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National Team Match: |
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OK, it was nothing to write home about -- in fact, it wasnt really even worth staying up until 3:30 AM to watch. But we are prepared to give credit where credit is due. Zico Japan recognised that three points would virtually lock up a ticket to the 2006 World Cup, and they went out and got the victory they needed (against admittedly hostile conditions). People mentioned the summer heat in Bahrain as a factor that Japan had to deal with, but the Bahrainis were playing in the same temperatures. It was the officiating which was the most severe challenge they had to face.
It is nice, once in a while, to watch one of the AFC's referees in action, if only because it allows us to feel less angst when watching the J.League officials in action. The mere fact that Bahrain made it through the entire first half without receiving a yellow card (whereas Japan was awarded two) was evidence enough of the favouritism that was being applied. In the 4 minute there was one particularly nasty two-footed studs-up tackle at midfield that missed the ball by a furlong, and sent Takashi Fukunishi spinning head-over-heels like some gymnast doing his floor exercise routine. In the Premiership it was the sort of play that would earn a straight red card and a 4-5 match suspension. However, this particular referee (the same fellow, incidentally, who sent off Yasuhito Endo in the Asian Cup match against Bahrain for punching an opponent in the elbow with his jawbone) seemed to be capable of seeing only what he wanted to see. If one considers the gap in the final score that would have existed if the referee's vision had been good enough to perceive the two blatant PK offences (on Alex and Nakata respectively), this was not a bad outing for the Japan NT.
Of course, that is not to say that they played "well". Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi very nearly dropped yet ANOTHER easy save into his own net, and was only rescued by the left post. Takashi Fukunishi was up to his usual tricks, conceding a dangerous and unnecessary free kick early in the contest. And of course, Hide Nakata was set up for a wide-open chance, on a lovely feed from Atsushi Yanagisawa in the late second half, and could have put the match to bed early, but balooned his shot a mile over the crossbar. . . . in other words, it was a pretty typical outing in many ways.
But since we have covered these themes so many times in the past, in this report we would like to consider some of the things that Japan did RIGHT in this match, and the subtle indications that the team might finally be on the right track. In the wake of this contest, there is at least a hint that perhaps we should not give up ALL hope, and that Zico may still be able to develop a more competitive team in time for the World Cup.
In retrospect, the injury to Shinji Ono earlier this week may have been the best thing that could have happend to Japan. As we noted in our pre-match comments, this forced Zico to think creatively, and he FINALLY experimented with a formation that we think is long overdue. Everyone who follows the Japan National Team is aware that one of its main weaknesses is up front, where the team simply does not have any players who are good at playing in the "traditional" roles of centre forward and mobile forward. There are a few players who can make a decent simulation of a "number 2" striker, but the best option Japan has at the central striker position has been Takayuki Suzuki.
Suzuki is perhaps the most unfairly criticised player in Japan, and is the butt of much abuse from those who are only "casual" fans of football, and lack more in-depth knowledge of the game. But every coach who has ever seen Suzuki play recognizes the value of what he DOES do. This is why he has been the main actor at the center forward spot under both Troussier and Zico. Suzuki does make valuable contributions, based on his power in the air and with his back to the goal, his fine passing touch out of the post, and his ability to create space for teammates by literally dragging the defence out of the way. But even if we give him full credit for these qualities, it is readily apparent that he lacks the finishing ability to be effective as a "traditional" centre forward. The reason why he has played the spot regularly under both Troussier and Zico is that nobody ELSE in Japan can play the position either. J.League teams routinely hire Brazilians to play center forward for them, and those teams who cant find a good Brazilian ace adopt other techniques designed to make a traditional centre forward unnecessary.
One such technique, and one that we have suggested a number of times in the past, is the switch to a "single striker" (or perhaps more accurately, a "triple striker") formation. After Ono was injured, Zico had to decide how to adjust to the loss, and in practice the following day he adopted a 3-4-2-1 (or a 3-4-3) formation, with Suzuki out of the picture. The trial run worked so well that he apparently decided to stick with it in the match against Bahrain, and we certainly hope that the success will convince him to stick with it, even after Ono regains his health.
There are a number of features of this formation which make it ideal for the Japan NT. First, with three people capable of getting involved in the play inside the box, rather than only two, there are more targets for crosses from the wing. Second, by abandoning the specialization of a traditional lineup (a tall powerful center forward and a smaller, faster set-up man), all three of the players "up front" are essentially interchangeable. This makes it harder for the opposing defence to isolate and cover the most dangerous attackers . . . . because they never know who "the most dangerous attacker" is going to be.
