BONN, Germany, June 5 (Reuters) - Japan's Hidetoshi Nakata has labelled Zico's side a shambles a week before their opening World Cup game against Australia.
Nakata blasted his team mates for lacking heart after
Sunday's stuttering 1-0 win over Malta in their final warm-up
game.
'We got nothing from the game,' fumed Nakata. 'It doesn't
matter what sort of football you play - unless you run and work
for each other it's pointless. Those are basic things.'
The 29-year-old midfielder has already complained that the
atmosphere within the Japanese squad was 'too friendly' and said
the Asian champions were 'not ready' for the World Cup.
Shunsuke Nakamura, the only player who has dared to cross
swords with Nakata, suggested his fellow midfielder might want
to lighten up. Nakata has clearly ignored the advice.
'We're hardly at the stage where we can suddenly change
things,' Nakata told reporters. 'What we're missing is the
heart.'
Japan's most recognisable player is no stranger to
controversy and was involved in frequent run-ins with former
coach Philippe Troussier before the 2002 World Cup.
Nakata was influential in last week's morale-boosting 2-2
draw with World Cup hosts Germany but the mood in the Japan camp
has changed after injuries to key players.
Front-line strikers Naohiro Takahara and Atsushi Yanagisawa
are both carrying knocks and wing back Akira Kaji looks doubtful
for Japan's Group F opener on June 12.
Japan are also drawn alongside Croatia and tournament
favourites Brazil in a challenging first round.
Reserve striker Keiji Tamada scored Japan's winner against
Malta and sought to defuse a potential rift in the squad during
the countdown to the clash with Australia.
'We're in a strange country where we don't speak the
language so it hasn't really hit us that we're at the World
Cup,' said Tamada. 'But we'll be ready.'
Meanwhile, Zico has pledged to stop tinkering with his side ahead of their first
match.
Injuries, though, could disrupt the Brazilian's preparations
for the Group F opener against Australia in Kaiserslautern.
Zico is unlikely to spring any late surprises despite
calling up 66 players during his four years in charge.
'If it's not broke there is no point messing around with
it,' he told reporters on Monday. 'At this stage I'm extremely
happy with things and we are in good shape for the Australia
game.
'There's still some swelling around his right ankle but we
will make every effort to get him fit for the game with
Australia,' said team doctor Tsuguo Morikawa.
The return of Takahara and Yanagisawa for the opening game
would be a huge boost for Japan.
'They did not play against Malta because they weren't 100
percent and we're saving them for Australia,' said Zico. 'I'm
not worried.'
Takahara, in particular, will be desperate to play after
enduring World Cup heartbreak four years ago when he was ruled
out by a form of deep vein thrombosis.
