Japan-North Korea World Cup Qualifier to Be Played at Neutral Venue
FIFA announced on April 29 that North Korea's World Cup qualifier scheduled for early June against Japan would be moved from Pyongyang to a neutral venue--with no fans in attendance. The venue has yet to be announced but Singapore and Malaysia are the leading candidates. The decision was made as a result of the violence following a loss to Iran in Pyongyang. North Korean soldiers had to intervene in order to restore order after North Korean players manhandled a Syrian referee.
North Korea has lost all three of its World Cup qualifiers. In addition, tensions between the governments of the North and Japan have stoked fears that a match in Pyongyang would be unwise.
In addition to the venue change, the North Korean football association was fined 20,000 Swiss Francs ($16,730). North Korea has three days to appeal the ruling, which was the most severe possible.
Japan Football Association Head: Move Match from North Korea
The Japan Football Association (JFA)'s head suggested recently in off-the-cuff remarks that the venue for the upcoming World Cup qualifier between Japan and North Korea ought to be changed. The match is scheduled for June 8 in Pyongyang, and JFA boss Saburo Kawabuchi voiced fears over a repeat of the violence that erupted when Iran played in the Hermit Kingdom: North Korean players roughed up a Syrian referee towards the end of the match for not granting a penalty, and, later, fans threw bottles and chairs following the loss to Iran.
Moreover, Japan is at the top of Dear Leader Kim Il Jung's Least Favorite Places, and state-run media reminds North Koreans daily of Japan's wartime behavior and other myriad misdeeds. This would set the stage for an out of control mob, fear many Japanese soccer officials.
Kawabuchi has suggested holding the match at a neutral venue, such as Malaysia. Other JFA officials however have downplayed Kawabuchi's remarks.
Blatter: Fair Hearing for North Korea
Following Iran's 2-0 win over North Korea - and the ugly aftermath in which the Syrian referee was manhandled by several members of the North Korea side - FIFA President Sepp Blatter "guaranteed" that North Korea would get a fair hearing. Though he personally won't be involved in the hearing, Blatter promises swift and fair action.
The Syrian referee and his linesmen were unable to leave the stadium for several hours after the match.
Japan-North Korea Match Prediction:
Played in a cauldron of anti-Japanese sentiment, the super-fit semi-skilled North Koreans will fight back to draw. This will prevent riots and a coordinated, government-approved assault on the Japan team bus.
Pyongyang, June 8th: Match report coming soon!.
Whither the Next Generation?
Not a single player from the current Olympic team has managed to find a way into Coach Zico's A team. Unlike the previous "golden generation"--Junichi Inamoto, Shunsuke Nakamura, Shinji Ono, et al--that cut its teeth on the full side at an early age, the present crop of players is toiling in relative obscurity. In particular, the Japanese media is wondering why FC Tokyo's Yasuyuki Imano, a quick and tough midfielder, has yet to get a tryout. Another promising young player is Chiba United's Yuki Abe. He is the only player to have worn national blue thanks to an appearance in the second half against Kazakstan. Zico though remains stubbornly wed to his European quartet in the midfield.
Fiorentina's Hidetoshi Nakata
In spite of seeing little or no time on the pitch in Italy, Nakata put in two solid performances for the national side against Iran and Bahrain last month. He was the only Japanese player equal to the Iranians in terms of physical strength.
Nakata also later announced that he would step down from the national team if it would "ensure Japan a spot in the World Cup finals" in Germany next year. There has been grumbling in many quarters about Coach Zico's move to a 3-5-2 formation - allegedly to accommodate Nakata - in a match Japan lost badly to Iran. Media in Japan roundly condemned Zico for this sudden move. Nakata countered that Japan lost to Iran for a much simpler reason: the Iranians were much stronger one-on-one.
Reggina's Shunsuke Nakamura
Shunsuke seemed out of his depth in recent national team matches, particularly against the physical Iranians. Coach Zico remains faithful to his Italian-speaking free kick specialist though. Criticism is mounting to let Hidetoshi Nakata return to a play-making role, and leave the less vigorous Nakamura to take free kicks.
In Serie A, Shunsuke Nakamura has appeared in one of two matches. On the 10th against Parma, Shunsuke played a half before being substituted. He did not appear in the Roma match on the 16th.
Yoshito Okubo, Real Mallorca
No news isn't good news. Okubo isn't seeing time on the field. Mallorca are currently third from the bottom of the table and fighting to avoid relegation.
Naohiro Takahara in the Bundesliga
Hamburg lost on the 5th to Bremen. Takahara had few touches on the ball in the match. In his most promising moment he broke free in front of goal, only to have Croatian teammate Klasic step in front of him and shoot on goal. The shot skidded off the crossbar, and that was symbolic of how the match went. Hamburg lost 2-1. On the 16th, HSV won 2-1 over Schalke. Taka did not make an impact.
