TOKYO — Vahid Halilhodzic has reportedly been dismissed as Japan’s head coach following two disappointing international friendly matches and with the World Cup opening in just over two months.
Japan’s Kyodo news agency cites football association president Kozo Tashima in announcing the move on Monday. The JFA was expected to hold a news conference to announce its plans.
Kyodo says a likely successor could be JFA technical director Akira Nishino, a former coach at J-League club Gamba Osaka.
Japan salvaged a 1-1 draw on the last kick of the game in a friendly last month against Mali, and days later lost 2-1 to Ukraine. The Japanese will face Colombia, Senegal and Poland in group play in the World Cup.
Halilhodzic was hired in March 2015 after leading Algeria to the knockout stage of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Japan, South Korea and Australia — traditionally, Asia’s most powerful teams — struggled in World Cup qualifying before advancing.
South Korea fired coach Uli Stielike last year and replaced him with Shin Tae-yong. Ange Postecoglou quit almost immediately after Australia secured qualification for Russia and has been replaced by Bert van Marwijk.
Asia’s dominant teams have tended to struggle at the World Cup when the top teams from Europe and Latin America are peaking.
South Korea’s run to the semifinals in 2002, when it was co-hosting the tournament with Japan, remains the best run by an Asian team at the World Cup.
Japan has never advanced beyond the second round, and will be making its sixth straight appearance in the upcoming World Cup.
Halilhodzic guided Algeria to the last 16 at the 2014 World Cup, where they lost to Germany in extra time. And the JFA had been hoping Halilhodzic could create a similar breakthrough for Japan.
But recent pressure appears to have weighed down the team.
None of Asia’s four representatives won a match at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, all failing to advance beyond the group stage. Japan, South Korea and Iran each had one draw and two losses and Australia lost all three matches in a group containing Netherlands, Chile and Spain.
0 comments:
Post a Comment