team will be strictly under-21. Head coach Masakuni Yamamoto is grooming the team to challenge for a place in the 2004 Athens Olympics, so this 14th edition of the Asian Games marks the starting point of Zico's new-look Japan.

Japan should have no problems beating Palestine, a late replacement for Jordan, at Yangsan on Saturday afternoon, but Bahrain will be much tougher when they clash at Ulsan on Tuesday evening.

Japan's third group match, against the former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan at Masan next Saturday, will also be hard, as Uzbekistan won the gold medal at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, beating China 4-2 in the final at Big Arch.

Yamamoto has plenty of experienced J.League players in his squad, especially in midfield.

Suzuki is progressing well under Hans Ooft at Urawa, while Yuki Abe has been a regular for JEF United Ichihara for several seasons after playing first as a 16-year-old in the J.League.

Kazuyuki Morisaki is a mature, composed midfielder for Sanfrecce Hiroshima, while Naohiro Ishikawa has had an outstanding season on the right side of midfield for FC Tokyo after moving from Yokohama F Marinos. Ishikawa is joined in the squad by FC Tokyo teammate Teruyuki Moniwa.

Two more bright prospects are Tokyo Verdy's young right-back Hayuma Tanaka, and Cerezo Osaka's dazzling forward Yoshito Okubo.

Okubo was outstanding for Kunimi High School in Nagasaki, and has been in great goalscoring form this season, albeit in J2.

Although the team hasn't been given much chance in this tournament, there is a lot of quality in most departments without, as Suzuki admits, stars such as Shinji Ono, who played in the Bangkok Asian Games four years ago.

A team without stars?

That would be music to the ears of the former national coach, Philippe Troussier!

ends

26 Sep 2002(Thu)

The J.League's two-stage system has many faults and inconsistencies.

Kashiwa Reysol find themselves in the middle of one such unusual situation after five rounds of the second stage.

Because Reysol, among other teams, are fighting for the championship and to avoid relegation at the same time!

It's bizarre, isn't it?

But this is a product of the two-stage system, which I feel should be scrapped as soon as possible because it does not belong in mainstream soccer, just like extra time for league matches.

After Reysol had beaten Kashima Antlers 1-0 at Kashiwanoha Stadium on Saturday, their Brazilian manager Marco Aurelio said he was not even thinking about relegation.

He was looking up, not down, and said he wanted to see his team challenging for the second-stage title.

And this was after Reysol had just ended a run of 12 league matches without a win dating back to April 20!

But his comments are not as strange as they may sound, due to the two-stage system.

In the first stage, Reysol finished 14th with only 11 points from a possible 45, five more than bottom-placed Consadole Sapporo and one more than Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who finished 15th.

In the second stage, Reysol have now got six points from three draws and a win against Kashima.

This leaves them six points behind Jubilo Iwata, and with 10 games remaining and 30 points to play for, of course Reysol have a mathematical chance of winning the second stage.

Marco Aurelio said it would need only one victory for his team's fortunes to change, and now he's got it.

But survival must surely be the name of the game for Kashiwa in the coming weeks, as other teams near the bottom, such as Sanfrecce and Vissel Kobe, have also picked up points recently.

Certainly, the new manager is beginning a much-needed overhaul of the team.

On Saturday, he gave a second league appearance to 19-year-old libero Mitsuru Nagata and a fourth to 19-year-old forward Yuji Unozawa.

Of the two, Unozawa made the bigger impact, strong in the air and running positively to form a dangerous partnership with the Brazilian World Cup-winner Edilson.

It was a confident run and a well-timed pass from Unozawa that set up the winning goal, scored by Ricardinho, in the 53rd minute.

Nagata, on the other hand, looked nervous, and wasted possession on a couple of occasions with a careless pass in a dangerous position. He was also lucky not to be punished by Atsushi Yanagisawa when he failed to cut out a long ball over the top of the defense in the second half. On a treacherous surface, Yanagisawa shot over the crossbar.

Reysol's victory over Kashima will put their long-suffering supporters in better heart for the rest of the season, but the reality is that Reysol have more chance of going down than of winning the second stage.

They have too many good players for this to happen, though, and everyone at Kashiwa will settle for mid-table mediocrity after such a disappointing season.

ends

23 Sep 2002(Mon)

Shimizu S-Pulse have pulled off a major coup by signing the South Korean World Cup star Ahn Jung Hwan.
The 26-year-old forward arrived in Japan last Tuesday and was presented to the media at a press conference in a top Tokyo hotel on Wednesday morning.
Then he headed for Shimizu, where he was introduced to the fans during the Shizuoka derby against Jubilo Iwata on Wednesday evening.
S-Pulse lost the game 2-0, and clearly need an injection of pace and energy in the forward line.
Ahn will give them that, and much more besides.
Not surprisingly, with his handsome features and flowing locks, Ahn has a huge army of female admirers in Japan, and S-Pulse matches are surely going to attract large crowds.
This is not only good for S-Pulse, but also for the league in general as they look to maintain the momentum from the World Cup.
Ahn is fast, positive and also very good in the air, as he proved with headed goals against the United States and then, dramatically, against Italy at the World Cup, when he climbed above the great Paolo Maldini to head home the golden goal in the second round.
And it's not too late for him to change S-Pulse's season, which is going nowhere after a mediocre first stage and slow start to the second stage.
After all, S-Pulse have built a reputation as a cup team rather than a league championship team, in much the same way as, for example, Tottenham Hotspur in England.
This means that on the day they are capable of beating anyone, but they can't produce the consistency necessary to win a championship over a season.
So Ahn and S-Pulse can still win a trophy treble.
They are away to Kashima Antlers in the Nabisco Cup semifinals on October 2; then they play their first match in the new AFC Champions League on October 9; and, of course, there's the JFA's Emperor's Cup at the end of the year.
Ahn signed a one-year deal, but just how long he stays in Japan is anyone's guess.
The story behind the scenes goes that S-Pulse gave him a one-year contract so that they will be able to command a transfer fee for him if they sell him to a European club when the transfer window opens again in January.
If they had signed him for only four months, until the end of the year, then he would have been a free agent, and S-Pulse would have had to have let him go without being able to collect any money on their investment.
Ahn says he is thinking only of S-Pulse.
So the fans should think likewise, and enjoy this exciting talent while we can.

ends

19 Sep 2002(Thu)

Japan's new national coach Zico has hinted that there may be a surprise or two in his squad to face Jamaica in Tokyo on Oct. 16.

Zico's good friend, Tokyo Verdy manager Lori Sandri, thinks he knows who one of the surprises could be.

His own young right-back Hayuma Tanaka.

The Nagano-born Tanaka joined Verdy earlier this season on loan from the Yokohama F Marinos.

Sandri had seen him play for the Marinos in a pre-World Cup friendly against Nigeria, and Verdy moved quickly to sign him.

Since then, Tanaka has established himself in Verdy's rejuvenated team and has been selected for Japan's under-21s to play in the upcoming Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.

"Yes, I think there'll be someone from Verdy in Zico's squad," said Sandri, before identifying Tanaka, midfielder Takuya Yamada and goalkeeper Yoshinari Takagi as possibilities.

But Tanaka has the best chance, according to Sandri.

"He's done a very good job for us so far. In fact I think he's the best right-back in Japan at the moment.

"He wants to stay with us, and I think Verdy can find some money to sign him permanently. He's still young so should not be too expensive."

Tanaka, who turned 20 only in July, learned his trade with the Yokohama Flugels youth team and then stayed with the club when they merged with the Marinos.

He made his J.League debut in March 2001, and has played a total of 27 games, including 11 this season.

Although he was sent off in Sunday's thrilling game against Kashima Antlers for bringing down Atsushi Yanagisawa, Sandri does not blame him for the incident.

"I don't know where he (referee Toru Kamikawa) found the red card for Tanaka, because I thought Yanagisawa made some theater, some simulation. Tanaka was going for the ball," said Sandri after the game.

Tanaka showed his disgust with the decision by taking off his shirt and kicking over a bottle of water as he headed for the dressing room.

This kind of experience, however bitter at the time, will help Tanaka's future, and maybe Zico will name him in his first squad on Oct. 7.

He is intending to switch from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2, and the new system would require orthodox fullbacks who can overlap, as opposed to more attack-minded wing-backs.

This can only help Tanaka's bid for a place against Jamaica.

16 Sep 2002(Mon)

It was with mixed feelings that I read a report this week that Urawa Reds' Brazilian star Emerson is interested in playing for Japan's national team.

Emerson, of course, is an exciting talent.

He has got blistering pace, scores goals regularly and also does his fair share of defensive work, such as tackling back and putting pressure on the opposing defenders when they have possession.

At this moment, there is no doubt Emerson could easily play for Japan.

What I am worried about, however, is that Japan might become a back door to international football for Brazilian players who are not good enough to play for their own country.

If it happens too frequently, then Japan's national team could lose its identity, and players could be deliberately "imported" from Brazil, or from other countries, with a view to playing for Japan in the future.

This is a very dangerous practice, and I hope it never happens.

So far, three Brazilians have played for Japan: Ruy Ramos, Wagner Lopes in the 1998 World Cup and Alessandro Santos in the 2002 World Cup.

Emerson now says it would be a pleasure to play for Japan "in any kind of competition at any kind of level."

He adds: "I love Japan and I love the Japanese. They treat me very well and I appreciate what they have given me.

"I always play with spirit, and it would be the same in the national team."

Emerson would still have to wait a few years to represent Japan, but the 2006 World Cup in Germany might not be out of the question if he decided to apply for citizenship, with the full backing of the Japanese Football Association.

The 21-year-old, Rio de Janeiro-born striker joined Consadole Sapporo from Sao Paulo in 2000 and scored 31 goals in 34 J2 games in his first season.

Consadole won promotion to J1, but could not afford to keep Emerson, so he stayed in J2 and transferred to Kawasaki Frontale. A further 19 goals in only 18 games led to a mid-season transfer to Urawa, and he has notched 18 goals in 26 J1 appearances for the Reds.

He has scored 11 times in the league this season and helped Urawa reach the Nabisco Cup semifinals.

Personally, I don't see it happening: Emerson playing for Japan, for one big reason.

I think he's good enough to play for Brazil, and I am sure he will move to a European club in Spain, Italy or Germany within a couple of years.

So Emerson may be at the 2006 World Cup after all, but in the canary yellow of Brazil rather than the blue of Japan.

12 Sep 2002(Thu)

Australian international Ned Zelic has not had the best of luck during his time in Japan.

He began the season on the books of Kyoto Purple Sanga, but played only one game for the team before he had to return home to Germany for family reasons.

Neither Zelic nor Kyoto's German manager, Gert Engels, would go into details, but it was clearly a serious matter.

His J.League debut, away to JEF United Ichihara, had been eagerly awaited, as the libero or central midfielder had earned a reputation as an elegant, stylish footballer during his years in Europe.

Purple Sanga, in fact, had signed him from TSV 1860 Munich.

So it was with some surprise that Zelic returned to Japan last month to join Urawa Reds at the expense of Brazilian midfielder Harison, who was released.

But he wasn't so lucky again, as he tore a calf muscle during training and he now faces up to six weeks on the sidelines before he can make his debut in the red shirt of Urawa.

Reds' Dutch manager, Hans Ooft, has been looking for a leader all season.

He tried to sign the veteran French defender or midfielder Gilles Grimandi after the player was given a free transfer by Arsenal at the end of last season, but he turned Reds down after visiting Urawa's facilities.

Zelic, however, will be a far better signing once he's fit.

When discussing the move with Ooft during a meeting in Stuttgart, Germany, Zelic was told he would be playing in the center of defense.

So this means the long-term future of Reds' former Japan national team captain, Masami Ihara, must be in doubt.

For the time being, though, Urawa must continue without the quality of the tall and extremely talented Zelic.

And they are not doing too badly at the moment.

They have won their first two matches in the second stage, both in extra time, to collect four points and move away from the relegation zone, and also beat Kashiwa Reysol 1-0 to win a place in the Nabisco Cup semifinals next month.

When Ooft took over for the start of this season, he described Urawa as at the same stage of development as Jubilo Iwata when he went there in 1994.

But he feels they are making steady progress, and has a couple of Japan under-21 internationals on his books in the central midfielder Keita Suzuki and the speedy striker Tatsuya Tanaka.

Zelic watched Sunday's 1-0 win over Vegalta Sendai from high in the stands of Saitama Stadium 2002, and liked what he saw.

"The atmosphere was great, and the team has good potential," he said.

"I don't think they deserve to be where they are in the league table, and hopefully we can go much higher.

"It was unfortunate I had to leave so quickly last time, but I'm happy to be back. I think I can do well here."

9 Sep 2002(Mon)

As soon as Zico took over as national coach, speculation began that he would play a 4-4-2 formation as opposed to 3-5-2, which was favored by his predecessor, Philippe Troussier.

If Zico needs a dependable, solid left-back to help make the transition as smooth as possible, he need look no further than Naoki Soma.

The 31-year-old Tokyo Verdy defender has won 59 caps for Japan but has spent the last three years in the international wilderness since playing against Iran at Yokohama in September 1999.

But the former Kashima Antlers player has not given up hope of adding to his tally, especially with Zico now installed as national coach.

"In all the time I've worked with Zico, I've never known him play anything other than 4-4-2," said Soma, one of the few orthodox full-backs in the J.League.

"This is going to keep me playing hard, as I still have the will to play for the national team."

Zico watched Verdy beat Kyoto Purple Sanga 5-0 in the opening round of second-stage matches last Saturday, when Soma was outstanding in Verdy's back four against Kyoto's South Korean World Cup star Park Ji Sung.

Zico and Soma then had a long chat in the home team dressing room after the game, but Soma declined to reveal the contents of their discussion.

"That's for Zico to say," said Soma, diplomatically.

"But he has said in the past that the J.League is the priority.

"I have to play well for Verdy so that Verdy can climb the table. If the team is doing well, Zico will automatically notice you.

"And if we can produce some good results and get the fans cheering, then the individual performance improves."

This is a very practical approach by Soma, who was one of Japan's best players at the 1998 World Cup in France.

A year later, however, he became a casualty of Troussier's national team overhaul as the Frenchman preferred more attacking players such as Shinji Ono and Shunsuke Nakamura for the left side of his five-man midfield.

Soma suffered another setback in December 2000 when he damaged knee ligaments in an Emperor's Cup semifinal against Gamba Osaka.

During his injury absence, Antlers signed the Brazilian Augusto, who played so well that Soma could not get back into the team when he regained fitness toward the end of the campaign.

This resulted in Soma moving on loan to Verdy to secure first-team football, and he is helping the club move in the right direction.

"They struggled to stay in the first division last season, so there was a lot of work to do at the start of this season," he added.

"But now there is more unity, and we have a settled side. This has led to three wins in a row, so our confidence is improving."

If Verdy keep moving forward, don't be surprised if Zico turns to the trusty veteran Soma to give his new national team some early stability.

5 Sep 2002(Thu)

What a strange predicament Yoo Sang Chul finds himself in!

A few weeks ago he was a World Cup hero.

His driving play in midfield helped South Korea march into the semifinals, and he was named among the 16-strong All-Star squad by FIFA's technical panel.

But now he has no club, and faces a few months on the sidelines after his proposed transfer to Europe fell through.

He was a Kashiwa Reysol player during the World Cup, and the J.League club was very generous in allowing him to leave at the end of July and pursue his dream of playing in Europe.

At the time, no fewer than five clubs had shown a strong interest to sign him, including Germany's Bayer Leverkusen and Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, now managed by South Korea's World Cup coach Guus Hiddink.

Reysol handed the negotiating rights over to Yoo's Korean management company, but they failed to organize a deal before the European transfer window closed on Saturday, August 31.

So what happened to leave Yoo in this position?

Did his agents want too much money from the interested clubs? After all, the player is 30, 31 next month, and this was his last big chance to break into the Euro big time.

The bigger problem was probably that the economic downturn in European football has left clubs with little spare cash, and they are looking to reduce large playing staffs rather than adding to them.

Yoo was earning around 80 million yen a season in Japan, and no doubt his agents were not prepared to take a pay cut if he went to Europe, especially after their client played so well against the world's best.

With the Euro transfer window now closed until January, Yoo still has one option open to him: a return to Japan, but not with Reysol as they have already replaced him with Brazilian striker Edilson.

There are rumors, too, that his World Cup teammate Ahn Jung Hwan may also be coming to the J.League before moving on to the German Bundesliga in January.

But how many Japanese clubs still have the kind of money to sign Ahn, even for only four months?

There's no doubt he would prove to be a big draw (for football fans and female admirers alike), and his management company would have no problems signing up sponsors.

So while Ahn can look forward to an exciting few months in Japan, Yoo must be wondering where it's all gone wrong.

Or has Europe already dismissed the efforts of South Korea in the World Cup?

2 Sep 2002(Mon)

As the second stage of the J.League season gets under way, Jubilo Iwata have got what it takes to make history.

Since the league kicked off in 1993, no team has won both stages of the championship in the same year.

But Jubilo can end that sequence this season after winning the first stage by three points from the Yokohama F Marinos.

Under low-profile manager Masakazu Suzuki, Jubilo are well organized and well disciplined, and have plenty of strength in depth to cover for injuries or suspensions to key players.

In short, they are a team, not a group of talented individuals all trying to do their own thing.

So I believe Jubilo can go on and win the second stage, too, meaning there would be no two-leg playoff at the end of the season to determine the overall champion.

But there will be plenty of challengers in the second stage.

The most prominent should be Kashima Antlers, who have won the league championship four times, including the past two.

Their strategy has been apparent in each of the last two seasons under Brazilian manager Toninho Cerezo: use the first stage as a warm-up for the second stage, and hit peak form at the end of the season when the first-stage winners are mentally and physically exhausted.

Antlers, too, are a well-drilled side, with more influential overseas players than Jubilo but not quite the same experience among the Japanese players.

Another team worth watching is Nagoya Grampus Eight.

They finished third in the first stage after winning their last six matches. Manager Zdenko Verdenik, of Slovenia, made two shrewd signings midway through the season, bringing in the vastly experienced duo of Andrej Panadic and Ivica Vastic from Sturm Graz in Austria.

Croatian Panadic helped tighten up the defense, while Croatia-born Austrian striker Vastic formed a productive partnership with Brazilian Ueslei.

Vastic, who was a member of Austria's World Cup squad in France 98, scored five times in eight appearances, and helped Ueslei muster 13, joint highest in the league along with Naohiro Takahara and Magrao.

Yokohama F Marinos finished runners-up to Jubilo in the first stage thanks to a defense that conceded a league-low 11 goals, but I don't think they have the firepower to challenge in the second stage, especially after losing Shunsuke Nakamura.

Gamba Osaka faded in the closing weeks of the first stage, losing a crucial game at Iwata when a victory would have given them a great chance of success.

If Gamba can regroup, they can still be a force in the next three months, especially as Jubilo, Antlers and F Marinos must all visit Banpaku in the second stage.

Overall, though, I think Jubilo will be the strongest, and will be rewarded for their consistency over the season with the league championship.

29 Aug 2002(Thu)

After a couple of false starts, the Asian invasion of European soccer is most definitely under way.

Tuesday, August 27, was a momentous day for Japanese soccer, but Chinese and Korean players, too, are making their mark around the continent.

Pride of place Tuesday went to Junichi Inamoto, who scored two fine goals for Japan in the World Cup.

The former Gamba Osaka midfielder netted a hat trick as Fulham beat Italy's Bologna 3-1 in the second leg of their UEFA Intertoto Cup final.

"Ina" had also scored in the 2-2 draw in the first leg, so Fulham won the final 5-3 on aggregate.

While the Intertoto Cup is only a qualifying tournament for the UEFA Cup, Inamoto's efforts will have increased his popularity with the Fulham fans after his miserable year with Arsenal last season.

They will also have proved a few cynics wrong, but, of course, there is a long way to go in the season, and Inamoto must still prove he can command a place in Fulham's Premier League team. This must remain his career goal for the time being.

Now we move a step higher to the Champions League qualifying round, where Shinji Ono scored Feyenoord's first goal in a 2-0 victory against Fenerbahce in Turkey. This gave the Rotterdam club a 3-0 win on aggregate and a place in the lucrative Champions League.

A game in Turkey is always a tough test of character, as the home fans are well known for their passion and also their hostility towards visiting teams.

So for Ono to further enhance his reputation in this environment was a great achievement.

Joining Feyenoord in the Champions League groups are Belgian champions Genk, who lost 4-2 away to Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic but advanced on the away goals rule after winning the first leg 2-0 in Belgium.

If the scores are level after two legs, which they were here, 4-4, then the goals scored by the away team count double, so Genk's two in Prague proved to be the difference.

Takayuki Suzuki can now look forward to Champions League football in his first season in Europe.

Elsewhere in Europe, China's Li Tie has proved to be an instant hit in Everton's midfield, and defender Sun Jihai has started impressively for Manchester City, also in the English Premier League.

South Korean World Cup star Seol Ki Hyeon is the four-goal leading scorer in Belgium with Anderlecht, but compatriot Ahn Jung Hwan's chances of joining Blackburn Rovers have been dashed as the British government refuses to issue him a work permit.

With the Italian season starting in the middle of September, and all eyes on Serie A veteran Hidetoshi Nakata at Parma and new recruit Shunsuke Nakamura at Reggina, these are exciting times for Japan in particular and Asia in general.

Let's hope this new generation of soccer pioneers can maintain their good form and open the gates for more Japanese, Koreans and Chinese to move into the mainstream.

No doubt the displays of Japan and South Korea in the World Cup have helped break down a few psychological barriers for Asian players overseas.

　

26 Aug 2002(Mon)

The new figurehead of Asian soccer, Mohamed Bin Hammam of Qatar, has been quick to make his stand on the World Cup.

He wants five automatic places for Asian nations in Germany 2006, with no playoffs.

Hammam, who took over as president of the Asian Football Confederation earlier this month, bases his argument on the results of the 2002 World Cup.

"We have shown to the world that we can compete at the top level," says Hammam.

He is right, of course, to some extent.

Both co-hosting countries, Japan and South Korea, maintained World Cup tradition by advancing beyond the first round.

But while Japan got knocked out in the second round, South Korea went all th e way to the semifinals, even though their highly controversial shootout victory over Spain in the quaterfinals still leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

While Japan and South Korea were making their mark, we must not forget how badly Asia's two other representatives fared.

Saudi Arabia, in their third consecutive World Cup, lost all three games, including that embarrassing 8-0 drubbing by Germany at Sapporo Dome.

China were not much better. It was their first appearance in the World Cup, and they looked to be out of their depth as they, too, lost all three games in what now looks like the toughest group, comprising of Brazil, Turkey and Costa Rica.

Before the 2002 World Cup, only two Asian teams had progressed beyond the first round: North Korea, who reached the quarterfinals in 1966, and Saudi Arabia in 1994.

Asia's record, in fact, read just four wins in 44 World Cup matches before 2002, but that ratio has improved somewhat thanks to the efforts of the two co-hosts.

With only host country Germany gaining automatic qualification for 2006 and not World Cup holders Brazil, this means FIFA will have to share out 31 qualifying spots at their meeting in December.

President Sepp Blatter has virtually promised Oceania of one automatic place ,but will there be room for five from Asia, too?

Asia's argument is that over half the world's population lives in the continent, chiefly in China, India and Indonesia, and several FIFA marketing partners are from Asia, chiefly Japan.

But the World Cup is surely about productivity and results on the football pitch, not in the family bedroom.

Personally, I think Asia should feel satisfied to keep four qualifying spots .

They may get lucky and receive four and a half, meaning a playoff against a team from another confederation.

But it will be difficult to justify five, even given the new AFC president's close relationship with Blatter.

22 Aug 2002(Thu)

A few years ago, when the great German striker Jurgen Klinsmann joined Tottenham Hotspur, he stunned the assembled media at his first news conference by asking: "Does anyone know if there is a diving school nearby?"

In England, Klinsmann had a reputation as a diver (on the football pitch, not in the swimming pool), and this kind of behaviour is not tolerated in the rough and tumble of the Premier League.

The German was aware of his reputation, so thought he would get the joke in first. It proved to be a smart move by the smart Klinsmann, and he became a very respected figure in England for his ability in scoring goals, not in diving in search of a free kick or penalty.

But Klinsmann also changed his game, as he knew he would not survive if he continued to throw himself to the ground.

I get the same feeling now about Alessandro Dos Santos, who has attracted the interest of Premier League club Charlton Athletic.