On the 17th, Hamburg Director of Sport Dietmar Beiersdorfer announced that the club had given Takahara a one-year contract extension through the end of June 2006. Details of the contract were not announced.
Koji Nakata, Marseille
Nakata's French sojourn continues to reek of a disaster in the making. In a key April 4 match against Paris Saint Germaine, Nakata gifted PSG a goal resulting in a draw for Marseille. Nakata's own goal cost Marseille two key points - and his lack of progress on the field no doubt has Philippe Troussier wondering about his highly lauded Japanese import. Marseille now trail Lyon by 14 points after 33 matches.
Feyenoord's Shinji Ono
The highlight of the month to date was Ono's goal in a 2-0 win against NAC on the 10th. Due to a yellow card in the previous match, Ono sat out of the Bahrain World Cup qualifier - and was missed. Ono also converted a penalty in a 4-2 loss to PSV Eindhoven.
Junichi Inamoto, Cardiff
Inamoto returned to West Brom after several months on loan at Cardiff in order to regain game fitness. He came close to scoring the game winner against Tottenham in a 1-1 tie on the 21st.
Perhaps the "big story" at this stage in the J1 season is the implosion of former powerhouse Jublio Iwata. After six matches, Jubilo is in 12th place with 7 points - or just ahead of three teams tied with six points, one with five, and at the bottom of the table Shimizu with 4 points. In non-league action, Jubilo lost 2-1 to Suwon Bluewings in the Asian Champions League. Relying on aging ex-national players with one foot already in coaching, the team has lost its way. Though the brass have expressed their support for manager Masakuni Yamamoto, but the knives are no doubt being sharpened.
At the other end, perennial power Kashima tops the table with 16 points on five wins and a draw. Nagoya and last year's champion Yokohama Marinos are in second place on 11 points.
Thugs Banned
Kashiwa Reysol has banned 11 fans for an indefinite period for taking part in a brawl following a loss to Nagoya Grampus last weekend. The two fans identified on video as being the instigators in the fight with visiting Nagoya fans will also be prevented from attending away matches as well.
Kobe's Matsunaga Axed
Kobe Manager Hideki Matsunaga got his pink slip on the 18th. Vissel has won once in six league matches and lost in both of its Nabisco Cup games. A 6-1 thrashing at the hands of newly promoted Kawasaki Frontole on the 13th highlighted just far bad things have sunk.
Brazilian Emerson Leao has been named successor.
Prior to its early June World Cup qualifier matches against Bahrain and North Korea, Japan will have a chance to warm up in this May's Kirin Cup. This year's Cup features Peru, UAE, and host Japan. The Blues will face Peru in Niigata on May 22nd, UAE in Tokyo on the 27th. The winner gets $100,000 in prize money from the beer maker.
Hitzfeld Asia-Bound?
Former Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld told the Frankfurter Allgemeinen Sonntagszeitung newspaper that he is considering new offers. He allegedly was offered the head job at Real Madrid, but is now considering work in the Far East. "I plan in six weeks to seriously think about what kind of job I want, " said Hitzfeld. "I'm completely open as to whether I want to take on a top club team, have an adventure in China or Japan, or coach a national team."
Italy's Juventus and Spain's Barcelona will be bringing the show to Japan this summer. In preparation for their respective 2005-2006 domestic league seasons, the two powerhouse clubs will be playing exhibition matches. Barca will face off against J.League champion Yokohama Marinos at Nissan Stadium on June 12th. Then, on the 15th, the Catalans will meet Urawa Reds at Saitama Stadium.
Der Ziegel magazine has reported that Barca superstar and Brazil forward Ronaldinho will skip his national team duties in the Confederations Cup to travel to Japan to play in the above--and very lucrative--exhibitions. Barcelona asked the Brazil Football Federation to release Ronaldinho for its Japan trip. It is estimated that the Japan tour will net the Catalan club $3.87 million for its two matches.
Other big name teams are also coming to Land of the Rising Sun. Juventus is slated to play the Marinos on June 1st at Nissan Stadium, and then meet FC Tokyo at Ajinomoto Stadium a week later.
Juventus and Barcelona join Manchester United on the Asian gravy train. Man United will be coming to Japan in July to play Kashima Antlers on July 28 and Urawa Reds on the 30th.
Bayern Munich announced that it too would be making the trip to the Far East. The German champion will play in two exhibition matches prior to the 2005-6 Bundesliga season. On July 28, Bayern will face FC Tokyo; then two days later, there will be a match with Jubilo Iwata.