In late February protesters massed in Tokyo calling for Coach Zico to step down after several lame performances by the national side. Around 100 supporters staged a demonstration near Coach Zico's Tokyo offices demanding his ouster. Zico was nonplussed. "My neck is always on the line and I'm trying to do my job to the best of my ability," said a tanned Zico upon return from yet another trip to his native Brazil. In April, the ever-oblivious Zico said he only planned to stay at the helm of Japan until July 2006. After the Germany World Cup, the former Brazil legend will retire from coaching. "I will not accept an offer from the J.League." And, in stunning news, the normally lethargic Zico dropped eight players from the team for misbehaving. The players - Ryota Tsuzuki, Nobuhisa Yamada, Teruyuki Moniwa, Takuya Yamada, Daisuke Oku, Mitsuo Ogasawara, and two key forwards: Yoshito Okubo and Tatsuhiko Kubo - broke team curfew on the eve of a friendly against Malaysia. They then went on a binge, getting drunk at a bar, harassing other customers and a female employee of the bar - and even playing catch with sushi. Following a close call against Singapore, in a March 31st qualifier for Germany, which Japan just won 2-1 thanks to a late goal from Toshiya Fujita, the sushi-throwing players have all been miraculously brought back into the national team fold. Though earlier quoted as saying he felt "betrayed," Zico stated that all had been forgiven.
European Tour
The national side went on a swing through Eastern Europe in late April, facing Hungary on April 25th and the Czech Republic on the 28th. Without any of the Europe-based players, Japan lost to Hungary 3-2. Japan conceded two early goals from set pieces to the 72nd ranked side in the world. Thanks to Masashi Motoyama, who was subbed in for Toshiya Fujita and created many opportunities, Japan pulled even on goals from Tatsuhiko Kubo and Keiji Tamada, both of which were set up nicely by Motoyama. In the waning moments of the game, though, Hungary was awarded a dubious penalty. It was converted and the game was sealed. In typical form, coach Zico threw a jersey at the referee after the match and later, in an interview, called the decision "a joke." In Prague, Japan fared better. Using a lineup primarily of players from the J.League, Japan defeated the ninth ranked team in the world. Without injured captain Hidetoshi Nakata and most of his Europe-based cohorts, Japan won 1-0. The Czech side was the group most likely to start in the European Championships this June.
The Japan national team's 2004 schedule has been finalized:
May 30th: Iceland (Friendly, City of Manchester Stadium)
June 1st: England (Friendly, City of Manchester Stadium)
June 9th: India (World Cup Qualifier, Undecided Venue in Japan)
July 9th: Slovakia (Kirin Cup, Hiroshima)
July 13th: Serbia-Montenegro (Kirin Cup, Yokohama)
July 20th: Oman (Asian Cup, Away)
July 24th: Thailand (Asian Cup, Away)
July 28th: Iran (Asian Cup, Away)
August 18th: Argentina (Friendly, Shizuoka)
September 8th: India (World Cup Qualifier, Away)
October 13th: Oman (World Cup Qualifier, Away)
November 17th: Singapore (World Cup Qualifier, Undecided Venue in Japan)
December 16th: Germany (Friendly, Yokohama)
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Images From The Japanese J-League © Soccerphile.com |
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The road to Athens began on the first of the month. Against a scrappy Bahrani side, Japan was held to a draw. Japan had more of the possession, but only a slight edge in serious attempts on goal. Kyoto Purple Sanga's Daisuke Matsui had an outstanding match; otherwise, Japan disappointed. A 4-0 thrashing of Lebanon settled the boys in blue for their match against UAE. Though UAE had most of possession and the greater chances - Japan played as though in a trance through much of the match, the result of fatigue and illness (much of the team came down with an intestinal virus while in the UAE) - Japan came back to score twice in the waning minutes to win 2-0. UAE was very unfortunate. In the Japan round, it took a convincing 3-0 win over the United Arab Emirates in the final match for Japan's Under-23 side to book its spot in Athens. Yoshito Okubo scored twice to defeat UAE - and crush Bahrain's hopes of a first ever trip to the Olympics. Though dominant against Bahrain in the previous match, a fatal defensive lapse allowed the Bahranis to score in their one and only opportunity and thus defeat Japan 1-0. With both teams even on ten points after five matches - though Japan up on goal difference - Japan needed to win to all but ensure it made it to Athens. Lebanon held Bahrain to a tie, and Japan came out and overwhelmed UAE at home. In late April, the under-23 side traveled to Greece to meet the Olympic hosts for two friendlies. Japan was held to a draw in the first match, 1-1, but took the second match 2-0. Japan has two home matches scheduled prior to Greece: Turkey on May 26th, Mali on June 1st.