Alex is a fine player, not in the same class as Klinsmann, of course, but still a very skilful and dangerous forward.

But Alex, too, has a reputation for diving. While admiring his natural ability to beat defenders and send over teasing crosses with his left foot, I have never fully taken to him because of the way he feigns serious injury when tackled hard or when slightly fouled.

Every time Shimizu S-Pulse play Kashima Antlers, there is always a fascinating match within a match between Alex and Antlers' swashbuckling right-back Akira Narahashi.

The tough-tackling Narahashi loves nothing better than clattering into Alex before the wing wizard can fly by him. Narahashi's problem, however, is that sometimes Alex does not have the ball, and this leads to yellow cards for the Antlers man.

If he moves to England, Alex will owe Narahashi a debt, because every English defender tackles like the Antlers right-back.

To the English, of course, Alex is Brazilian, not Japanese, despite the fact he wore the famous blue and white of Nippon in the World Cup.

Put a Brazilian winger in front of an English defender on English soil and it spells: TROUBLE.

So Alex can expect a rough reception from opposing teams. He will need to be courageous, and if he throws himself to the ground, referees will not be as lenient in England as they are in the J.League.

They will wave play on, and Alex will have to get up on his own and continue.

If he goes down too often, the fans will give him terrible abuse, as they cannot tolerate cheating and unfair play in the Premier League. It's fast and honest and hard, which is why it's so popular around the world.

Alex will have to learn from Klinsmann, and adapt his style to the conditions.

There is no doubt Alex has the skills and the pace to make his mark, but he must toughen up quickly.

After a few months in England, Narahashi will seem about as ferocious as Hiroshi Nanami.

19 Aug 2002(Mon)

Niigata's Big Swan stadium is attracting huge crowds to the second division games of Albirex.

Last weekend, for example, a total of 42,211 fans went to watch Albirex play Cerezo Osaka in a top-of-the-table game, which was 10,000 more than attended Kashima Antlers' attractive home game against Yokohama F Marinos.

Albirex, who joined J2 in its inaugural year, 1999, play their home games at two venues: the World Cup stadium, known as the Big Swan, and the smaller Niigata City Athletic Stadium.

So far this season, Albirex are averaging 30,111 at the Big Swan, and 11,687 at the Athletic Stadium.

This makes their home average for the season an impressive 23, 025, which is more than 12 of the 16 first division teams are getting!

Only Urawa Reds (29,040), Yokohama F Marinos (27,192), Kashima Antlers (24,882) and FC Tokyo (24,307) are attracting bigger home gates than Albirex.

"Yes, the numbers are phenomenal," says Takehiko Sano, of the J.League's business planning department.

"Even J1 clubs have a hard time to bring in those kind of numbers. I think bringing in 20,000 is not easy."

Sano believes there are several reasons why Albirex are catching up with the established clubs such as Urawa and Kashima in terms of fan base.

"First, it's a big city like Sapporo, Sendai and Fukuoka, far away from Tokyo and where the people want to identify with their home town.

"Therefore, it's easy for people to call Albirex 'my club' or 'my team' because there is no baseball team in Niigata."

Sano also thinks the World Cup played its part in spreading the soccer gospel in the city of Niigata.

"The World Cup created a lot of interest, especially among the older people who had not really lived with football before.

"They had lived with baseball, skiing and skating, and football was not part of their lives. But the World Cup forced people to pay attention to football and helped a lot."

Sano and his colleagues in the business department are also very satisfied with the management structure at the club.

Since the Yokohama Flugels went bankrupt at the end of the 1998 season, the J.League has made sure that clubs do not live beyond their means from a financial point of view.

"The original club in Niigata was formed in 1955, and over the years they have built a solid management structure.

"They are in no hurry to reach the top. They entered the J.League late (in 1999) and have been able to learn lessons from clubs such as Kashima, Urawa and Shimizu.

"Some of these clubs had good experiences, others have had bad ones, and Albirex have taken the best parts into their own management. They have a very solid foundation in the community."

With crowds like these, it will not be only the Albirex fans who want to see their team in J1 next year.

15 Aug 2002(Thu)

When looking back on Japan's World Cup campaign, it's easy to forget how the national team missed one vital player.

No, I'm not talking about Shunsuke Nakamura.

I'm referring to Naohiro Takahara, the Jubilo Iwata striker who missed the World Cup due to a blood clot on his lungs.

Now, thankfully, Taka is fine...and on fire!

He scored three times on Saturday in Jubilo's 4-0 home victory over Vegalta Sendai to take his total to 12 in 12 games this season.

In the buildup to the World Cup, Takahara had scored twice in five appearances before illness struck, meaning he has got 10 in seven games since play resumed: a tremendous strike rate.

If Taka, who is still only 23, had been fit for the World Cup, he would surely have been a first-choice striker alongside Atsushi Yanagisawa.

This was the favorite combination of former national coach Philippe Troussier at the Sydney Olympics, and he looked certain to continue with that into the World Cup.

Takahara has got everything a striker needs to be successful, including a top-class teacher on the pitch in the veteran World Cup forward Masashi Nakayama.

So far this season, as Jubilo challenge for the first-stage title, Nakayama has been left behind in the scoring chart by Takahara, with the 34-year-old "Gon" on five goals in 13 appearances.

But the mere presence of Nakayama in the penalty box creates space for his strike partner Takahara, and the youngster is reveling in the freedom that is opening up in front of him.

Takahara is tall and lean, at 1.81 meters and 75 kilograms, and makes excellent runs off the ball, just like Yanagisawa.

He is mobile and quick to get in the box, where he displays a sound first touch which enables him to convert a high percentage of his chances.

This is where he differs from Yanagisawa, who still needs to work on his first touch and who also lacks the composure under pressure that Takahara possesses in front of goal.

Takahara is confident, too, and enjoys to score goals.

Just look at his reaction after his three goals against Vegalta Sendai!

Yes, Japan missed Takahara badly at the World Cup. Troussier's squad was one striker short, and that man was Taka.

Now we'll have to wait until 2006 to see what he can do at the World Cup!

13 Aug 2002(Tue)

Will the sacking of manager Steve Perryman turn things around at Kashiwa Reysol?

Did the sacking last summer of his predecessor, Akira Nishino, make much difference?

The answer to both the above questions is: No.

For several seasons, Reysol had one of the best, most consistent teams in the J.League.

This culminated in the year 2000, when Reysol were clearly the strongest side in the first division but failed to win either of the two stages.

They finished fourth in the first stage and second in the second stage, behind Kashima Antlers. Reysol played Antlers in the final game of the second stage needing a victory to win the stage, but Antlers dug in for a dour 0-0 draw to stay ahead of them.

In the previous season, Reysol had won the J.League Nabisco Cup final, beating Antlers on penalties after an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Looking back on events, it's fair to say that this talented Reysol team peaked in the year 2000.

After that, it was downhill all the way, resulting in the sacking of the popular Nishino midway through last season and now of Perryman.

The Reysol management, however, clearly needs to look at the players on their books.

Are they still hungry?

Is there enough competition for places?

Have players become lazy because they know a first-team place is virtually guaranteed every week?

Nishino built a talented, attractive team, but the new manager will have to start again as Reysol attempt to get back among the J.League elite.

They are hoping to appoint a Brazilian manager, and his first task will be to steer Reysol clear of the relegation zone.

After 13 of the 15 matches in the first stage, Reysol have only 11 points and need a few more to prevent being dragged into a relegation battle during the second stage, which kicks off August 31.

Once he has achieved that target, he must then start to rebuild the team, bringing in fresh faces and putting pressure on the established players.

There is no doubt Reysol, backed by Hitachi, are one of the richest clubs in the league, so they should have no problem signing some good, young Japanese players to strengthen their squad.

But is the South Korean veteran Hwang Sun Hong giving the club value for money? Not at all, because he's injured so much. He's a top-quality player, but that's no good if he's rarely on the pitch.

Removing managers is easy.

Bigger problems remain for Kashiwa Reysol.

8 Aug 2002(Thu)

It's interesting to reflect on the Japanese players who have moved overseas, with varying degrees of success.

There's one goalkeeper in Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi.

There are some midfield players such as Hidetoshi Nakata, Hiroshi Nanami, Shinji Ono, Junichi Inamoto and now Shunsuke Nakamura.

And there have been some forwards, from Kazuyoshi Miura in 1994, to Shoji Jo, Akinori Nishizawa, Naohiro Takahara and now Takayuki Suzuki.

The one position in which Japan has not exported a player is a defender.

But I believe Japan now has a defender who is ready to leave the J.League and continue his career in Europe: Naoki Matsuda.

The 25-year-old Yokohama F Marinos captain has always been a talented player.

But he used to let himself down by a lapse in concentration or an occasional un-Japanese temper tantrum.

Under previous national coach Philippe Troussier, Matsuda made big progress, and he was Japan's most consistent defender in perhaps the final year of the Frenchman's reign.

After watching Matsuda play for the Marinos at Kyoto on Sunday, it's clear that the player has out-grown the J.League.

In other words, he's too good for this level, and needs to move to a higher standard to keep his game improving.

After all, 25 is still young for a central defender, and he has at least six or seven years left at the top of his profession.

Before the World Cup, there was a perception in the Western world that the Japanese were too small physically to be a top soccer power, especially the defenders.

But this is a myth when looking through Japan's national squad.

Matsuda is 1.83 meters tall and weighs 78 kilograms. He is quick and can read the game well, frequently venturing forward from his role as libero to arrive unmarked in the opponent's penalty area.

When playing for Japan, he shows the necessary determination and commitment against foreign opposition, which is a good sign if he wants to play overseas. He is not shy or hesitant on the international stage, which held back Nanami's chances of being a success in Italy.

The J.League is too easy for Matsuda, and I hope when European clubs come looking for bargain buys in Japan, they will consider defenders as well as attacking midfielders or strikers.

Matsuda would not let them down.

5 Aug 2002(Mon)

In planning a soccer season, whose interests should come first: those of the players or the supporters?

In Japan, it seems like the interests of the fans are the priority for the J.League.

Which is why, I suppose, the J.League season runs from March to November, right through the hot and humid summer months.

This weather, admittedly, is wonderful for watching sports. The evenings are warm, fans can drink ice cold beer at regular intervals, and the players provide the energetic entertainment in sweltering conditions.

But is this fair on the players?

I always thought soccer was a winter sport, not a summer sport like baseball, cricket, tennis and golf.

As a player, in a Sunday morning pub league in northern England, my favorite conditions were when the pitch was a bit heavy (muddy), and there was a cold snap in the air.

Sometimes it would be misty early in the morning, and others it would be raining or even snowing, but only at the beginning of the season (August, for preseason friendly matches) and at the end of it (May) would the sun shine brightly and the pitches were hard.

From the J.League's point of view, clearly they feel Japanese fans would prefer to watch their soccer in summer, but I'm sure the players would prefer to play in winter.

I feel there would be several advantages for changing the Japanese soccer season to the European time, kicking off in late August or early September, and finishing in May.

First, soccer would not clash with baseball throughout the summer months. While the fans may support one or the other game, maybe sometimes both, the two sports are competing for media attention, both on TV and in the newspapers.

If the J.League ran through the winter when baseball is on holiday, it would have a media monopoly and gain much more exposure.

Second, player contracts could end at the end of June, again in line with Europe. This would make it easier to organize transfers in and out of Japan, unlike now, where contracts end at the end of January.

Third, players would not have to endure high humidity and hot temperatures as they run around for 90 minutes, two hours if the game goes to extra time. With a Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday schedule, this is too demanding for the players, and could even be dangerous to their health.

A couple of clubs would have a problem with a winter season, though: Consadole Sapporo and Albirex Niigata.

Surely Consadole could play inside Sapporo Dome, and maybe Albirex could switch some home games across to Sendai, where the climate is not as harsh.

But I agree with Kazuyoshi Miura on this point, that the whole league cannot just wait for two teams when there is strong support for a switch to a European season.

It will not happen until at least 2006, because that's when the current TV deals end. But after that, Japan may have a winter sport to watch after all.

1 Aug 2002(Thu)

As the goals were flying in around Japan over the weekend, spare a thought for Mitsutoshi Watada.

The 26-year-old JEF United Ichihara striker was in disgrace, having missed two penalty kicks in his team's 2-2 draw at home to Jubilo Iwata.

It wasn't the fact that he missed the penalties which annoyed head coach Jozef Venglos; more that he had disobeyed team orders and taken a second penalty kick after missing one earlier in the game.

"There's a professional rule that you just can't break," explained Venglos after the game.

"And that is, if you miss a penalty you should not take another one in the same game, because your confidence is down."

Five penalties were awarded during the game, three for JEF and two for Jubilo.

Watada took JEF's first, which he was entitled to do, according to Venglos, but he blazed it wide of the target.

When JEF were awarded a second penalty early in the second half, Watada wanted to take that one, too, and had the ball in his hands.

But Venglos sent an order that Yuki Abe must take it. Watada reluctantly handed the ball to Abe, who promptly scored to make it 1-1.

A few minutes later, JEF were awarded a third penalty kick. From the bench, Venglos ordered that Abe take this one, too, as he had just scored and obviously held a psychological advantage over the Jubilo keeper, Arno Van Zwam.

But Watada was already picking up the ball, placing it on the penalty spot and walking back. He shot, and Van Zwam saved, diving to his left.

Venglos was furious, the fans were furious, and Watada was substituted shortly afterwards with whistles and jeers ringing in his ears.

Venglos, quite rightly, pointed out that Watada was only trying to do his best, but he should have put the team first and not set off in search of individual glory.

So while he was angry with Watada, the coach tried to give him constructive criticism.

After all, when a player misses a penalty, he often prefers not to take another one. Sometimes just in that game, sometimes in that season, sometimes for the rest of his career if he is really affected by the failure.

So, in a way, Watada cannot be faulted for his courage and determination because he was prepared to accept the responsibility after failing with a previous attempt.

There may come a time later in the season when JEF are awarded a penalty in a vital match, and it will take a brave player to walk forward and take it.

At least Venglos knows he will have one player ready to take on the challenge: Mitsutoshi Watada.

But whether he scores or fails, no one knows.

30 Jul 2002(Tue)

Isn't it great to see Gamba Osaka and Kyoto Purple Sanga right up there among the top teams in the J.League?

Variety is always good for the game, and helps to spread the soccer gospel around Japan.

Neither of the above teams has come close to winning the J.League championship, but their performances are bringing the crowds flocking back to Kansai.

At the time of writing, Gamba Osaka are third in the table with 21 points, five off the pace being set by the Yokohama F Marinos, and four behind second-placed Jubilo Iwata.

Kyoto Purple Sanga are fifth with 15 points and have won six matches in a row after losing their first four games of the season.

This is a fantastic effort by Kyoto and their German manager Gert Engels. In the latest round of games on Wednesday night, Kyoto beat the mighty Kashima Antlers 2-1 in front of over 18,000 fans packed into Nishikyogoku Stadium.

This is a huge crowd by Purple Sanga's modest standards, especially for a midweek fixture when they usually struggle to get 5,000.

No doubt the presence of South Korean World Cup star Park Ji Sung, making his first start for Kyoto since the World Cup, contributed to the big crowd, and let's hope Purple Sanga can keep it going.

As for Gamba, they have always had many good Japanese players in their ranks, and now have probably the best Japanese manager in the J.League in Akira Nishino.

A big reason (very big, in fact) for Gamba's rise is the goals of 28-year-old Brazilian Magrao, whose 1.92-meter, 84-kilogram frame is causing all sorts of problems for defenders.

Before the break for the World Cup, the former Verdy forward had scored only three times, but now has 10 after netting all four against S-Pulse, two against Grampus and the winner from the penalty spot at Hiroshima on Wednesday.

The Gamba-Nagoya game last week attracted 21,621 fans to the 23,000-capacity Banpaku Stadium in Suita City, which was more than watched Junichi Inamoto's farewell game for Gamba last July before leaving for Arsenal.

It was among the top five crowds in Gamba history, a throwback to the J.League bubble years of 1993 and 1994.

Clubs such as Antlers and Jubilo must be admired for the way they stay at the top, but the form of Gamba and Purple Sanga is contributing to this post-World Cup boom.

　

25 Jul 2002(Thu)

There were some very encouraging words from the new chairman of the J.League, Masaru Suzuki, at his first news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday afternoon.

Responding to a question from a sports journalist, Suzuki said it was the J.League's intention to abolish extra time in the near future.

Personally, I think this is a huge step forward for the J.League, because I cannot think of another major soccer league around the world that uses extra time in league matches.

Suzuki, a former president of Kashima Antlers, said the World Cup had proved to Japanese fans that a draw could be an exciting result, such as Japan's 2-2 tie with Belgium.

I'm surprised that Suzuki only mentioned the 2002 World Cup, because I remember a very significant draw for Japan in a previous World Cup qualifying campaign.

I am talking, of course, about the 2-2 draw between Japan and Iraq in Doha in October 1993, a result which ended Japan's chances of qualifying for the finals in the United States the following year.

Japan, remember, were leading 2-1 with only a few seconds remaining when Iraq equalized. Japan dropped from first place in the six-team group to third place, missing out to Saudi Arabia and South Korea.

A draw is a vital part of football, and the J.League's decision to end league games after 90 minutes cannot come quickly enough.

Hopefully they will do it in time for the start of next season.

When the league kicked off in 1993, officials said fans wanted to see a winner in every match, so had extra time and then a penalty shootout, with three points for a win in 90 minutes, two for a win with a golden goal in extra time, and one for a win on penalties.

This was far too complicated, and thankfully the league abolished the shootout after the 1998 season.

Extra time, golden goals and penalty shootouts should be reserved for knockout football in cup competitions, not league matches.

I would also like to see the J.League play just one stage, not two, with the team winning the most points being crowned league champions without a playoff, which is very unusual in the mainstream soccer world.

This will not happen in the near future, though, as the two championship games bring in a lot of money from TV rights, sponsorship and gate receipts.

But scrapping extra time is a big step in the right direction.

　

22 Jul 2002(Mon)

The king is dead! Long live the king!

This is an English phrase very appropriate in Japan at the moment.

It refers to the fact that once the leader is gone, another leader steps forward to become popular with the masses.

So J.League fans should not feel too downhearted that Takayuki Suzuki has left Kashima Antlers, and Shunsuke Nakamura is about to leave Yokohama F Marinos.

Suzuki is already in Belgium after agreeing to join the league champions Genk.

I watched Genk play at Lommel in March and feel Suzuki will adapt well to life in the Belgian league.

The football was fast and physical, and the atmosphere was fantastic inside the small stadium at Lommel.

It was very similar to the English Premier League, but on a smaller scale, and Suzuki should feel at home as far as the football is concerned, because he likes to play a physical game.

The Belgians must have been impressed with his goal for Japan in the 2-2 draw at Saitama, and Suzuki will need to show the same determination and spirit to make his mark against the big and strong Belgian defenders.

Alongside him will be Wesley Sonck, a bundle of energy and aggression and last season's leading scorer in the Belgian first division.

This is a good move for Suzuki, a good level to step up to, and he should develop personality-wise there, too, as he often seems too quiet and introverted for a center forward.

Nakamura will be heading for Reggina, who were promoted to Serie A last season.

Reggina are similar to Perugia: a small club whose only goal is to stay in the top flight and maybe challenge for the Italian Cup or for a place in the UEFA Cup the following season.

But Nakamura is no Hidetoshi Nakata, and he will have to step up the pace of his play to be effective in Italy. But he has the skill and the technique to survive in Serie A.

Certainly Reggina, whose fans are among the most passionate in Italy, is a better move than Real Madrid for Nakamura, who would have had no chance of playing in the Spanish league alongside Zidane, Figo and Raul.

To return to the theme of the article, the king of Kashima and king of the Marinos may be gone, but the younger players should be rising to the challenge of being the next star of the team.

　

18 Jul 2002(Thu)

If Japan's national team is looking for a new striker, Kyoto Purple Sanga manager Gert Engels thinks he's found one: Teruaki Kurobe.

The 24-year-old center forward set the second division on fire last season with 30 goals in 41 appearances as Kyoto bounced back into the top flight.

And Kurobe has carried on from where he left off by scoring six times in seven appearances this season as Kyoto occupy sixth place in the first division.

He missed one of the eight games due to suspension, but his six goals make him the highest scoring Japanese player in J1 alongside Jubilo Iwata's Toshiya Fujita.

Only the Brazilian duo of Emerson (Urawa Reds), with nine goals, and Gamba Osaka's Magrao, with seven, are in front of them in the scoring chart.

Engels thinks the former Fukuoka University student can continue to improve.

"Yes, he's off to a good start, including a hat trick against Verdy," says the German coach.

"He missed much of our preseason preparation because of a knee injury, but now his scoring record is good, with six goals in seven games.

"This is only his third year as a professional after coming out of university, and he is learning all the time."

Engels said that Kurobe's all-round game is developing quickly.

"He's always been a powerful player, and his main strength was his heading.

"But now he's playing much better on the ground, and is learning how to use his pace.

"He has to improve his movement, as he tends to wait for the ball to come to him in front of goal. He needs to move the defenders around more, so that he can get away from them."

From what he has seen already, though, Engels feels Kurobe can continue to learn and even win a place in the national squad.

"I think he has a chance, why not?" said Engels.

"He has a strong physique, speed and power. He can also improve his technique and his movement, and his instinct in front of goal will improve with experience."

Engels has set Kurobe a target of 15 goals this season, half his tally in J2 last season.

"I'd be satisfied if he scored every second game. If he finishes the season with 15 goals I'd be happy, but the team must play well to feed him with the chances.

"That's more important than one player," added the German.

　

17 Jul 2002(Wed)

World Cup fever carried over into the J.League on Saturday when the first division resumed following a lengthy break.　

There were several attractive matches around the country, but I chose Mitsuzawa Stadium in Yokohama to watch the F Marinos-Vegalta Sendai game.

And I was not disappointed.

The stadium was almost full, with 14,762 fans, and even the nearby residents who can watch the action free of charge from their balconies overlooking the ground were out in force long before kickoff.

The atmosphere inside the stadium was very European, with a huge army of yellow-shirted Sendai fans behind one goal, opposite the Marinos blue at the other end.

The game was fast and clean, even though one player was sent off and three more were booked.

The player to be dismissed was Sendai's Yusuke Mori. He was booked needlessly in the 55th minute for dissent, and then received his second yellow card, for a trip on Marinos' speedy forward Daisuke Sakata, six minutes before the end.

By this time, though, Marinos were already leading 2-0 thanks to second-half strikes from Daisuke Oku and Brazilian defender Naza.

Oku, playing in the central playmaker's role behind the two strikers because of injury to Reggina-bound Shunsuke Nakamura, broke the deadlock on 58 minutes from close range, before Naza scored with a thundering free kick from 30 meters through the defensive wall and into the bottom corner.

But Vegalta played some lovely football, too, and never gave up in their efforts to get back into the game.

The match was very well refereed by Kazuhiko Matsumura, who allowed play to flow as much as possible and made players get up when they pretended to be hurt.

There was one amusing incident in the 15th minute after Vegalta's Brazilian striker Marcos had been fouled by Yoshiharu Ueno.

Marinos captain Naoki Matsuda tried to pull Marcos to his feet, but the Brazilian pretended he was badly injured and was shown the yellow card by Matsumura. To prove his point, Marcos then got up and limped 30 meters to the touchline so he could receive treatment as play continued.

Excellent work from the referee, as this kind of strict behavior will prevent players from stopping the game and ruining the spectacle for the fans.

　

16 Jul 2002(Tue)

One of the J.League's themes this season is Fair Play.

And to show a good example to the players, league officials have put together a World Cup video showing...which teams?

The champions Brazil? No.

The runners-up Germany? No.

How about the winners of the FIFA Fair Play award, Belgium?

Wrong again.

No, the two teams the J.League has highlighted on the video are England and the Republic of Ireland.

League officials felt that these two countries played the game in the right spirit and with the right attitude, and want their own coaches and players to copy this example.

After all, how could they feature Brazil after the terrible gamesmanship of one of their leading players, Rivaldo!

The J.League has sent the video to all clubs and asked everyone associated with the league, from club presidents down to office staff, coaches and players, to "Play Fair."

This is a very important factor for the J.League, which is still in its infancy after kicking off in 1993.

Although there is a lot of diving and players feigning injury in the J.League, the trend can be stopped quickly so that fans watch an honest, fair spectacle.

So full marks to the J.League for highlighting these two teams, whose players all came from the English Premier League.

