Defensive woes could hinder Japan
‘The best in Asia’
TOKYO, May 11, (RTRS): Japan’s hopes of advancing to the second round of the World Cup in Brazil rely on manager Alberto Zaccheroni’s ability to tighten up the side’s talented-yet-leaky defence, according to former Iran boss Afshin Ghotbi.
Japan’s 2-2 draw with Netherlands followed by a 3-2 win over Belgium in November friendlies have convinced Ghotbi that the Blue Samurai are a force to be reckoned with going forward but that goal threat is hampered by a lack of solidity at the back.
“Does Japan have a good chance at the World Cup? Of course, because Japanese football is the best in Asia,” the Shimizu S-Pulse coach told Kyodo news agency.
“The question is, how will the goalkeepers and defenders do playing at the World Cup level? In my opinion, they are not at the level they need to be.
“...when you talk about the attacking part, Japan have the quality. If they play like they did against the Netherlands and Belgium, they have a great chance,” the 50-year-old added. Zaccheroni will name his squad on Monday and there was good news for the Italian as regular captain Makoto Hasebe returned from knee surgery to play his first game in nearly five months in Nuremberg’s relegation-sealing 4-1 defeat at Schalke in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Ghotbi suggested Japan — pooled in Group C with Ivory Coast, Greece and Colombia — should persist with the strategy that worked for them in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
“Japan defended as a unit in midfield, keeping it compact and playing the quick counterattack and short counters. They were very effective; that’s probably what Zaccheroni will do,” added Ghotbi, who coached Iran from 2009-11.
“But if teams play vertical and aim for the box, there’s going to be problems for Japan — and they should, if they do their homework.”
Season-ending injuries to defenders Maya Yoshida and Atsuto Uchida could not have come at a worse time and Ghotbi would be surprised if Zaccheroni does not avail the services of seasoned campaigners Marcus Tulio Tanaka and Yuji Nakazawa.
“Nakazawa and Tulio are still the two best central defenders in the J.League. I would include them because they have the experience and personality Japanese football needs.
“We are hopeful he will recover. I think if anyone has the courage and pride to come through this injury it’s Falcao, and he’s important for us on and off the pitch.”
In 1990, Colombia’s commitment to attack came unstuck with a typical sortie into midfield by flamboyant goalkeeper Rene Higuita, which was punished by Roger Milla in an extra-time defeat by Cameroon in the second round.
Four years later, Colombia travelled to the United States on the back of a fine qualifying campaign that included a 5-0 win over Argentina in Buenos Aires - Argentina’s worst home defeat.
An own goal by Escobar in a 2-1 loss against the United States contributed to Colombia’s exit at the group stage. The defender was later shot dead in a bar in Medellin.
In 1998, mercurial winger Faustino Asprilla upset the squad’s harmony and was sent home early by coach Hernan “Bolillo” Gomez after complaining about a substitution.
Pekerman’s team may not have the flamboyance of Francisco Maturana’s side of the early 90s when Carlos Valderrama of the blond dreadlocks pulled the strings.
But they have great attacking power with Falcao up front and his Monaco team mate James Rodriguez prompting from midfield, plus a sturdy defence built round veteran centre-backs Luis Amaranto Perea and captain Mario Yepes. Colombia finished the 16-match South American qualifying group with the best defensive record, conceding only 13 goals.
The team combine the traditional possession game of Colombian football with a new tactical strength.
Rodriguez has proved a key component in Colombia’s gameplan with tactical acumen to go with his creative skills.
Colombia, grouped with Greece, Ivory Coast and Asian champions Japan, will attempt to get past the last 16, their best performance at a World Cup achieved in 1990.
First, though, they will be trying to achieve something they failed to do the last time they took part in a World Cup in South America. In those 1962 finals in Chile they were eliminated in the group stage without winning a game.
If Falcao is fit they will have a better than average chance of bettering that.
With Radamel Falcao battling to regain fitness, Colombia need Teofilo Gutierrez to show the sparkling form he displayed in the qualifiers and shun an impetuous streak that led him to walk out on teams in Turkey, Argentina and Mexico.
Gutierrez, who once pointed a realistic-looking toy gun at angry Racing Club team mates in the dressing room after being sent off, was a perfect foil to Falcao, scoring six goals as Colombia finished second in the South American qualifying group.