Toke-E-Yo
02-16-2005, 05:50 PM
ok here is a newarticle from fifaworlcp.com
Zico's puzzling policies not helping Japan
10 February 2005
by Reuters
Japan coach Zico left for his native Brazil on Thursday a highly relieved man after his team's 2-1 win over North Korea in a World Cup qualifier.
While he can point to three points as proof his methods are working, however, Zico's puzzling decision to keep faith with J-League players almost cost Japan dearly on Wednesday.
Only a scrambled injury-time goal from substitute Masashi Oguro spared Japan's embarrassment in their opening match in the final round of 2006 qualifiers.
"We did our job and that was to take three points at home," Zico told reporters. "It was a very tough game but we have to keep our feet on the ground and take it one step at a time."
Zico dropped captain Hidetoshi Nakata and British-based midfielder Junichi Inamoto even though both players have proved their recoveries from lengthy injuries.
Hamburg striker Naohiro Takahara and Reggina's Shunsuke Nakamura were left out of the starting line-up in Saitama despite their recent good form.
Takahara scored twice in Hamburg's 3-1 win at FC Nuremburg last weekend and made it clear he was unhappy at having to travel to Japan to be named among the substitutes.
Zico stuck by the players who had beaten Syria 3-0 in a warm-up game a week earlier.
It nearly backfired as Nam Song-chol cancelled out Mitsuo Ogasawara's early strike in the 61st minute and North Korea had clear chances to win the game.
Zico offered to quit a year ago after Japan needed another injury-time goal to beat Oman at the same venue in the previous round of World Cup qualifiers.
He is still no closer to finding a system in which he can accommodate his best players.
Japan's domestic-based players are capable of beating Kazakhstan and Syria in friendly internationals. Zico's side even won last year's Asian Cup without Nakata, Inamoto, Takahara and Feyenoord's Shinji Ono.
But players such as Yasuhito Endo, Takashi Fukunishi and Ogasawara have obvious limitations.
Asia's generous allocation of four automatic berths at the 2006 World Cup in Germany means 2002 co-hosts Japan will still expect to qualify for the finals for a second time.
Zico's predecessor, Frenchman Philippe Troussier, built his team around Nakata, Inamoto and Ono, taking Japan to the second round of the 2002 World Cup.
The suspicion remains that, unless Zico makes personnel changes and finds a way to employ his best players quickly, Japan will be found out in Germany.
is zico overrated as a manager? no doubt that he is one of the soccer greats, only second to pele in goals for international games for brazil. But is he really that good?
Personally i have never liked him. He favours J-League players from the Kashima-Antlers futbol club, which has led to the the slow decline of the Japanese NT. He has forgotten about the European based players, such as Nakata and Inamoto, who have been recovering quite well from their injuries. He also dropped Toda, who had a marvellous preformance at the WC02.
Anyone have ne comments? Anyone is welcome to agree or disagree!
Zico's puzzling policies not helping Japan
10 February 2005
by Reuters
Japan coach Zico left for his native Brazil on Thursday a highly relieved man after his team's 2-1 win over North Korea in a World Cup qualifier.
While he can point to three points as proof his methods are working, however, Zico's puzzling decision to keep faith with J-League players almost cost Japan dearly on Wednesday.
Only a scrambled injury-time goal from substitute Masashi Oguro spared Japan's embarrassment in their opening match in the final round of 2006 qualifiers.
"We did our job and that was to take three points at home," Zico told reporters. "It was a very tough game but we have to keep our feet on the ground and take it one step at a time."
Zico dropped captain Hidetoshi Nakata and British-based midfielder Junichi Inamoto even though both players have proved their recoveries from lengthy injuries.
Hamburg striker Naohiro Takahara and Reggina's Shunsuke Nakamura were left out of the starting line-up in Saitama despite their recent good form.
Takahara scored twice in Hamburg's 3-1 win at FC Nuremburg last weekend and made it clear he was unhappy at having to travel to Japan to be named among the substitutes.
Zico stuck by the players who had beaten Syria 3-0 in a warm-up game a week earlier.
It nearly backfired as Nam Song-chol cancelled out Mitsuo Ogasawara's early strike in the 61st minute and North Korea had clear chances to win the game.
Zico offered to quit a year ago after Japan needed another injury-time goal to beat Oman at the same venue in the previous round of World Cup qualifiers.
He is still no closer to finding a system in which he can accommodate his best players.
Japan's domestic-based players are capable of beating Kazakhstan and Syria in friendly internationals. Zico's side even won last year's Asian Cup without Nakata, Inamoto, Takahara and Feyenoord's Shinji Ono.
But players such as Yasuhito Endo, Takashi Fukunishi and Ogasawara have obvious limitations.
Asia's generous allocation of four automatic berths at the 2006 World Cup in Germany means 2002 co-hosts Japan will still expect to qualify for the finals for a second time.
Zico's predecessor, Frenchman Philippe Troussier, built his team around Nakata, Inamoto and Ono, taking Japan to the second round of the 2002 World Cup.
The suspicion remains that, unless Zico makes personnel changes and finds a way to employ his best players quickly, Japan will be found out in Germany.
is zico overrated as a manager? no doubt that he is one of the soccer greats, only second to pele in goals for international games for brazil. But is he really that good?
Personally i have never liked him. He favours J-League players from the Kashima-Antlers futbol club, which has led to the the slow decline of the Japanese NT. He has forgotten about the European based players, such as Nakata and Inamoto, who have been recovering quite well from their injuries. He also dropped Toda, who had a marvellous preformance at the WC02.
Anyone have ne comments? Anyone is welcome to agree or disagree!