A day before the Japan Olympic team's friendly against New Zealand, Japan manager Philippe Troussier expressed his frustration with the Japan Football Association for its lack of cooperation in setting his preparation schedule with the Olympic team.
Troussier said the preparation of his Olympic side is in its final stages and stressed the importance of having the right schedule before heading for Sydney. He said it was essential to play some away games to check the Japanese players' ability to play overseas. But the French manager claimed the JFA has done little to assist him with the schedule.
Troussier said he had arranged to take the Olympic team to a tournament in France at the end of May, but the JFA blocked the plan, saying conflicted with the J. League schedule. The league's first stage finishes on May 27.