The Premier League has a huge worldwide following, much greater than Italy or Spain, and that's because the matches are hard and fair and fast.

Referees allow play to flow as much as possible, unlike in Serie A, where the fouls come thick and fast and players prefer to go down for a free kick rather than continue with the game.

So when the J.League gets running again, let's hope players concentrate on playing the game and don't pick up any Rivaldo tricks.

While Rivaldo is a great player, he does not set the right example to the millions of kids who watched the World Cup around the world.

　

15 Jul 2002(Mon)

The World Cup proved to be the perfect stage for Japan's Junichi Inamoto.

And now he has got the perfect move, to English Premier League club Fulham.

Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, clearly felt Inamoto was not good enough to play for the Gunners, and released him after one season.

The player, having moved from the J.League, was reluctant to leave London, so a transfer to Fulham from Gamba Osaka keeps everyone happy.

Fulham have plenty of money, as their owner, Mr Al Fayed of Egypt, also owns the exclusive London store Harrods.

But they are still only a small club when compared to their London neighbours Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea.

Inamoto will have much more opportunity to play in the first team, especially in the Premier League, after he was used only in the third-tier League Cup last season, as well as a couple of appearances as a late substitute in the UEFA Champions League.

Competition for places will still be strong, but that's good for Inamoto because it makes him play under pressure week in week out.

But it will be nowhere near as strong as at Arsenal, where Wenger has built one of the most powerful squads in Europe.

So Inamoto, and his many Japanese fans, must not feel downhearted because he failed to make the grade at Highbury.

During the World Cup, Inamoto displayed his fighting qualities, and played like a young man with a point to prove after his time on the training pitch and the bench at Arsenal.

He scored two excellent goals, against Belgium and against Russia, and showed his confidence and his skill levels were still very high.

The former Gamba Osaka midfielder is still only young, 22, and has plenty of time to make his mark at the highest level, in club football in Europe.

He also has the physical presence and power to be a success in the Premier League, but he will need time to adapt to the quick pace of the game when he is playing regularly.

This lack of match fitness was evident when he returned to Japan to prepare for the World Cup, and a good preseason with his new teammates will help him settle in and maybe even win a place in the starting lineup for the new season.

Inamoto will have learned a lot from his frustrating time with the Gunners, and he must not be shy or hesitant about trying to dominate a game with Fulham, who are managed by the former French midfielder Jean Tigana.

　

15 Jul 2002(Mon)

I must admit I was a bit surprised to learn that Zico would be the new national coach of Japan.

I thought the Japan Football Association would have chosen an experienced European coach to succeed Philippe Troussier, someone who could take Japan to the next level.

My choice, shortly after Troussier announced on New Year's Day that he would be leaving Japan after the World Cup, was Guus Hiddink.

This was when Hiddink was still struggling with South Korea, but he then proved what an outstanding coach he is by guiding them to the World Cup semifinals.

By then, of course, it was much too late to hire Hiddink, but it would be interesting to know if the Dutchman was ever approached by the JFA.

The appointment of Zico was made presumably by one man: Saburo Kawabuchi, who looks set to succeed Shun-ichiro Okano as president of the Japan Football Association.

It looks like a Kawabuchi decision through and through: a celebrity who is popular with the fans and with the media, and who knows Japanese football inside out.

The last factor is an advantage, but does fame and popularity make a good coach?

The answer is, we just don't know yet.

After all, Zico's experience of coaching is very limited.

Although he has been technical director of Kashima Antlers for several seasons after retiring as a player in 1994, he had only 12 matches in charge of the team on a temporary basis.

In the second stage of 1999 he won eight of his 11 matches, and lost his only game at the start of 2000 before Toninho Cerezo took over.

A brilliant player in his day alongside a number of other Brazilian World Cup legends, has Zico got the tactical knowledge and the communication skills to lift Japan's players to a new level after Troussier laid such solid foundations?

I think the appointment of Zico is a huge gamble by the JFA, as the players were adapting well to the European style.

Maybe I am being too pessimistic, but I would have preferred an experienced European coach.

We will have to wait and see.

　

3 Jul 2002(Wed)

Four Brazilians are on the shortlist of 10 for the Golden Ball award, presented to the best player of the 2002 World Cup.

But when I vote Sunday I will select a German.

For me, the outstanding player has been Germany's goalkeeper and captain, Oliver Kahn.

So far he has let in only one goal in six matches, and has been the biggest single influence on Germany's run to the final.

I have seen five of Germany's six games live, watching the 8-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia on the TV after traveling back from Seoul to Narita.

In every game, Kahn has prevented at least one, often two or three, certain goals with his courage, agility and anticipation.

He has no fault, apart from the fact he seems to punch the ball too much rather than catch it.

But this may be down to the new match ball, the Fevernova from Adidas.

Earlier in the tournament, Ireland's goalkeeper Shay Given said holding the Fevernova was liking trying to catch a bar of soap, so he, too, had been forced to punch the ball clear more than normal.

Just to recap, the other nine nominees by the FIFA technical study group are: Michael Ballack (Germany), Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho (all Brazil), El Hadji Diouf (Senegal), Fernando Hierro (Spain), Hong Myung Bo (Korea) and Hasan Sas (Turkey).

I hope Kahn wins, but probably a Brazilian will.

If it's Ronaldo or Ronaldinho I wouldn't mind, especially as Ronaldinho was so unlucky to be sent off in the quarterfinal against England.

But if Rivaldo is voted best player, I think the decision is ridiculous.

FIFA came into this World Cup saying the referees would clamp down in two major areas: shirt-pulling and players feigning injury in order to get an opponent into trouble.

What Rivaldo did in Brazil's first game, against Turkey, was a disgrace to the game, and he continued to time-waste on a couple of occasions against England by pretending he was injured.

Against Turkey, he feigned injury by pretending he had been hit in the face by the ball, and the Turkish player was sent off. The ball had hit him on the thigh.

This is exactly the kind of behavior FIFA is trying to eradicate, as it has a bad influence on youngsters around the world.

If kids see Rivaldo behaving like this, and then being named FIFA Player of the World Cup, what kind of example does this set?

　

2 Jul 2002(Tue)

The 2002 World Cup could not have had a happier ending.

Ronaldo and Brazil are on top of the world again after the 25-year-old super striker scored twice in the second half to kill off Germany's courageous challenge.

It was a fairy tale end to a remarkable World Cup, as Ronaldo finally banished the nightmare of 1998 and the subsequent years when his career was in peril due to a series of serious knee injuries.

Four years ago, in the final against France, Ronaldo was a shadow of his former self after suffering a convulsive fit on the morning of the match.

Things went from bad to worse due to the injury problems, but he justified the faith shown in him by coach Luiz Felipe Scolari by finishing the tournament with eight goals, the highest number a player has scored since Gerd Muller got 10 for West Germany in Mexico in 1970.

Ronaldo now has 12 career World Cup goals, the same as the legendary Pele, and takes his place in football folklore.

So it was a grand finish to the first World Cup in Asia and the first to be co-hosted.

The other memories of the May 31-June 30 tournament will be of South Korea reaching the semifinals, turning a whole country red in the process, Japan bowing out tamely to Turkey in the second round after turning a whole country blue, and the favorites such as France and Argentina going home after the first round.

So has co-hosting been a success?

From a logistical and social point of view, I would say yes, because there have been many examples of Korea and Japan, who have such a bitter past, coming closer together.

One of these was the sight of Japanese youngsters wearing blue celebrating with the red-shirted Koreans after Korea's victory over Spain in the quarterfinals.

All the songs were about Korea, and then suddenly the Korean fans began chanting: "Nippon! Nippon!"

From a football and economic aspect, I feel 20 stadiums in 20 cities is way too many.

Personally, I preferred the old World Cup days when the groups were based in one or two cities.

This meant less travel, and a chance for the teams and fans in that area to form a common bond.

Surely eight stadiums, maximum 10, is enough for the World Cup, giving each one at least six matches in the course of a month. This makes more economic sense.

When Japan announced they would have 10 host cities, Korea naturally did the same, but how many of these, especially in Korea, will be used much in the future?

Most of the stadiums staged only three matches, and the World Cup was over for places like Kashima in just over a week following six years of planning.

This is much too extravagant, leaving local officials wondering if it was worth all the expense and the trouble.

FIFA's president, Sepp Blatter, always said there would be expenses for two World Cups and income only for one.

And it felt like two World Cups were taking place. When you were in Japan, the action in Korea was hard to follow, and vice versa.

When I was in Korea for the second round onwards, for example, it was very difficult not to think about the Korea-Germany semifinal as the World Cup final.

Brazil-Turkey in Japan? No one seemed to be paying too much attention.

There is no denying, however, that Korea and Japan served Asia proudly after FIFA decided to award co-hosting in 1996.

Don't forget, after all, that neither of them bid for co-hosting in the first place.

　

29 Jun 2002(Sat)

Did you see Ronaldo's fantastic winning goal against Turkey in the World Cup semi-final?

No, neither did I.

And I don't think the Turkish goalkeeper, Rustu Recber, did either.

When Ronaldo received a pass from midfielder Gilberto Silva, there seemed to be little hope of scoring a goal from that position.

After all, there was half the Turkish team in front of him, and he wasn't even in the penalty box yet.

But the defenders gave him enough space to accelerate into the danger zone, and then four of them closed in on him ready to make the tackle.

Suddenly, from nowhere, the ball was in the back of the net!

It was incredible, as there was very little back-lift in his right-foot shot as he toe-poked the ball toward the far corner.

The keeper got his hand to it but could not prevent the ball from flying into the far corner.

It was not a Ronaldo goal at all, as he usually goes around defenders and beats the keeper in a one-on-one situation. That's his trademark.

This was more like a goal from Romario, the master poacher of the penalty box who was Brazil's star man when they won the World Cup in 1994 but who has been left out of the last two World Cup squads.

But coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has been proved right in his selection.

Brazil does not need Romario when they have Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, who was suspended for the semifinal after being sent off, harshly, against England.

To witness that special goal against Turkey was to see a true genius at work; a player who can win a close match with a piece of brilliant, unpredictable skill.

It was inventive. It was outrageous. It was Ronaldo.

Having spent the first round of the World Cup in Japan, then the second round, quarter-finals and first semi-final in Korea, this was my first opportunity to watch Brazil.

I was not disappointed, despite the slender margin of victory over a Turkish team who played some neat, attractive football but lacked the killer punch.

After the game, in the mixed zone (the official area where selected media can interview the players as they leave the dressing room for the team bus), Ronaldo himself described the goal as a Romario special, and declared that his "nightmare" was finally over.

The nightmare began on the day of the 1998 World Cup final in France, when he had a seizure, and continued with a serious knee injury, followed by a host of minor setbacks.

"Now, every goal is a victory," he said.

"Every time I enter the pitch it is an honor and a joy."

Although he still does not resemble the sparkling, explosive dynamic player he was four years ago, the 25-year-old superstar still has enough quality to win the Golden Boot for the tournament's leading scorer and also to win the World Cup for Brazil.

He has 10 World Cup goals in total, only two behind the legend Pele, who scored his 12 goals in four tournaments from 1958 to 1970.

Is Ronaldo a legend also?

If Brazil win the World Cup on Sunday against Germany for a record fifth time, and Ronaldo scores twice, then he can take his place in World Cup history.

If it's an honor and a joy for him to enter the pitch, it's an honor and joy to watch him.

Unless, of course, you happen to be German.

　

26 Jun 2002(Wed)

An England-based soccer agent believes the success of South Korea in the World Cup could change the landscape of European football.

As the Koreans have made progress through the tournament, several players have attracted the interest of European clubs.

Star striker Ahn Jung Hwan, for example, is said to be a target for Chelsea and Everton, while fellow forward Seol Ki Hyeon has also impressed scouts from English Premier League clubs.

Park Ji Sung, who plays on the right side of Korea's three-man attack, could also move from Kyoto Purple Sanga to Italy, as several Serie A clubs think he is as strong and dynamic as Hidetoshi Nakata.

At the moment, Seol plays for Anderlecht in Belgium.

He signed a three-year contract last summer, so still has two more years to go.

This does not mean he will stay with Anderlecht, though, because he spent most of his first season on the bench.

His British agent, Michael D'Arcy, said Anderlecht had been very surprised by his strong performances in the World Cup.

"They have been impressed, because I think they have been playing him out of position for Anderlecht," said D'Arcy.

"They have been playing him as the No. 1 striker, with his back to goal, but his style of play is much more suited to playing wide and running at defenders with the ball at his feet. This is how he has made his mark in the World Cup."

Anderlecht officials hope to keep Seol, but if he cannot get guarantees that he will be playing regularly next season, he could ask to move on. The Belgian club should then collect a high transfer fee after getting him for nothing after just one year at Royal Antwerp.

Seol is still only 23, and joined Antwerp in the summer of 2000 straight from university.

D'Arcy believes 60 per cent of Korea's starting eleven could play at the highest level in Europe.

"I think they could be the new Scandinavians of European football," added D'Arcy.

"The Scandinavian players are always very strong physically and always give 100 per cent. Teams know exactly what they are getting when they sign a Scandinavian player, and I feel the same can happen with the Koreans.

"We have always known Korean players and Asian players have ability. Now the rest of the world can see it, too."

D'Arcy said the most important factor was choosing the right club. It was no good signing for Arsenal because the level is too high, as Junichi Inamoto has found out.

　

24 Jun 2002(Mon)

A conspiracy to get South Korea into the semifinals?

Or a sequence of mistakes by match officials which have, by coincidence, penalized South Korea's opponents?

I must admit I left Gwangju on Sunday morning with mixed feelings.

First, I was delighted to see an Asian team in the World Cup semifinals, and see a nation's people united in celebration.

Second, I could not help feeling sorry for Spain, who had been on the wrong end of some terrible blunders by the referee and/or the linesmen.

The worst case came early in extra time. Joaquin, who had a marvelous game on the right wing for Spain, got to the deadball line and crossed into the middle, where Fernando Morientes headed home.

The linesman on the far side signaled that the ball had gone out of play before Joaquin crossed, but TV replays clearly showed it had not. The replays also showed the linesman perfectly positioned to make the call, and how he got it wrong is a mystery.

In Korea's defense, though, as soon as the linesman's flag went up, the referee blew his whistle and the Korean players, including goalkeeper Lee Woon Jae, all stopped. I am sure even Morientes knew the whistle had gone, but he thought he might as well head the ball into the net anyway.

So Spain, Italy and Portugal have all been knocked out by South Korea, who had never won a game in 14 attempts at five previous World Cups. Sounds suspicious?

The conspiracy theory goes like this:

Tickets in Korea for matches not involving the Korean team are not selling well, and fans are not traveling from overseas because of the cost and distance. FIFA desperately needed Korea to advance from the group stages to maintain interest in the tournament and prevent a financial disaster for the Korean organizers and an image disaster for their biggest product.

Now that Korea have won through to the semifinals, that match against Germany in Seoul on Tuesday will be a sell-out. If Korea lose, so will the third-place playoff at Daegu on Saturday.

If Korea win the semifinal against Germany, the final will be sold out anyway...and envious Japanese fans could have the last laugh by selling their final tickets to Koreans at a huge profit on the black market!

While the Europeans will claim there is a conspiracy to keep Korea in the tournament, the more logical explanation is that the officiating has simply been bad. And not only in Korea's matches.

This is the biggest problem for FIFA.

Some referees have given fouls for nothing, such as when Junichi Inamoto scored a perfectly fair goal against Belgium, which would have put Japan 3-2 ahead. This would go against the conspiracy theory aimed at keeping the host teams in the tournament as long as possible.

No, it's great to see an Asian team in the semifinals for the first time.

I just wish they could have progressed in less controversial circumstances, otherwise the rest of the world may not be giving Asian football, or Asia's first World Cup, the credit it deserves.

　

23 Jun 2002(Sun)

Asian soccer chief Peter Velappan is right. Who needs Perugia?

Velappan was commenting on the incredible outburst by the Italian club's owner, Luciano Gaucci, after Perugia player Ahn Jung Hwan had scored the goal to eliminate Italy in the World Cup second round.

Gaucci said that Ahn's contract would not be renewed when it expired at the end of June, as the club was not interested in keeping him.

"When he arrived at Perugia he was like a little lost goat who didn't even have the money to buy a sandwich," said Gaucci.

"He became rich without doing anything exceptional and then, at the World Cup, he ruined Italian football."

Velappan reacted angrily to Gaucci's comments, and it's good to see Asians standing up for themselves against Europe, just like the Asian players of Japan and Korea have done at this World Cup.

Velappan said that Perugia only signed Asian players to make money on replica shirt sales, TV deals and sponsorship by Asian companies.

In this respect, Velappan is right, and Ahn does not need Perugia.

I visited Perugia last October to watch a Saturday night game against Roma.

The next day I took the train up to Parma to see Hidetoshi Nakata play against Piacenza.

Perugia is a beautiful, historic city, with breathtaking views of the mountains of Umbria.

Perugia Football Club, at the bottom of town, is a shambles. The stadium is old and falling apart, and the facilities for the players, officials, VIPs and media are a disgrace.

The club hit the jackpot, however, by signing Nakata from Bellmare Hiratsuka after the 1998 World Cup for just US$3.3 million.

Nakata was a revelation, scoring twice on his Serie A debut against Juventus. Fans in Japan and around Asia bought Nakata No. 7 Perugia shirts in their thousands, and Japanese tourists flocked to Perugia, which is a short train journey from Rome.

After just one and a half seasons, Perugia sold Nakata to Roma for $16 million, a profit of over $12 million, not including all the money they made from shirt sales, TV etc.

Perugia then tried to do the same with China by signing Ma Mingyu and in South Korea by signing Ahn.

Both deals were loan signings only, not permanent, because Perugia did not want to spend a lot of money and lose it all if the players were not as good, or as marketable, as Nakata.

Of course, they weren't, as Nakata is a phenomenon on and off the pitch.

Ahn spent most of his time on the bench at Perugia, and I don't think Gaucci was ever interested in paying the $4 million to his Korean club, Pusan I Cons, to make the deal permanent.

Italy's defeat gave Perugia and Gaucci the chance to win some publicity.

But the Italians, once again, have come out as the losers.

　

21 Jun 2002(Fri)

Now that Philippe Troussier's reign as Japan's head coach is over, what will the Japan Football Association do next?

Various names have been linked with the vacant post already.

They include Aime Jacquet, who led France to the 1998 World Cup on home soil; fellow Frenchman Bruno Metsu, who has masterminded Senegal's spectacular World Cup debut; the much-traveled Bora Milutinovic, who has coached teams at the past five World Cups; and the Dutchman Guus Hiddink, who has become a national hero in South Korea.

Troussier often said in Japan that he was the kind of coach who specialized in building a team.

This can be seen from his work in Japan, as he took charge of the youth team and the Olympic team as well as the national team.

From the youth team, Troussier took players such as Koji Nakata, Junichi Inamoto, Mitsuo Ogasawara, Masashi Motoyama and Naohiro Takahara into the senior squad.

This has left Japan with a very strong base on which to build for the future.

What Japan needs now is a coach to take them to the next level.

Of the names mentioned, Hiddink would be perfect, but it is highly unlikely the Dutchman would now move from Korea to Japan should the Japan Football Association offer him a job.

All the links built up between the two countries in preparing for the World Cup would be shot down in an instant, so Hiddink now seems to be out of bounds.

Milutinovic specializes in taking teams through to the second round of the World Cup, although he did not come close to doing that with China this time. Japan should be aiming higher.

Jacquet would be highly desirable for the Japan Football Association, as he is older, wiser and calmer than Troussier. Jacquet would be much easier to handle and deal with than the fiery Troussier, who clashed regularly with the JFA in his early days before becoming untouchable due to his results and his popularity with the fans.

Metsu has a similar background to Troussier, working in Africa and earning the reputation as a wanderer, a maverick.

Metsu recently married a Senegalese woman, and even has an African name: Abdoul Karim Metsu. Maybe Africa is his spiritual home now.

Jacquet looks to be the favorite.

But Hiddink would be the best man for the job.

　

19 Jun 2002(Wed)

Japan's World Cup is over.

And so is the controversial, but successful reign of national coach Philippe Troussier.

The Frenchman has constantly surprised people with his selection policy, often appearing determined to be eccentric in whom he picks and whom he leaves out.

In this matter, he was as unpredictable as ever, and Japan's 1-0 defeat by Turkey in the second round leaves a feeling of regret.

For Japan's three group games, Troussier had played a 3-5-2 formation, with the two strikers being the Kashima Antlers duo of Takayuki Suzuki and Atsushi Yanagisawa.

Although they had scored only one goal between them, Suzuki's equalizer against Belgium in the first game, they had played well as a pair and tired out defenders with their strong running and work off the ball.

It was amazing, therefore, for Troussier to leave them both out for the Turkey match. Surely this was a case of Troussier worrying about the opposition rather than concentrating on his own team, as he must have felt Turkey knew exactly what to expect from the Antlers combination.

So instead he picked Akinori Nishizawa and the Brazilian turned Japanese Alessandro "Alex" Dos Santos.

This was baffling.

Nishizawa had not played in any of the three group games, while Alex has never played for Japan as a striker, only as a left-winger in Troussier's five-man midfield.

In this respect, Troussier handed the initiative to Turkey instead of going with what had got Japan through to the second round in the first place.

Nishizawa is an infuriating player, often appearing to lack commitment and concentration. In fact he was thrown out of the national squad by the previous manager, Takeshi Okada, because of his lack of application at a training camp.

Troussier, surprisingly, has shown uncharacteristic loyalty to Nishizawa, who was a miserable failure with Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League and before that with Espanyol in Spain. Both Suzuki and Yanagisawa are more reliable and play better with the team as a whole.

Although Alex hit the angle of post and bar with a left-foot free kick, and Nishizawa had two openings in the second half, a header straight at the keeper and a shot which flew over the bar, Japan seemed to have lost the momentum and rhythm which had swept them to the top of the group.

And why did Troussier leave Hiroaki Morishima on the bench until five minutes from the end?

The busy little striker had changed the course of Japan's game against Tunisia, and he must have felt very frustrated to be confined to the bench again.

It's such a pity that Japan never seemed to get going against Turkey, and surely this was due to Troussier's changes.

The Frenchman had done so well with Japan, but you still get the feeling they could have beaten Turkey had Troussier played with his tried and trusted lineup.

It was not a good way for the Frenchman to end his reign.

　

17 Jun 2002(Mon)

If you think Philippe Troussier is a hero in Japan, this is nothing compared to the status of Guus Hiddink here in South Korea.

The Dutchman seems to be on the front and back pages of every newspaper, on every TV show and on the mouths of all Koreans.

The fact that he has guided South Korea to their first victory in the World Cup, then their second victory and, with it, a place in the last 16, is being viewed as much more than a sporting achievement.

It has given the nation its identity, its pride and removed the inferiroity complex it possessed in previous World Cups.

For example, just read a section of the Editorial in Sunday's edition of the English language Korea Times newspaper:

"Can people in other parts of the world imagine how more than 2 million citizens took to the streets and gathered before large screens nationwide to cheer their team with one heart, in such an enthusiastic and festive atmosphere?

"The triumph of our players does not only mean football glory, but also upgrades our international prestige and boosts the morale and confidence of the people."

Strong words indeed from the Koreans, who had played in the World Cup on five previous occasions, dating back to 1954, but had drawn four and lost 10 of their 14 matches before this event kicked off.

Korea is under the influence of what is being called the Hiddink Syndrome.

Some citizens are suggesting the country needs another public holiday, called "Hiddink Day," in honor of South Korea's historic 2-0 victory over Poland on June 4.

And there are reports that the stadium in which that victory took place will be renamed the Busan Hiddink Stadium.

The coach has become the dream man for many Korean girls of all ages, and there are even Hiddink lookalike dolls, T-shirts and other merchandise available in Korea's many, bustling markets.

It wasn't long ago, however, when Hiddink's job appeared to be in jeopardy.

Korea had performed badly in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Los Angeles at the beginning of the year, and large sections of the Korean media were calling for the coach's head, just like the Japanese media did with Troussier right through to the spring of 2000.

But the two European coaches have remained firm and committed to the path they were taking.

It has been a tough road for both coaches, as they have challenged the culture of the country and challenged the players to be more expressive, more confident and more positive.

Now the people and the players, and even the short-sighted media, can see that Hiddink and Troussier were right all the time.

This is only the beginning of the awakening for the Far East, no matter when the end comes for the co-hosts in this crazy World Cup.

