Japan coach Zico (right) receives a Jamaican jersey as a gift from Jamaica Football Federation general secretary Horace Reid at a news conference in Tokyo yesterday. Japan and Jamaica will play a Kirin Challenge Cup friendly match at Tokyo's national stadium on October 16. "The Jamaica game is my first as Japan coach, so I want it to be a memorable night," said Zico, a Brazilian. "I intend to celebrate it with a victory." - ReutersNEW JAPAN coach Zico has insisted that his players who are based in Europe must link up with the rest of the squad for next month's friendly against Jamaica.
Zico is desperate to keep together the squad that performed so admirably at the World Cup in the summer as Japan reached the second round. The game in Tokyo on October 16 will be the first under his stewardship.
Fulham's Junichi Inamoto, named Japan's Player of the Month for August, Shinji Ono of Feyenoord and Parma midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata will all be required to travel.
Japan are gearing up for the Kirin Challenge Cup, when they are due to face Argentina in Saitama on November 20.
Zico said: "Of course, I intend to call up the players in Europe, so I will have to negotiate with their clubs to make sure they are available.
"I am about 90 per cent certain of the squad that will face Jamaica and will probably announce it on October 7, although the Europe-based players will need at least two weeks to prepare," he said.
The Brazilian legend may struggle, however, to convince the clubs to release their players for the long-haul flight to the Far East. Another Europe-based player who is very much in the running for a place in the squad is midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, who has impressed during the pre-season with new club Reggina.
"Just because he has played well in practice games is no guarantee of success once the season kicks off," said Zico. "Defenders will be working out how to keep him in check and he will have to work much harder during the course of the season to make an impact.
"In my opinion, results are the most important part of the game. Japan could have been more confident in themselves at the World Cup and aimed higher. Japan should keep striving to improve until they have reached their full potential.
"The games with Jamaica and Argentina will both be important indicators for the team."
Zico insisted, however, that he had no plans to hold training camps before the midweek games. "There are J-League games the weekend before, and the players will be training with their clubs," he said.
"I have no special plans to assemble beforehand, except for training the day before. Having said that, the Jamaica game is my first as Japan coach, so I want it to be a memorable night. I intend to celebrate it with a victory."
