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Okada under pressure to improve soccer team's form

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Okada, citing South Korea’s run to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup, surprised many in December when he said there he saw no reason why his team can’t make the last four of the 2010 World Cup.

Okada, you are not Guus Hiddink...and the Japanese hasnt got the fighting spirit of the Korean !

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It is obvious that Okada does NOT have his strongest team on the pitch. Bring back the members playing in Europe and you would probably not be seeing the results that the National team has given. That is my two yen worth. It is still early in the season and the games in S. Africa will not be played in such frigid temperatures. It seems conditioning will play a major factor and a lot of 'fighting spirit' for the Japanese to move on in the World Cup. I have no idea how much the fans are paying to see these games, but I think it would help to play a game without paying any money as it is the fans who expect only the best out of the already NOT best team.

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It is clear the J-League players are just not good enough for international standard. The J-League is a fun comp but not played at a tough level. They desperately need all their players in Europe for Japan to be competitive.

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Okada under pressure to improve soccer team's form

His solution will be more of the same drills, with an eye towards a complete debacle in South Africa.

"Japan has had trouble scoring and only found the net three times in the East Asian Championship."

This never changes except when they play some trumped-up match at home against a country that is near the bottom of the world rankings.

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Of course he,s under pressure, He,s trying to compare Japan,s hopes on the past result of the sth Koreans,, get real 1st they had hiddink a world renowned dutch coach who has coached Australia, Russia etc 2nd the koreans had their share of lady luck in 02 and lastly you have to have that winning mentality,of which neither the japanese players have or the coach... The japanese are good technically , but fall short literally on aerial prowess and the physical side..... They should book in advance their safari trips for the second week, they won,t last....

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How about a win only pay system??? If they lose there is no salary. A draw and they get half. Might add a bit of fire in their guts to at least have a go.

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A poll in Japan showed 88 percent of Japanese fans think Okada should be replaced before the World Cup finals in South Africa in June.

Evidence that the public here aren't very informed or knowledgeable about football. Who replaces the coach, who got the team through to the finals, a few months before the finals? What message does that send out to any prospective coaches? Japan simply don't have enough good players, and as kitzrow said, they're missing the Euro-based players for these games. Barring a world class appointment like Hiddink, they'll do little better than Okada.

I think this is the same mentailty they bring when replacing prime ministers every time the wind changes.

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I guess he didn't tell them to do their best enough

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Everyone on the team...shave your heads! At least that should rid the team of that vanity thing that makes J-soccer players look like girly-girls on a Sunday run in the park.

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ratpack

How about a win only pay system??? If they lose there is no salary. A draw and they get half.

I said something similar years ago. When they travel, put them up in 2-3 star hotels and stick them in economy class until they start winning. That should put a fire in them.

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Okada from the very beginning was not putting enough belive in the players. Just stating they am for the best 4 wouldn't lift their spirit.

Strategy saying "you guys are not good enough - we will be humiliated if we don't make our best effort" might be better.

And Guus Hiddink wouldn't take Japan. He is a fox and gets only teams that have potential in certain moment.

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The FSA has no one to blame but themselves. After Osim's unfortunate stroke they took the cheap/easy way out by giving Okada a second chance, despite his pitiful results when he took the team to the World Cup before. They have to stick with him now.

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Everyone on the team...shave your heads! At least that should rid the team of that vanity thing that makes J-soccer players look like girly-girls on a Sunday run in the park

Yep

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Japan's problem has always been the same. They never shoot the ball. They have a chance but would rather pass it.

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Not the most watchable team Japan.

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Agree with herefornow. Okada should not have been appointed, but it is way too late now. The JFA should support their man; but this looks like they are already getting ready to shift the blame. Sack the board!

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"Okada, citing South Korea’s run to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup, surprised many in December when he said there he saw no reason why his team can’t make the last four of the 2010 World Cup."

I bet he regrets uttering these words allowed, despite the fact I'm sure in his heart he still believes them. And therein lies one of the main reasons for disappointment: there are a number of people who believe that because South Korea did extremely well in 2002 (and let's forget the bad ref. calls for now and just focus on the result), Japan is somehow ENTITLED to a better result out of some sort of superiority complex. This same attitude was why he said only a few weeks back, "We cannot lose to the Koreans!", and the current source of shame at having done so. Fortunately, simply thinking you are better than Koreans doesn't play out on the soccer field; it's only wishful thinking.

After Japan goes down in this summer's WC, Okada will be gone.

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Japanese coach for japan was a bad idea to start! You need someone who comes from a winning culture, not one that comes from mediocraty! They really should have gone European, more discipline, style, skill class.... This world cup is too late. What a joke that Okada says Japan can be top 4, How cocky or foolish is he going to look when they dont even get through their group stage.

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The guy makes bank, so of course he's going to stay (despite his obvious ineptitude).

toddyz1 is spot on: a non-japanese coach would've been better all around.

Oh, and one more thing: if immigration and naturalization weren't so difficult, a little outside talent that's not afraid to shine (a little carry and shoot, please) would be the cherry on top of this lack-luster crew.

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fighting spirit is overrated...if you don't have the talent, you'll get spanked by every team with more talent

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You guys are right about the European coach, and they've of course had them in the past. Hell, it even gives Japan the added bonus of being able to lay the blame on a 'foreign head' when they lose: works for Hiroshima Carp, Sony, and you name it.

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Smith, it is notable, however, that Troussier has been the only appointment from outside of Japan - Zico, Osim etc. all being already present. I think this is a common mindset, not just in the football area: if it has to be a foreigner, then it should be a "safe" one, who knows the way things work. So, instead of going for a keen young European or South American, who might take on the challenge as a way of advancing his own career, they have gone for the apparently safe option, again and again. And when it doesn't work out, like now, they publicly wash their hands of the guy, months before the tournament itself. It would be nice to see JFA president Inukai announce that if Japan don't do well, he will step down himself. Some hope, though.

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