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Japanese Soccer News - August 2004

Japanese Soccer News
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Japan National Team

Asian Cup

In the opening round, Japan went through to the quarterfinals on the back of a fortuitous 1-0 win against Oman, a 4-1 thrashing of Thailand, and a hard-fought 0-0 result against Iran. Playing in Chongqing in an overtly hostile environment - local Chinese fans booed every Japanese touch of the ball, after one match surrounded the Japan team bus and threw bottles at it, and the few brave Japanese fans were enclosed by a wall of Chinese security forces - Japan's defense was especially solid. Yuji Nakazawa anchored the back line and kept a talented Iranian side from scoring. At the other end of the pitch, Japan as always was limp up front and could not find the net.

Quarterfinal

A miracle win. Against a lively side from Jordan, Japan finally settled down after being overwhelmed early and held its own for the remainder of the match. After two extra times, though, the score was still drawn 1-1. The match would be decided on penalties. A la David Beckham in Portugal, both Shunsuke Nakamura and Alex dos Santos appeared to slip and sailed their kicks well over the net. Captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto complained about the turf to the Malaysian referee - and, after much arguing and confusion, the PKs were finally resumed at the other net. Down 2-0, Japan appeared headed out of the Asian Cup and back home to Japan; keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, however, had other ideas and snuffed two of Jordan's kicks to keep Japan alive. When Miyamoto made a key penalty and Jordan's Bashar Bani Yaseen hit the post - it was over and, incredibly, Japan was through to the semifinals against Bahrain.

Semifinal

Miracle win, Part 2. Down a man after Gamba Osaka midfielder Yasuhito Endo was sent off for a non-existent foul at the end of the first half, 10-man Japan came back from a goal down to down to defeat Bahrain 4-3 in a thrilling semi-final. Playing once again in a very hostile environment - Chinese fans have been rabidly anti-Japanese throughout the tournament, so much so that Foreign Minister Yoshiko Kawaguchi summoned the Chinese envoy to Japan to the Foreign Ministry for talks - Japan showed real grit. Yuji Nakazawa and Keiji Tamada were the men of the match, the former for a late goal to send the match into extra time and also for his outstanding defending, the latter for his two brilliant goals. Also, questionable officiating made Japan's task all the harder. The talented but coddled boys in blue however did what they have so often failed to accomplish in the past: score when it matters and never lose concentration, no matter how hostile the crowd.

Final

"Zico Japan: Two in a Row"

"Miracle" win, Part 3. A Hand of God goal by Koji Nakata put Japan up 2-1 early on in the second half. This proved to be the game-winner. Played at the Workers Stadium in Beijing under martial law-like conditions, Japan downed the home side 3-1 to win its second Asian Cup in a row. The one thousand Japanese fans that braved the trip to the match were seated in a corner behind goal surrounded by Chinese forces - and babysat by representatives of the Japanese Embassy in Beijing who were dispatched to monitor the situation. Following the win Japanese fans were pelted with plastic bottles and paper; moreover, they were forced to wait some two hours before being allowed to leave and go home. The reasonable explanation for this was that outside the stadium Chinese fans were going on a rampage.

Though heavily reported throughout the world, not a word appeared in the local media of bitter, overexcited Chinese fans burning the Rising Sun flag, aggressively surrounding the Japan team bus (yet again), and clashing with Chinese forces. At the Japan Embassy, thugs smashed the windows of an official car. All of which has the international community concerned about China's ability to host a major international event, which it is slated to do in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

In the match itself, Japan found itself on the lucky end of some poor officiating. The second goal, for example, appeared to deflect off Koji Nakata's arm and into the China net. All of the Chinese team pleaded with the referee but to no avail. The Chinese at this point seemed to give up, and the win was sealed late in the game with Keiji Tamada's lovely one-on-one feint that had the Chinese keeper guessing the wrong way. This guaranteed Japan's win, and climaxed an amazing run through a tournament played without captain Hidetoshi Nakata, Premier League midfielder Junichi Inamoto, Feyenoord midfielder Shinji Ono, and Bundesliga forward Naohiro Takahara - all of whom were out due to injury. In addition, every match was played in a cauldron of historical enmity, the result of former leader Jiang Zemin's educational reforms implemented some 10 years ago in which blaming Japan was fashioned into a public form of catharsis. Previously reserved as a reflexively played - and effective - diplomatic tool for the elite, the blame Japan game has made its way to the Chinese street. And appears out of control.

