Slow progress

Japan's Zico hopes for Troussier-like turnaround

SAITAMA, Japan (Reuters) -- Shaken but not stirred, Japan coach Zico is still searching for the right blend of defensive cohesion and attacking punch ahead of the Confederations Cup.

The Brazilian tried to put a positive spin on the 0-0 Kirin Cup draw with Paraguay on Wednesday but Japan, thrashed 4-1 by Argentina last weekend, has now won only once in seven matches since he took over last July.

"It was a completely different team from the one that played against Argentina and the players who came in showed they can fit smoothly into the system," said Zico.

However, the body language of his Japan side as it trudged off the pitch at Saitama spoke volumes and Zico now has very little time to lift its confidence before the June 18-29 Confederations Cup in France.

Completely outclassed by Argentina in Osaka, Japan lacked a cutting edge against Paraguay, despite the probing of Italian-based midfielders Hidetoshi Nakata and Shunsuke Nakamura.

Zico has said all year that his target for 2003 is to reach the semifinals of the tournament. Japan possess the quality to achieve this but Shinji Ono is ruled out through injury and Junichi Inamoto is hampered by a thigh strain.

Zico's record of one win, three draws and three defeats is identical to that of his predecessor Philippe Troussier after his first seven games in charge of Japan.

Indeed, Japan won just twice in its first 10 matches under Troussier but the Frenchman turned things around and led the co-host to the second round of the World Cup last year.

Zico has changed the successful 3-5-2 formula preferred by Troussier in favor of a 4-4-2 heavily reliant on the creative flair of Nakata, Nakamura and the injury-prone Ono.

Palpably failed

So far the new system has failed to produce results, Japan convincing only in the 2-2 home draw with Uruguay in March.

Its Europe-based players have delivered sporadically, with Nakamura still guilty of giving away possession cheaply and Fulham midfielder Inamoto struggling to regain the form he showed at the World Cup.

Japan has scored just five goals under Zico with only three of those coming from open play. His team managed just two shots on goal in the 1-0 defeat by South Korea in Tokyo on May 31.

The Asian champion, beaten 1-0 by France in the Confederations Cup final in Yokohama two years ago, is drawn alongside the host, Colombia and New Zealand in Group A.

Victory over a much-improved New Zealand in its opening game on June 18 will be imperative for Japan two days before it faces European champion France in St Etienne.

Suzuki, Fukunishi out of Confed Cup

TOKYO (Reuters) -- European-based striker Takayuki Suzuki and midfielder Takashi Fukunishi have pulled out of Japan's squad for the Confederations Cup from June 18-29, the Japan Football Association (JFA) said Thursday.

Their withdrawal adds to the problems of Japan coach Zico, who has already lost Asian Player of the Year Shinji Ono through injury and faces a nervous wait over the fitness of Fulham midfielder Junichi Inamoto.

Kashiwa midfielder Tomokazu Myojin, a member of the Japan World Cup squad last year, and Daisuke Matsui of Kyoto have been called up as cover for Suzuki and Fukunishi, JFA officials said.

Fukunishi strained thigh muscles during the 0-0 Kirin Cup draw with Paraguay in Saitama on Wednesday, while Suzuki was hurt in the 4-1 defeat by Argentina in Osaka last weekend.

 

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