Big game tonight for Japan in the world cup qualifier against Bahrain. c'mon nakamura!
Japan missing shinji ono with a stress fracture that appeared just two days before the kick off.
ono, who is for me the best player for japan at the moment alongside with shunsuke nakamura will surely be missed by zico.
nakata will replace ono in the deeper midifeld role instead of being just behind a lone striker. huuuuuge expectation and faith shown from zico to nakata, who has not played for fiorentina in the last 9 games... but still puts him in the starting lineup to lead japan to a victory, which will almost assure japans place in germany 2006.
nakata, who is often criticised by media in japan (because they ask him million questions and he cant give them million answers) has said he is in good condition.
i hope he proves the critics wrong.