Officials, who have for many years encouraged anti-Japanese sentiment as a way of shifting attention from domestic issues and shortcomings, now found themselves beleaguered by the minions they had long manipulated. State media outlets called for restraint; this fell on deaf ears as the masses, led by anti-Japanese Internet sites, were screaming en masse at the young representatives of Japan for crimes committed by the their great-grandfathers. Prior to the match, the People's Daily, the main state-run media mouthpiece of the Communist Party, had reminded Chinese fans, "Great peoples show boldness of spirit but act courteously." The China Youth Daily added, "The world is watching us." As the Japanese national anthem was drowned out in a predictable chorus of boos before the Final, the scoreboard flashed: "Be Civilized Spectators! Show a Civilized Manner!" Virtual martial law was declared for the match, with 10,000 soldiers, undercover police, and uniformed officers deployed to keep order among the 50,000 Chinese supporters who at different points in the game yelled "Kill" Kill! Kill!" and, in a page taken from a wartime songbook, "May a big sword chop off Japanese heads!"

Japan's next matches are a friendly against Argentina at home on August 18th; World Cup qualifiers against India (September 8th), Oman (October 13th), Singapore (November 17th); and Germany at home in a friendly on December 16th.

Olympic Team: Men's Warmups

The under-23 side played its final match before heading to Athens. Against Venezuela's full A-side, Japan went on a goal-scoring orgy, crushing the South Americans 4-0. Japan had not scored in three matches and snapped a five-game winless streak. Fortuitously, Japan got a goal from each of its four forwards: Yoshito Okubo, Tatsuya Tanaka, Sota Hirayama, and Daiki Takamatsu.

Olympic Team: Women's Warmups

The Japanese women's thrashed Canada in a final warmup before the Athens Olympiad. The home side dominated in possession, shots on goal, and pace, and the final result of 3-0 was an accurate reflection of a solid performance.

Hide Nakata to Play with Fiorentina

Junichi Inamoto Cut by Fulham, Back at Gamba

After breaking his ankle in a June friendly against England, recovering Fulham midfielder Junichi Inamoto has been let go. Fulham and his parent club in Japan, Gamba Osaka, could not agree to contractual terms. As a result, Ina has been released by his West London Premier League club and is back at his hometown club. He is slated to suit up for Gamba in its J.League second stage match in late August.

In other news, striker Naohiro Takahara has been laid low again with economy class syndrome, the same lung infection that kept him out of the World Cup in 2002. The Hamburg SV forward complained of chest pain prior to the England friendly and went to hospital for tests. It is not certain when he will return to action.

Atsushi Yanagisawa to Sell Shirts For Messina

Japan forward Yanigisawa will have another crack at playing in Italy's Serie A. After a disappointing spell at Sampdoria last season, Yanigisawa requested and was granted permission from Kashima Antlers, Yanagisawa's home club, to play in Italy for one more season. The loan deal to Messina was for a reported 27 million yen ($243,000).

Tsuneyasu Miyamoto Not to Play with Vitesse

Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem has given up in its attempt at signing Japan international Miyamoto. The Gamba Osaka defender who piloted Japan's defense during the 2002 World Cup has indicated his desire to play abroad. Negotiations with a sponsor however fell apart - and thus Miyamoto will not be playing in Holland.

