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Zico rings the changes for China clash
DAEJEON - Japan will go into their East Asian Football Championship clash with China on Wednesday evening boasting a complete line-up change as coach Zico aims for a much-needed win in the regional tournament. The Asian champions looked jaded and lethargic in their 1-0 defeat at the hands of DPR Korea on Sunday, prompting the Brazilian manager to clear the decks and start again. The move mean debuts for FC Tokyo midfielder Yasuyuki Konno, Jubilo Iwata's Shinji Murai and Yuichi Komano of Sanfrecce Hiroshima and that trio will be joined in the starting line up by strikers Tatsuya Tanaka of Urawa Reds and JEF United Chiba's Seiichiro Maki, who made their first appearances in the blue shirt as substitutes in Sunday's loss. Teruyuki Moniwa will make only his fourth appearance for the national side and he will link up in defense with Takayuki Chano and Keisuke Tsuboi, while midfielder Yuki Abe of JEF United will earn only his second cap. Zico broke the news to his regular line up - many of whom played in the final of the Asian Cup 2004 as Japan retained the trophy with a 3-1 win over the Chinese in Beijing last August - after training on Tuesday evening. "I told them that I have decided to play with the other group of this squad," he said. "These players I talked to have made a great contribution to the team and worked hard up until now, but I have also seen fatigue in them, not only physically but mentally too. "I saw that in the game against North Korea, so that's why I decided to do
this. But I'm sure that these guys who are playing will do what they can for the
team, they certainly have the ability to do so."
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