　

16 Jun 2002(Sun)

Japan's World Cup adventure will run into a third week　after their heroic efforts in winning Group H.

Although Philippe Troussier's Boys in Blue needed only a draw against Tunisia at Osaka on Friday to advance to the best 16, there was never any doubt they would go for the win.

And they got it with a display as good, if not better, than the one they produced in beating Russia 1-0 last Sunday to record their historic first World Cup victory.

In the sunshine of Osaka, Japan's players bloomed all over the pitch and took their African opponents apart with a sizzling second-half display.

Their next opponents are Turkey, at Miyagi Stadium near Sendai on Tuesday afternoon, and there is no reason why Japan cannot go even further in only their second appearance at the World Cup.

Turkey started slowly in Group C, and needed a 3-0 victory over a very disappointing China to clinch second place ahead of Costa Rica.

But Japan have nothing to fear against the Turks, who beat a weak Austria team in a two-leg European playoff to qualify for the finals after finishing second in their group to Sweden.

Turkey will also have two players suspended for their match against Japan: Emre Asik and Emre Belozoglu, while Japan will go into the game with a full squad available.

Five players--Junichi Inamoto, Koji Nakata, Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, Kazuyuki Toda and substitute striker Masashi Nakayama--were all on a single yellow card after Japan's first two games, and a second caution against Tunisia would have brought a suspension for the second round.

But such is the discipline in the Japanese team that none of them, especially the defenders Nakata and Miyamoto, and the tough-tackling midfield duo of Toda and Inamoto, received a card.

Japan and Turkey have met only once before, in the annual Kirin Cup competition on June 15, 1997, at Osaka, where Japan won 1-0 with a goal from Hiroaki Morishima.

The same player opened the scoring for Japan against Tunisia in the 48th minute after coming on as a substitute at half-time, and Morishima remains one of Troussier's favorite and most reliable players, even though he cannot command a place in the starting lineup.

He is always bright and busy, and just won't leave defenders alone. He has a true eye for goal, too, and wasted no time in lashing his right-foot shot into the Tunisian net on his home ground where he plays his club football for Cerezo Osaka.

Although Troussier has started every match with two strikers, Atsushi Yanagisawa and Takayuki Suzuki, supported by Hidetoshi Nakata from midfield, many observers feel Japan plays better with only one striker, supported by two midfielders.

This tactic worked wonders in the second half, with Suzuki on his own and Nakata and Morishima attacking the opposition from deep positions.

When Troussier plays with two strikers, Nakata often has too much to do on his own in midfield, and Morishima takes a lot of the workload off his shoulders.

Nakata was a giant against Tunisia, and thoroughly deserved his headed goal in the second half, and his MVP award.

After scoring his goal, he blew a kiss on his left hand to Daisuke Ichikawa, who had crossed the ball from the right wing.

And when Nakata was substituted in the 84th minute, his teammates lined up to shake his hand as he walked off the pitch.

On the touchline, Troussier did the same, and gave him a friendly pat on the backside as he headed for the dugout.

Blue Fever is reaching epidemic proportions in Japan, and Troussier says his team has built up a "dynamic momentum" during the three World Cup games.

And it's a momentum that can carry them past Turkey on Tuesday.

　

14 Jun 2002(Fri)

Japan can afford to lose their final Group H match against Tunisia at Osaka Nagai Stadium on Friday afternoon and still qualify for the second round.

But they cannot afford to relax.

After their heroic, historic 1-0 victory over Russia on Sunday, Japan are in an enviable position at the top of their group, looking down on their European rivals and also on the north Africans.

This is how the group looks:

Japan have four points and a goal difference of +1.

Russia have three points and a goal difference if +1, but they have scored one goal fewer than Japan.

Belgium have two points and a level goal difference.

Tunisia have one point and a goal difference of -2.

So the mathematics are simple for Japan.

If they beat Tunisia, they will win the group with seven points.

If they draw, they will qualify for the second round with five points.

If they lose 0-1, they will still qualify, regardless of the other match Friday between Belgium and Russia at Shizuoka. This is because Tunisia would have four points, but a goal difference of -1, while Japan's goal difference would be level.

So what should Japan do?

Play cautiously for a draw, or go for the win?

All the indications are they will go for the win, because if they finish top of the group they would avoid a second-round match with Brazil, who look certain to win Group C.

Japan's opponent, at Miyagi, near Sendai, on June 18, would therefore be against the team that finishes second in Group C, Turky.

The fans simply can't get enough of Philippe Troussier's Boys in Blue, and team kit sponsor Adidas has sold around 300,000 replica shirts in the past two weeks, almost half their projected sales of 700,000.

Blue Fever is sweeping the country, and this was in evidence following Japan's 1-0 victory over Russia.

All around Japan, fans were celebrating boisterously and looking forward to Friday's next stop on their World Cup adventure.

Japan beat Russia without their captain and central defender Ryuzo Morioka, who was injured during the 2-2 draw with Belgium.

Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, wearing his Batman mask to protect his broken nose, stepped in and had an excellent game, breaking up attack after attack with his well-timed tackles and interceptions.

Even if Morioka is fit, Troussier will probably keep Miyamoto in the team as he is confident and a natural leader.

Miyamoto is an intelligent person and an intelligent footballer, with his ability to read the game compensating for his lack of pace.

Troussier may be tempted to make one change, however, and that could mean him leaving out Shinji Ono in place of the Brazilian-turned-Japanese Alessandro "Alex" Santos.

Alex is a dangerous, exciting left-winger, and the coach may feel his speed and ability to dribble past his full-back could open up the slow Tunisian defenders. Ono has looked tired after a long season in Europe.

I cannot see Japan falling at this last hurdle in the group, as the country is fully behind them, and many other people around the world, too, after their dynamic displays so far.

　

11 Jun 2002(Tue)

What a night for Japanese football!

Not just the manner and style of Japan's heroic 1-0 victory over Russia, nor the fantastic atmosphere inside International Stadium Yokohama, but also the way in which Japanese fans celebrated long into the night.

First the game.

Japan, knowing that anything other than a win would leave them with a difficult task of qualifying for the second round, beat a strong Russian team by showing the collective spirit Philippe Troussier has fostered for the past four years.

Junichi Inamoto once again was Japan's goal hero.

In the 2-2 draw against Belgium, Inamoto had embarked on a swashbuckling run through the Belgian defense before lashing a left-foot shot into the net.

This time he was on the end of a sweeping move in the 51st minute. Koji Nakata played the ball into the box from the left wing, and an exquisite touch from Atsushi Yanagisawa cleared the way for Inamoto.

Although there was a suspicion of offside, Inamoto calmly slotted the ball right-footed past Russia's goalkeeper, Ruslan Nigmatullin.

Inamoto, who has spent the past year on the Arsenal training field and occasionally the bench, never once being given his chance in the Premier League by Arsene Wenger, is playing like a young man with a point to prove.

A man possessed, in fact.

It was a great team effort, however, that earned Japan their very first win in the World Cup.

In France four years ago they lost all three games, and then drew with Belgium in their opening match here.

So victory here was a logical progression, and now they have a great chance of qualifying for the second round with only Tunisia, the weakest of the four teams in Group H, to play at Osaka on Friday.

The atmosphere was incredible, with virtually all the 66,000 fans wearing blue.

After the game, the scenes on the route from the stadium to Shin Yokohama Station were astonishing.

Not known for their boisterous behavior, the Japanese displayed an outpouring of emotion and national pride usually seen in South America.

Car drivers tooted their horns and flew the Japanese flag out of the window, groups of supporters chanted in the street and sprayed beer into the air, and strangers hugged each other and exchanged high-fives.

I had a grandstand view of this from a street-side bar with a few colleagues, and when the Japanese discovered we were English, they began chanting "Beckham! Beckham!"

We replied: "Inamoto! Inamoto!"

Welcome to the World Cup party, Japan.

You have been late to arrive, but I think you will be a respected guest from this day on.

　

10 Jun 2002(Mon)

Everyone said it was going to be an open World Cup, with a number of teams capable of winning.

It is proving to be just that, with fans and media not knowing what to expect next.

France, the holders, lost on the opening day, 1-0 to Senegal. Then they could not beat Uruguay, and face the real possibility of going out in the first round.

Argentina started well by beating Nigeria 1-0, but then lost unexpectedly to England by the same score, despite enjoying 65 per cent of the possession.

Italy also began well, beating Ecuador 2-0 with two goals from Christian Vieri. When Vieri scored his third goal of the tournament, a majestic header to give Italy the lead against Croatia in the second half, they looked to be heading for a second successive victory.

But Croatia showed remarkable passion and skill, scoring twice in three minutes to record a famous 2-1 victory. Thousands of Japanese fans wearing the azzurri blue of Italy had flocked to Kashima to watch their Serie A super heroes, but they left the stadium more dazed and confused than Italy's players.

Only Brazil of the traditional powers have won their first two games, against Turkey and then China, and their poor qualifying record, with six defeats in 18 games, is now forgotten and irrelevant.

The confidence they have gained from these two wins puts them right up there among the favorites.

The same can be said for Spain, who have also won both their opening two matches, coming from behind to beat Paraguay 3-1. Could this finally be Spain's World Cup?

Even Portugal, a dark horse for the championship, lost 3-2 to the United States.

The "neutral" territory of the Far East for the traditional giants from Europe and South America, the heat and humidity, the ever-narrowing gap between the great and the good...all these factors have combined to make it an exciting and open World Cup.

　

10 Jun 2002(Mon)

There have been a few shocks and surprises at this World Cup.

But perhaps the biggest of all has been the behaviour of the England supporters.

They have been magnificent, the best of all visiting teams, both in terms of numbers and in the atmosphere they have created.

Ever since the World Cup draw was made in Busan on December 1, and England were drawn to play in Japan, the Japanese media have been full of hooligan stories.

Sensational, over the top and lacking understanding of the issues involved, the Japanese media have served to scare the life out of the normal Japanese person.

In this respect, then, the media have been disappointed and the people are puzzled and delighted at the same time.

After the England-Argentina game at Sapporo Dome on Friday night, I spent a couple of hours walking round the city centre.

The scenes were incredible.

Walking toward my hotel from the bus stop, I could hear a loud roar coming from the distance.

"Oh no," I thought, "the England fans are gathering for trouble."

As I approached the jumping, excited crowd, I was relieved to see they were mainly Japanese.

There were around 10,000 England fans in a crowd of 35,000 at Sapporo Dome, creating a crescendo of noise.

But there must have been another 10,000 Japanese fans wearing Beckham or Owen shirts, clapping along politely to the England songs.

In the town centre, it was the Japanese youngsters making all the noise.

They were leaping around, singing songs and having a great time. England fans were right in the middle of them, and chants changed from "England" to "Nippon", with the England fans singing along with the Japanese.

Although it was 3 o'clock in the morning, the streets were full of fans and locals watching the celebrations.

The only people who seemed worried were the local police, whose aggressive behaviour really does test a person's tolerance and patience.

They formed a circle round the group of fans, and held their flashing batons in the air to make sure their exuberance was confined to a small area. You could see the panic in their eyes.

So for the police to see this outpouring of emotion from their own youngsters, this spontaneous celebration with the England fans who were supposed to be terrorising them, this was a huge World Cup shock.

The cost of coming to Japan and staying in Japan, plus the measures of the British government in preventing over 1,000 convicted trouble-makers from leaving the country during the World Cup, have played their part in keeping the hooligans away.

Also, the England fans themselves have conducted their own self-policing, alienating anyone who looks like they may spoil the party.

No matter what happens in the next three weeks on the pitch, those scenes in Sapporo will always be a treasured memory. This is how it should be whenever England play away from home, and hopefully it is the start of a new, hooligan-free era.

　

8 Jun 2002(Sat)

Yes, of course the United States' 3-2 victory over Portugal was a surprise.

But I feel it will not, and should not, go down in World Cup history as one of the all-time shocks of the tournament.

Much of the media has been describing the Americans' win as the equivalent of Senegal's victory over France in the opening game.

I strongly disagree, for the following reasons.

First, Senegal's 1-0 win was indeed one of the all-time surprises, because it was Senegal's first ever game in the World Cup finals and France were the reigning world champions.

This is why the result deserves its place in World Cup history. The fact that Senegal is a former French colony and their coach is French just adds to the romance.

Now let's analyse the United States-Portugal game.

The Americans had appeared in the World Cup finals on six previous occasions before 2002, reaching the semifinals in 1930 and even beating England 1-0 in 1950 (now that is one of the all-time shocks, perhaps only second to North Korea's 1-0 victory over Italy in 1966).

Furthermore, this is the Americans' fourth consecutive appearance, starting at Italia 90.

So the Americans are not World Cup rookies, as many people have projected them, and several of their leading players have played in Europe for many years.

As for Portugal, we all know they have some wonderful individual players, such as Luis Figo, Rui Costa and Fernando Couto, but what's their World Cup record?

This is only their third appearance in the World Cup, and their first since 1986.

So Portugal have missed the past three World Cups, whereas the Americans have been at them all, frequently losing but gaining valuable experience all the time.

It was a shock that the United States led 3-0 in the first half, and a surprise that they eventually won the match 3-2.

But it is only because of the extravagant skills of Portugal's leading players that the result has been elevated to legendary status.

In Euro 2000, Portugal reached the semifinals before losing to France with a penalty kick in sudden-death extra time. Maybe this was their peak.

In one or two more World Cups, United States 3 Portugal 2 will take its rightful place in history, as an upset.

It cannot compare to France 0 Senegal 1.

　

6 Jun 2002(Thu)

Everyone was surprised when Croatia finished third on their World Cup debut in France four years ago.

But no one seemed surprised at all when they lost their first match, 1-0, against Mexico at Niigata on Monday afternoon.

Although the names of the Croatia players are familiar, such as Robert Prosinecki, Davor Suker and Alen Boksic, try taking a look at the date of birth of these star attackers.

Suker, who was the World Cup's top scorer in France with six goals, including the winner against Japan, is now 34 and the team captain.

On Monday he tried to score with an ambitious left-foot volley in the early stages, but was never in the game again and was substituted in the 64th minute.

Prosinecki is 33 and retains all his silky skills, but he was slow in midfield and wasted a few corners and free kicks. He was taken off at half-time.

Boksic, who missed the last World Cup because of injury, is the "baby" of the attack at 32 years old, but he never got a kick and was replaced in the 67th minute.

If the Croatians were expecting Mexico to treat them with respect, they were wrong.

Every time Croatia had possession, the Mexican fans whistled relentlessly, and when a move broke down they jeered noisily.

The Mexican fans, around 6,000 of them in the beautiful bright sunshine of early summer, made a splendid sight in Niigata's Big Swan Stadium.

They had filled every bullet train out of Tokyo from the crack of dawn with their giant sombreros, drums, whistles, wooden rattles, songs and tequila, and they were in fine voice throughout the 90 minutes.

"Ole! Ole!" they chanted, as Mexico played the ball about comfortably, and this was in only the fifth minute!

In the heat and humidity, Croatia looked old and tired, and it was difficult to remember how they had done so well in the last World Cup.

Their next game is against Italy, and a second loss would make it virtually impossible for them to get into the second round.

No one will be surprised if they go home quickly this time.

　

5 Jun 2002(Wed)

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is always saying Asia should have more places in the 32-team World Cup finals tournament.

In this World Cup, for example, Asia has four: co-hosts Japan and South Korea, plus Saudi Arabia and China.

Asia would have had five here if Iran, who finished third in Asia's qualifying competition, had beaten the Republic of Ireland in a two-leg playoff.

But does Asia deserve five full places for the 2006 World Cup, which is what the AFC general secretary, Peter Velappan, is hoping for?

Looking at Asia's record so far, especially after Saudi Arabia's embarrassing 8-0 defeat by Germany, the answer has to be "No."

Here are some hard facts concerning previous World Cups, which make for painful reading for Asian football fans:

Nine teams from Asia have played in the World Cup, dating back to the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) in 1938.

These nine teams have played a total of 44 matches, but have won only four games. They have drawn eight and lost 32, scoring 33 goals and conceding 108.

This is a dreadful record, a history of humiliation.

How many soccer students can name the four victories?

The first one came in 1966, when North Korea caused the biggest upset in the history of the World Cup by beating Italy 1-0.

Asia had to wait until 1994 to record its next victory, as Saudi Arabia beat Morocco 2-1 and then Belgium 1-0 in the group to advance to the second round.

Asia's fourth victory came in 1998 when Iran beat the United States 2-1.

And that's all.

The AFC argues that over half the world's population of 6 billion lives in Asia, so the continent deserves a bigger representation in the World Cup.

So should the World Cup be about bringing together the strongest teams from the world, from whichever continent they come from, or about having a tournament reflecting the popularity of football on every continent in equal measure?

For example, should Europe and Asia have the same number of entries?

Surely it cannot be the latter, otherwise there would be too many one-sided matches and the World Cup would lose credibility.

No, Asia must prove itself on the pitch.

Only then can FIFA feel confident to award Asia more places.

　

4 Jun 2002(Tue)

On Tuesday night, four years of frustration will end for Japan when they take to the field against Belgium at Saitama Stadium.

After qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time in 1998, Japan returned home from France in disgrace...losing all three matches, including their final one against Jamaica's Reggae Boyz.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for the nation, who had been expecting great things of their team on the World Cup stage, despite the fact they had no experience of the World Cup and no tradition in football.

National coach Philippe Troussier and his team have been ready for this match since the end of last year.

That is when Troussier said his preparations were complete in terms of tactics, technique and strategy. Only one or two places in the 23-man squad were to decide, and that's now been done.

The atmosphere in the Japanese camp is very positive, and the players can't wait to walk out there on Tuesday evening into the cauldron of Saitama Stadium.

The team is fit, fast, positive and now has natural leaders emerging. Most of them are in midfield, where Hidetoshi Nakata is in great form.

After a slow start with Parma last season, Nakata is playing some of the best football of his life, and has already taken on the responsibility of scoring the team's goals.

Shinji Ono had an excellent debut season with Feyenoord, while Junichi Inamoto has returned to Japan from his season on the bench at Arsenal a much more complete and dynamic player.

Even though he has seen little action with the Gunners, he's learned a lot from the world-class stars on the training pitch, and is determined to do well at the World Cup to guarantee his future at Arsenal.

Japan can win this game against Belgium, who are decimated by injury.

But they know it will be tough, as the Belgians have qualified for their sixth consecutive finals appearance and reached the semifinals in 1986.

Winning would be perfect for Japan to whip the country into a frenzy, but they must not lose this first match, as it would put the pressure on them for the game against Russia on June 9.

A draw would be okay, and the fans and players must remember this and not lose their discipline or their composure at the start of a three-game league.

Expect Japan to record a record TV rating for this game, perhaps as high as 70 percent of the country will watch this occasion.

Blue Fever is sweeping the country.

　

3 Jun 2002(Mon)

One of the best things about being at the World Cup is the number of celebrities on the sidelines.

For a football reporter, it's like being a child in a candy store, trying to decide where to go next.

Coming out of the FIFA Congress the other day was a familiar face: Dragan Stojkovic, a veteran of two World Cups for Yugoslavia and now the 37-year-old president of the Yugoslavia Football Federation.

''This is completely different for me,'' said Stojkovic, talking about the FIFA elections.

''I have always seen football from the side of a player. I have concentrated on my game, on my job, but now I think I am in politics!'' he added.

Stojkovic is as entertaining off the pitch as he used to be on it.

When asked which country he thought would win the World Cup, he said: "France is the favorite, the No. 1, the champion, but nobody is talking about Brazil.

''I will tell you one thing: Brazil will be a fantastic team. This is a chance for them.''

Stojkovic also said he felt Japan could qualify for the second round, especially after watching Yugoslavia play Russia in a four-team tournament in Moscow in mid-May.

''Russia is not so good. It is a good team but not so strong, so I really believe I will see Japan in the second round.''

Japan's key players, he said, were Hidetoshi Nakata and Shinji Ono, as well as the powerful center forward Takayuki Suzuki.

''Suzuki, I love his play,'' said Stojkovic. Quite a compliment.

The next day, attending a McDonald's function, who should be there as chief guest but Franz Beckenbauer, who, looking at his smart, lean figure, does not appear to eat much junk food.

Beckenbauer complained, not about the Big Macs but about there being too much football.

''You see Zidane and Figo playing for Real Madrid and they play 70-80 important matches per season,'' said the German legend.

"It is too much and they must be tired. If you are tired you risk injury. That is the problem. We need less games, it's very simple.''

Later that day, British actor Roger Moore (a former James Bond and married to a Swedish woman who comes from the same town as Sven-Goran Eriksson) took part in a press conference organized by FIFA and the children's charity UNICEF.

Moore is an ambassador for UNICEF, and put the World Cup into perspective with the following announcement: "In the time it takes to play the World Cup, 30 days, 1 million children around the world will die unnecessarily because of war or famine or disease.

"During every 90 minutes, 540 children will contract HIV, and 85 will die of AIDS, while 400 children will lose their parents.''

These are shocking figures as we eat our Big Macs and drink our World Cup Budweiser beer.

Is a player getting a red card or breaking a bone in his left foot truly a tragedy?

I don't think so.

30 May 2002(Thu)

Dutch League veteran Earnie Stewart believes Feyenoord midfielder Shinji Ono can go on to greater things in Europe after a successful debut season with the Rotterdam club.

The 33-year-old American international will be playing in his third World Cup in Korea-Japan after representing the United States in 1994 and 1998.

And he feels Ono is one of the most naturally-gifted players he has come across.

''I haven't seen many players that you look upon in games that have such a good functional technique,'' said Stewart, who plays for NAC Breda in the Dutch League.

''The way they handle the ball, and he does it with his left and his right foot...it's sometimes amazing to watch.

''He has had a great season with Feyenoord: a UEFA Cup-winner and probably one of the better players of Holland in this season.''

Ono, 22, joined Feyenoord from Urawa Reds last summer, and will be playing in his second World Cup after appearing as a substitute for the last 12 minutes of Japan's third and final match in France four years ago, against Jamaica.

Asked if he thought Ono could eventually move to one of Europe's major leagues, such as Spain, Italy or England, Stewart replied: ''He's definitely one of those players that can move up.

''He's already at a high level right now, but he's definitely one of the players that could still move up a little bit further.''

Stewart, who has scored 15 goals in 80 appearances for the States, began his career in the Dutch League with VVV Venlo in July 1988 and also played for Willem II Tilburg before joining Breda.

　

27 May 2002(Mon)

The experiments are over, the squad has been selected and it's time to get down to serious business for Philippe Troussier and Japan's national team.

The business of winning matches.

On Saturday night in Tokyo, Japan will play their final World Cup warm-up match, against Sweden, before they meet Belgium at Saitama Stadium on June 4 in their opening Group H game.

The friendly against the Swedes will be Japan's first game since Troussier announced his final 23-man squad on May 17, so he is likely to start with his strongest team.

In goal, Seigo Narazaki has had a good year for the national team, but Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi remains first choice as he has more experience of the big occasion.

Troussier's flat three defense picks itself, provided Ryuzo Morioka is back to full fitness.

He missed all Japan's games this year because of a hamstring strain, and Troussier will have to decide whether to risk him by playing him against Sweden, or saving him for the Belgium match.

It's likely Morioka will play, with Naoki Matsuda to his right and Koji Nakata to his left.

In midfield, Troussier will probably play Daisuke Ichikawa on the right and Shinji Ono on the left, with Kazuyuki Toda and Junichi Inamoto in the midfield ''engine room''.

Toda and Inamoto will provide a solid midfield platform for Hidetoshi Nakata to make the play from his central attacking role, supporting the two strikers.

This is where Japan's problems lie at the moment, as none of the strikers are in form in front of goal.

Troussier is expected to start with Atsushi Yanagisawa and Takayuki Suzuki, who are his tried and trusted pair for Kashima Antlers and Japan.

In reserve there's Akinori Nishizawa and Masashi Nakayama, and the latter may get a cameo role for the final few minutes after being a popular choice for the 23.

Sweden will provide Japan with tough opposition, and can be regarded as ideal preparation for Japan's opening World Cup game against the similarly tough, experienced and well-organized Belgians.

After a poor European tour earlier this month, losing to a second-string Real Madrid team 1-0 and then being thrashed 3-0 by Norway, Japan quickly need to rediscover the confidence which only a victory can bring.

　

23 May 2002(Thu)

World Cup fever was alive and kicking at a small town in Shizuoka prefecture on Sunday.

