Japan Versus Scotland Preview

Don't you just hate it when you order your favorite pizza (mine is: italian sausage, onion, green peppers, spinach, roma tomatoes, and basil) and the pizza delivery guy shows up at your door with an extra anchovy abomination? Well, that's how Japan coach, Takeshi Okada, feels about tomorrow's friendly versus Scotland.

Scotland will play tomorrow with a fraction of the first team originally announced before their Japan arrival. Okada and the JFA were expecting Scotland to bring their very best, including Darren Fletcher of Manchester United, Alan Hutton of Tottenham Hotspur, and many Celtic and Rangers standouts. As of now, I believe 10 out of the original squad have dropped out due to varying excuses.

I understand Okada's frustration as he had prepped his taste buds and practiced his digestive system in anticipation for Scottish pizza. He issued angry remarks to which Scottish coach was forced to embarrassingly issue a formal apology.

Still, this upcoming match against a Scottish B side could afford a good opportunity for Japan's fringe players to get a start and display their promise. Okada has already declared that the players who played 90 minutes against Hong Kong will sit. Which rules out another Scottish sensation in Shunsuke Nakamura.

I decided to leave out my "What to Look for" section as I don't have a clue who will play for Scotland, and can really only tell fans of Japan to watch for Morimoto who will surely make his debut (how many times have I said that) and also to see who Okada plays at Center Back, as Tulio and Nakazawa have been holding down the fort for quite awhile. If i had to make a guess, I would say that the starting eleven for Japan may look like...

Kawashima

Uchida ------ Iwamasa ------ Abe ------ Konno

Hashimoto ------ Inamoto
Honda ------ K. Nakamura

Morimoto ------ Sato

Obviously, I've been wrong before, so don't send me death threats if Okada plays a completely different side.

My Prediction:

It seems like many of Scotland's side will be first timers. That doesn't bode well against an irate Okada playing at home, the giant bald conehead of Morimoto, and classy Japan regluars in Inamoto, K. Naka, and Honda. Expect Japan to play very agressive. Honda, Morimoto, and Kengo all score.

Angry Japan 3 - Scotland B team 0