Troussier slams ''stupid'' Japan
May 26, 2010
Former Japan coach Philippe Troussier has accused Japan of having a "stupid mentality" and blamed current boss Takeshi Okada for trying to play attacking football.
Troussier, who led Japan to the Second Round as co-hosts in 2002, hit out at Okada as his side lost 2-0 to South Korea, claiming that nothing has changed in the team's approach.
"It's a bad situation for Okada," Troussier said. "The situation now is exactly like it was when Okada was coach at the World Cup in 1998. The team has exactly the same stupid mentality.
"Okada has confusion in his head. He was blinded by the fact that he wanted to beat Korea. Monday was an important match to test some players or maybe a new strategy. They conceded an early goal and the players didn't know what to do. They don't have enough information.''
Japan failed to impress as they fell to their Asian rivals and Troussier has called for a change in mentality.
"After Korea scored there were 80 minutes left and we didn't see anything from Japan," said Troussier. "If you have no confidence you can't take risks. You only get confidence if you know the solution."
"Okada wants to play like Spain, like Brazil. You have to be careful, you have to think seriously how to change your philosophy at the highest level."
The 55-year-old, linked with North Korea and Ivory Coast before the World Cup, also said Okada needed to consider leaving out playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura in South Africa.
"Nakamura is a beautiful player and can win matches for you but you have to protect him," said Troussier. "Nakamura can play at Real Madrid, Barcelona, no problem, because he has some very talented players around him. But if you have Nakamura at his former Spanish team Espanyol, no.
"You need defensive abilities and that's not the case with Nakamura. Nakamura is a great player if you have 60 or 70% ball possession but that was not the case on Monday.
"It will also not be the case against Cameroon, the Netherlands or Denmark at the World Cup. In a band if I have Jimi Hendrix on guitar I would say don't go off and do a 40-second solo, even if you're the best in the world. Success comes from the collective way.''
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