The scene at Fujieda city, which is hosting the Senegal team before they move to South Korea to play in their first World Cup, was as pretty as a picture postcard.
The small stadium is surrounded by forests and terraced slopes of green tea plantations, and it's quite a climb up the hill from the point where cars, taxis and buses were forced to stop.

Inside the stadium, too, the atmosphere was friendly, like a summer carnival rather than a World Cup warm-up match for Senegal's ''Lions of Teranga'' against the J.League's Kashiwa Reysol.
Behind one goal, a small group of Senegalese dressed in the bright green, yellow and orange colors of the national team banged their African bongos to an incessant beat lasting the whole of the 90 minutes.
Alongside them, fans from local club Shimizu S-Pulse joined them in cheering for the Lions against their J.League rivals.

At the other end of the stadium, the yellow-shirted Reysol fans who had followed their team down from Chiba prefecture were more subdued than usual, but this could be put down to their small numbers and the tranquil setting.
Although the match finished goalless, the fans--over 8,000 of them--went home happy, having felt a part of the World Cup festival to come.

On arriving at Shizuoka station, the attitude of the local people was extremely polite and hospitable to their foreign visitors as they were escorted to the local train out to Fujieda.
The small station was full of colorful kiosks and of helpful volunteers making sure everyone went the right way, to the buses or the taxis, and even the taxi driver had a clip board of English phrases ready to read out to his customers from overseas.
Although the Senegalese speak French, it was the thought that counts!

In a few days' time, however, there will be much more energy and passion to the proceedings, on and off the pitch, when the real business begins.
But Japan can be proud of Fujieda city, as the players, officials and supporters of Senegal were given a very warm World Cup welcome.
If this is the level of hospitality and organization on offer for the next five weeks, then Japan's half of the World Cup will be a memorable experience.

ends

　

20 May 2002(Mon)

There were gasps when the names of Yutaka Akita and Mitsuo Ogasawara were read out at the JFA news conference Friday to announce the 23-strong World Cup squad.

And there were cheers when Masashi Nakayama was included among four forwards.

But then the truth dawned: there was no place for Shunsuke Nakamura.

After all, the 23-year-old Yokohama F Marinos midfielder had done everything asked of him in recent Kirin Cup matches against Slovakia and Honduras by national coach Philippe Troussier.

He must have thought he'd played himself back into the World Cup squad after a frustrating time last season, but when the crunch came he was left out again.

Millions of fans, especially young females, were disappointed by the decision, as Nakamura is a handsome young man with a pleasant personality and a wonderful left-footed free kick.

But this is not enough for Troussier.

The harsh facts for Nakamura and his supporters are these:

Troussier considers Nakamura suitable for only one role in the team, and that's on the left side of midfield. It is a demanding role, requiring attacking and defensive skills, stamina and a strong physique.

Shinji Ono is Troussier's first choice for this position, and he has Alessandro Santos to come off the bench if he needs more attacking flair, or Toshihiro Hattori if he needs to tighten up on defense.

Nakamura, therefore, is fourth choice for this position, and is there room in a squad of 20 outfield players for four players in the same position?

Clearly there is not.

His manager at Yokohama, Sebastiao Lazaroni, thinks Troussier plays Nakamura out of position; that he should be playing as a playmaker in the middle rather than as a left wing-back.

In this role, however, Hidetoshi Nakata is king, and the loyal Troussier servant Hiroaki Morishima is back-up for the attacking midfield position.

If Troussier considered Nakamura as a playmaker, which he doesn't because of his lightweight physique, he could have named him as third choice, but this place went to Kashima Antlers' dynamic young field general Ogasawara.

This left Shunsuke in no-man's land.

Of course he takes a great free kick and a great corner kick, but so, too, does Hidetoshi Nakata, Ono and Santos, so once again Nakamura is fourth in line.

In the end, Troussier refused to buckle under pressure from media, the public and no doubt from sponsors, who all wanted to see the pin-up Shunsuke in the squad.

The decision will make Troussier unpopular, but it's the correct one.

　

16 May 2002(Thu)

His team had just won 5-1 away from home, but still manager Zdenko Verdenik was in despair.

''It's a psychological problem; my players have no self-confidence,'' complained Verdenik, after Nagoya Grampus Eight's handsome victory against Urawa Reds at Komaba Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
In the end, the three points could not propel Grampus from Group D into the Nabisco Cup quarterfinals, as Kashima Antlers won 1-0 at Sanfrecce Hiroshima to clinch the second qualifying place, behind Urawa.

''Yes, it was a great result, and it was positive, but our team is not ripe. We do not concentrate enough and are not experienced enough. I do not know what to do. Sometimes I want to go home.''
So these are worrying times for Verdenik, who was hired by the Toyota-backed Nagoya club in the hope he could do a "Jef United" with them. That is, to turn a poor team into one which can not only survive in the first division, but challenge for honors.
''It took me eight months to turn around JEF United, but hopefully we can do it a bit quicker with Grampus,'' he added.

Two of the main problems facing Verdenik are that, in his own words, there is a big difference in the age and the quality of the players at his disposal. The second is that he has no natural captain.
''Only Ueslei (the Brazilian striker) can do something different, but in the team we have no leader.''
Certainly they don't have a Dragan Stojkovic, who became a cult figure during his seven years with Nagoya, before retiring last summer and becoming president of the Yugoslav Football Association.

Grampus have tried to sign the Croatian playmaker Robert Prosinecki from English first division club Portsmouth, but he turned them down after first agreeing to move to Japan.
''OK, so he's 33 now, but he could have stayed with us for two or three years because the tempo in the J.League is not as fast as it is in England, and the opponents are not as strong physically,'' said the manager.
Grampus then turned their attentions to another Croatian, France World Cup leading scorer Davor Suker, but he signed a new contract in Germany with TSV 1860 Munich. In the end, Grampus have settled on 32-year-old Austrian forward Ivica Vastic, who spent eight years with Sturm Graz and played at the 1998 World Cup.

With Grampus already having three foreign players--Brazilians Ueslei and Marcelo and Dutch midfielder Tarik Oulida--the place of Marcelo looks most in doubt.
Ideally, Verdenik would love fellow Slovenian Zeljko Milinovic to join him at Nagoya from Ichihara, but says the club is unwilling to make an approach after the controversial way Verdenik left JEF United for Grampus at the end of last season.
He accepted Nagoya's offer--believed to be double his salary of 50 million yen a year at Ichihara--a couple of days before his final scheduled meeting with United officials.
But on Sunday he sounded like he regretted it.

ends

14 May 2002(Tue)

What a proud week for Japanese football!

After Shinji Ono had won the UEFA Cup with Feyenoord on Wednesday, Hidetoshi Nakata made it a Japanese trophy double on Friday by helping Parma lift the Italian Cup.

This success at club level will certainly rub off on the rest of the Japanese players, and has come at an important time with the World Cup just three weeks away.

It was a particularly satisfying moment for Ono, and just rewards for his decision in joining the Rotterdam club.

Unlike some of his national teammates, who jumped in to overseas football over their heads, Ono chose a big club in a small league where he could steadily adapt to the different style of play following three and a half years in the J.League with Urawa Reds.

There's a big gap between the best and the rest in Holland, and it's easier for players to find their feet in a strong squad which wins more often than it loses.

The improvement in Ono's performance was there for all to see in the white-hot atmosphere of De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam on Wednesday night, when 12,000 Borussia Dortmund fans contributed to a tense and exciting evening.

Ono has quickly matured into a responsible, disciplined central midfielder, tackling hard (sometimes a little over-enthusiastically), picking up loose balls and playing accurate, short passes.

Only in the second half, as Dortmund pushed forward with 10 men following the harsh first-half dismissal of veteran central defender Jurgen Kohler, did Ono begin to show his attacking flair.

His best moment came with a quick through-ball for the Danish forward Jon Dahl Tomasson for Feyenoord's third--and ultimately decisive--goal.

It's a pity he couldn't play the whole 90 minutes, as he was substituted in the 85th, but his contribution for his team and also for Japan will not have gone unnoticed around the world.

And so to Nakata, whose first, difficult season at Parma ended on a note of triumph: victory over two legs of the Italian Cup final against recently-crowned Serie A champions Juventus.

Nakata's late goal in the first-leg 2-1 defeat proved to be crucial, as Parma won the second leg 1-0 with an early goal from Brazilian left-back Junior. This made the score 2-2 on aggregate, but with Nakata's away goal counting double in the event of a tie, Parma won on the away goals rule.

Speaking recently in Poland, Nakata said he felt he was running into form at the right time.

''It's important how you finish the season, not start it,'' he said. ''That's what people remember.''

That's a fair point from Nakata, who was one of Parma's best players in front of a rare full house of 27,000 at the Tardini Stadium.

All in all, then, a great week for Japan, and Japanese football can be proud of its two European adventurers.

　

9 May 2002(Thu)

If the heavens open on Japan during the World Cup and the pitch becomes waterlogged and unplayable, at least the co-host nation will be well prepared.

Apart from that, Japan's exhibition match against Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium was a complete waste of time on Tuesday night.

Not only because Japan lost 1-0 to a 26th-minute goal from Congo, ending their seven-match unbeaten run since last October.

But because national coach Philippe Troussier will not have learned one thing as the countdown continues to the World Cup kickoff in Seoul on May 31.

It was always a mystery why Japan should agree to take part in a meaningless match against a second-rate Madrid team with their eyes on the European Cup final on May 15 against Bayer Leverkusen in Glasgow.

The Madrid players were not interested, and neither were the fans, and the stands inside the famous stadium were deserted as the rain fell constantly.

If this had been a Spanish league match, there is no way the referee would have played the 90 minutes. It would have been abandoned at the start of the second half, when players emerged from the dressing room to a field covered in puddles.

As a result, the match was a farce, with the ball either stopping dead in a deep puddle or shooting across the turf and out of play.

The fact that Madrid couldn't care less about this so-called centenary celebration match could be seen in their lineup, which lacked Fernando Hierro at the back, Zinedine Zidane in midfield and Raul up front.

Roberto Carlos was the captain but didn't even play the whole of the first half. Neither did Luis Figo, who clearly wasn't going to do himself any damage with the European Cup and World Cup just around the corner.

In the end, Japan lost to a goal which was a result of their suicidal offside tactics.

When Roberto Carlos drove a low free kick from the left across the face of goal, the Japan defense stepped up in a bid to catch the Real players offside.

But Koji Nakata on the back post was a little slow off the mark, and Congo was level with him when he diverted the ball past Hitoshi Sogahata.

Not that Nakata can be blamed, because those tactics are just asking for trouble in the hurly-burly of the penalty box where there is so much confusion, especially when Roberto Carlos is taking a free kick.

Apart from that, Nakata was Japan's best player, putting in some perfectly-timed tackles in the first half when the pitch was still playable.

Another positive aspect for Troussier was the display of Junichi Inamoto, who lasted the 90 minutes despite the heavy conditions. He should be match sharp by the time the World Cup kicks off after a season on the Arsenal training pitch and bench.

In general, though, it was a complete waste of time.

Even if Toshihiro Hattori's close-range volley had gone in in the final seconds instead of being blocked by the keeper, it would have meant nothing at all.

8 May 2002(Wed)

Most players try to play well for their clubs to win a place in the World Cup.

But in the case of Junichi Inamoto, he will try and play well in the World Cup to win a place in his club team.

This is the unusual situation Inamoto finds himself in, following a disappointing debut season in London with English Premier League giants Arsenal.

After moving from Gamba Osaka last July, Inamoto found himself behind a long queue of talented, experienced midfielders in Arsene Wenger's world-class squad.

His first-team opportunities were restricted to substitute appearances in the UEFA Champions League and in the English League Cup, a very distant third in importance on the domestic front behind the Premier League and FA Cup.

Arsenal didn't even need Inamoto for the season's run-in, when they have the chance of winning the Premier League and FA Cup double.

So it's no wonder he's thirsting for action back home in Japan's national team, and looking forward more than most to playing for Japan in the World Cup.

''I love London, I love Arsenal, and I want to stay there,'' he says.

''If I can play well in the World Cup for Japan, hopefully it will convince Arsenal I am good enough to be part of the squad.''

One of the bright spots for Japan during the chaotic 3-3 draw with Honduras at Kobe Wing Stadium on Thursday was the performance of Inamoto in central midfield.

He looked like his old self, full of running, tackling and pushing forward at every opportunity. He was hungry and determined, and that's exactly what national coach Philippe Troussier was wanting to see after he failed to make an impression in the 1-0 victory over Slovakia three days earlier.

Not surprisingly, after a season on the sidelines in England, playing only low-key reserve team football for the Gunners, Inamoto lacks match fitness as opposed to physical fitness, and before the Honduras game he commented: ''We (Japan) have four games left before the World Cup, and I want to play for 90 minutes in all of them.

''If I can do this, I am sure I will be ready for the World Cup. My condition is getting better with each match.''

Japan needs a fit Inamoto, working away in the midfield engine room, to help them get out of Group H against Belgium, Russia and Tunisia.

Whether Arsenal need him is still open to debate.

　

2 May 2002(Thu)

TOKYO (April 30): Has Philippe Troussier lost the plot?

Has Atsushi Yanagisawa lost his spirit as well as his confidence?

These two questions have to be asked after the Frenchman's bizarre decision to play the Kashima Antlers striker on the right side of midfield for Monday's Kirin Cup clash with Slovakia at Tokyo's National Stadium.

On the eve of the game, Troussier had promised selection surprises, and he certainly delivered on this front.

Not so much by playing a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Akinori Nishizawa as the solitary striker, but by putting Yanagisawa on the right side of the midfield four.

Yanagisawa has pace and power, and even describes himself more as a chance-maker than a chance-taker, but he is not a wing-back as his defensive qualities are virtually non-existent.

This was cruelly exposed on one occasion in the first half, but, still, he put this setback behind him to push forward with purpose on the right flank.
Early in the second half he even had a shot at goal, but the effort was saved comfortably by the keeper, and on 56 minutes he was taken off by the coach.

Yanagisawa was clearly unhappy, as Troussier seems quick to use him as a scapegoat when things are not going according to plan.

Surely a more logical substitution would have been to take off Nishizawa, move Yanagisawa into the forward line, and bring on one of the two right-sided midfield specialists he had sitting on the bench: Daisuke Ichikawa or Yasuhiro Hato.

Although Hato did come on, it was a straight swap for Yanagisawa, leaving the out-of-touch Nishizawa up front.

Although the Cerezo Osaka forward was credited with Japan's winning goal in the 38th minute, it was a very generous award by the match officials, as he merely supplied the low cross from the right which produced the goalmouth scramble, from which the ball rolled slowly over the line.

At first viewing it looked like an own goal by one of two Slovakian defenders, and that still seemed the case as match officials debated whether to give it to Nishizawa or to Hiroaki Morishima, who had been in the middle of the Slovakian sandwich.

But more of a concern than who scored the goal was the psychological condition of Yanagisawa with only five weeks to the World Cup.

At the end of last year he was without doubt Japan's No. 1 striker, but now he must be confused and lacking self-confidence over his role in the team.

　

27 Apr 2002(Sat)

TOKYO (April 27): The World Cup is giving Japan's smaller clubs the chance to win some silverware this season in the form of the J.League's Nabisco Cup.
The tournament starts today (Saturday) around the country, with the 16 first division teams drawn into four groups of four. The top two teams in each group, after a six-round mini-league running through to May 12, will qualify for the quarterfinals in September.

The advantage the less glamorous clubs hold is that the leading players of the established powers, such as Kashima Antlers and Jubilo Iwata, will all be missing. They are with Japan's national squad preparing for next week's Kirin Cup games against Slovakia and Honduras.
So this gives other teams a great chance to knock out the big boys and book themselves a place in the last eight.

Antlers, for example, will be missing goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata, midfielders Koji Nakata and Mitsuo Ogasawara and strikers Takayuki Suzuki and Atsushi Yanagisawa.
Jubilo will have defender Makoto Tanaka and midfielders Toshihiro Hattori and Takashi Fukunishi with the national team, while Nabisco Cup-holders Yokohama F Marinos cannot call on the services of defenders Yuji Nakazawa and Naoki Matsuda, and the midfield trio of Daisuke Oku, Shunsuke Nakamura and Yasuhiro Hato.
So with such an array of stars absent, teams such as Gamba Osaka and Vegalta Sendai must be serious contenders.

Vegalta have made an impressive start to their first season in the top flight, and are in third place after seven matches as the league takes a break for the World Cup.
On Saturday they play Jubilo in Group A at Kamoike, and Vegalta's only absentee is five-goal striker Yoshiteru Yamashita, who is making a late claim for a place in Japan's World Cup 23.

Gamba are in fourth position but will not have national team captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto to call on. Apart from this stylish central defender, who is such a strong reader of the game, Gamba are in tact, and have enough quality in all departments to finally win some silverware for the Kansai clubs.

Urawa Reds have no national team players, so will feel they have a chance of progressing from Group D with red-hot Brazilian Emerson leading the scoring charts on seven goals this season.

So there's a big incentive for the smaller clubs to lift their game, and end the domination of the J.League's powers.

Perhaps it's their best chance since the competition kicked off in 1992, the season before the league got under way.

ends

25 Apr 2002(Thu)

April 23: When a team struggles to survive in the first division one season, the owners usually aim for a quick fix.

That means sacking the foreign players and starting again with a new group, about whom little is known.

But the Yokohama F Marinos knew that there were enough good Japanese players around to revive their fortunes, and have turned from relegation candidates to championship challengers in the space of a few months.

Marinos, league champions in 1995, were in danger of dropping into the second division until the very last day of the season last November.

After staying up, the club retained two of its three Brazilian players--defender Naza and left-sided midfielder Dutra-- while allowing striker Marco Brito to leave.

Brito's replacement was the tried and trusted Brazilian Will, from Consadole Sapporo, but Marinos also made three important signings from Japanese clubs.

The result of this shrewd dealing is that Marinos lead the table after seven rounds of the first stage, ahead of Jubilo Iwata and Vegalta Sendai going into the long break for the World Cup.

At the back, Marinos signed the tall and confident young central defender Yuji Nakazawa from Tokyo Verdy, and he has fitted in quickly alongside Japan's best defender, Naoki Matsuda.

In midfield, Daisuke Oku was recruited from Jubilo Iwata after being promised a central midfield role. He was fed up of playing on the wing in Jubilo's five-strong midfield.

Up front, Will's partner is another ex-Jubilo man, Norihisa Shimizu, who was always on the fringes of the first team but rarely a regular starting member.

The Japanese players have justified the faith placed in them by the Marinos management, and the Brazilians are loyal servants of the charismatic manager, Sebastiao Lazaroni.

One cloud on the horizon, though, is the anticipated departure to Real Madrid, after the World Cup, of playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura.

Rumour has it that Lazaroni is keen to bring back to Japan the former Verdy and Antlers playmaker Bismarck, who was released by Kashima at the end of last season and is now with Fluminense.

With three Brazilians already on the books, one would have to stand down if Bismarck were to take Nakamura's playmaking place.

So Lazaroni still has much to do after the break to keep his team on top.

But the club's sensible transfer policy of buying what you know, rather than leaving it to agents with players on their books about whom little is known, has proved successful.

Maybe other clubs will start to follow suit instead of looking for the quick fix of expensive new Brazilians.

ends

　

22 Apr 2002(Mon)

TOKYO (April 17): If ever proof were needed of the total waste of time of playing extra time in J.League matches, last Saturday's game at Tokyo Stadium was it.
Tokyo Verdy and Vissel Kobe were drawing 1-1 at the end of the regulation 90 minutes.
In most countries around the world, the game would be over, the fans would go home with mixed emotions and the teams would have a point each.
End of story.

But in Japan, J.League organizers are still seeking a quick fix for the newcomers to professional soccer, so they must have a result if at all possible.
Thankfully they scrapped the penalty shootout after the 1998 season, but we are still left with two halves of 15 minutes, with a golden goal bringing an immediate end to the proceedings.

But extra time often displays the worst features of the game.
Players are tired after giving it their all for 90 minutes, and play in extra time reflects this.
Passes go astray (okay, so they do anyway when Verdy are playing these days!), tackles are mis-timed, players go down injured quicker than they do in normal time, and weaker teams just decide to defend for a further 30 minutes in the hope of denying their opponents the extra point (two points are awarded to a team winning in extra time, as opposed to three points for a victory in 90 minutes).
So when a golden goal is scored, it is often far from golden. It is as a result of a mistake by an opponent, tired and under pressure, and the losing team ends up with no points at all when they may have played reasonably well for almost two hours.

The J.League format has many critics, and they have been given even more ammunition this season because the J.League has scrapped extra time in the second division while retaining it in the top flight.
Two different points systems in the same league?
Bizarre.

One of the attractions of the game worldwide is the underdog visiting the home of a top team, and, through tactics, strategy and courage, holding off the home team and maybe snatching a goal on the break.
For the purists it makes for fascinating viewing, with extra time and golden goals reserved for knockout cup football only.

The J.League has achieved many things in a short time, since it kicked off in 1993, such as teams being based in home towns rather than just corporate offshoots with no identity.
The professional league has produced a conveyor belt of quality players for Japan's national team, but the format needs to fall in line with the rest of the world.

Anyone visiting the Verdy-Vissel game must have left convinced that extra time in league games is a total waste of time.
The match ended 1-1 after all.

ends

　

18 Apr 2002(Thu)

Philippe Troussier always likes to play games with his players.

But I'm talking about mind games, not football games.

And it always involves his most talented players.

First it was Shinji Ono.

Then Hidetoshi Nakata.

Now it's Shunsuke Nakamura.

Will the left-footed set-piece sorcerer be in Japan's World Cup 23?

Only the Frenchman knows at the moment, but this week he gave the clearest indication that he will be, but not for his ability.

It will be more to please the fans and the business world, which Troussier accepts is very important in Japan as the game is still trying to establish itself.

At a typically animated press conference on the eve of Japan's friendly with Costa Rica on Wednesday, Troussier said his World Cup squad would be comprised of three groups of players:
1) About 14 players whom he regards as starting members. In this group we can put the likes of Nakata (Hidetoshi and Koji), Ono, Naoki Matsuda, Yasuhiro Hato, Kazuyuki Toda, Junichi Inamoto, Toshihiro Hattori, Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, Hiroaki Morishima, Atsushi Yanagisawa, Takayuki Suzuki and Naohiro Takahara.
2) Players who can make an impact off the bench, or fill a number of positions. These will include Alessandro Santos, Tomokazu Myojin and, I believe, Masashi Nakayama. ''The second group is psychologically a different person,'' he said. ''They must be ready to for one minute, 10 minutes or 20 minutes.''
3) Players (one or two, he said) who may not play during the tournament, but who are good for ''sponsors, image and photos.'' Surely he is talking here about Shunsuke!

Nakamura has hardly been used in the past year, but Troussier suggested that he would be in the 23 after all just to keep everyone happy.

Is Troussier joking, or is he serious?

The problem is, you never know, as he frequently contradicts himself the next time he speaks.

The truth is, Troussier knew his World Cup 23 at the end of last year, and all these friendly matches are asking more questions than they answer.

New players come in and do well, such as Mitsuo Ogasawara and Santos, and Troussier cannot pick them all. Only 23.

Nakamura does not fit into the first category, nor the second, as he has said in the past that Nakamura would not be effective off the bench.

So category three is the route for the Yokohama F Marinos player to get in the final 23.

I think Troussier was serious, and that Nakamura is now in his thoughts again.

Troussier has a hard job finding the right balance and keeping everyone happy, and with many players of an equal level it is a tough task trying to read his thoughts.

But Nakamura must be even more confused than the Frenchman at the moment.

　

15 Apr 2002(Mon)

TOKYO (April 12)--The name of Masashi "Gon" Nakayama has been conspicuous by its absence in the two national squads announced this year by Philippe Troussier.

So what's happening with Japan's popular veteran striker?

Has he been dropped from Troussier's World Cup plans?

Or is Troussier simply looking at other players, knowing exactly what he will get from Nakayama?

I prefer to take the latter option.

Despite the fact Nakayama has not been picked for next week's friendly against Costa Rica, I feel he is already assured of a place in Japan's World Cup 23.

Maybe Troussier has even told him this, thereby allowing Nakayama to concentrate on his fitness and not push himself too hard.

After all, Nakayama is 34, and that's old to be playing as a forward in the World Cup (although Cameroon's Roger Milla would disagree).

Troussier regards Nakayama as a mood-maker, and feels he is great to have around the younger players.

He always displays passion and commitment, and pride in wearing the national team colors.

