IF YOU FEEL THAT England’s players are molly-coddled whingers for griping about the weather, you may be surprised to hear that they are in good company. Zico, whose permatan suggests that he has long abandoned the factor 10 and, lest we forget, a Brazilian, provided a post-match rant yesterday in which he effectively accused Fifa of putting players lives at risk. “Players have died during tournaments,” the Japan coach wailed. “People think only of business and the beauty of the game is sacrificed.”
While it looked sweaty in Mexico in 1970, the apotheosis of Brazilian football, Zico maintained that it was “criminal” that his side had been given two 3pm kick-offs. The inference was that this was a scandal cooked up by television executives, albeit his goalkeeper, Yoshikatso Kawaguchi, stayed alive long enough to save a penalty. “We are still breathing,” Zico said, no metaphor evidently intended.
It is to their credit then that Japan and Croatia managed to produce an entertaining game, although oxygen starvation no doubt contributed to the abject finishing, particularly by Japan. Atsushi Yanagisawa and Alessandro Santos were both culpable, neat build-up play undermined by a level of composure normally associated with lock-ins at the local bierkeller.
If Japan is the land of the rising, but not so hot, sun, some in Croatia believe they are the possessors of the risible son. Niko Kranjcar wavers between being labelled the new Zidane and a chip off the old block. Dado Prso, the Rangers striker, has made a veiled attack on the midfield player by criticising the lack of service, but Kranjcar’s father, Zlatko, the national coach, said it was junior’s best game for Croatia.
A big man with a nice touch, Prso is like Peter Crouch with a gym subscription. However, Croatia found that heroic failure against Brazil was easier than winning against a committed Japan side. Their misery was largely self-inflicted. Midway through the first half Prso fell under the merest of challenges from Tsuneyasu Miyamoto. No matter. Kawaguchi, once of Portsmouth, leapt to his left to save Darijo Srna’s penalty.
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Kawaguchi almost provided the worst gaffe of the World Cup soon afterwards, Akira Kaji’s backpass bouncing over his foot and running narrowly wide.
Croatia had more of the early chances and the catalyst was Krancjar, a turn and rasping shot cannoning off the crossbar, a cute turn and flick freeing Ivan Klasnic, a header thudding into the side netting.
Klasnic forced two saves from Kawaguchi, but Japan offered threats. Hidetoshi Nakata’s 30-yard drive forced Stipe Pletikosa into an agile stop, and when Robert Kovac was booked, ruling him out of the match against Australia, it was testament to Japan’s ability to frustrate.
Japan must now beat Brazil to prolong their stay. The good news for them is the game kicks off in the evening.