[Asian Regional Final Qualifier - Group B]
8 Matches 3 Wins 4 Ties 1 Loss (13 Points)

9/7/97	Vs. Uzbekistan	Win	6-3
9/19/97	Vs. UAE	Draw	0-0
9/28/97	Vs. South Korea	Lose	1-2
10/4/97	Vs. Kazakhstan	Draw	1-1
10/11/97	Vs. Uzbekistan	Draw	1-1
10/26/97	Vs. UAE	Draw	1-1
11/1/97	Vs. Korea	Win	2-0
11/8/97	Vs. Kazakhstan	Win	5-1
<Playoff>
11/16/97	Vs. Iran	Win	3-2

Offense		Defense
Organization		Experience
Talent		Capacity to surprise

This is Japan's first appearance in the World Cup and they bring a completely fresh team. Even their coach, Okada, who took over midway through the qualifiers from Kamo, had no coaching experience at all up to now. However, when it comes to battling on the world stage, this absence of experience weighs the Japanese down as a minus element, so winning one game is a more realistic goal then winning through the preliminaries.

The defense is viewed with concern. The regular goalkeeper is Kawaguchi. The sub, Narazaki has also been the subject of attention lately. The defense is set at the center with Okita, who gained confidence in the qualifiers, and the veteran Ihara and on the sides Narahashi is the regular on the right and Soma on the left, but the entire defense core is vulnerable to speed and weak against counter attacks in particular.

Midfield, which holds the key for the team, is solid. Yamaguchi and Naba are in defensive positions. On the offense are the command tower and central presence for the team, Nakata and the other offensive midfielder is either Kitazawa, who only provides volume of movement, the dribbler Morishima, and the young Masuda are powerful candidates, but this position is still fluid. Also, as a veteran policy, the team is trying out a 4-3-1-2. In this case Nakata is put under the top and Hattori is started and handles center back covering.

The two tops are still undecided. At this time, the chance is high that it will be Jyou, who fits well with Nakata, and Nakayama, who is expected to contribute on the defensive side, but Lopez and Okano are also aiming for regular slots. The much-noted Kaz has declined too drastically and it is uncertain whether he will even make the team at all.

*THE FOOTBALL
ASSOCIATION
OF JAPAN
[Address]

Second Floor Goshimaikueikai Building

1-10-7 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo-to

Japan

*First appearance (1998)

Hidetoshi NAKATA
* Midfielder

It will bear watching whether or not Nakata can play in the World Cup in a way that takes advantage of his passing sense and wide field division. It is only natural that Nakata, who at the age of 21 pulled Japan into its first World Cup appearance, should be a key player, because the current Japanese team is centered on him. Nakata, who played on all the age group national teams puts to good use his natural cleverness and is an exceptional talent with bright future prospects who has grown steadily. If he can play a big role in this tournament, he may be able to follow Kaz as the next Japanese soccer player to play in Europe. His broad field of vision and rare passing sense are well known, but the issue remaining for him is combining with those around him. In world tournaments up to now, he has shown commanding play, but everyone will be watching to see how he performs on the large stage of the World Cup.

Takeshi OKADA

Okada was the youth coach and rose to the position of national team coach, receiving the baton from the previous coach Kamo during the final qualifiers after the match against Kazakhstan. In his coaching days, he was tagged with the unfortunate nickname of "Yes Man", but once he became head coach, he changed completely and demonstrated commanding leadership. However, the fact that he had no coaching experience at all up to now is definitely a disadvantage in the World Cup, where there are so many top coaches who have been polished in hundreds of battles. All eyes are on how well he can bring together a team making its first appearance in the World Cup. Also, his fortune as a leader will be told by how well he performs in this tournament.