These are important qualities, and Troussier feels they are lacking in some of the younger players.

In terms of goals this season, Nakayama is not at his best, with only one in five appearances for Jubilo Iwata, taking his career tally to 127 in 225 league games.

But this should not be a factor with Nakayama, as Troussier already knows that the experienced striker knows the way to goal.

A couple of games without hitting the target is no big deal for this particular player.

When the pressure is on in the build-up to the World Cup, Nakayama is just the kind of player Troussier will need around him.

He'll be keen, excited and raring to go, and this self-confidence will rub off on the rest of the players.

After all, Nakayama has been there before, in France 98, and scored Japan's only goal of the tournament in their final match, a 2-1 defeat to Jamaica.

So my message to fans of Jubilo and Nakayama, whose nickname "Gon" comes from his likeness to a character on a late-night comedy show, is: Don't worry, he is already on Troussier's list for the World Cup.

It would be a major surprise if the Frenchman cast him adrift at this late stage, as Nakayama's contribution is vital to Japan's cause.

Even if he's only sitting on the bench.

11 Apr 2002(Thu)

Okay, so I know Hiroshi Nanami is a good player, but please!

His return to the Jubilo Iwata team last Saturday was greeted like the second coming, a typically way over the top approach from the Japanese media.

After six months on the sidelines due to knee problems, the 29-year-old left-footed midfielder went on for the second half of Jubilo's 1-0 win at Kobe, which was achieved with a goal after one minute of extra time from Takashi Fukunishi.

This meant Nanami played less than 47 minutes, but the Japanese media who worship him will be calling for an instant return to the national team, not just the squad.

But is Nanami so important to Japan's cause?

Is he such a great player at the highest level?

Can he add something to this dynamic young team built by Philippe Troussier.

Maybe I am in a minority of one amongst the media, but I say ''no'' to all three questions.

When I think of Nanami, my thoughts are negative, not positive.

I remember him giving possession away with a careless flick of the heel, even though the crowd roars at this piece of skill.

I remember him joining Venezia in Italy three years ago, and failing hopelessly to make the grade in a poor team. For the most part he was stuck out on the left wing, and looked happy to stay there, totally unable to make an impact.

And I remember him playing for Japan against China, when Troussier picked him on the left wing and Nanami did nothing except argue with the officials, something he learned in Italy.

I accept he was named MVP when Japan won the Asian Cup in Lebanon in October 2000, but it's important to look at the strength of the opposition: Uzbekistan? Iraq? Qatar?

Technically, of course, Nanami is a good player; excessively left-footed, a good passer of the ball and with good vision, and possessor of a dangerous free kick.

But it needs more than that to succeed at the highest level. It needs heart and fight and spirit and determination, energy and vibrancy. This is the area which causes me to doubt Nanami's worth to the squad.

Troussier says he is considering him for the left side of midfield, which surprises me as Nanami has no pace and rarely goes past defenders.

With Hidetoshi Nakata, Hiroaki Morishima and Mitsuo Ogasawara all ahead of Nanami in the queue for the central attacking midfield slot, the only position open for Nanami is as a defensive midfielder.

But Nanami is not comfortable as a ball-winner, and it's no good having someone in there if he can't tackle.

No, I am not convinced at all that Nanami is the savior of the team, but was not surprised by the media hysteria which greeted his return last Saturday.

I think it would be a backward step to select him. After all, the national team has done quite well without him in recent months.

　

8 Apr 2002(Mon)

TOKYO (April 5): Come on Japanese soccer fans, what's going on?

This is the question being asked by J.League officials, who are puzzled at the decline in attendances at the start of World Cup year.

After four rounds of games, the average attendance is 15,440, over 1,000 lower than last season's figure of 16,548.

Even though the World Cup is just around the corner and interest is high, officials cannot understand why that is not being translated into higher attendances for domestic matches.

''Yes, we are aware of the situation and think it is a big problem,'' says Takehiko Sano, chief staff of the league's business planning department.

''The most worrying thing is that we just don't know the reasons for it. It's kind of scary.''

While newly promoted Vegalta Sendai have been pulling in the crowds at Tohoku, virtually filling their stadium for their three home games so far, other clubs have been struggling.

These include Nagoya Grampus Eight, who used to be regarded as a glamour club with the likes of Gary Lineker and then Dragan Stojkovic.

For a recent home game against Tokyo Verdy, just 7,231 fans turned up at Mizuho Stadium, followed by 11,279 for last Sunday's game against Consadole Sapporo.

Some observers feel that the sharp decline is due to the retirement last summer of Stojkovic, who attracted many supporters to watch his entertaining skills.

Add to the fact that Grampus have no national team players, except for second-choice goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki, and a mediocre team, and the crowds are not impressed.

Verdy, too, are in trouble, on and off the pitch. Only 8,349 watched their ''home'' game against Kashiwa Reysol at Tokyo National Stadium last Sunday, although the weather was atrocious with thunder and lightning and heavy rain.

Verdy could be struggling to stay in business at the end of this season, especially if they fall into J2.

The J.League was preparing itself for a decline in attendances after the World Cup, not before it, and this has sent a warning signal to all clubs, according to Sano.

''We were hoping the attendances would increase again this year going into the World Cup, but we knew it would be difficult,'' he added.

''It just goes to show that the league and the clubs cannot relax for a minute in our efforts to attract fans, because if we do we will die.

It is a universal thing for professional sports in any league.

''There is no special formula to solve the problems.''

Last season's average was the highest since 1995, when 16,922 turned up before the bubble burst following the league launch in 1993.

Maybe with better weather, and the Golden Week holidays coming up, crowds will pick up again, but the low crowds are a huge worry for league officials, especially if more of the pin-up boys from the national team leave Japan after the World Cup.

　

4 Apr 2002(Thu)

With less than two months to go before the World Cup kicks off, Japan's national team is in pretty good shape, mentally and physically.

This is the view of Japan-based Jozef Venglos, one of the most respected figures in the game within the FIFA and UEFA coaching circles.

Venglos knows a thing or two about international football, having coached the former Czechoslovakia into the World Cup quarter-finals in Italy 12 years ago.

The experienced Slovakian manager, now in charge of JEF United Ichihara in the J.League, was mightily impressed with what he saw as Japan beat Poland 2-0 in Lodz last Wednesday.

But, at the same time, he is not getting carried away because it was just a warm-up match for the real business to come in Japan and South Korea.

''I think it was a very good performance by Japan and a very good result,'' said Venglos, who has also coached Aston Villa, Fenerbahce and Celtic during his long career.

''It showed the confidence and the spirit in the team, and also the team work. But perhaps, most importantly, it showed the players believe in themselves.''

The victory was Japan's first away win against European opposition in a senior international since they beat Iceland 2-0 in 1971, but came on the back of recent home wins against Yugoslavia (1-0) and Ukraine (1-0) and a 1-1 draw with Italy last November.

"No, I was not surprised by the result in Poland,'' added Venglos, ''because these are preparation games.

''Always you have to play a series of preparation games before a major tournament, and we must take them as such.

''Still, it is good for the mood and the atmosphere of the Japan team, and Philippe Troussier is doing well. But what counts is the World Cup games.''

Japan's star on the day was Parma playmaker Hidetoshi Nakata, whose superb passing and vision made him stand out from the crowd.

''You can see he is playing in Europe, and this is important because he is more experienced and more confident. The same can be said of (Shinji) Ono,'' added Venglos.

1 Apr 2002(Mon)

March 28: The arguments are surely over, and so is the controversy surrounding Hidetoshi Nakata.

Against a big and occasionally violent Polish team in Lodz on Wednesday night, Nakata proved once again that he is head and shoulders above the rest.

Not just on the Japan team, but on the Poland team, too, as he ran the proceedings with a 90-minute display of control, vision, energy and his full range of passing skills.

Quite simply, Nakata was irresisitible and untouchable, scoring the first goal with a wicked drive and laying on the second in Japan's 2-0 victory with a gem of a crossfield pass into the path of Daisuke Ichikawa, whose cross was fired home by Naohiro Takahara.

Poland's coach, Jerzy Engel, described Nakata as "fabulous" and said it had been a pleasure to watch him.

Even Philippe Troussier, not known for praising individual players, let alone Nakata, was forced to admit he was "very satisfied" with Nakata's display and that he was an important member of the team as long as he knows the rules.

In Troussier's eyes, Nakata's talent has never been in question, just his ability to play within his team framework and also his motivation to play for his country.

In a typically animated news conference after the game, Troussier said Nakata's attitude had been completely different during his four days with the squad in Poland, and thought the reason for this was his humbling experience at Parma this season.

"Before, he came with five managers, two doctors and a helicopter. This time he came on his bicycle," Troussier said to illustrate his point.

Hopefully now, Nakata and Troussier will not be an issue, because clearly the Frenchman and Japan need Nakata, and he is maturing into an inspirational team leader.

In the past, Troussier has said Nakata is just one of 14 or 15 possible starting members, but deep down he knows Nakata is special.

On Wednesday he proved it, and with just two months before the World Cup kicks off, Japan could not be in better shape.

As Poland's coach Engel pointed out: "They haven't just got 11 good players, they have between 25 and 30 of a similar level.

"With one player like Nakata to organise the team, they can be very dangerous in the World Cup. They taught us a lesson, and Nakata was the best player on the pitch."

　

28 Mar 2002(Thu)

Philippe Troussier has achieved many things during his time in charge of the national team.

But one of them isn't finding a regular captain.

Tsuneyasu Miyamoto believes he has the answer to the Frenchman's problem: himself!

The Gamba Osaka defender is as smart and intelligent off the field as he is on it, and just relishes the responsibility of wearing the captain's arm band.

When asked if he would be leading the national team out for their friendly against Poland at the home stadium of Widzew Lodz on Wednesday, Miyamoto replied: ''I hope so.

''My position in the team is very important, so I must take big responsibility as a player.

''If I am made captain, then I must impose myself on the other players as well, but I enjoy that.''

It's unusual to find a Japanese player openly saying he wants to be the leader, and this attitude has not gone unnoticed by Troussier, who appointed him captain for the first time against Italy last November.

Miyamoto responded with an inspirational display, the highlight of which was an incredible goal-saving tackle on Francesco Totti as the Prince of Roma seemed certain to score from close range.

Miyamoto was not quite as assured in the 1-0 victory over Ukraine last Thursday, but he should retain his place in the continued absence through injury of Ryuzo Morioka.

The 25-year-old centre back appreciates he has a wonderful opportunity to book his slot in Japan's World Cup 23.

''Of course the injury to Morioka has given me a chance, but I was challenging for the position before that,'' he is quick to point out, and rightly so after running Troussier's oft-discussed flat back three in the 2-2 draw with Nigeria at Southampton last October and the 1-1 draw with Italy before Morioka got hurt.

''I understand the situation with Morioka, because I have had injuries of my own in the past.

''I have to show Philippe Troussier what I am capable of before Morioka returns from injury.''

Japan's flat three, which plays a very aggressive offside trap and pushes up quickly to deny the opposition space in midfield, is pivotal to the overall success of the team.

If the flat three system breaks down, the team is in trouble, but if it runs smoothly the opposition often do not know which way to turn.

Despite these pressures on the middle man, Miyamoto is more than willing to take the job on.

And the captain's arm band, too, please Monsieur.

　

24 Mar 2002(Sun)

Kashiwa Reysol striker Hwang Sun Hong has put himself in pole position on the strikers' grid in the race to win a place in South Korea's World Cup squad.

The 33-year-old forward scored both Korea's goals in a 2-0 win over Finland in Spain on March 20, and national coach Guus Hiddink must have been impressed with his finishing prowess.

Although the Koreans have developed into a more controlled, organized and tactically disciplined outfit under the Dutchman, there has been concern that the goals have not been coming at the other end.

So Hwang's stylish late double strike will have lifted Hiddink's spirits ahead of their next match, against Turkey in Germany on March 26.

Going into the game against the Finns, Hiddink had said: ''I have to look for the right balance in my squad of 23 for the World Cup, and I cannot bring six or seven strikers for two positions.

"They must make the difference, and make the competition amongst themselves.

"So whoever shows efficiency in scoring or in assisting, his chances will be bigger of making the ultimate 23.''

Clearly Hwang took Hiddink's words to heart.

Japanese fans are well aware of his scoring power, as he won the Golden Boot with Cerezo Osaka as the J.League's leading scorer before moving on to Kashiwa Reysol, where he is treasured by their English manager Steve Perryman.

He has already made his mark on the World Cup stage, too, scoring a glorious solo goal in a 3-2 defeat by Germany in the 1994 edition in the United States. But so often on the big occasion, injury has hampered Hwang's opportunities.

His goals against Finland showed that he has lost none of his touch.

For the first, although there was a hint of offside, he displayed composure and a cool head in a tight area in the box and caressed the ball into the far corner.

His second was a real predator's effort, as he climbed high to meet a right-wing cross and thunder a header into the net from close range.

The way the season is developing, Hiddink may well go with a J.League 1-2 for his World Cup strikeforce, with JEF United Ichihara's Choi Yong Soo looking likely to partner Hwang up front.

Hiddink refers to Choi as "Jeffy" and is a big admirer of his all-action, aggressive style.

Certainly these two appear to be ahead of Anderlecht's Seol Ki Hyun and Perugia's Ahn Jung Hwan, neither of whom are playing regularly.

In Korea's previous friendly, a 0-0 draw in Tunisia, Hiddink noted how much time Ahn needed to recover after a burst of action, a condition he put down to spending most of his time on the bench in Italy.

Of the Korea-based strikers, pin-up boy Lee Dong Gook is more flash than substance, and Kim Do Hoon was not even brought on the tour by Hiddink.

So Hwang and Choi know that if they keep up the good work for club and country, they will have the honor of leading the attacking line when the World Cup comes to town.

21 Mar 2002(Thu)

Australian international Josip Skoko does not think the rainy season will have too much effect on this summer's World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

Skoko was a member of the Australian squad which finished third in the FIFA Confederations Cup last June, when the eight-nation tournament was used as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup.

"Before the Confederations Cup, everyone was talking about the monsoon season and the fact that all the games would be played in torrential rain," said the Belgium-based midfielder.

"But in all our time in Korea and Japan it rained only once, against Japan in the semifinal."

The Socceroos lost that watery battle 1-0 after a power-packed free kick from Japan's captain, Hidetoshi Nakata, sped through the defensive wall and into the net.

Australia went on to finish third by beating Brazil in the playoff back in Korea.

"The conditions were not a problem at all, because the pitches were in fantastic condition," added Skoko, who is captain of championship-challenging Genk in the Belgian first division.

"The stadiums, the hotels were brilliant everywhere, but I think the level in Korea was not as good as Japan at that time in terms of hotels and transport.

"But I am sure they have made their best effort since then."

Skoko also had some words of warning for Japan, who will play Belgium in their opening Group H game at Saitama Stadium on June 4.

In particular, Skoko feels Japan should be on their guard for his Genk teammate, Wesley Sonck, who has been the sensation of the Belgian season with 27 goals so far.

"I rate him very highly," said Skoko.

"He has scored a bag full of goals this season but does so much more for the team than that.

"He makes good runs, is a cool finisher and is fairly deadly around the box."

Asked if he thought Sonck could make the step up from Belgian league to World Cup, the Aussie was in no doubt: "It will be a really good chance to show himself to the world, and I think he is capable of mixing it with the best.

"Of course the pace and the skill level is different, and it will take him time to adjust, but he has enough quality and brain to make that step.

"He's got a bit of everything."

Japan beware of Belgium's new "Sonck-sation"!

17 Mar 2002(Sun)

At last, Mitsuo Ogasawara has been given a chance to stake his claim for a place in Japan's World Cup 23.

The young Kashima Antlers playmaker was among the 22 players called up this week by national coach Philippe Troussier for Japan's friendly matches against Ukraine on March 21 and Poland on March 27.

Not only has the Frenchman rewarded Ogasawara with a place his efforts have deserved over the past two seasons, the selection will put further pressure on Hidetoshi Nakata for the attacking midfield role behind the two strikers in Japan's 3-5-2 system.

For many observers, Ogasawara's selection has come too late, as he has been producing match-winning performances for Antlers on a consistent basis during the club's trophy-filled years of 2000 and 2001.

He learned his midfield trade under the playmaker Bismarck, and the Antlers' decision-makers were so impressed with Ogasawara's form that they released the Brazilian at the end of last season.

His natural talent, however, has never been in question, and the quiet youngster was a key member--if not a high-profile one--of the Japan team which finished second to Spain in the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria.

While the likes of captain Shinji Ono, winger Masashi Motoyama and striker Naohiro Takahara grabbed all the attention, Ogasawara just got on with his job in the midfield engine room and let the results do the talking.

This type of team-first, self-second approach would have endeared him to Troussier, whose coaching philosophy is based on team ethic and individual sacrifice.

The problem for Ogasawara was that the competition for places in attacking midfield was very strong, and he couldn't even win a place in Japan's 18-man squad for the Sydney Olympics.

Nakata, who is disappearing off the Serie A radar at Parma, remains first choice, with Hiroaki Morishima and Shinji Ono all capable deputies, so Ogasawara has had to bide his time until an opening was there.

Clearly Troussier felt the time was right, and if Ogasawara can make an impact against Ukraine and/or Poland, then Nakata's position in Japan's World Cup starting lineup may not be a foregone conclusion after all.

Ogasawara once put his improved form and maturity down to getting married, at an early age, to his high-school sweetheart.

Now he hopes he has found a lasting relationship with Japan's national team.

　

14 Mar 2002(Thu)

Dutch goalkeeper Arno Van Zwam is prepared to walk out on Jubilo Iwata because of the club's handling of the proposed transfer of Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi from Portsmouth.

Van Zwam was furious with Jubilo when he learned that they were ready to trade him in part-exchange for Kawaguchi, who has no future at the south coast club after being dropped at the beginning of the year.

And the big Dutchman says he is considering his future once his contract expires at the end of June.

''My manager called me and said he had read in the newspapers that Jubilo were swapping me for Kawaguchi, and that I was going to play for Portsmouth,'' said Van Zwam.

''I didn't know a thing about it, so I went to the club and asked them what was going on.

''They said they were interested in Kawaguchi and that I may want to go there, but they had never even asked me.

''I have been very professional with this club, and that is no way to treat a player.''

When asked if he wanted to stay with Jubilo when his contract expired, he replied: ''I want to stay in Japan.

''My family like it here and the kids are settled at school, but we will have to wait and see what happens.

''I have been told by Jubilo that they will give me an answer by the end of the month.''

Van Zwam, 32, joined Jubilo in June 2000 after 14 seasons with Fortuna Sittard in the Dutch league.

He was one of five Jubilo players named in the J.League Best XI last season after Jubilo had won the first stage of the championship before losing to Kashima Antlers in the two-leg playoff.

Over the 30 games, Jubilo conceded a league low 26 goals, and Van Zwam played in 26 of those 30 games, missing four with a shoulder injury.

If he cannot come to an agreement on a new deal, or if Jubilo are successful in rescuing national team keeper Kawaguchi from his Pompey nightmare, then Van Zwam could be in line for a transfer to Urawa Reds.

Now coached by the Dutch duo of Hans Ooft and Wim Jansen, Reds have already lost their opening two league games after failing in a bid to sign Daijiro Takakuwa from Kashima Antlers last season. Takakuwa eventually joined Tokyo Verdy.

If Van Zwam joined Urawa, however, they would have to lose one of their three Brazilians: forwards Emerson and Tuto, or attacking midfielder Harison.

　

10 Mar 2002(Sun)

When the 10th J.League season kicked off last weekend, neutral observers were hoping for a new force to emerge this year.

Among them was the J.League's chairman, Saburo Kawabuchi, who knows how important it is for the two heavyweights, Kashima Antlers and Jubilo Iwata, to be challenged throughout the season.

After all, these two clubs have dominated the league for the past six years, with Antlers winning the championship in 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2001, and Jubilo cleaning up in 1997 and 1999.

In particular, Kawabuchi wants the Kansai area teams to turn from mice to lions, to inject much-needed interest in the cities of Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto.

Osaka has already lost one of its teams to J2 (Cerezo were relegated last season), but there is a feeling Gamba can become a serious threat to Japan's soccer establishment.

Gamba have always had good players, and now they have a manager regarded as the best Japanese in the business in Akira Nishino.

He was in charge of Japan's Olympic team which beat Brazil 1-0 in the Atlanta Games of 1996, and then built an impressive team at Kashiwa Reysol, which was clearly the best in the 2000 season but missed out on the championship because of the J.League's controversial two-stage format.

When he could take Reysol no further, he was fired midway through last season, and eventually resurfaced at Gamba Osaka.

Nishino has some top-quality Japanese players at his disposal, including national squad goalkeeper Ryota Tsuzuki, central defender Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, midfielder Yasuhito Endo and striker Kota Yoshihara.

Japan's national coach, Philippe Troussier, likes to compare Japanese players with overseas stars, and once described Yoshihara as the Romario of Japan for the way he eludes defenders in the penalty box, and Endo as the Fernando Redondo due to his range of passing and shooting.

Gamba began well last Sunday, beating Nishino's former team Reysol 1-0 with a goal from Yoshihara, and there is no reason why they can't win the Kansai derby at Kyoto on Sunday.

FC Tokyo (4-2 against Antlers) and Sanfrecce Hiroshima (5-1 against Consadole Sapporo) also made impressive starts, but Gamba could be the J.League mouse about to roar in 2002.

　

7 Mar 2002(Thu)

Considering he plays with only one forward (and a 35-year-old Brazilian forward at that), FC Tokyo manager Hiromi Hara has set himself some ambitious targets.

After watching his hungry team demolish the reigning league champions, Kashima Antlers, 4-2 at Tokyo Stadium on the opening day of the new season, Hara spoke of his long-term goals for the capital club.

"We are not a big club," he admitted, "but we want to become the kind of team that will give the big clubs a hard time."

He used Spain as an example, and likened FC Tokyo to Alaves or Real Betis compared to the giants of Real Madrid and Barcelona.

"When Alaves or Betis play Real Madrid, the players and the fans put everything into it. This is what I want FC Tokyo to become.

"If we play exciting, attacking football, more people will come to watch us, we will get more money and then we can sign top players. For now, though, we must be resourceful.''

Hara, a former national team striker, was appointed manager in the close-season to build on the solid work of his predecessor, Kiyoshi Okuma, who had been in charge of FC Tokyo and its forerunner, Tokyo Gas, for a total of seven years.

The players are the same, though, apart from 24-year-old Brazilian Jean, of Bahia FC, replacing Sandro in the heart of the defense.

Hara played a 4-5-1 formation, with veteran Brazilian Amaral alone up front and supported from the right flank by captain Yukihiko Sato, from the left by Masamitsu Kobayashi and through the middle by fellow Brazilian Kelly.

Against Antlers, Kobayashi scored twice and laid on the other two for central defender Tetsuya Ito and Kelly.

But it was the display of 23-year-old Masashi Miyazawa which really caught the eye. The former Chuo University student had appeared in only one previous league game for FC Tokyo, but, with his striking white boots and elegant left foot, he produced a masterful midfield performance.

Hara didn't even know it was only Miyazawa's second league game, and said he had been picked because of his form in practice matches.

If Hara can continue to inspire his players like this, and the goals keep flowing, then FC Tokyo's fans should be in for a treat this season.

Bring on Real Madrid!

　

3 Mar 2002(Sun)

In his two years in Japan, Kashima Antlers' Brazilian boss Toninho Cerezo has picked up four of the six major trophies up for grabs.

These include the past two league championships, but the former World Cup midfielder is taking nothing for granted when the 10th season of professional soccer in Japan kicks off Saturday.

When asked who Kashima's biggest rivals would be this season, Toninho replied quickly: "The next one.

"I think all matches will be hard this season, and that six or seven teams are capable of winning the championship."

Antlers are obviously one of them, but they will have to do it without Brazilian midfielder Bismarck, who was not retained at the end of last season and is now playing for Fluminense in the Brazilian championship.

"He was a very experienced player, and I don't expect any one player to fill his role," added Toninho.

The No. 10 jersey has gone to World Cup-hopeful Masashi Motoyama, who was voted into FIFA's all-star team at the 1999 World Youth Championship in Nigeria, where Japan finished runners-up to Spain.

Motoyama has never been able to hold down a regular first-team slot at Kashima, but now he gets his chance after Bismarck's departure.

Motoyama and Bismarck's midfield understudy, Mitsuo Ogasawara, will step up and provide the main creative thrust to the Antlers attack.