Olympic Women Qualify for Athens
The Japanese women's Olympic squad will join their male counterparts in Athens this August. Though the team lost to China and finished second in the Asian zone, Japan will be one of 11 teams in the summer tournament.
J1 Clubs |
| Albirex Niigata |
| Cerezo Osaka |
| FC Tokyo |
| Gamba Osaka |
| Nagoya Grampus Eight |
| JEF United Ichihara |
| Jubilo Iwata |
| Kashima Antlers |
| Kashiwa Reysol |
| Oita Trinita |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
| Shimizu S-Pulse |
| Tokyo Verdy 1969 |
| Urawa Red Diamonds |
| Vissel Kobe |
| Yokohama F Marinos |
As of the second weekend of play in May, Jubilo Iwata is at the top of the table with 24 points on ten matches despite losing 2-1 at Ecopa Stadium to nearest challengers Yokohama F. Marinos, who remain 3 points behind in second place.
Turkish international Ilhan Mansiz may actually pay off the $4.3 million Kobe Vissel invested in him. And goals be damned. Estrogen-related hysteria is resulting in sell-outs wherever he plays. Hold the estrogen: Ilhan had surgery on a bum knee in Italy in March. It is not certain when he will return to Japan.
Barcelona Japan Bound; Reds to Manchester
Soccer fans in Japan will get Christmas early: in August former European champions Barcelona will tour Japan. On the 1st Barca will face Kashima Antlers, then on the 4th they will play Jubilo Iwata. Urawa Reds will travel to Manchester to take part in a pre-season warm up tournament involving Manchester United and PSV Eindhoven.
Emerson to File for Japanese Citizenship
Urawa Reds striker Emerson appears set to become the latest Brazilian import to take Japanese citizenship and pull on the blue jersey for Japan. He will join Urawa Reds teammates Alex Santos and Tulio Tanaka, Brazil-born players who both represent Japan. The J.League Player of the Year in 2004 would add a lot up front: speed, creativity, and the cockiness so lacking in Japanese strikers.
Rivaldo Coming to Japan?
Brazilian international Rivaldo is rumored to be considering moving to a J.League club. After transferring from AC Milan to Cruzeiro, the World Cup star has floundered back in Brazil. In addition, the Brazilian media has reported that the Kashima Antlers and Sanfrecce Hiroshima clubs are attempting to lure him to Japan. Also, Rivaldo's contract with Japanese sporting giant Mizuno, his main sponsor, expires in May - and the company is eager to have him in Japan. However, continued the reports, if he were to come to Japan it might end his career in canary yellow. Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was quoted as saying: "He would be too far away for me to keep track of his performances." Rivaldo has also been linked with moves to both Bolton Wanderers and Glasgow Celtic.
Japanese Ronaldo?
The latest greatest youngest thing in Japanese soccer is Tokyo Verdy's Takayuki Morimoto, the sixteen-year-old phenom who in mid-March became the youngest player ever to appear in a J.League match. At the ripe old age of 15 years, 10 months, and six days, the Kawasaki junior high school student was subbed in at the six-minute mark of the second half. Coach Ossie Ardiles, who has been handling his young talent carefully, said after the match: "Morimoto is set to reassure Japanese soccer. He is courageous and has character." With a close-shaved pate, he also bears an odd resemblance to Real Madrid forward Ronaldo. His father, Wataru, played with the Yomiuri soccer club. On Children's Day in late April, Morimoto, all of 15 years and eleven months, scored the match winner for Tokyo Verdy. This makes him the youngest scorer in the history of the J.League. He broke the record held by Fulham's Junichi Inamoto. In May, when Morimoto turned 16, he became eligible to and did sign a pro contract with his club. Verdy Coach Ossie Ardiles is shielding his prodigy from the rabid Japanese media.
Japanese Kluivert?
At the advanced age of 18, Sota Hirayama is starting for the men's Olympic team. The 1.9-meter forward is physical and unfazed by the media circus that follows his every touch on the ball.
J.League's Popularity Rises
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New Fans at the J.League |
In a Yomiuri Shinbun newspaper poll, soccer was found to the fourth most popular spectator sport in Japan. Thirty-two percent answered soccer, up four points from last year's survey. Pro baseball came in first - not a surprise considering the history of the game in Japan and the barrage of television and newspaper coverage (the Yomiuri newspaper is a part of a group that owns the Yomiuri Giants baseball team). Marathons came in second, the summer baseball tournament for high school teams and long-distance relay races tied for third: which proves that Japanese enjoy sports that involve little action and maximum suffering.
However, for people in their 20s, soccer was by far the most popular spectator sport in Japan.
J. League Attendance Record
The J.League attendance record has been broken this season when 277,576 fans watched 14 first and second division games on Sunday, May 2. The figure topped the 267,531 spectators who attended matches on the opening day of the current season. The 219,000 fans who watched J.1 matches was also a high for a single day.