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World Cup 2010: Can Japan Turn Jeers Into Cheers And Succeed In South Africa?
2010 hasn't started particularly well in the Land of the Rising Sun...
Feb 7, 2010 12:54:00 AM
By John Duerden
China’s Yang Hao cut a sorry figure as he left the pitch at Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium on Saturday evening.
Usually, this young Chinese team would have been delighted with a goalless draw against Japan. This time though, Yang saw his late penalty saved by Seigo Narazaki.
As the Nagoya man sprang to his right to parry the shot, Yang’s chance to make himself a hero back home where such a result would have given writers in Beijing a chance, at last, to talk about football in positive terms, disappeared.
If Yang was shaking his head, then those in blue were bowing theirs as a chorus of boos rang out around the, nowhere near full, stadium after a second turgid display against supposedly weaker opposition in the space of 72 hours.
Be careful what you wish for, they say. For months, Japan had bemoaned the quality of the opposition that had headed east. Finland, Chile, Scotland, Belgium and Togo all came to the Land of the Rising Sun and were put to the sword. It was nice at first scoring 20 goals in five games gives a feel-good factor and has the public purring.
But as I wrote last week, tougher tests are needed. Playing Venezuela and China at home wouldn’t seem especially tough when you consider the fact that the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark will be waiting in South Africa in June but those two matches have both ended goalless.
And once again, after the glut of goals in 2009, the debate on whether Japan can score against well-organised defences has been resurrected. In the 180 minutes, the three-time Asian champions rarely looked like doing so and the play lacked incisiveness and urgency.
It could have been worse. Coach Takeshi Okada should thank his goalkeeper for preventing what would have been a disastrous evening that would really have got the Tokyo press pack in a tizz.
It was a familiar story. Japan had the possession but not the ability to fashion openings. When they came, they were squandered. Keiji Tamada wasted two in the first half. The Nagoya Grampus striker is a talented player but is not a natural goalscorer. As the main source of goals, he is, at the moment at least, hit-and-miss. Yoshito Okubo was again disappointing and last year’s goal sensation Shinzi Okazaki spent much of his time out wide, trying to create chances for others to miss.
The player who will be most satisfied was Mitsuo Ogasawara. Recalled to the national team after an absence of three years to look the part against Venezuela, the 2009 J-League MVP was rested for the China clash and already the team looks to have missed him.
The Kashima Antlers mainstay had a chance to witness from the stands what he had experienced on the pitch a few days before and his verdict was not positive. "They're not aware of what's around them," he said after the Venezuela match.
"They don't switch sides quickly enough. Everyone's trying to make short passes. We need to vary our play. I'm hoping to get in and spread the play more and help us get at the opposition more."
It was hard to argue against the former Messina man, Japan can pass the ball around all night but in the last few days, few balls have been dangerous.
"You can't even compare this with the World Cup," he added. "If we want to win at the World Cup, this isn't going to cut it."
He is right but then, this is why warm-up games were invented and the European-based players were absent. Even so, coach Okada has repeatedly declared his target of a last four finish in South Africa much to the amusement of the international media. There’s nothing wrong with setting sights high and trying to instill confidence in a team that sometimes lacks it on the world stage.
But while Okada is behaving brashly and confident off the pitch, his tactics on it are looking more and more conservative. He now knows, if he didn’t before, that big claims need to be backed up by actions and until that happens, the ridicule abroad and the disquiet at home will only continue.
The game against Hong Kong on Thursday should provide goals but it is a no-win situation. Fans and media expect a glut after a 10-0 aggregate thrashing of the former British colony in recent 2011 Asian Cup qualifiers. A big win will not bring credit while anything less will bring criticism.
South Korea on Sunday is a big one. Japan need a good result and a good performance. And, of course, they need goals.
John Duerden
Asia Editor
john.duerden@goal.com
Usually, this young Chinese team would have been delighted with a goalless draw against Japan. This time though, Yang saw his late penalty saved by Seigo Narazaki.
As the Nagoya man sprang to his right to parry the shot, Yang’s chance to make himself a hero back home where such a result would have given writers in Beijing a chance, at last, to talk about football in positive terms, disappeared.
| Bet: | Returns: | Denmark £40.00 | Draw £34.00 | Brazil £18.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Denmark £40.00 | Draw £34.00 | Brazil £17.30 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Denmark £45.00 | Draw £36.00 | Brazil £17.27 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Denmark £45.00 | Draw £37.50 | Brazil £17.50 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Denmark £42.00 | Draw £33.50 | Brazil £17.70 |
|
If Yang was shaking his head, then those in blue were bowing theirs as a chorus of boos rang out around the, nowhere near full, stadium after a second turgid display against supposedly weaker opposition in the space of 72 hours.
Be careful what you wish for, they say. For months, Japan had bemoaned the quality of the opposition that had headed east. Finland, Chile, Scotland, Belgium and Togo all came to the Land of the Rising Sun and were put to the sword. It was nice at first scoring 20 goals in five games gives a feel-good factor and has the public purring.
But as I wrote last week, tougher tests are needed. Playing Venezuela and China at home wouldn’t seem especially tough when you consider the fact that the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark will be waiting in South Africa in June but those two matches have both ended goalless.
And once again, after the glut of goals in 2009, the debate on whether Japan can score against well-organised defences has been resurrected. In the 180 minutes, the three-time Asian champions rarely looked like doing so and the play lacked incisiveness and urgency.
It could have been worse. Coach Takeshi Okada should thank his goalkeeper for preventing what would have been a disastrous evening that would really have got the Tokyo press pack in a tizz.
It was a familiar story. Japan had the possession but not the ability to fashion openings. When they came, they were squandered. Keiji Tamada wasted two in the first half. The Nagoya Grampus striker is a talented player but is not a natural goalscorer. As the main source of goals, he is, at the moment at least, hit-and-miss. Yoshito Okubo was again disappointing and last year’s goal sensation Shinzi Okazaki spent much of his time out wide, trying to create chances for others to miss.
The player who will be most satisfied was Mitsuo Ogasawara. Recalled to the national team after an absence of three years to look the part against Venezuela, the 2009 J-League MVP was rested for the China clash and already the team looks to have missed him.
The Kashima Antlers mainstay had a chance to witness from the stands what he had experienced on the pitch a few days before and his verdict was not positive. "They're not aware of what's around them," he said after the Venezuela match.
"They don't switch sides quickly enough. Everyone's trying to make short passes. We need to vary our play. I'm hoping to get in and spread the play more and help us get at the opposition more."
It was hard to argue against the former Messina man, Japan can pass the ball around all night but in the last few days, few balls have been dangerous.
"You can't even compare this with the World Cup," he added. "If we want to win at the World Cup, this isn't going to cut it."
He is right but then, this is why warm-up games were invented and the European-based players were absent. Even so, coach Okada has repeatedly declared his target of a last four finish in South Africa much to the amusement of the international media. There’s nothing wrong with setting sights high and trying to instill confidence in a team that sometimes lacks it on the world stage.
But while Okada is behaving brashly and confident off the pitch, his tactics on it are looking more and more conservative. He now knows, if he didn’t before, that big claims need to be backed up by actions and until that happens, the ridicule abroad and the disquiet at home will only continue.
The game against Hong Kong on Thursday should provide goals but it is a no-win situation. Fans and media expect a glut after a 10-0 aggregate thrashing of the former British colony in recent 2011 Asian Cup qualifiers. A big win will not bring credit while anything less will bring criticism.
South Korea on Sunday is a big one. Japan need a good result and a good performance. And, of course, they need goals.
John Duerden
Asia Editor
john.duerden@goal.com
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