"I think we have the quality to fill the gap," adds Toninho.

"My job this season is to bring on the younger players, and there's no better way of doing this than in real match situations in the J.League.

"We also have some very experienced defenders who can help them along."

Antlers' major challengers will be Jubilo Iwata, last season's runners-up, who now have national team striker Naohiro Takahara back in the fold after an unsuccessful spell with Boca Juniors.

Kashiwa Reysol should also be a major threat, especially with Brazilian World Cup midfielder Cesar Sampaio in the engine room alongside national squad regular Tomokazu Myojin.

"I have been incredibly impressed with Sampaio," admits Reysol's English manager Steve Perryman.

"Although his training has been limited because of a hamstring injury, it's clear to see his brain is working."

Yokohama F Marinos should also be up there, despite escaping relegation on the final day of last season.

Marinos, under Brazilian manager Sebastiao Lazaroni, have made some interesting close-season signings, notably midfielder Daisuke Oku and striker Norihisa Shimizu from Jubilo, central defender Yuji Nakazawa from Tokyo Verdy and Brazilian center forward Will from Consadole Sapporo. Will led the scoring charts last season with 24 goals after moving north to Sapporo from second division club Oita Trinita.

The new season will kick off with seven of the 16 first division clubs under new management.

These include Urawa Reds, who have gone double Dutch by hiring Hans Ooft as manager and Wim Jansen as head coach. This pair know all about Japanese football, as Ooft coached the national team and also Jubilo and Kyoto Purple Sanga, while Jansen had two years in charge of Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

But Ooft is not expecting immediate results.

"Our fans are No. 1 but the team is not," says Ooft.

"I would say Reds are at the same level where Jubilo were when I took over in 1994. We must take it step by step and look at the picture over a five-year period."

With World Cup fever sweeping Japan, and with the J.League finances boosted by new, lucrative long-term deals with sponsors and TV, expect another Japanese soccer boom in 2002.

28 Feb 2002(Thu)

Dr. Jozef Venglos has already won the public relations battle during his short time in Japan.

Now he has a much tougher task: emulating the fine achievements of his predecessor as manager of JEF United Ichihara, Zdenko Verdenik.

Venglos, who turned 66 this month, has a wealth of experience at both club and country level.

He led the former Czechoslovakia into two World Cups, reaching the quarterfinals in Italia 90, and into two European Championships, winning the continental crown in Belgrade in 1976 with greats such as Zdenek Nehoda, Marian Masny and Antonin Panenka.

At club level, his teams in the 1990s included Aston Villa, Fenerbahce and Glasgow Celtic, and now he finds himself in the wilds of Chiba prefecture, north of Tokyo, and with one of the J.League's less fashionable teams.

But after only a few days in the job, the amiable Slovakian was holding court with a dozen media, reeling off the names and nicknames of the players at his disposal.

"I was studying the players before I came to Japan," admits Venglos.

"When I was offered the job late last year, I spoke to a few people, including the former JEF United player Ivan Hasek, who I know very well of course.

"Hasek said come; it's a good club with nice people.

"Once I had made my decision, I asked them to send over details of the squad, so I was quite familiar with the names when I started work."

JEF United (the major club sponsors are Japan East railways and Furukawa electric company) finished a highly creditable third place in the overall standings last season, behind only the J.League heavyweights Kashima Antlers and Jubilo Iwata, but then lost their Slovenian manager Verdenik to big-spending, under-achieving Nagoya Grampus Eight.

Enter Venglos, who had visited Japan as recently as last November to conduct an advanced coaching course run jointly by the Asian Football Confederation and UEFA.

"The team did very well last season, and I am the kind of coach who prefers continuity. I don't see the point of making changes just for the sake of it.

"In football the expectations are always high, and what I can promise is that I will work seriously and hard and in a professional way. I hope the team plays well, but it is difficult to predict where we can finish because it's a very even competition."

Although JEF have no current Japanese internationals, they still have two World Cup-bound players in Slovenian central defender Zeljko Milinovic and South Korean striker Choi Yong Soo.

This pair in particular will be in safe hands as the countdown continues to the big kick-off in Seoul on May 31.

"The World Cup is a big occasion for the players, the countries and the two co-hosts, and I know how players are feeling when they are coming to play league matches ahead of the World Cup," he adds.

"We have to find a good balance between training hard and playing hard for the club, and building up to the World Cup. The players must understand that their club football is good preparation for the national team."

Venglos's first test of the new J.League season will be at home to second division champions Kyoto Purple Sanga on Sunday.

And if his players are as relaxed and focused as he is, JEF can continue to establish themselves in the top half of the table after Verdenik's excellent work.

24 Feb 2002(Sun)

Shinji Ono was quick to make his mark in Japan.

Now he's doing the same for Rotterdam giants Feyenoord in the Dutch first division and surely destined for greater things in Europe.

But there's another Ono fast-emerging in the J.League, another gifted, ball-playing attacking midfielder.

Meet Harutaka Ono, the 23-year-old creative force of Kashiwa Reysol, who will kick off the new J.League season next weekend as one of the favorites for the championship.

Reysol's English manager, Steve Perryman, feels Ono can be a major force this season--and has backed up his belief by appointing him captain.

"He's an individual type of player with great technical ability, but he is starting to think more about the other players now," says Perryman.

"At the same time, I don't want to take anything away from his own game because he is a very special passer of the ball."

Ono hails from Saitama--Urawa Reds country on the outskirts of Tokyo--and made his J.League debut for Reysol, based in nearby Chiba prefecture, in July 1997. He has now played exactly 100 league games, scoring 16 goals.

Perryman was promoted from head coach to manager midway through last season, replacing Akira Nishino, who had built this Reysol team but taken them as far as possible.

Ono was the sole playmaker, but Perryman thought this put too much pressure on one player and made it easier for the opposition to stop the whole team functioning.

So he asked Ono to sacrifice his individual flair for the sake of the team, and Perryman feels it is paying off already.

"In the second stage last year he showed a lot of responsibility when limiting his game for the whole team," adds Perryman.

"He did not moan; he just did it, and that gave me the indication he will respond to the extra responsibility of the captaincy."

Harutaka Ono--nicknamed "Hitman Harutaka" by the Reysol fans--may be blossoming a little later than former Urawa captain Shinji Ono, but he, too, looks to have a bright future ahead of him.

　

21 Feb 2002(Thu)

Upstaged by a fellow South Korean national team member in a high-profile pre-season friendly at the weekend, Choi Yong Soo says he is pacing himself for the most important year of his career.

The 28-year-old striker was on the losing side Sunday as JEF United Ichihara fell 1-0 to Kashiwa Reysol in the eighth Chiba Bank Cup at Reysol's Hitachi Stadium.

The only goal of the game was scored in the 75th minute by another Korean international, Yoo Sang Chul, who pounced on a defensive error and drilled the ball into the bottom corner.

This was after Reysol had been reduced to 10 men just four minutes into the second half, when Reysol's second Korean forward, Hwang Sun Hong, had been dismissed after clashing with JEF defender Takayuki Chano.

This is a huge year for all three Koreans, who are expected to be included in Guus Hiddink's 23-strong World Cup squad for the May 31-June 30 tournament in Korea and Japan.

"Yes, it was a very exciting match because I was playing against Yoo and Hwang," said Choi.

"But I am not too concerned about losing, as there is still two weeks to go before the new season starts.

"We've only been training for three weeks, and I missed some of that because I was playing for Korea in the Gold Cup in the United States.

"Also, we had some newcomers in the team. My condition was not great, but I want to get it just right for our first game on March 3 and for what comes after. It's going to be a long year."

Choi had an impressive debut season with United last year after joining the Chiba prefecture-based club from Anyang LG Cheetahs in the K.League.

He scored 21 goals, three behind the league's leading scorer, Will (Consadole Sapporo), as United finished a highly creditable third in the overall season standings.

On Sunday he was heavily marked in the first half by Reysol's tough defender Takeshi Watanabe, but he found more space after the break to threaten the Reysol goal on a number of occasions.

He also found himself the target of abuse for a section of the Reysol fans known as the "yellow monkeys" for their raucous behavior behind the goal.

Whenever an opposing player comes within earshot, the young fans in Reysol yellow hurl themselves into the security net and direct insults at the unfortunate player in question.

Choi was clearly shocked at the aggressive nature of the Reysol fans, and pointed a finger at them as a warning in the first half.

But he has far more important things to think about in World Cup year.

　

17 Feb 2002(Sun)

Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi always knew that life was going to be hard in English football.

Even before Kawaguchi had transferred from Yokohama F Marinos to Portsmouth last October, Japan's national coach, Philippe Troussier, had warned his top goalkeeper to be prepared for a rough, tough introduction to the English game.

These concerns are proving to be well-founded, and Kawaguchi has found himself out in the cold in recent matches after leaking goals in the First Division and FA Cup.

But the popular, charismatic keeper has found some support within the club.

Slovenian striker Mladen Rudonja, who is taking a break from Portsmouth to play for his country in the Lunar New Year Cup here in Hong Kong, insists Kawaguchi will be back.

"He's a good guy and has just been unlucky. Defense is our biggest problem and he came at a bad time," said Rudonja.

"It's not a problem with Yoshi; he just needs time to adapt."

Rudonja insists that the experience is making Kawaguchi a tougher character.

"He is always very open about the situation; it's normal that he wants to be first-choice, and what's happened to him has made him more motivated in training.

"He is working harder then ever because he wants to be part of a sucessful team.

"But there is something really mysterious about the defense. Even when we have brought back Dave Beasant in goal, we are still conceding three or four goals a game, so this proves it's not because of Yoshi," added the Slovenian striker.

Communication between a goalkeeper and his defenders is vital to the success of any team, and Rudonja feels this could be part of the problem for Kawaguchi.

"His English is not really good at the moment, but he is getting better every day. In a few months he will be okay.

"The fans like him and he likes the city. It's only a matter of time before he is back in the team. We need him because Dave Beasant is 42 years old."

　

14 Feb 2002(Thu)

Italy-based defender Samuel Caballero is backing troubled Japanese midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata to be a success with Parma.

Caballero, who plays for Parma's Serie A rivals Udinese, believes the Parma fans will see the best of Nakata in his second season with the club.

"It's very difficult to play in Italy because the league is tough and there are so many good players," said Caballero, who masterminded Honduras' defense in a 5-1 drubbing of World Cup qualifiers Slovenia in the Lunar New Year tournament semifinals in Hong Kong on Tuesday.

"Nakata changed clubs at the end of last season but it has been difficult for him to settle because his new team has not been playing well and they have had three different coaches already this season.

"But if Parma can stay up in the first division, which I think they will now, then I am sure Nakata can show his true form next season."

Parma paid AS Roma $26 million for Nakata last summer, but he has lost his place in the starting lineup to Frenchman Johan Micoud.

He is being kept in reserve for Parma's cup competitions, and starts most Serie A games on the substitutes' bench.

Caballero, however, feels Nakata's reputation remains in tact.
"Everybody in Italy knows he is a good player. He is fast, good with the ball and scores goals," said the defender.

"There are stories in Italy that he will change clubs again, but I think he can do well with Parma."

Nakata began his Italian adventure by joining Perugia after the 1998 World Cup in France.

After one and a half highly-successful seasons in Umbria he transferred to Roma in January 2000, helping them win the championship last season.

　

10 Feb 2002(Sun)

So Yuji Nakazawa has finally got his move to Yokohama; the F Marinos have finally got their man; and Tokyo Verdy have around 170 million yen ($1.3 million) in the bank.

Nakazawa and the Marinos are happy, and while Verdy would have preferred to keep the talented young central defender, at least they have virtually covered the coming season's salary for their Brazilian striker Edmundo.

But the Japanese transfer system still looks antiquated, set up perfectly to be challenged in the law courts by some brave young Bosman-like figure.

Nakazawa's contract with Verdy was up on Jan. 31, yet he was still not a free agent; unlike in Europe, where a player is free to move on after completing his contract.

It seems strange that in Japan a player can fulfill his contract obligations but is then still owned by the club, who retain his registration and can demand a transfer fee.

The Japanese clubs are catching on, though, if not the J.League, as Kashima Antlers make new deals of three or four years with their leading young players, rather than the customary one-year contract, to guarantee the highest possible transfer fee if European clubs come calling.

The J.League sees it another way.
They want to protect the clubs from losing their best assets after they have taken a player on board as a youngster and looked after them for their formative years.

Nakazawa is a case in point.
The Saitama-born defender will turn 24 this month and has spent his entire career with Verdy, making his debut in March 1999.

National coach Philippe Troussier was quick to spot the potential, and promoted him to the national team, but he fell out of favor last season and was not involved on the European tour or the November friendly against Italy.

Nakazawa felt his chances of a recall would be greater if he moved from Verdy, especially to Marinos, who already had national team defender Naoki Matsuda and right-sided midfielder Yasuhiro Hato.

His salary, too, must surely be an issue.
He is set to earn around 160 million yen ($1.2 million) for the next three years, and it's highly unlikely Verdy would have been able to pay him anything like that.

He was thought to be earning around 25 million yen a year at Verdy, so he has just doubled his money and joined a team with much greater potential for success than Verdy.

The deal is now done, but the Japanese transfer system still looks to be a messy, unsatisfactory affair.

7 Feb 2002(Thu)

Boca Juniors' decision to release Japanese striker Naohiro Takahara halfway through his one-year loan deal is perfect timing for the player and for the national team.

It was quite a surprise when the 22-year-old forward left Jubilo Iwata after the first stage of the J.League season last summer and decided to move to Buenos Aires.

According to Jubilo sources there had been offers from teams in Europe, but Takahara chose Argentina, which usually exports rather than imports talented players.

Boca's manager at the time, Carlos Bianchi, had consulted with Japan's French national coach Philippe Troussier before going ahead with the deal, but it quickly became evident that Takahara could not improve Boca's forward line.

But the soccer cynics who thought it was just another way to get money out of Japanese fans and TV were proved wrong when Takahara was not even included in the squad which traveled to Tokyo for the Toyota Cup against Bayern Munich in November.

Surely this would have been a wonderful opportunity for Boca to sell Takahara shirts and give the young striker a run in front of his own Tokyo fans.

But the fact that Takahara was not picked for the Toyota Cup proved that he had actually been signed for his ability with a ball rather than to move merchandise, a refreshing change.

It is a matter of concern, though, that Takahara failed to make the grade with Boca, and the country's desperate financial plight seemed to be the perfect excuse to unload him.
Takahara should not complain, though, and neither should Troussier.

At least now Takahara can train in a familiar environment, take part in the national team training camps and kick-off the J.League season on March 2 alongside the master of the penalty box, Masashi Nakayama.

These two work so well in tandem, with Takahara's running off the ball and Nakayama's goal-poaching prowess.

Takahara tried to make it overseas but, for the time being, has failed, but this could be blamed as much on bad advice to move to the Argentine league than his own lack of ability.

He remains a fine, strong and mobile forward who knows how to finish, and Japan should celebrate his return and hope he can get back to full match fitness for the World Cup.

Whether his confidence has been affected, though, remains to be seen.
And that's so crucial for a striker.

　

3 Feb 2002(Sun)

A few months ago, right-winger Nozomi Hiroyama was a candidate for a place in Japan's World Cup squad.
Now, as the World Cup countdown continues at a furious pace, Hiroyama is...well, no one really seems to know anymore.
Or, for that matter, care too much, either.

When he made his debut for Japan against Senegal on their European mini-tour in early October, he was on the books of Cerro Porteno in Paraguay, on loan from JEF United Ichihara.

At the end of the Paraguayan season, Hiroyama returned to Japan and had two lengthy meetings with the club president.
JEF wanted him to stay, to play for them again in the first division and put himself in the shop window for when national coach Philippe Troussier began to fill his World Cup trolley.
But the 24-year-old refused to sign a new deal, saying he wanted to continue his career overseas, hopefully in Europe. No one was interested.

His contract with JEF expired on January 31, but on that very day a club official said they didn't even know where he was now.
"We heard he was going to Brazil to try and play for Flamengo, but from what we've read in the Japanese newspapers he had some problems with his immigration papers," said club spokesman Yoichi Risho.
"It appears as though he's now back in Paraguay, training and looking for a club. He doesn't want to come back here because there'd be too much media pressure."

While the reasons for some Japanese players wanting to pursue their career abroad is understandable, Hiroyama has clearly lost all chance of playing for Japan at the World Cup. Lost the plot, in fact.
And it's unlikely he would be welcomed back at Ichihara, as his attitude was not exactly encouraging.

Another problem is his contract.
Even though it has run its course, under J.League and Japan Football Association regulations this does not necessarily make him a free agent.
JEF would still be looking for a transfer fee, as they still own his registration.

What a sorry situation for Hiroyama, who showed promise in Japan three years ago but is now going backwards fast.

　

31 Jan 2002(Thu)

Two amusing incidents in Japan recently proved that confusion and misunderstanding is the order of the day when thinking about disorderly World Cup fans.

A World Cup conversation cannot take place without the subject of hooliganism cropping up, especially as both England and Germany have been drawn to play their first-round games in Japan.

Up in Sapporo, where England will play Argentina in the Group of Death, the police have been testing a Spiderman-style "net gun" designed to ensnare groups of rowdy fans.

"Anyone going wild will be trapped under a net and they won't be able to move," claims Masahisa Tamura, a police press officer.

"I've heard that something similar has been used in Europe, but we've developed this especially for the World Cup."

Can you imagine it?
A group of Chelsea fans wearing the Three Lions, having a few beers and a singalong are suddenly the target of a net-happy Sapporo rookie policeman shaking in his boots.

Talk about provocation! I could imagine fans deliberately showing "wild" behavior just to take on the net. It would be hilarious.

The problem is, with football hooliganism non-existent in Japan, do the people know the difference between boisterous behavior and downright violence?
Absolutely not, if events at Saitama last Saturday are anything to go by.

Saitama's local organizing committee held a lecture for some volunteers, and recruited five English conversation teachers to burst in and behave like hooligans.

(Apparently, 18 English teachers applied for the five posts, and presumably they got paid for their time as English teachers rarely do anything for nothing. Getting paid for behaving badly? That's not unique, as Mike Tyson has made millions out of this!)

The aim of the exercise was to show the volunteers certain aspects of British football culture, and for them to try and distinguish between high-spirited celebration and fans going on the rampage.

Anyway, it all ended happily after ever, as volunteers and fans joined together in a chorus of the Euro 96 anthem "It's coming home, it's coming home, it's coming...football's coming home."
Bizarre!

Fans who can't get tickets for the matches in Japan will be able to watch their own amusing sideshows unfold on the streets.
Just watch out for those nets!

　

27 Jan 2002(Sun)

German coach Gert Engels has had more than his fair share of ups and downs during his time in the J.League.

Now he wants nothing more than a bit of stability for himself and Kyoto Purple Sanga as they prepare for their return to the first division.

Sanga won the J2 championship last season at the first time of asking, and will be back with the glamour teams again when the new league season kicks off March 2.

When asked what his target for the year was, Engels replied: "That's a difficult one, because our target is to build a strong team over a number of years.

"We want to make sure we stay in the top division for a long time, and to do this we must work hard for two or three years to give ourselves a solid base. Only after that can we think about becoming a top team, but of course that is the long-term goal."

Engels was a member of the Yokohama Flugels coaching staff when the J.League kicked off in 1993, but the club folded at the end of the 1998 season after a major sponsor withdrew financial support.

Engels suffered with the rest of the players, but then rallied them to win the Emperor's Cup final on New Year's Day 1999, creating an emotional farewell for the fans.

As the Flugels players moved on, some of them to the Yokohama Marinos, Engels was hired by JEF United Ichihara, but fired after only a few months.

Then he headed south to Kyoto as assistant manager, and took over as manager when the team's chances of staying in the top flight were already very slim.

So he went down with Purple Sanga in 2000, but brought them straight back up as J2 champions last year.

At the end of last season Kyoto released veteran central defender Naoto Otake, but Engels says they kept everyone they wanted, including top striker Teruaki Kurobe.

"He did very well for us last season, scoring 30 goals in what was only his second year as a professional soccer player," said Engels.

"He has a bit of J1 experience from his first season with us, but obviously there is a big step from J2 to J1.

"And, of course, everyone knows him now and he can expect to be marked more closely, and to be facing tougher defenders."

After such an up-and-down few seasons, Engels is hoping Kurobe's goals can lead to nothing more than mid-table security in 2002.

　

24 Jan 2002(Thu)

How about this for a forward line: Figo, Zidane, Raul, Morientes and...Nakamura?

Can it be true?
Do the mighty Real Madrid really want to buy the fallen hero of Japanese football, Shunsuke Nakamura?

All the signs are that, yes, indeed they do, and young Shunsuke could be swapping Yokohama F Marinos for the Santiago Bernabeu after this summer's World Cup.

Whether the 23-year-old Nakamura plays in the World Cup is another matter, however, as he had a terrible time in 2001, losing his place in the national team and even in the squad for long periods.

But Real's general manager Jorge Valdano has long-admired the left-footed Nakamura, and said a couple of years ago that the set-piece specialist was on the club's shopping list.

Valdano is not the only Argentine World Cup-winner to speak in glowing terms of 2000 J.League MVP Nakamura, as Ossie Ardiles, a former Marinos manager, has always insisted the youngster could be a hit at the highest level in Europe.

But surely Real's motives must be financial, as they seek to expand their massive worldwide fan base into the lucrative Japanese market.

Because Nakamura's 1.78-meter, 69-kilogram frame would be blown away by the pace and the power of top-flight European football. He takes a nice free kick, for sure, but so do Figo and Zidane, not to mention Roberto Carlos.

Nakamura for Real Madrid?
It just does not add up, except in the accounts of club president Florentino Perez.

Nakamura is a pleasant, likable young lad, determined to improve his career and often confused by the treatment he receives from national coach Philippe Troussier, who loves nothing better than to bring so-called stars back to earth.

Real are talking about signing Nakamura, then sending him on loan to a club which is based on the same planet as most other teams in Spain so he can begin to make the adjustment.

This makes good sense, but the "Dream Team" forward line of Figo, Zidane, Raul, Morientes and Shunsuke is surely exactly that: a dream for Japanese fans.

　

19 Jan 2002(Sat)

Japanese soccer chief Shun-ichiro Okano has offered his advice and assistance to his successor in helping to select Japan's next national coach.

Okano will stand down as president of the Japan Football Association after the 2002 World Cup as he has reached the retirement age of 70.

His successor as president has not yet been named, but whoever it is will have the final say in the choice of Philippe Troussier's successor.

The Frenchman took over as national coach in September 1998 and has already announced he will not be a candidate for the role after the World Cup.

Speaking about the move, Okano said: "It's none of my business, because I will not be president when the decision about a new coach is made.
"But I will gladly offer my advice and feelings if the new president asks me.
"First of all, though, it will be a matter for the technical committee."

The technical committee will put together a shortlist of candidates and must decide whether to continue with a foreign coach or revert to a Japanese coach.

Okano has four vice-presidents: J.League chairman Saburo Kawabuchi, who is favourite for the job, Junji Ogura, Kenji Mori and Kunishige Kamamoto, who was taken on by Okano to front up the national team committee.

Both Kawabuchi and Kamamoto have been fierce critics of Troussier in the past, and if either of these two is named JFA president, they may play safe for awhile and opt for a Japanese coach.

Okano often appeared to be alone in his support for Troussier during some turbulent times, but the president's loyalty has been repaid by Japan's results over the past 18 months.

Troussier changed the profile and the personnel of the national team, but the results suffered as the transformation began, and Japan did not win any of their seven senior international games in 1999.

Okano said the date of the election for the JFA presidency had not yet been fixed, but it is sure to be a close-run thing.
Okano says Troussier's decision to leave was not a surprise.
"We have a contract with him through to the World Cup, and there was never any talk of this deal being extended," said Okano.
"It's natural that a coach moves on after a World Cup because his job is finished."

Early front-runners to replace Troussier are former national team coach Takeshi Okada, France's 1998 World Cup-winning coach Aime Jacquet and South Korea's Dutch boss Guus Hiddink.

　

17 Jan 2002(Thu)

As the cream of Japan's J.League-based players prepare to assemble for the first national team training camp of the year, coach Philippe Troussier must be growing increasingly concerned over the form and fitness of those not present.

Namely his overseas-based players such as Naohiro Takahara and Junichi Inamoto.
These two left the J.League last summer, with striker Takahara joining Boca Juniors from Jubilo Iwata and midfielder Inamoto moving from Gamba Osaka to Arsenal.

