National Team Match:
Japan 0 - 0 Cameroon

Date: 19 Nov, 2003 Location: Oita, Japan Japan 0 0 1H 0 0 2H 0 0 Cameroon Scoring Cautions Seigo Narazaki; Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, Nobuhisa Yamada, Keisuke Tsuboi, Alessandro Santos, Junichi Inamoto, Hidetoshi Nakata, Toshiya Fujita (Yasuhito Endo, 80), Shinji Ono; Atsushi Yanagisawa (Yoshito Okubo, 69), Naohiro Takahara Idriss Carlos Kameni, Pierre Njanka Beaka (Nana Falemi 25), Bill Tchato (Gustave Bahoken 63), Lucien Mettomo, Geremi, Timothee Atouba Essama, Perrier Jean Joel Doumbe, Marcus Mokake Mwambo, Eric Djemba Djemba (Achille Webo, 68), Jean Makoun, Patrick Mboma (Daniel Ngom Kome, 80)

In the last match this year that will feature players from Europe, Zico Japan took on the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at Oita "Big Eye" Stadium. The citizens of Kyushu did theselves proud, turning out in huge numbers for the match, including several hundred citizens of Nakatsue-mura, the tiny town where the Cameroon national team camped for the 2002 world cup. The citizens of Nakatsue-mura were all decked out in Cameroon colours and spent the evening cheering loudly for their adopted team. The atmosphere was brilliant, and although the match produced no scoring, it certainly did not lack for excitement.

Japan has been gradually improving their team coordination, partucularly in trems of creating and sustaining offensive pressure. Against Cameroon, despite the fact that the team was unable to score, they demonstrated further progress in this direction. The Lions are considered the finest team in Africa, and they are renowned in particular for their fine midfield play, ball control and speed. Yet apart from two or three five-minute stretches (one around the 30 minute mark, another just before half time, and a third early in the second half) Japan maintained the upper hand in both possession and field position.

Perhaps even more importantly the back line is growing more solid and self-assured with every match. There are still a few weaknesses, such as the weak ball distribution and occasional mis-passes of Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, and the inconsistent one-on-one defending of Nobuhisa Yamada and Alex Santos. But even these areas have become less of a liability in recent matches. Against the tall, swift and powerful strikers of Cameroon, the back line held firm, allowing just a few dangerous opportunities, and most of those from set plays. Santos and Keisuke Tsuboi proved capable of winning a footrace even against the fleet Cameroon wings, while Miyamoto and Tsuboi did a good job of controlling the high balls, despite giving away several inches to players like Patrick Mboma and Eric Djemba Djemba. Furthermore, the defence seems to be communicating better, avoiding the sort of missed assignments and confusion that cost them matches earlier this year. Seigo Narazaki had a fine match in goal, controlling the most dangerous high balls into the center, and making one particularly good save on a free kick by Geremi.

Though neither Atsushi Yanagisawa or Naohiro Takahara managed to find the net, even the strikers looked fairly sharp, producing several good chances including two shots that were saved only by extremely good saves by Idriss Kameni. The only area of Japan's game that prompted concern was their set plays. Hide Nakata, Alex Santos and Shinji Ono all wasted several opportunities with unusually poor execution. Since this is an aspect of Japan's game which usually is viewed as a strength, the poor results from set plays in this match may point to the need for a bit more dedication to practice. The absence of Shunsuke Nakamura no doubt was one detriment, but Nakata, in particular, should not squander opportunities the way he did in this match. Indeed, despite some good displays of power, balance and ball control, Nakata was the one player whose performance seemed below par, at least considering what is usually expected of the team captain. The others -- and particularly Toshiya Fujita, who played brilliantly in place of the absent Nakamura -- all showed fine form, and should feel confident of their prospects going into the first round of World Cup qualifiers, early next year.

In summary, a draw from this match may be slightly disappointing, but given the content of Japan's performance, such a result against a full-strength Cameroon side is probably a good sign for the future.

Below is the full roster for Japan's match against Cameroon: