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National Team Match: |
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For those readers who have been waiting several months to hear us say some positive things about the Japan national team, here is your opportunity. After their second match in the Confederations Cup, we finally have some reasons to praise Zico Japan. First, let us consider the most important reason to feel good about the Japan NT: at least, thank God, they aren't Greece! I hesitate to offend any Greek fans who might be reading this report, but then, any self-respecting Greek fan will have dispatched themselves by seppuku following this disgraceful showing, so I suppose it is safe to say this -- what a pathetic bunch of diving, whining, cheating b@stards!
When the Greek players werent throwing themselves deliberately to the ground, or screaming in indignation when their thuggish hacks were whistled as fouls by the referee, they were hoofing aimless long balls into the front line, praying that the sheer height of their strikers would broduce a lucky break. You had the sense that they must have watched Kiyoshi Okuma's U-20 boys in action, the previous night, and took pointers on tactics from the Japanese juniors.
In the wake of Japan's loss to Mexico, Zico made adjustments to cover up for the absence of his defensive stalwart, Yuji Nakazawa, by adopting a 4-4-2 formation and getting rid of Takayuki Chano. This not only made sense; it also worked quite effectively. If only Zico had replaced Makoto Tanaka as well, the change would have been a 100% improvement. As it was, Tanaka passed the ball away to Greek players inside his own penalty box on not one, but two occasions, but good fortune was with us and neither blunder was punished.
The 4-4-2 lineup that Zico adopted as a compromise, while Nakazawa is unavailable, seemed a bit less effective offensively than the formation Japan used against Mexico, but on the defensive end, it clearly made the difference. With Santos and Kaji limiting the number of open crosses from the wings, Japan's central defence (including Kawaguchi) was not tested on high balls to the extent that it was against Mexico. With Takashi Fukunishi dropping back to help win the aerial battles, Japan were able to prevent the taller, more physical Greek team from gaining an advantage in this respect.
Meanwhile, Atsushi Yanagisawa, Mitsuo Ogasawara and Shunsuke Nakamura continued to combine extremely well in the build-up, and their sleek passing work caused Greece all kinds of trouble. If only they had done a better job of finishing off their scoring chances,. Japan could have won the contest by a far more comfortable score line. Keiji Tamada used his speed effectively to get behind the defence, but squandered two golden opportunities with the net at his mercy. Yanagisawa and Nakamura also had opportunities that they could have used more effectively, and both Santos and Kaji missed wide with shots that might have produced a goal if they had been on target. Thus, despite dominating play for the opening 45 minutes, Japan were held to a scoreless deadlock at the break.
Early in the second half, Zico brought in Masashi Oguro in place of Tamada, and the more deadly boots of Oguro eventually made the difference. In the 76 minute, a quick exchange of passes just in front of the Greek box scrambled the defenders, and Nakamura ripped the fraying defensive fabric open with a through pass that left Oguro all alone in the box. Oguro made no mistake, using his first touch to poke the ball past the keeper's flailing legs and give Japan the lead.
Forced to throw themselves forward with even greater abandon, Greece lost their shape and stability over the remaining 15 minutes, allowing Japan to dominate possession and very nearly add an insurance tally on two or three occasions. Though woefully dangerous blunders by Tanaka and Kawaguchi deep in their own end produced a few moments of panic, Japan was generally able to control the match down the stretch, and as Atsushi Yanagiwawa took the ball into the right corner to dribble out the final minute of play, the bench erupted in celebrations.
Coming on the heels of their very disappointing loss to Mexico, Japan's play against Greece is encouraging. However, it is important to keep in mind the difference in quality of the opposition. Whereas Mexico pressed Japan relentlessly in midfield, Greece gave them all the time in the world to orchestrate their buildup, and did not really turn up the pressure until the final 15 minutes of play, when they had gone a goal behind. Some of the mistakes which were evident in the back line would have been punished more severaly by a team like Mexico or Brazil, and Japan cannot afford a similar display on Tuersday evening, if they hope to make it through to the knockout round.
On a positive note, the pressure that Japan displayed was much better in this match. Players complained of fatigue and jet-lag in the match against Mexico, and one of the big factors that decided that contest was clearly the lack of pressure on the ball, at midfield. Against Greece, Japan were much tighter in coverage, and they refused to be outmuscled by their larger opponents. Having said that, the combination of Nakata and Fukunishi in defensive midfield may lack the ferocity to disrupt a precise passing attack such as they will face against Brazil, and which they have already faced against Mexico. The result of the Mexico - Brazil contest (1-0 to the North Americans) suggests that Japan have a chance, but only if they can keep constant pressure on Ronaldinho and Robinho, and make the most of their scoring chances. In other words, as satisfying as it is to collect a victory over the European Champions (and in Europe, no less), Japan will need to do better if they hope to overcome Brazil, and move into the semifinals.
National Team
Overseas Players
Japan 1 - 0 Greece 