Pressure eases on Zico after Japan's surprise away win over Czechs

Japan's surprise 1-0 away win over the Czech Republic has helped ease pressure on their coach Zico, who was blamed for the Asian champions' stuttering World Cup qualifying campaign.

Japan's surprise 1-0 away win over the Czech Republic has helped ease pressure on their coach Zico, who was blamed for the Asian champions' stuttering World Cup qualifying campaign.

A group of football fans abruptly called off a rally here at the weekend to demand that the Brazilian be sacked, the morning after Japan toppled the European powerhouse in a friendly in Prague on Wednesday.

"We determine that it is not appropriate to hold the rally at this point in time. We would like to postpone it for the time being," the Society to Seek Coach Zico's Dismissal announced on its website Thursday.

About 60 members of the group demonstrated in downtown Tokyo last February to demand Zico's head after Japan barely beat unfancied Oman 1-0 at home with a last-minute goal in their opening World Cup qualifier.

Japan also struggled in their second Asian Group-3 qualifier, limping past lowly ranked Singapore 2-1 away.

They are due to face India on June 9 at home and rumours were rife that Zico would be replaced if Japan struggled further in World Cup qualifiers or in the Asian Cup in China in July.

"Coach Zico has come in for a lot of flak but his passion for the team has borne fruit," Kozo Tajima, technical director of the Japanese Football Association, told Japanese reporters in Prague after the Czech match.

"It was a great boost to Japan's aim for a spot in the top 10 in the world," he added. "We hope to survive the first and second qualifying rounds."

J-League striker Tatsuhiko Kubo struck the only goal of the game in Japan's 1-0 win against the Czech Republic.

J-League striker Tatsuhiko Kubo struck the only goal of the game against a near full-strength Czech side, while Japan were without their eurostars, captain and Bologna midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata, Reggina midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura and SV Hamburg striker Naohiro Takahara for injuries.

Kubo also scored in Japan's 3-2 loss to a second-string Hungary on Sunday when his side took the field without club-tied players plying their trade in Europe.

The triumph in Prague was a lesson of sorts for Zico, who has been criticised for relying too much on travel-weary Europe-based players.

This time around no expatriates lined up in Japan's fragile front-line, with Zico electing not to play Sampdoria substitute Atsushi Yanagisawa, who has been erratic in recent internationals.

But Feyenoord's Shinji Ono and Fulham reserve Junichi Inamoto solidified Japan's midfield against the Czech offensive led by Pavel Nedved of Juventus, the 2003 European player of the year. Nagoya goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki also made a few breath-taking saves.

"It gives us a lot of confidence to score an away win over favourites in the European championships," said Zico, who took over from Frenchman Philippe Troussier after Japan reached the last-16 stage at the 2002 World Cup at home. "We will boost our potential by having confidence."

Japan's international record under Zico stretched to 11 wins against seven losses and six draws.