Japan's new soccer coach vows to build on 'world-class' technique

one of Japanese football's proudest moments: beating a Brazil side containing Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos 1-0 at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

i.e. not a full international match.

Having got the team to the world cup, Halil deserved a chance to guide them through the tournament. Player power is usually not good and changing the manager just before a tournament usually doesn't happen, for good reason.

Nishino boasts an impressive array of domestic silverware and masterminded one of Japanese football's proudest moments: beating a Brazil side containing Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos 1-0 at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

If he is such a national team mastermind then why hasnt he been coaching the national team and winning things for them? The last thing he won was 8 years ago. The last thing he won of note was 10 years ago. Not that impressive.

bad form dropping a coach that gets you to the big dance for someone that doesn't know the music.

Precisely

He knows the music because he has been the Technical Director for JFA the past 2-3 years with supporting the national team one of his main jobs. So he was probably the "safe choice" for the job.