- Title: JAPAN: WORLD CUP: BELGIUM AND JAPAN TRAIN AHEAD OF THEIR GROUP H MATCH
- Date: 3rd June 2002
- Summary: SAITAMA, JAPAN (JUNE 3, 2002) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BELGIUM NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM PRACTICING ROBERT WASIEGE, HEAD COACH SOUNDBITE (French) ROBERT WASIEGE, HEAD COACH, SAYING: "There will not be any major changes in our strategy for facing the Japanese tomorrow. We will play as we normally play, and will stick to our regular 4-4-2 formation." VARIOUS OF JAPANESE NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM PRACTICING HIDETOSHI NAKATA, KEY PLAYER, RUNNING YOSHIKATSU KAWAGUCHI, GOAL-KEEPER VARIOUS OF PRACTICE PHILIPPE TROUSSIER, HEAD COACH IN PRESS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITE (French) PHILIPPE TROUSSIER, HEAD COACH, SAYING: "With all due respect to the Belgians, I think that they would prefer to play with England or Portugal because of the prestige factor and because Japan is a small football nation, but on the day of the game, we will be wearing the same hats (will be equals)." WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITE (French) PHILIPPE TROUSSIER, HEAD COACH, SAYING: "For the Belgians who know us well, they understand that it won't be easy facing off with us as many people think. They will have a tough time." JAPANESE TEAM PRACTICING Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 18th June 2002 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SAITAMA, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVALEVM1FBH13J2V1F39HIXHRS9
- Story Text: Japan begin their World Cup campaign against Belgium in a match which pits the co-hosts against one of Europe's oldest teams.
Hit by a number of key defensive injuries--Glen De Boeck and Nico Van Kerckhoven who were both ruled out in the opening game--Belgium have been forced to face Japan with a changed line-up.
Despite the adjustments and rumours that the team may adopt the 3-5-2 formation, the Belgians will maintain their traditional playing strategy.
"There will not be any major changes in our strategy for facing the Japanese tomorrow. We will play as we normally do, and will stick to our regular 4-4-2 formation," said Belgian head coach Robert Wasiege.
He must also decide whether to field captain Mark Wilmots and Gert Verheyen, like Wilmots an attacking midfielder, in attack, as he did so effectively when Belgium achieved their surprise 2-1 win in Paris against World Cup holders France last month.
Despite being the underdog in the pecking order of world football as Asia has a shorter history in soccer than the Europeans, the Japanese team coach said his team was full of confidence and ready to take on the Belgians on a level playing field.
"With all due respect to the Belgians, I think that they would prefer to play with England or Portugal because of the prestige factor and because Japan is a small football nation, but on the day of the game, we will be wearing the same hats (will be equals)," said Japanese head coach Philippe Troussier.
"For the Belgians who know us well, they understand that it won't be easy playing with us as many people think. They will have a tough time," said Troussier.
Japan and co-hosts South Korea carry the main hopes of Asia, with China appearing in their first World Cup finals and Saudi Arabia on the end of an 8-0 demolition by Germany on Saturday.
This is the first time Asia is hosting the World Cup Finals with a tradition of over 70 years, and many in Japan are rooting for a Pan-Asia success.
Defeat against Belgium will dampen Asia's momentum and intensify the pressure on Japan to beat Russia and Tunisia in their remaining matches in group H.
No host country has failed to reach the second round of the World Cup. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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