SOCCER

Okada brands Okubo idiot after 1-1 draw with Oman

Sunday 08th June, 05:00 PM JST

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7 Comments

hetman at 09:47 AM JST - 8th June

congs!!.... at-least the least that was expected came out as a result. Now that the team has another game to look up-to in a weeks time , it should realize that only two games and that there is still belief of seeing it in S.A 2010...
northlondon at 10:55 PM JST - 8th June

I like Okada. Good to see a manager not frightened to call one of his star players an idiot. Okada got far too much needless stick for Japan's first World Cup appearance (having to qualify) in France, despite being the first manager to do so and despite it being Japan's first ever World Cup Finals appearance.
smithinjapan at 02:38 AM JST - 9th June

Oman Bahrain and Thailand.... Japan ought to be thanking its lucky stars it got such a 'difficult' group. That's the only way they'll qualify.
Heda_Madness at 02:45 PM JST - 9th June

North London, I think they'd already qualified by the time he took over (or was only in charge for one game) and he proudly proclaimed that Japan would get 4 points from their group. They got none.

He was an idiot, and in my opinion he still is.
romulus3 at 03:32 PM JST - 9th June

smithinjapan ,

> Oman Bahrain and Thailand.... Japan ought to be thanking its lucky stars it got such a 'difficult' group. That's the only way they'll qualify.

you give the Japan team too much credit smithy. they are not that good.
timorborder at 03:42 PM JST - 9th June

Japan had not already qualified when Okada took over. As usual, the JFA had entrusted the national team to some foreign git who nearly blew it, possibly Hans Ooft? (the only exception to this is that French dude in 2002). Okada pulled everyone's bacon out of the fire despite wearing those unfashionable t-shirts.
Crucifier99 at 08:59 AM JST - 15th June

timorborder, Japan had not qualified when Okada took over back in 1998, remember Japan beat Iran in singapore in a play off to qualify for France 98. And for your info Okada took over from another japanese Shu Kamo and not a foreigner.