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Q & A: Japan coach Philippe Troussier
Posted: Tuesday April 23, 2002 5:06 PM
What
are your main concerns?
My biggest concern is the back three; Morioka is missing, Matsuda
is injured. Shinji Ono is getting great experience at Feyenoord,
but the other overseas players are not playing so much.
Would
you prefer them to be in Japan?
I am not so concerned about Inamoto and Kawaguchi; I have worked
with them extensively since I took the Japan post, and they know
my philosophy. (Hidetoshi) Nakata is different, because he was already
in Europe when I came here. I don't know him. He comes back just
one day before each match. I think Nakata has trained with me, in
four years, maybe a maximum of 20 days, and Inamoto maybe 300 days.
Nakata has had some problems understanding what I want, and at the
moment he isn't playing in Italy. I hope, when he comes back with
us, he will make a big effort to accept the way my team is organized.
What
do you think about the draw?
We are not scared by it. Of course, Japan have the least experience,
but technically we are not frightened of Belgium, Russia or Tunisia.
Each team have a chance of getting through. We have several advantages.
We are at home, and everybody believes in us, that we can get to
the quarterfinals.
How
would you describe the progress of the past three years?
Winning the 2000 Asian Cup was the key. After that, we played France,
Brazil, Cameroon, Paraguay, Italy, Yugoslavia, and from that the
players got a lot of experience. You can feel the progress if you
play against these teams. If you play against Korea and you win
5-0, everybody is impressed, but it is not enough. Now, tactically,
my team can challenge any team in the world, and no one in my team
will be scared.
What
would you term as success at the World Cup?
Everybody is excited and supportive at the moment. I think 20 per
cent of the population think we will win the World Cup, and 80 per
cent believe we will get to the quarter-finals. We have to sustain
this dream because the World Cup will be a festival. If you ask
the 32 coaches, do you think you can win the World Cup? -- they cannot
say yes. But somewhere in their mind they think they can. Of course,
we are maybe 30 years behind, or 50 years. But who would have believed
in 1958 that Sweden would get to the Final? I think we have a one
percent chance of getting to the Final. So, I would like to keep
this dream.
Do
you think the enthusiasm will continue after the World Cup?
I am not sure that football will become more popular. I think the
real interest now is about 60 per cent, because the World Cup is
coming, but the normal level, I think, is 20 per cent, culturally.
Would you like to manage a club team or a national team after the
World Cup? I like my job as national coach, but now I would like
to increase my experience at a higher level. I was in contact with
Scotland, though now they have chosen Berti Vogts. If that is not
possible, I will maybe study some offers from clubs.
Who
will win the World Cup?
Japan!
Who
will be the surprise teams and players?
We don't need the World Cup to discover players. It is no surprise
to find that Beckham and Zidane are good players. The best surprise
will not come from some player, but from some teams, I hope Japan,
maybe China, Senegal, Costa Rica. I am sure a team like Sweden will
be strong.
Who
are your key players?
You know your key players when they are missing. When everybody
is there, you have no key players. Then
the key is the team, and the team work. A lot of players could be
the key ones. I couldn't give you a name, but I have a lot of key
players in my head.
From World Soccer magazine.
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