Football
19y

Soccer-Bahrain hold no fear for Japan says Zico

By Alastair Himmer

SAITAMA, Japan, March 29 - Japan coach Zico says
his players have nothing to fear when they face Bahrain in a
World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.

Bahrain top Group B in the final round of the Asian
qualifiers alongside Iran with both teams on four points from
two games.

Japan have three points and need a victory in Saitama to
reignite their campaign after Friday's 2-1 defeat by Iran in
Tehran.

"Bahrain's players can run all day and they can be a real
threat to Japan on the counter-attack," Zico told reporters on
Tuesday. "They are a young team but we have more experience."

Bahrain are buzzing after their 2-1 victory over winless
North Korea in Pyongyang when striker Husain Ali scored twice on
the break.

Bahrain's players have also been boosted by a royal phone
call from the tiny Gulf nation's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa
wishing them good luck against Japan.

Zico believes his side can match Bahrain for goals after
beating them 4-3 in the semi-finals of last year's Asian Cup.

"Our greater experience can nullify Bahrain's threat," said
the Brazilian. "We're at home and we must take three points."

Zico is set to revert to a 3-5-2 system after some senior
players were frustrated at the coach's decision to tinker with
his tactics to suit the returning Hidetoshi Nakata.

Team officials have denied reports that Japan captain
Tsuneyasu Miyamoto had broken ranks and said that the players,
and not Zico, took the major decisions.

^ Back to Top ^