Former coach credited for stronger Japanese team

Japan captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto has said that Philippe Troussier, the former coach, is to thank for the current squad of players who will compete in Germany in June. Miyamoto believes the squad is much stronger now than four years ago when they reached the second round of the competition.

“Troussier ran the team with an iron fist” the captain declared. They have all matured as a result and hence, Troussier deserves a lot of credit.

Miyamoto believes Troussier taught them everything about football and how to behave as professionals.That experience has served them well over the past four years.

Miyamoto, one of the most experienced players in the squad produced a series of superb performances after taking the captain’s armband from Ryuzo Morioka during the Japan/Korea finals; Moriako was injured in Japan’s opening game against Belgium.

The 28-year-old captain was very influential in retaining the Asian Cup in China in 2004 and played a key role in Japan’s backline during the World Cup qualifying campaign.