The Soccerphile World Cup 2002 Archives Click here to go to the current Soccerphile.com
Alan Gibson highlights the J.League
What was a very successful World Cup seems long ago now, although the effect that tournament had on the J.League has lingered in increased crowds, especially in Osaka , where the 'Miyamoto effect' has seen Gamba twice break their attendance record during this 2nd Stage of the J.League season, as fans flock to see the 'Batman Captain' in action, and Cerezo, although in J2, are also getting decent numbers, as Osakans go to see their national team heroes - Morishima and Nishizawa - attempt to get Cerezo back in J1 at the first attempt.
Kyoto Purple Sanga have also started to register better crowds, partly to do with Korean star Park, who lit up the World Cup, along with the rest of the Korean team, and partly because... wait for it.... they are a winning team. At press time, Kyoto were up there challenging for the lead along with other surprise packages Urawa Red Diamonds and Tokyo Verdy 1969, as well as usual suspects Jubilo and Antlers. Gamba Osaka are also there or thereabouts, but will need to be more consistent if they are to gain the first championship for a Kansai team.
Certainly, after a few seasons of Jubilo and Antlers dominating domestic football, it is refreshing to see new faces challenging for honors. Hans Ooft, ex-national team coach is doing wonders at Urawa, and his young team - playing alongside the experience of players like Ihara and Fukuda - have years ahead of them as a team, if they stay together. Verdy are also bringing youth through, as well as having the brilliance of Edmundo, who is keeping himself out of trouble and on the field. This in itself is a major achievement for 'The Animal' and goes a long way toward making Verdy what they are in this 2nd Stage.
Of course, Jubilo are up there too, hoping to become the first team to win both stages of a championship, and avoid the dreaded playoff - last season losing to Kashima Antlers, who had won the 2nd Stage, even though, overall, for the year, Antlers had won 17 points LESS than Jubilo, after a terrible 1st Stage!! And, yes, Antlers are up there too, and will always come strong in the 2nd Stage, as they coast to their peak at the end of the season. But Antlers seem to be having a problem scoring, in particular, Atsushi Yanagisawa, the stalwart of the national team for so long, can't seem to hit the proverbial cow's rear end with a stringed instrument.
And it is with happy nimble fingers skimming across the keyboard I can report that two Kansai teams - Purple Sanga and Gamba - both have a shot at the 2nd Stage, Cerezo Osaka are looking good for a return to J1 and Vissel Kobe have got it together, under former assistant coach Matsuda, and are registering wins too. There is still some way to go before Vissel are safe from relegation, but it's encouraging to see them fighting it out with four or five teams and not just a fight to the death with one other.
With teams like JEF United, Kashiwa Reysol, Vegalta Sendai, Shimizu S-Pulse and, likely relegation candidates Sanfrecce Hiroshima having a tough season, it could well be five or six teams fighting it out over the last two or three games, to see who goes down with Consadole Sapporo, who are all but mathematically gone, with six games to play. Vissel Kobe showed their fighting qualities with a gritty, and well-deserved win against Kashima in October and the difference seems to be that coach Matsuda is leaving reputations in the dressing room and picking the best players for the job. 'Stars' like Kazu, Okano and Mochizuki, as well as former coach Kawakatsu favorites like Yoshimura, have had to settle for supporting roles, while Kobe's lesser-known talents have shone. Unfortunately, there still seems to be a propensity for no-name Brazilians and, while Harison (Urawa reject) and Oseas have scored the odd important goal, there seems to be little in them to boost Kobe's hopes of bettering themselves. Hopefully if Vissel can survive this season, give Matsuda a relaxing long contract and some cash, or bring in a decent foreign coach who brings some strong gaijin with him, next season may be the beginning of Kobe's golden age....quit sniggering at the back. That's what we said about Kyoto last year, and take a look at them! November 9th, away at Hiroshima could be the day that we know whether Vissel are going to make it or not. November for Kobe also has an away game at JEF United, and two home games (Kobe Universiade) against Sendai (Nov.16, 16.00) and S-Pulse (Nov.30, 14.00).
It's a tough last month for Gamba, and November 9th may well see them break another attendance record when they entertain Antlers (Banpaku Stadium 15.00), in what could see the hopes of one or the other finally dashed. Gamba also have to play Urawa away, and November 23rd entertain Kyoto (Banpaku, 15.00). They travel to Kashiwa on the last day. With a new national team coach playing a different formation and looking at new players, there will be some hope for Gamba's crop of youngsters like Yoshihara, Araiba, Futagawa and Endo, as well as Satoshi Nakayama, who is one of a trio of young Kansai star forwards - along with Cerezo's Okubo and Kyoto's Matsui) in the young team that gained a silver medal in the Asian Games in Pusan.
Kyoto's November sees the aforementioned Gamba game, as well as Jubilo (Nishikyogoku, Nov.16, 14.00), JEF United (Nishikyogoku, Nov.23, 14.00) and Vegalta Sendai away, on the last day. I can see 12 November points for the taking and a 2nd Stage win for Kyoto, or a spectacular collapse as their youngsters start to feel the pressure? Either way, they have a great coach in Gert Engels, and a bunch of youngsters who will grow together. The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades!
If there is to be a Championship playoff, the games will take place, over two legs, on Dec. and 14. I think there's a possibility that Jubilo will take two stages, but the powers that be will be hoping for the alternative - a different 2nd Stage winner - for financial reasons, as well as boosting interest among the fans for another week or so.
On the national team front, Brazilian legend, and long term Japan resident, Zico has taken over as coach, and saw his first game mid-October against Jamaica. His squad for that game included 1998 World Cup members Akita and Narahashi, who had seen four years in the wilderness under Troussier, as well as Nakamura - dropped from the 2002 W.C. squad for being a 'luxury' player, but, having moved to Reggina in Italy is growing in stature and confidence.
The Jamaica game was seen as an experiment, the chance for Zico to try a few things out and the fans were given their wish with a golden midfield of Nakamura, Nakata, Ono and Inamoto. The Japanese outplayed the Jamaicans with their passing game and pressing play, but only managed a 1-1 draw, but Zico was satisfied that his team were not firing on all cylinders on the night, and had time until the games that mattered. Zico's 2nd game will be against Argentina on November 2nd...
Monochrome Images from the Far East
Color photos of Japan World Cup 2002 I
Color photos of Japan World Cup 2002 II
Color photos of Japan World Cup 2002 III
The Soccerphile World Cup 2002 Archives
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