Soccer: Lack of firepower a worry for Zico ahead of World Cup
December 31, 2005Coach Zico has admitted Japan must demonstrate more of a killer instinct in front of goal ahead of the World Cup finals and is hoping the return of injury-weary striker Tatsuhiko Kubo will provide a solution to his side's problems in attack. In Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura and Bolton Wanderers' Hidetoshi Nakata, Japan have no shortage of creativity while captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto has marshaled the backline imperiously and it is unlikely Zico will tinker too much with his squad in midfield and defense in the coming months.
Soccer: K. Nakata says switch from Marseille possible in Jan.
December 31, 2005Japanese international defender Koji Nakata, who is having an unhappy spell at Marseille, has suggested the possibility of his leaving the French first-division club. ''It's possible that I'll move to another team in January, although nothing has been made clear,'' Nakata said on his official website posted Friday, noting that he turned down a recent offer from an Israeli club.