Return Match Between Japan and France

The friendly match between France and Japan was held on March 25 at the St. Denis Stadium. Phillippe Troussier, the Head Coach of Japanes national team said with a confidence before the game, that ``We can beat the French team.`` But his face had become stiff as time went by. After Zidane`s penalty kick just 11 minutes after the beginning of the game, allowing the consecutive goals to Henry, Wiltord and Trezeguet, the Japanese team was defeated by 0-5. Head Coach Troussier told that he humbly accepted the result.

Since then, two and a half months passed. Now the host has changed. Japan pledged itself to take revenge in the final game which will be held in Yokohama on 10th. Although the French team has been regarded as superior to Japan in both offense and defense, the fanatic cheering of home fans would be a burden.

Japan who recorded no loss in this tournament, is expecting to continue the rising tendency. Among the players who had scored at the last encounter, four players except Wiltord did not participate in this tournament. And furthermore, the French team is actually `1.5 squad` and has been tired of the long journey.

The Japanese team will place Ono or Morioka in the position of a `genius midfielder` Nakata who returned to AS Roma ahead of the final. It will try to block the acute offense of the French team with a defensive line comprised of Nakado Koji, Hattori, Uemura etc.

Although Nishizawa and Nakayama will be placed in the forefront of the offensive line as a two-top, it is expected that the Japanese team will manage the game with a defensive strategy in overall.

Although a few starting members did not participate, the French team has shown the great power in this tournament. The defensive line comprised of Desailly and Lizarazu is still strong, and the excellent game-leading ability of Pires who has completely controlled the midfield area is enough to make him a candidate for the MVP of the Confederation Cup. If the strikers such as Anelka and Wiltord recover the normal condition, by what score the French team will beat the Japanese team would be only a matter rather than whether it will win the title or not.

Joo Sung-Won swon@donga.com