Most important, however, is that Japan has a truckload of players who are capable of filling the positions in a 3-4-3 set. In this contest, Atsushi Yanagiswawa played at the point, and Mitsuo Ogasawara and Shunsuke Nakamura at the two side slots. However, on several occasions Ogasawara and Hidetoshi Nakata switched roles, with Nakata moving forward into the front three and Oga taking the deep midfield role. Shinji Ono, Junichi Inamoto. Masashi Motoyama and Koji Nakata are also all capable of playing at least three or four of these five "central attack" roles. For that reason, the team can do a lot more position switching and overlapping than in a traditional set, which makes it that much more difficult for a defence to select people to mark, and maintain a tight formation.
Certainly, in their first "full trial" of this 3-4-3 formation, Japan was fairly conservative in how often players switched roles. However, in the longer term the prospects for even more variation -- perhaps even approaching a "total football" concept -- is excellent. One of the weaknesses of both Alex Santos and Akira Kaji is that neither one is quite offence-minded enough to play well at midfield wing (Santos is slightly better, but still a bit lacking), yet both are a bit weak on defence if played at wing back in a 4-4-2 (Kaji is slightly better but still prone to defensive lapses). But in a 3-4-3 set, Kaji and Santos could transform this "problem" into an advantage, particularly if Zico will put Makoto Tanaka out to pasture and replace him with Keisuke Tsuboi. With Tsuboi and Nakazawa at the side back positions, Japan would be able to throw big men forward on a counterattack without jeopardizing the defence. Both Tsuboi and Nakazawa are speedy players with good dribbling skills, and the ability to score goals, but in the past they have been hesitant to push forward too far (and for good reason considering how many goals Japan concedes on counterattacks). But in a 3-4-3, with two dedicated defensive mids, it would be possible for Kaji and Santos to retreat into the back line while their corresponding side back dashed forward. The risks on defence would remain minimal given the defensive capabilities of Kaji and Santos and Miyamoto's skill at line control (and in point of fact, players like Atsuhiro Miura and Yuji Komano would offer even GREATER flexibility in such a role).
In conclusion, an unfortunate injury may just have provided the inspiration that Zico needs to begin thinking creatively again, and perhaps start to IMPROVE the team rather than just marking time, as he has been for most of the past year. Naturally one match doesnt tell us very much, but we are happy to at least see some positive trends emerging.
As noted at the top, Japan was kept at bay throughout most of the first half by fierce physical checking from Bahrain, who pretty much had a license from the referees to do anything short of picking up the ball with their hands. Nevertheless, as the half wore down, Japan's quick movement in the attacking zone, and constant change of positions -- particularly among Nakamura, Yanagisawa and Ogasawara -- began to create openings. Alex Santos penetrated the box in the 30 minute only to be bundled to the turf . . . . and of course, the referee turned a blind eye. Seconds later Santos was in the box again, and this time he tried to "create" a foul and ended up earning a yellow card.
But moments later a back-heel from Nakamura to Ogasawara, just inside the penalty arc, gave The Baby-Faced Assassin a clear target for just a breif instant, and before the defenders could close in, he fired a kill shot with the accuracy of a sniper, right into the low left corner
A strange thing occurred about 10 minutes into the second half. The Bahrain players seemed to just give up. Perhaps it was the heat, and the strain of chasing the ball at a furious pace for close to ah hour in the stifling evening. But one cant avoid the sense that they were unable to sustain the emotional intensity for long, once they fell behind. Japan did allow a dangerous shot just before the break, which Kawaguchi mishandled and allowed to bound right through his hands, and off the left post. But in the second stanza Japan played solid, conservative yet offensively imposing football, and it seemed that Bahrain just seemed to accept that their goose was cooked. True, even if they had fought back for a draw it would have put Japan in a nearly unchallengeable position (since Bahrain have yet to play Iran in Iran).
All in all, Japan played a decent match, if one considers how solid Bahrain have become as a football team. If they can keep their heads, they stand a good chance of defeating Costa Rica or Guatemala in the AFC/CONCACAF playoff. Lets hope that Japan continue on an improving course, as well. Or at least lets hope that, with this match, they are turning the corner.
National Team
Overseas Players
Japan 1 - 0 Bahrain 