We'll start with a news. Zaccheroni is the number one candidate for coaching Italy NT after the WC. http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/italia-salgono-le-quotazioni-di-zaccheroni-514910
How is Zaccheroni regarded in Italy as a coach by the way? And why is Prandelli retiring when he is still young?
Prandelli is tired after 4 years on Italy NT's bench. Plus, he achieved a lot already: final in Euro 2012, 3rd @ CC 2013. He knows he can't push harder this team than now. So, better changing than staying. Plus, I think he wants to come back on club-managing. Zaccheroni isn't seen in Italy like a master. He won a title with AC Milan in 1999, then he had so-and-so spells in Lazio, Inter, Torino and Juventus. Plus, the two in Turin were a failure. With this experience as Japan's coach, he raised his quotations as NTs manager. That's why someone is thinking about him as Italy NT coach.
I was mildly surprised to hear that Italians actually seem to rate his experience with Japan. Not in terms of whether he's done a good job or not, but that it's considered relevant. Did the Confederations Cup raise his stock a lot?
Japan, speaking of football, is seen in the wrong way here in Italy. Tsubasa Oozora makes Italian think: "Yes, they have Hyuga, Oozora, Wakabayashi... but, beside that, they're nothing". Yesterday I saw a piece on TMW which said: "YFM won the 1st trophy of the 2014, beating SH on the final of the EC. Goals by SATO and Nakazawa". I mean, c'mon: they're ignorant on Asian football.
Haha a 1-letter typo is somewhat excusable. But to my point: is it sort of like, "wow Zac made (a minnow like) Japan competitive against Italy? Mad genius!"?
Why does he want to go back to club management? International football has too little games for him each year? Why isn't The Italian NT interested in Fabio Capello, Carlo Ancelotti and Paul0 Di Canio?
Sort of. But this kind of reaction is expected by someone who doesn't follow international football. Most Italy, of course. Probably. Capello has a contract with Russia until 2018, I think. Ancelotti is now arrived in Madrid. Di Canio is a scumbag, no reason to pick him.
Then why don't Italy FA approach Ancelotti and Di Canio? These two are world class coach. How are they regarded in Italy btw?
LOL He's good for a third division side, maybe. Anyway I don't think there is any truth whatsoever in the news.
He saved Sunderland from relegation last season and if I am not wrong, he has somewhat of an reputation in Italy. I am surprised that the Italy FA did not even approach Ancelotti and Capello. These two are old and maybe cannot handle the many matches that club football has each year compared to just 10 plus matches for International football.
I don't know if he did really save Sunderland last season, Wigan kindly let them stay afloat. He lost 6-1 against Aston Villa, and was later sacked as he would've sunk them to the Championship this year anyway. The players hated him. Afaik his reputation in Italy is non-existant as a coach and rightfully high as a player, doubt we'll see him in Serie A anytime soon, at least Capello is committed to Russia right now and Ancelotti to Real, but again, I'd wait after the world cup before writing names. With that said, this was supposed to be the Japanese National Team thread so let's look forward for our friendlies against New Zealand and unnamed opponent for the moment.
Unfortunately the friendly against New Zealand was scheduled on that infamous month when the tsunami happened. Basically they postponed it. Not sure why they couldn't put it after the world cup and not before, but take in mind that players from Europe will join the team only one day before the match - sigh.
Given the schedule and the long layoff from NT duty, they need a comfortable home match where they can retain possession and play in front of their fans. Might be better if they could play a WC entrant, but NZ is okay.
FYI Oneiro already opened the 2014 thread here: https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/official-2014-japanese-nt-thread.1997874/ @Dax you should merge the threads (ot/since when did you remove the _ in your username\ot)
Sigh, I can't merge the threads unfortunately, as I explained I can only move unwanted posts to a new one. But, considering nothing actually really useful was said here, I'll close this. Whispered, please make a search next time