Japan coach Zico searching for Midas touch

TOKYO, May 26: When Japan coach Zico declared his team could win the World Cup, it failed to spark a stampede by the team's fans to the nearest bookmakers.

Though delivered with a poker face, the overwhelming impression was that the Brazilian was peddling a mathematical, rather than a realistic, scenario.

Zico's four-year reign as Japan coach will end after the World Cup, where the Asian champions are drawn alongside holders Brazil, new Asian rivals Australia and Croatia in a difficult Group F.

Given Japan's erratic form since Frenchman Philippe Troussier guided the co-hosts to the last 16 of the 2002 World Cup, Zico's bravado appears ill-founded.

Yet despite public protests calling for Zico's dismissal during the 2006 qualifiers, Japan have made a habit of grinding out victories under the Brazilian.

''We don't need to fear Australia,'' he shrugged, dismissing the threat of players such as Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka. ''They don't have anyone we need to be wary of.'' Japan can ill afford to lose their opener against the Socceroos on June 12 but Zico is equally bullish about facing Croatia and even World Cup favourites Brazil.

''Croatia aren't as good as they were in 1998 (when they finished third) and we scored three goals against Brazil at the Confederations Cup,'' said Zico.

Japan held the Brazilians to a creditable 2-2 draw at last year's Confederations Cup and had another goal disallowed, much to Zico's annoyance.

''I played 89 times for Brazil and I only remember us conceding three goals once, when Italy beat us 3-2 to knock us out of the 1982 World Cup,'' said the 53-year-old.

Japan, however, remain an enigma. They played some stylish football to top their first-round group in 2002 before bowing out to Turkey 1-0 with barely a whimper in Troussier's final game.

Their form has fluctuated under Zico, who led them to a controversial Asian Cup triumph in 2004 in his biggest coaching achievement to date.

However, Zico's confidence is unlikely to send shockwaves through the top sides at the World Cup.

A mercurial player, Zico has lacked the Midas touch as a coach and few think him capable of the sort of alchemy required to produce a Japanese miracle in Germany.

REUTERS