Nozomi Hiroyama to Return to FC Tokyo

After stints in Paraguay, Portugal, and France, Hiroyama has been released by Montpelier in France's First Division and will be back to FC Tokyo, which had loaned the midfielder out.
In other Tokyo soccer news, Verdy released former Cameroon striker Patrick Mboma. The 33-year-old was quickly snapped up by Vissel Kobe.

Real Madrid Japan Tour

A jetlagged and understrength Galacticos squad defeated JEF United 3-1 on July 28th. Neither Zinedane Zidane nor Ronaldo appeared in the match; both were struggling with injuries. JEF was first to get on the scoresheet thanks to a lovely free kick from Marquinos. After that, pre-season form Real took the match to the "home" side. Real, Guti, and Santiago Solari netted for the winners.
In its second match, on August 1st, Real routed Tokyo Verdy 4-0. Zidane et al put on a football clinic for the awe-struck J. League team. Zidane, after scoring a lovely goal, was brought down in a vicious exchange with Kentaro Hayashi. Limping off, Zidane was later diagnosed with a damaged metatarsal.

Barcelona Tour

Real Madrid rivals Barcelona also made a money-making swing through Asia. Following a match in South Korea, which Barca lost 1-0 to Suwon Samsung, Frank Rikjaard's team crushed Kashima Antlers 5-0 on August 1st. Henrik Larsson, Giuly, Luis Garcia, and Messi all got on the scoresheet. Then on the 4th, the boys from Catalan faced off against Jubilo. Led by Henrik Larsson's two goals, Barca won 3-0.

Inter Milan Tour

And yet another European club team graced Japan with an expensive exhibition match. A very much under-strength Inter Milan lost to Urawa Reds 1-0 at Saitama Stadium in a late July friendly. Emerson converted a penalty to seal the match. Rumored to be moving to Europe, the turf-prone Brazilian played hard - and dove throughout the match. So much that the visitors - justifiably, and in a portent of what awaits if he makes the move to Europe - hacked him down after one especially flagrant dive.

Valencia Tour

More jet-lag and yen for yet another European club. And add to that, a bit of face-saving for Spain League champions Valencia. Having been thoroughly thumped 5-2 by Albirex Niigata - for those of you who haven't heard, Albirex was promoted last year to the first division of the J.League - Valencia edged Kashima Antlers 1-0 in a second pre-season match on August 4th. Miguel Angulo scored in the final minute of regular time to hand new coach Claudio Ranieri a victory. With all of its leading lights in China playing for country in the Asian Cup - among them Mitsuo Ogasawara, Koji Nakata, Takayuki Suzuki, Masashi Motoyama, and keeper Hitoshi Sogohata - the Antlers held their own against a Pablo Aimar-less Valencia.

Reggina Tour

Pity poor Shunsuke Nakamura. After winning the Asian Cup - and getting the tournament MVP for his efforts - he had to dodge bottles along with his teammates on his way back to Tokyo. Then, while Alex and Yuji Nakazawa were sleeping off a well-deserved hangover, the following night Shunsuke was back on the field for his club team Reggina in a losing effort against his former J.League team, the Yokohama Marinos. The Asian Cup star's free kicks contributed to Japan's win against China; against the Marinos, however, he was not as fortunate and lost 2-1. Playing on one hour's sleep, Shunsuke stayed on the field for 51 minutes. At the end of the match, though, Reggina midfielder Santos Mozart broke Yuzo Kurihara's nose with a well-aimed elbow. The Marinos defender will be out for one month.

J.League Roundup

The second stage of the 2004 season kicked off on August 14th. Look for the Yokohama Marinos to repeat.

Turkish Delight: Ilhan Gone for Good

It's official: Ilhan has done a runner. After appearing in all of three J.League matches, leaving to have surgery and R & R in Italy, then one last brief appearance in Kobe, he fled to Germany. This probably ranks as the most expensive disaster in the League's short history. For his efforts, Ilhan came away with a cool $2 million.

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