Since then, though, they have seen little first-team action, and this must be a worry for Troussier with the World Cup less than five months away.

Inamoto and Takahara reflect the changing face of Japan's national team under Troussier, who has brought them through the youth team and Olympic team into the senior side.

They would surely have been first-choice World Cup selections a few months back, but now questions must be asked about their match-fitness and, above all, their confidence as they struggle for recognition in their new clubs.

Troussier insists he would rather have players training with top clubs every day rather than playing in the J.League, but both Takahara and Inamoto looked far from match-sharp on Japan's tour to Europe last October.

Troussier's opposite number for South Korea, Dutchman Guus Hiddink, is of a very different opinion. He is not concerned which bench a certain player may be warming; if he's not getting regular first-team action for his club, then his chances of a place in the starting line-up for his country are affected.

National team striker Akinori Nishizawa has already left Bolton Wanderers and returned to Japan, and Troussier must be wondering if a move, even a loan deal to a smaller club, for both Inamoto and Takahara would benefit the players.

Of Japan's other foreign legionnaires, goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi is learning the hard way in the English first division with Portsmouth, while Hidetoshi Nakata is such a thorough professional he will not be fazed by Parma's plight.

French legend Michel Platini has another spin on Nakata's predicament.
"If he's not playing every week for his club, then he'll be fit and fresh for the World Cup," says the former Juventus captain.

Hopefully Troussier is just as positive as his fellow countryman as the World Cup draws closer.

　

13 Jan 2002(Sun)

The inability of Akinori Nishizawa to make it big in the English Premier League was totally predictable for anyone who has followed the striker's career.

The sad thing is, clearly Bolton Wanderers hadn't.

Now they have paid the price, and Nishizawa is back in Japan and set to line

up again for Cerezo Osaka in J2 alongside Hiroaki Morishima next season.

Many observers were astonished at the comments from Bolton when Nishizawa joined them on loan at the start of the English season last August.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce, while admitting he had seen him only on video, spoke of the player's international experience and his spell in Spain with Espanyol, where he had a terrible time, too.

Marketing people gushed over Nishizawa's popularity in his home country, which is way behind other overseas-based players such as Hidetoshi Nakata, Junichi Inamoto and Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, and even the Bolton Evening News presented him as a cash cow for the club.

If this was Bolton's aim, to make money in shirt sales, TV deals and other spinoffs, then the plan has backfired big-time, and they are the biggest losers of all from this deal.

Nishizawa's biggest problem, ironically, was the magnificent goal he scored for Japan in a 2-2 draw with France in June 2000, a few days before the French went on to add the Euro 2000 crown to their 1998 World Cup.

When Atsuhiro Miura, on the left side of the French box, crossed deep to the far post, Nishizawa met the ball on the run and sent a right-foot volley flashing into the corner past a bemused Fabien Barthez.

It was an incredible strike, and had it come during a World Cup would have been replayed time and again around the world.

Nishizawa has also scored some pretty spectacular goals for Cerezo, too, and any agent worth his salt could put together an impressive video of Nishizawa scoring goals.

Espanyol fell for it, and then so did Bolton, and both teams quickly learned of Nishizawa's deficiencies, both technical and psychological.

One person who is standing by Nishizawa, however, is Japan's national coach Philippe Troussier.

The Frenchman's predecessor, Takeshi Okada, couldn't tolerate Nishizawa's attitude in training, and sent him home from a pre-1998 World Cup training camp.

But Troussier will give him his chance at the camp in Kagoshima from January 21.

Nishizawa himself cannot be faulted for having a go at making his name overseas, and the fact he is simply not good enough is not his fault.

It is the fault of the greedy clubs in Europe trying to cash in on a Japanese player.

Hopefully everyone will be the wiser for this sorry episode.

　

10 Jan 2002(Thu)

Being a star of the J.League is one thing, impressing Philippe Troussier is quite another.

This is the predicament facing Shimizu S-Pulse's Brazilian-turned-Japanese left-winger Alessandro Dos Santos, better known simply as Alex.

The 24-year-old's ability is not in question, as he has produced match-winning performances on a consistent basis since joining S-Pulse in February 1997.

He was even named J.League MVP in 1999, when S-Pulse won the second stage of the championship but lost the overall title to Jubilo Iwata in a penalty shootout.

Alex is an individual talent, a goal-maker and a goal-taker, and a constant threat with his pace, ball control and dribbling skills.

But as another outstanding individual talent, Hidetoshi Nakata, has found to his cost, Troussier is not impressed with a player who cannot first fit into the team ethic.

Alex, for all his ability, has still to prove this.

Troussier will give him every chance of doing so, as he has called him up to the first training camp of 2002, at Kagoshima in a couple of weeks' time.

Alex, who came to Japan from Brazil in 1994 to play for Meitoku Gijuku High School in Kochi prefecture, Shikoku, was granted Japanese citizenship in November last year.

But this does not mean he will be an automatic choice in Troussier's final 23, even though the Frenchman is unlikely to feel any loyalty to any of the players he has worked with for the past three years since becoming national coach in September 1998.

Troussier has already announced he will leave Japan after the World Cup, and he needs results this summer.

If that means a newcomer such as Alex winning a place ahead of, say, Shunsuke Nakamura or Masashi Motoyama, then Troussier will simply pick his strongest team.

After all, the decision to give Alex Japanese citizenship was not Troussier's, and he must select the best players at his disposal.

Troussier will return from festive vacation on January 10 and begin planning for the camp, which starts Januray 21.

Alex, for all his J.League highs and hype, must start again in attempting to show Troussier he has a role to play in the 2002 World Cup.

　

6 Jan 2002(Sun)

It came as no surprise to learn that Philippe Troussier will be leaving Japan after the World Cup.
What is more surprising is that he has lasted this long. When his contract ends this summer he will have been in Japan almost four years after being appointed in September 1998.

Troussier arrived in Japan as a relatively unknown coaching quantity, having spent the previous 10 years wandering the vast African continent, winning many trophies and earning a reputation as a tough task master on the training field and a volatile character off it.

In his very first press conference in Tokyo, in fact, Troussier said that he was happy to sign an initial two-year deal because he did not want a long-term commitment.

He set about rebuilding the national team by first taking charge of the youth team and then the Olympic team.

The results were good, and a number of players began to progress into the full national side, but not after a disappointing 1999 at senior level when Japan failed to win any of their seven international matches.

While Troussier often criticized the Japan Football Association for their lack of flexibility and foresight, it was only the support of the president, Shun-ichiro Okano, who saved his job during those often turbulent times as the critics massed around him.

Eventually, Troussier began to produce the goods at the highest level, winning the Asian Cup continental championship in October 2000 and then reaching the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup last June.

During the Asian Cup campaign in Lebanon, Troussier said it would need a new coach to take Japan to the highest level, as he felt he specialized in building a young team and laying strong foundations for the future.

It is no surprise, therefore, that the Scottish Football Association are keen to hire him, as they recognize that their once-proud national team needs rebuilding after failing to qualify for the World Cup.

The job also appeals to Troussier because it would put him in the Euro mainstream, and working in a country steeped in football culture and tradition, qualities he frequently points out Japan lacks.

For the next five months, however, the Frenchman's future is in Japan, and there is no doubt the Japanese soccer scene will never be the same again after his departure.

　

30 Dec 2001(Sun)

Japan's Emperor's Cup: a tournament fit for a king, or one in desperate need of change?

It should be the first, but it has become the second as this year's event stumbles on through December.

This is the 81st edition of the Japan Football Association's showpiece event, which began after the JFA received a trophy from their English counterparts to be played for annually.

But this is where the similarity between England's FA Cup and Japan's FA Cup ends.

The English version captivates the nation, and many others too around the world, with its shocks, its surprises and its romance.

The Japanese version?

Well, no one seems to care much, including the teams.

After qualifying competitions are held around the country, the cream from the various prefectures comes to the top for the first-round proper at the end of the long league season.

Like in England, the top club teams join the action in the third round, but then often face a university side.

This season, six of the 16 first division teams went out in the third round, and many observers felt they were not exactly disappointed to lose, as their Christmas and New Year holiday could begin early and the players could have a nice break before training resumes in mid-January for the start of next season.

Only one team from outside the two-division J.League reached the fourth round: Sagawa Express, a Tokyo-based parcel delivery service.

Their opponents in the last 16 were division two-bound Cerezo Osaka, so there was a decent chance of an amateur team reaching the last eight.

Was the nation gripped by the prospect?

Not at all. Only 2,042 fans turned up at the neutral venue of Toyota Stadium near Nagoya. This is another problem for the Emperor's Cup.

The schedule from the first round through to the final is drawn up before the tournament kicks off, and matches are played around the country to promote the game.

There is no random draw after each round, no crowding round the radio or TV to see who you've got next. Manchester United or Mansfield Town? Old Trafford or Field Mill?

Japan's system leads to strange situations, like the one two or three years back when the first Kawasaki derby between Verdy and Frontale was played at Kumamoto, at the other end of the country! (Coincidentally, these two teams met in this year's quarterfinals, and only 8,000 fans turned up at Tokyo Stadium, which holds 50,000.)

Or like this season's semifinals, when Urawa Reds will have home advantage in their Saitama stronghold against Cerezo.

The saving grace of the Emperor's Cup, however, is the final, which is played on New Year's Day. It is a great day in the Japanese sports calendar, but what proceeds it does not do justice to a tournament which needs reorganizing from top to bottom to inject much-needed interest and prestige.

After all, even the Emperor himself cannot attend the final because of his own New Year commitments at the Imperial Palace.

27 Dec 2001(Thu)

Urawa Reds needed only two of their three Brazilians to beat JEF United Ichihara 2-1 in the Emperor's Cup quarterfinals on Monday.

With speedy striker Emerson back home in Brazil attending to his sick mother, Tuto and new recruit Harison carried the fight to United.

Although neither of them got on the scoresheet, they had a big influence on the match.

While some of it was good, such as the exquisite passing with the outside of his right foot by Harison and the movement and ability to hold up the ball by Tuto, a lot more was bad.

As United took control of the first half, Urawa's play under Brazilian manager Pita had a familiar pattern to it.

Harison would collect the ball in midfield, break forward and then tumble theatrically when the slightest contact was made by an opponent.

He would then roll around in apparent agony, his yells clearly audible above the noise of the crowd in the compact Sendai Stadium, and Tuto would run toward referee Naotsugu Fuse appealing for the ref to brandish a card.

It was very unsavory stuff indeed, something Japan's professional league, at the end of only its ninth season, could well do without.

United were not entirely blameless either, and their captain Shigetoshi Hasebe set a bad example in the early stages by also pretending he had been seriously hurt in a tackle.

Hasebe lay holding an ankle, but when FIFA referee Fuse took no notice, he jumped straight to his feet and rejoined the action immediately, his "injury" miraculously healed in a matter of seconds.

In the case of Harison, however, justice was done when United took the lead on 34 minutes with a goal from Bosnian midfielder Edin Mujcin.

Harison lost possession in midfield and, surprise surprise, stayed down appealing for a non-existent foul.

Instead of getting back to help out his teammates, he preferred to try and con the referee, and as he sulked on the floor, Mujcin shot United in front.

Fans could have expected more of the same if Emerson had been playing, as he's a master at using his lightning pace to win free kicks and penalties when he could often race clear.

This is a worrying trend in Japan, and Urawa's Brazilian contingent are contributing significantly to the plague.

The Reds fans are the best in the country and will be looking forward to Saturday's semifinal against Cerezo Osaka at Saitama Stadium.

But hopefully Tuto and Harison will acknowledge their responsibility to the Fair Play flag carried out before each game, and show the brighter side of their nation's proud football heritage.

23 Dec 2001(Sun)

Kashima Antlers fans would have had mixed emotions when national coach Philippe Troussier named a 40-strong squad for a January training camp on Friday.

Shining brightly among the midfield contingent was 22-year-old Mitsuo Ogasawara, who has played a leading role in Antlers' two back-to-back league championships in 2000 and 2001.

But conspicuous by his absence was the dashing full-back Akira Narahashi, regarded by many--including Antlers' Brazilian boss Toninho Cerezo--as the best right-sided player in the J.League.

Six more members of the talented Kashima squad were also included: goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata, central defender Yutaka Akita, midfielder Koji Nakata, who plays on the left side of defense for Japan, attacking midfielder Masashi Motoyama, plus strikers Takayuki Suzuki and Atsushi Yanagisawa.

But once again Troussier overlooked Narahashi, who was a key member of previous national coach Takeshi Okada at the France World Cup.

Of the nine Japanese players selected recently in the J.League Best XI for the 2001 season, Narahashi is the only one to miss out on Troussier's first squad for next year as the countdown heats up to the World Cup.

It is a mystery to many why the Frenchman continues to ignore the claims of the 30-year-old Narahashi, whose swashbuckling runs down the right flank, aggressive tackling and non-stop motor make him one of the most impressive players on view.

Since taking over as national coach in September 1998, Troussier has adopted a 3-5-2 formation, and the general feeling is that Narahashi would be the ideal man for the right side of midfield.

But what goes against him in Troussier's eyes is his occasional lack of discipline, when he can be caught too far upfield once an attacking move breaks down, and a tendency for taking the wrong option when he's too near his own goal, putting unnecessary pressure on his defense.

While Narahashi can get away with such lapses in the J.League, they are the sort of mistakes which will be punished ruthlessly at the top level, and Troussier feels there is no going back.

The Frenchman constantly stresses team work and discipline, and he must feel that Narahashi, despite all his positive aspects, is too much of a risk in his strict tactical formation.

But this will be of no consolation to the player, who always plays his heart out for the whole 90 minutes, or for the fans, despite their delight in seeing Ogasawara in the squad.

The youngster first made his mark under Troussier as a member of the national youth team which reached the FIFA World Under-20 Championship final against Spain in Nigeria in 1999.

But such is the competition for places in central midfield that Ogasawara was not even close to winning a place in the Olympic under-23 squad for Sydney last year.

His sparkling form in the league, however, has contributed to the Kashima club's decision not to renew the contract of veteran Brazilian playmaker Bismarck, who won two league titles with the former Verdy Kawasaki and three more with Antlers following his transfer in 1997.

As Ogasawara and his teammates continue to dream of playing in next year's World Cup, Narahashi must be wondering where he's gone wrong.

20 Dec 2001(Thu)

Supporters of JEF United Ichihara should have been in festive mood as the season draws to a close in Japan.

After all, their team, usually involved in fighting relegation battles, finished a highly creditable third in the recently-completed J.League, behind Jubilo Iwata and champions Kashima Antlers.

But players, officials and fans alike were shocked when Slovenian manager Zdenko Verdenik announced he would be leaving the club and taking over at Nagoya Grampus Eight next year.

Then, at the J.League awards night, the club was overlooked in all categories.

South Korean striker Choi Yong Soo, who scored 21 goals in his debut season, was in the running for the Player of the Year award, while Slovenian central defender Zeljko Milinovic was among the candidates for the Best XI after an outstanding campaign.

But neither player made it into the Best XI, which was dominated by Antlers and Jubilo, and the remarkable achievement of manager Verdenik also went unrewarded.

There is light at the end of the dark tunnel for JEF, though, as 28-year-old World Cup striker Choi looks set to sign a new, improved contract to keep him at the Chiba prefecture club next year.

Club spokesman Yoichi Risho said: "Choi had very good results this season and is very popular with the fans, so we want him to stay.

"However, his manager in Korea says three Bundesliga teams in Germany are interested to sign him, although our president has received no official offer.

"We have offered him a new deal for next season and he is thinking about it, but we don't think there is any big problem. We are confident he will stay."

If Choi signs it would be a huge boost to JEF fans, and Risho added that Milinovic had also agreed to sign a new contract.

On the managerial front, Verdenik returned to Slovenia after announcing he would be joining Grampus, as the club thought he would not be motivated enough to take charge of the team in the end-of-season Emperor's Cup.

His assistant, Sugao Kanbe, was promoted to caretaker manager, and has guided JEF into the quarterfinals on Dec. 24, when they play Urawa Reds at Sendai.

Risho added that negottiations with a European coach were at an advanced stage, and they were hoping to make an announcement by the end of this week.

16 Dec 2001(Sun)

When Mitsuo Ogasawara won the J.League championship for Kashima Antlers with a brilliant free kick, it signaled a sad end to the season for Jubilo Iwata.

It also meant the end of the career for the match referee, Leslie Mottram.

The 50-year-old Scotsman hung up his whistle after the game, but will return to Japan in January to begin a three-year contract with the Japan Football Association as chief instructor.

This will involve working with around 70 referees, assistant referees and referee inspectors around the country, trying to improve the quality of officiating in the nine-year-old professional J.League.

Although Mottram had a reputation for being a little quick on the draw, producing yellow and even red cards out of the blue, so to speak, he did set a fine example to other referees on several fronts.

He first came to Japan in 1996 after refereeing at Euro 96 in England and at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

One area in which he excelled was at in determining if a player was injured or not.

Too often in the J.League players stay down on the ground after an innocuous challenge.

Whereas a Japanese referee would tolerate the histrionics and call for the medical team, Mottram would tell them to get up and get on with it in no uncertain terms.

And after a few seconds of self-conscious and pointless play-acting, the humbled player would suddenly be on his feet and running around with full mobility.

One of Mottram's major tasks will be to educate the Japanese referees regarding this unsavory element of the game, as well as the growing concern of diving.

"The Japanese refs know the laws of the game inside out, probably better than I do word for word," says Mottram.

"But putting them into practice is another matter. It is very difficult to referee with a rule book, because sometimes you must use your common sense and do things which go against the rules."

What he means is that refs should have a "feel" for the game, for the spirit of the game and also the situation of the game at any one time.

"I think the biggest problem for Japanese referees is man-management skills, and that has to build up gradually. It does not happen overnight," he adds.

"In Europe, the referees and players tend to understand each other, whereas in Japan some players can be confused because one week one referee will punish one thing but the next week another one won't."

Mottram, a four-time winner of the J.League Referee of the Year award, believes there is far too much misconduct in the game these days, with players who cheat and con their way to free kicks and penalties being hailed as heroes.

"Fair play? The words exist only in the FIFA fair play flag, not in professional football, and I don't hold out much hope of the situation improving in the near future," he adds.

But he will start trying to change that in Japan when his new job begins next month.

13 Dec 2001(Thu)

When Toninho Cerezo speaks, people listen.
And when Toninho Cerezo dances, people cheer.

This was the show-stopping moment of the J.League's glitzy awards night at Yokohama Arena on Monday.

The Brazilian boss of Kashima Antlers was going up to receive his prize as Champion Manager of the Year after steering the Ibaraki club to a second successive league title.

After walking up the red-carpeted steps to the stage, Toninho suddenly broke outin a break-dance style movement, bringing admiration from the dignitaries and a couple of thousand young female fans who cheered their heroes like they would a J-Pop star.

"I learned that from Fujimoto of Sanfrecce," explained Toninho, referring to the post-goal celebrations of Hiroshima's Chikara Fujimoto.

Once the laughter had died down, Toninho said he was amazed what the J.League had achieved in its 10 years' existence in terms of skill, tactics and fan support.

"In my experience I have never seen anything like this in the world," said Toninho, who was a member of Brazil's brilliant midfield in the 1982 World Cup in Spain alongside Zico, Falcao and Socrates.

The quartet was known as the "quatros hombres d'or" (the four golden men), and the Brazilian knows he has a few of his own golden boys at Kashima, such as Best XI members Koji Nakata, Mitsuo Ogasawara and Atsushi Yanagisawa.

He also had special words of praise for Jubilo Iwata, whom Antlers beat 3-2 on aggregate in the two-leg championship playoff.

"I thought both teams had such high ability and tactics and skill," he said.

His comments received royal support from Prince Takamado, patron of the Japan Football Association and a member of the Imperial Family.

Referring to the second leg of the playoff, which Antlers won 1-0 in sudden-death extra time with a free kick from Ogasawara, Prince Takamado said: "It was a really wonderful game, so rich in content.

"Ten days before that we had watched the Toyota Cup in Tokyo between the champions of Europe and South America, and I felt that the J.League game was so much better than that."

Fine words from Prince Takamado, and a fine break-dance from Toninho Cerezo, showing he still has some special moves when the spotlight is on.

9 Dec 2001(Sun)

The J.League's annual awards night takes place Monday night, and the race for the main prize appears to be wide open.

There are several players who deserve special attention, and the judges must be in a difficult position picking one winner.

Jubilo Iwata, who finished 17 points clear of nearest challengers Kashima Antlers over the two stages of the season, have a couple of strong contenders in midfielder Toshiya Fujita and evergreen striker Masashi Nakayama.

Fujita was named MVP of the first stage, and continued this good form in the second stage after recovering from a couple of minor injuries.

His intelligent play and ability to link defence to attack was behind much of Jubilo's success, and he would surely be a candidate for the national team if there was not so much competition for places in central midfield.

As for Nakayama, who won the MVP award in 1998, he just never stops scoring.

He bagged 16 this time to finish sixth in the scoring chart, but was the highest-placed Japanese player behind five overseas strikers.

Another remarkable fact was that he played in all 30 league games, proof of this veteran professional's ultra-professional approach to the game.

Antlers must have a chance, too, with young midfielder Koji Nakata, one of national coach Philippe Troussier's favourites. He plays defensive midfield for club and left defence for country, and is maturing into a fine all-round player.

Consadole Sapporo's Brazilian striker Will had an outstanding debut season in J1 following his move from Oita Trinita. He scored a league-high 24 goals in a mediocre Consadole team, keeping them in the top flight almost single-handedly.

Equal second in the scoring chart was J.League rookie Choi Yong Soo, who scored 21 goals, the same as Nagoya's Ueslei, another Brazilian.

Choi missed the start of the season through injury after his transfer from Anyang LG Cheetahs, but quickly found his touch with JEF United.

He arrived in Japan with a reputation as a mean and aggressive goal-scorer, and lived up to that tag against all-comers.

It's a tough call, but I would be tempted to give it to the Korean striker Choi, and the Manager of the Year to Zdenko Verdenik, who guided JEF United to third place overall, a fine achievement for a club which is usually fighting to avoid relegation.

2 Dec 2001(Sun)

Former Cerezo Osaka manager Rene Desaeyere believes the career of national team striker Akinori Nishizawa has gone backwards after leaving the J.League.

Desaeyere said he advised Nishizawa to move to Belgium to further his career, but the player wanted to play in a more glamorous league.

"I could have got him a club in Belgium where he could have become stronger as a player and improved his game, but he said he had already played in Holland and didn't like it there," said the Belgian, who was part of the Belgian FA delegation at Saturday's World Cup draw.

"If he'd have gone to Belgium first, then he could have moved to Spain or to England, but I believe he has lost three years by going to Espanyol and now to Bolton Wanderers."

Nishizawa failed to make the grade in Spain and is struggling to get on the substitutes' bench for Bolton in the English Premier League.

Consequently, this has put his World Cup place in jeopardy, as he has no chance to show national coach Philippe Troussier if he is in form or not.

Meanwhile, Desaeyere has warned Japan that defense will be the key to a solid start against his native Belgium in next year's World Cup.

The Japanese will kick off their Group H campaign against the seasoned European campaigners at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Tuesday, June 4.

But Desaeyere says Japan must not throw caution to the wind in an attempt to grab three points.

Asked if Japan could beat Belgium, he replied: "Why not? It is not going to be easy, but a draw is still possible.

"Japan has a nice offensive team, but Belgium is good in organization and will play a counter-attacking game.

"I think Japan should concentrate on their defense; that is the key. They should beware of their defense, otherwise that could be a problem.

"The Japanese public are going to push them forward and think Belgium is not strong because Japan is happy to be drawn with Belgium."

The only time Japan and Belgium have met was in the Kirin Cup at Tokyo National Stadium on June 3, 1999. That match ended in a 0-0 draw, and Belgium would be happy with the same result next year at Saitama.

Desaeyere, who is hoping to return to Japan as a coach, said Belgium still had attacking flair, despite a reputation for discipline and organization.

"Players such as Emile Mpenza, Bart Goor and Marc Wilmots give Belgium some good offense, and Wesley Sonck is emerging as an exciting player for Genk," added Desaeyere.

"It will not be easy for Japan to win, but it is the opening game and every host country of the World Cup has qualified for the second round. I think Japan can do the same, even though Russia and Tunisia are also strong. I have confidence in that.

"Overall I think it is a very balanced group and there will not be too many goals. All four of them have a chance to go through to the second round."