Well, coup d'etat may not be the right word to use here...

Anyway, NT followers, here's some rather big news: After today's training session concluded, Zico gathered the 11 players who started in the NK game (see photo) and told them that he felt they were fatigued, and that he would be benching all of them in the next game against China. For those of you who have followed the team for the last year, you will understand what a big big leap from the norm this is. Zico used the same starting players through the entire Asia Cup (minus players who had to sit a ban out) even with the hard schedule and travel, the heat and humidity.

Anyway, it explains why he was doing such a rigorous training with the sub-only group in Monday's session. >>Click to read the entry I refer to.



The starting group for the next game against China will probably look like this:

GK: Narazaki
DF: Chano - Moniwa - Tsuboi
MF: Murai - Abe - Konno - Motoyama - Komano
FW: T.Tanaka - Maki

Here are the comments by some of the now-benched players after today's (Tues) training session:

Masashi Oguro, fw: "Zico told us he wanted to use the new players, and that he thought we were fatigued from playing every game. I think the entire team is going to change. That's the understanding I got. My opinion is that Zico's probably right in his assessment, and it's not like the team has only 11 players. My focus now will be to prepare myself to be able to go for goals if I am subbed in part way. Looking back at the NK game, I think we didn't expect them to have improved as much as they did. I still had the image left over from the past two games we played, but they had adjusted, and we weren't able to respond to that. If I am told to start again in the future, I've got to get goals. As far as the China game is concerned, there is nothing I can do/say. I have to think about what went wrong, but also look forward to playing better the next time I get the opportunity to start. As far as fatigue, sure I am a little tired, but that's not an excuse."

Takashi Fukunishi, mf: "We were overwhelmed by the intensity of the other team, but I'd like to switch gears and look to the next game. About the NK game, sure we wanted to win but we also wanted good content, but we couldn't do either. As a team, we've got to ambitiously aim higher. About the two remaining games, we'd like to get the Cup; and keeping our sights on the World Cup, it's going to be important to make sure we also put emphasis on game content."

Akira Kaji: "(Having been told to rest by Zico) I'll rest if I'm told to rest. I'll play if I'm told to play. There is some fatigue, but that's not the problem/issue. (Looking back at the NK game) The opponent drew back and we couldn't find a way past all that defense. I couldn't go forward, and couldn't play with the same feeling of aggressiveness. (Regarding the third game against Korea) I've been told to keep myself prepared, but I'm not sure what's going to happen. Zico decides who will start. Well, I guess maybe it's important for these things to happen sometimes."

Controversial calls are not rare in the game of football no matter which continent you visit. Asian football fans have had their share of frustration with the inconsistencies and lack of game comprehension presented by AFC referees. In both the Asia Cup and Asia Youth Championships last year, several referees were ordered home mid-way through the competition.

Asia's leagues must also deal with trying to both defend but improve the quality of their referees. Football fans in Japan shook their heads with disbelief when an obvious hand-ball allowed Jubilo Iwata to score a winning goal in the last few minutes of the first round game against Yokohama F Marinos. Though the next day's papers presented blown up shots of the scene in question, the league protected the referee saying that procedure was followed and the referee made the best informed decision he could under the circumstances. Throughout the season, there have been numerous incidents of questionable yellow/red cards and penalties. Fans of the league understand that these things happen; however they are not satisfied with the response of those in the position to oversee the quality of officiating in the country. They'd like to see a concrete response follow some of the more fantastic errors, particularly if the decisions influenced the destiny of the game.

Sunday night's red card fiasco by Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura during the Korea vs. China EAFF Cup match-up was not the first of the kind in his career. In this league season's game between Urawa Reds and Oita Trinita, he gave out two red cards to Urawa's defensive players early on for debatable infractions. In another game, between Vissel Kobe and Yokohama F Marinos, Mr. Nishimura once again called attention to himself by handing out a total of 8 yellow cards, one to a Vissel player for lightly tapping the ball with his foot after receiving a yellow for a foul -- the two yellows sent the player off the pitch.

