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2007.07.29
Ivica Osim's lesson's from Asian Cup 2007



Japan lost the semi-final and third place match and Iraq won (Conglatuations Iraqi!).
Fans are not satisfied with the result, but there is a silence in Japan, there is few discussion of Osim.
I want to understand the current state of Japan, and what Osim wants to do. This is the briefing after the match against Korea.
(Note this is my translation from Japanese text published at J's Goal. http://www.jsgoal.jp/news/00052000/00052067.html).

Osim's Comments

There is a football general rule that the coach can change menbers after losing the match, but I tried the opposite way, not changing the players. I gave a chance to regular players. There was a policy that I wanted to see again that my selection of players was good or not. I requested players to have several roles for each of them. If they could have better technique, we could use more speedy players.
This is the result of Asian Cup, but the soccer does not end. The schedule was hard, playing six matches in twenty days. They played well in this situation. We didn't have much stronger opponent than Japan, we could always have initiative.
Q: What Japan should change?
I had mentioned in the previous answers. Today we took a risk to select players. Not only today but throughout this tournament, we defended the center only two stoppers with one of two defensive midfielders and leave playmakers free. The way taking the risk is suitable for Japanese I think. The person who wish to see that kind of match can see the point Japan should change. Korea was much stronger than Saudi Arabia but there was no break down in two stoppers and a midfielder defense. We lost Saudi Arabia match buth this was the reason why I gave another chance for them. They could take a chance? There is no third chance. "The same chance won't come again" is the Sarajevo adage.
If you are interested in, please refer the video of the days of Japan winning the Asian Cups. Compare in the detail. Which Japan was better? Not the result of win or lose, see the content of the match. I respect previous coaches, Troussier And Zico, but which team was better. There can be defferent opinion, but I have my opinion. Today was, .. this may inviting frowns but, "Dropping trou twice and brought out what we should not shaw twice".

JAPAN: Kawaguchi, Kaji, Abe, Nakazawa, Komano, K. Nakamura (Hanyu), Suzuki, S. Nakamura, Endo, Yamagishi (Sato), Takahara (Yano)

Matches displayed in Local Time. Stadiums are located in Japan unless otherwise noted. Some stadium sells naming rights to sponsors ( Naming Rights/Original Name ) "ET" denotes matches are played in additional extra time. "v" denotes extra time matches ended with v-goal (goalden goal). "PK" denotes the winner is decided with penalty shootout.

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