|
||||
Thoughts on France 98. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Japan were unlucky not to get a point v the Argies - Lopes and Akita both had near misses near the end, although on the whole Argentina were worth a two goal win, I'd say. Nakata had some nice touches, but was a little disappointing given his reputation - I was hoping he'd make the world sit up and take notice that there's more to Jap football than a bloke (not even chosen) who'd had a half-season at Genoa. Against Croatia, Nakata really came into his own. The guy ran the game like it was his ball, and he wasn't going to let anyone else play with it. One pass that put Nakayama clear onto Ladic's goal was pure Hoddle-esque magic. Unfortunately plucky Gon took a half-second longer than he should've at this level, and fluffed it, showing the vast difference between facing the Croatia defence and the Vissel Kobe defence. Indeed, until Suker's clinical and inevitable late winner, Japan had looked so much more the brighter side, yet somehow you knew Croatia were more likely to break the deadlock. I went to Shinjuku to see the game on a huge screen erected in Kabuki-cho, the so-called 'Soho' red light area. Shortly before kick-off, it became clear that the boisterous atmosphere around us was going to turn into an uncontrollable crowd scene. The police were totally unprepared for the sheer lawlessness (in comparative terms - we're talking young & well-heeled Japanese kids, not Brixton or LA) of all the people breaking through their human wall (myself included, I ashamedly say). Many of the girls were ko-gyaru types with high heels that just weren't made for trying to keep your footing. Consequently, the crush that followed was the weirdest I've ever experienced - people falling down all around, girls squealing like wounded pigs, and me trying to prop people up and look for a way out. Minutes later, in the safety of the Dubliners watching the closing stages of the first half, it felt like a weird dream. The final Japan game, versus Jamaica, looked to be on the face of it an academic contest between two eliminated teams with P2, L2 records. Wrong. All of Japan had been expecting a win, and a piss easy one at that. Most TV pundits had predicted a defeat vs Argentina, a draw vs Croatia and a win vs Jamaica to put the lads level with the Croats. Kawabuchi, the J League head honcho, even went as far as to predict a 2-1-0 record, complete with a thumping of the Reggae Boyz. Oh dear. In the end, all Japan really ended up praying for was a goal, which they got eventually in the last quarter of the Jamaica game, already 0-2 down, and thanks to a mishit of sorts by Gon. The one bright spot was Ono's twelve minute cameo near the end, coinciding with the goal and containing one magic nutmeg of two defenders. Why couldn't he have played earlier ? I watched it on TV at home - for the first time with English (BBC) commentary. I was intrigued to see how Jon Champion would deal with the Japanese lads, but ended up in a futile strop at his pronunciation of Na-KAR-ta, Ka-wer-GUU-chi etc. As pointless as a Brazilian whingeing about me not saying 'HONAUDO' instead of 'Ronaldo', but I couldn't help myself anyway. Overall, the only players who I feel really enhanced their reputations were Nakata (naturally), the mercurial Ono, plus Akita and Nakanishi at the back. 2002 ? Troussier has to be careful not to put his faith entirely in the Olympic lads at the expense of Akita and co, who did Japan proud (just 2 goals conceded to Batistuta, Suker & co). I think they'll do alright. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