The Korea/China performance may have glamorously exposed the issues so far being kept low profile by the Japanese refereeing organization. In addition to a controversial penalty kick awarded Korea, Mr. Nishimura gave out three red cards to the Chinese team. In a post-game video confirmation, it became clear that one of the red cards had been given to the wrong player.

The J League of course is trying to prevent attrition by protecting its officials; a league cannot stand without the men holding the whistles. Their intention may be to educate and reprimand gradually so as not to scare everybody off. But the magnitude of the errors resulting from the Japanese official's performance on Sunday, and the international stage on which it was displayed, may be a loud enough wake-up call for a serious self-evaluation.

As is the norm, only goalie Kawaguchi plus the players who did not start in the previous night's game showed up on the pitch for training Monday. The other ten stayed back at the hotel and went through a light physical menu at the pool.

Training lasted 2 hours. In a change from the norm, Zico got the players to go through some strategic practices with lots of communication to clarify small points with the players. Usually, the day-after practices consist of basic stuff like shooting, and lasts at tops an hour and half. But in this day's training, Zico got the players to take their specific positions and went through different patterns of build-up and finishing. Training ended with a mini-game.

After practice, substitute defender Urawa Reds Tsuboi said, "This is a little rare (for a day-after-game practice). I practiced with the motivation that there is a good chance some of us will be switched into the starting squad on Wednesday." Reports also have pointed to new forward Tatsuya Tanaka as having shown good ball handling and reflexes during the practice. The other new forward, Maki, made an impact by heading in several goals during the corner kick practice. Zico usually doesn't do corner kick practices during the sub-only sessions, but I guess he is intent on getting all the new guys up to speed on strategic details like this. The corner kicks were taken by Jubilo Iwata left sidehalf Murai, who is also brand new to the team.

When asked about training, Zico admitted that he aimed to push the players to the level of "regular" practice and even a little bit harder than that. Japanese media are taking this as a sign that he is going to be making switches to the starting squad. With regard to who will be starting against China, Zico has only said that he would "think about it tomorrow (Tuesday)".

photo from ziconarede.com.br

Shunsuke Nakamura's registration did not meet the deadline for the second Champions League game, which is a little disappointing. Celtics lost 0-5 in the first leg, and they have painted themselves into a corner. Their first game in the league ended in a disappointing draw, and there are already grumblings about changing the manager Strachan...which would be a disadvantageous turn of events for Nakamura. A lot of pressure is now on the Japanese midfielder to come through with an explosive performance in his debut game (expected to be the Aug 6 game against Dundee), which I think is expecting too much too soon.

Tokyo Verdy played Serie A club Fiorentina in friendly yesterday and won 2-1. Hide Nakata started, playing through his injured knee, and showed good passing and strong physical contact against Verdy. Fiorentina created a number of chances, but they lacked a little focus on the finish. Verdy played a great passing game, showing that their club style of creative and quick ball movement still has a chance of surviving despite questions of whether they have hit a wall with this style.

New manager Vadao was watching from the box above, and his comments at half time included mention of the strong passing abilities of the team, and the fact that left sidehalf Soma was one of the players who caught his eye.

In a press conference earlier in the day yesterday, Vadao promised that the would take a good hard look at how Verdy has been performing in previous league matches, analyze what is going wrong with the team, and find the best system and strategy for the club going forward. Vadao has worked with Verdy forwards Washington and new transfer Gil in the past at Brazilian clubs.

Verdy have won both their friendly games against visiting European clubs. Their 3-0 win over Real Madrid and now their victory over Fiorentina should give them a base of confidence, but the players are not letting it get to their heads. They have said that even if they win against European clubs in friendlies, it is meaningless if they cannot play consistently or if they cannot improve their performance in the league.