Japan coach Zico, under pressure following the 1-3 loss to Australia, vowed to boost the Asian champions' attack to survive the World Cup first-round cut and salvage his reputation.
BONN: Japan coach Zico, under pressure following the 1-3 loss to Australia, vowed to boost the Asian champions' attack to survive the World Cup first-round cut and salvage his reputation.
"While sitting on the edge of a cliff, we must think how to give all we have," Zico said as his "Blue Samurai" squad resumed full team training here on Wednesday after the disastrous World Cup opener on Monday. "We are not out of it yet."
In their second Group-F match against Croatia on Sunday, he plans to boost his midfield by employing his favourite four-man last line which can free up two side backs to join four midfielders in pressing the opponents.
"I will add one more to our midfield. It is the best measure for a must-win match," he said.
Zico's cautious three-back defence, joined by two wingers, pushed Japan far too deep and allowed the big and physical Socceroos space to charge in on goal resulting in a three-goal onslaught in the last nine minutes of play.
Croatia, third at France 1998, lost their opener 1-0 to five-time champions Brazil on Tuesday with Kaka scoring the sole goal. A second straight loss would likely prove fatal for both teams.
"We must score goals against Croatia and never concede any to them," said Zico, a star player of Brazil's three World Cups.
About the Brazil-Croatia match, Zico praised Croatia for putting up a "close fight" against his home country. "Indeed, Croatia charged back hard. If Kaka was with Croatia, Croatia would have won," he quipped.
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