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: : The theme this week will be the Emperor's Cup, which moves to the quarterfinal stage this weekend. However, since the quarterfinals means I only have four matches from which to choose, I have to post this entry a bit early in order to include tomorrow night's Japan-Korea friendly match. Though it may not have the same importance as a championship tournament, the Japan-Korea rivalry has always been closely contested, so that's where we will begin. : : <h1><img src="http://www.flags.net/elements/gif_flags/JAPA002.GIF" width=70>Japan 2 - 1 Korea <img src="http://www.flags.net/elements/gif_flags/SKOR001.GIF" width=70></h1>This is a really tough match to call, since the result will depend a great deal on what strategy the two coaches adopt. Naturally, both sides would like to win, but the pressure for a victory is on Korea much more than on Japan. A draw would suit Troussier just fine, especially if his intention is to ring down the curtain on some of the old-timers who he has called back to the National Team after a long absence. : : The much-discussed rumour is that Troussier wants Kazu to accept a role as an assistant coach/media representative/interpreter (actually, Kazu's English is quite good) for the 2002 World Cup, but Kazu still wants to take part as a player. If Kazu debuts tomorrow night and (as one would expect) looks completely hapless, the pressure will be on him to accept the offer of a coaching spot, especially since he is no longer under contract to ANY team as a player. On the other hand, if this is Troussier's strategy, then he is unlikely to get a win against a psyched up Korean team led by new boss Guus Hiddink. Although Korea have been off their form recently, Japan have a number of disadvantages as well. Most important is that Gamba Osaka volante Junichi Inamoto will not appear due to an ankle injury sustained in last week's Emperor's Cup match. On the other hand, Japan have the advantage of playing at home, in front of around 50,000 fans in Tokyo's National Stadium. The key is going to be how much Troussier wants a win, and whether he is ready to use the personnel he needs in order to win (meaning Ono and Nakamura in the middle, Motoyama and Nanami on the wings, and Yanagisawa and Gon Nakayama up front). : : As I said above, I am half tempted to predict a draw, and certainly Korea could manage a win if Japan's midfield pressure suffers significantly from the loss of Inamoto. However, Im going to go with the home field advantage as the decisive factor, and predict a narrow win for Japan. : : : : <h1><img src="http://smoking.man.tripod.com/soccer/kashima1.gif"><img src="http://smoking.man.tripod.com/soccer/kashima2.gif"> 2 - 1 <img src="http://smoking.man.tripod.com/soccer/hama1.gif"><img src="http://smoking.man.tripod.com/soccer/hama2.gif"></h1>The most high-profile of the quarterfinal matches will be the replay of the J.League title match, as Kashima Antlers take on Yokohama Marinos. After losing 3-0 in the J.League final, the Marinos will certainly be out for revenge. The question is whether they can derail the Antlers drive to capture the third jewel in a stellar season. If last week's results are anything to go by, it doesnt seem likely. : : Last week, Kashima took on their historical rival, Verdy Kawasaki. Though Verdy is no longer one of the powerhouses in the league, there is no love lost between the two teams and the match shaped up to be a difficult test for the antlers. However, the championship match MVP, Mitsuo Ogasawara, got the Antlers on the board first with a nice break across the top of the penalty area and a quick shot into the low corner. As time wound down, Atsushi Yanagisawa put a cap on the evening with a pretty strike for the second goal. A pass came in to Yanagisawa at the penalty spot just as two defenders and the keeper all converged on him. Despite the impending collision, Yanagisawa turned the ball into the net with a quick flick, just before being sandwiched. : : By contrast, the Marinos limp into their match with the Antlers after scraping by 2-1 in extra time over second-division club Consadole Sapporo. They will have to put on a far better show if they hope to defeat the mighty Antlers. : : <h1><img src="http://smoking.man.tripod.com/soccer/iwata1.gif"><img src="http://smoking.man.tripod.com/soccer/iwata2.gif"> 3 - 1 <img src="http://smoking.man.tripod.com/soccer/kashiwa1.gif"><img src="http://smoking.man.tripod.com/soccer/kashiwa2.gif"></h1>If the Antlers-Marinos match is the highlight of the weekend, this one is certainly no easier to call. Both teams have a host of weapons on offence, and are certainly not weak at defending either. Kashiwa was the runner-up in the Second Stage, and actually had the best won-lost record in the league over the first and second stages combined, yet they have never won a championship of any kind. On the other side, Jubilo are two-time J.League champs and have won the Emperor's Cup three times in their club history (as Yamaha F.C.), but have never reached the final since changing their name to Jubilo Iwata. In this match, you have to go on the basis of recent form. Last week, Jubilo dominated Nagoya Grampus in a 2-0 victory, and golden boot winner Masashi "Gon" Nakayama looked like a 23-year old kid, rather than a 33-year old veteran as he headed in one goal and set up the other by being awarded a PK. By contrast, Kashiwa barely survived a 13-man PK shootout against Gamba Osaka. I have to go with Jubilo on this one, and expect at least one goal from GON! : : <h1><img src="http://smoking.man.tripod.com/soccer/cosaka1.gif"><img src="http://smoking.man.tripod.com/soccer/cosaka2.gif"> 2 - 0 <img src="http://smoking.man.tripod.com/soccer/kobe1.gif"><img src="http://smoking.man.tripod.com/soccer/kobe2.gif"></h1>The third quarterfinal is probably the easiest to call (which means its probably the one Ill miss). Vissel Kobe struggled to the quarterfinals despite a fairly easy path, whereas Cerezo Osaka got an emphatic win last week over Urawa Reds, 4-1, and will also benefit from the return of captain Hiroaki Morishima for next week's match. Kobe have always been a tough team to "look good" against, but they have difficulty winning the big matches. This one should go to Cerezo Osaka. : : <h1><img src="http://smoking.man.tripod.com/soccer/shimizu1.gif"><img src="http://smoking.man.tripod.com/soccer/shimizu2.gif"> 1 - 0 <img src="http://smoking.man.tripod.com/soccer/ichi1.gif"><img src="http://smoking.man.tripod.com/soccer/ichi1.gif"></h1>When you consider that the Marinos, Antlers, Reysol and Jubilo are all facing one another on the opposite side of this table for just one Finals slot, these two teams dont even deserve to be here. Only an extremely fortunate draw gave the two teams a clear path to the quarterfinals; and even at that, both teams have struggled. S-Pulse are no longer coached by Steve Perryman, who left just before last week's match, but in some ways that may actually be to S-Pulse's advantage. No matter though. JEF United just excaped relegation by the skin of their teeth this year, and there is no reason to expect any better from them. This one is definitely a win for S-Pulse, assuming their sputtering offence can manage to score. : : To conclude my PPPPool entry, here is the matrix of the Emperor's Cup results as of last week's matches: : : <img src="http://smoking.man.tripod.com/tennohai.jpg">

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