By Alastair Himmer
TOKYO, June 16 (Reuters) - After months of facing the
possibility of World Cup elimination, Japan coach Takeshi Okada
has suddenly gone from clown to king.
Okada’s job was definitely on the line after a 1-0 defeat
by Bahrain in a qualifier in March.
Stinging criticism from Japan’s normally reserved media
forced Okada into his shell and lent an edge to the coach’s
press conferences, one ending sharply after just three minutes.
Okada’s second spell in charge of Japan had also looked
like ending prematurely after players complained of not
understanding the coach’s tactics in Manama.
One night in Bangkok, however, and Okada’s position appears
untouchable, Saturday’s 3-0 win over Thailand booking Japan’s
spot in the final round of Asian World Cup qualifiers.
Japan Football Association (JFA) chief Saburo Kawabuchi
immediately tipped Okada to stay until after the 2010 World
Cup.
“Obviously, it’s a relief to go through,” Kawabuchi told
Monday’s Japanese media, refusing the entertain the notion
Japan could still fail to reach the finals in South Africa.
“Of course we want Okada to continue as coach until the
finals.”
DEAD RUBBER
An exhausted-looking Japan squad returned home on Sunday
following the third of four qualifiers in 20 days and with only
the weekend’s home game against Bahrain left.
The Gulf side have also assured their place in the final
round of Asian qualifiers and lead Group Two by a point from
Japan.
Although the game has nothing riding on it, Okada insisted
he would not be resting key players in Saitama on Sunday.
“I will never forget the way we lost that away leg in
Bahrain,” said the 51-year-old, who led Japan to their first
World Cup finals in 1998.
“Our pride is at stake in this game. There won’t be any
experimenting with this or that. We simply want to pay Bahrain
back for that defeat in Manama.”
Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura may be the only player
given the night off against Bahrain after playing with a sore
ankle against Thailand.
Nakamura tied former Japan team mate Hidetoshi Nakata with
his 77th international appearance, as did defender Yuji
Nakazawa, one of Japan’s goalscorers in Bangkok.
“The coach (Okada) is thinking about resting me,” said
Nakamura. “But the ankle could heal by the weekend. I would
like to stay with the team and focus on beating Bahrain.”
(Editing by Ed Osmond)