FIFA 2010 World Cup: Paraguay’s coach Gerardo Martino says Japan will lose
Gerardo Martino’s guys have the lowest scores in the eight pool winners with just three goals to their credit. In terms of goals conceded, Paraguay has performed brilliantly by allowing only one goal into their net in three Group F games.
Japan has a similar story to tell. They only managed to score one more goal than the South Americans who came in second in Group E matches. Martino was reported of saying that he thought that it was very important to score the first goal.
He continued his press conference by saying that the first goal was always decisive in World Cup knock-out stages where winning means continuing on and losing means heading back home. Having the first goal scored against a team is hard to catch up as the team is left fighting against a defensive side and time is running out as well.
Both Paraguay and Japan have never reached the last eight in a World Cup. Paraguay did reach the last 16 in three of their last four World Cups but they have never gone further than that.
When Martino was asked if his team would be able to win the World Cup, he replied that they came to South Africa with a dream of winning but they are working on a plan. He completed his media statement by saying, “we are still in the race”.
In order to win, Martino believes that there was only one vital area that they need to focus in order win against Japan. Martino said that if you want to aspire to do something extra-ordinary in the competition, one needed to have better ball possession. When asked about his own team, Martino clarified that they are trying hard and putting in a lot of hard work to improve Paraguay’s ball possession.
He was quoted of saying that they have succeeded in keeping a high percentage of ball possession in some matches which was good to see. Martino added that the match against Japan could go in their favour if they have a higher percentage of ball possession which can be effectively used by Paraguay’s forwards.
He also added that the two teams had already played against each other two years ago in the Kirin Cup which resulted in a 0-0 draw. Most of the players that played against each other in that tournament are still playing for both the teams so it won’t be a completely new experience for all of them. All the players have some knowledge about each other, both collectively as a team and individually.
Martino said that they have been able to observe their game play, style and exactly what they have been doing in this World Cup.
He went on by saying that they are a very fast team and have changed the way they tackle. The Japanese can wait or they can in a flash switch from defence to offence and you may find them close to your own goal. He told that their current coach has worked a lot on them and has developed them into a better team than before.
He expressed that Honda’s ability to utilise free kicks and corners was an essential asset for the Blue Samurais and it would be essential for them to stop and counter it. He also told that Morimoto will play a key role in the forward line for Japan. The plan is to mark him and counter attack when he brings on the offence.
He also relayed that the Japanese ability to change tactics and to counter attack is on the top on his priority list. In the end, Martino said that the best advantage that the Japanese have right now is that they make use of the empty spaces quite well along with their agility and speed that they have in abundance.
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