Japan manager Philippe Troussier has stayed alive in the position -- not until the 2002 World Cup but until the end of next month -- as the Japan Football Association postponed making a decision Thursday on the Frenchman's future.
JFA president Shunichiro Okano has asked the technical development department to make another assessment report on Troussier through two international tournaments slated next month, the Hassan II International Cup in Morocco on June 4 and 6 and the Kirin Cup on June 11 and 18. Based on the new report, the final decision will be made by the end of June on whether to keep Troussier, Okano said.
The decision came following a 70-minute meeting by the JFA's three top ranking officials in the morning, at which Okano received a report on Troussier's performance over the last 1 1/2 years from Kunishige Kamamoto, a JFA vice president and head of the technical department. The technical department held a meeting Wednesday to compile the report.
"The report I received this time consisted of various opinions but didn't have a unified conclusion. The technical department said they want to examine the case a little more. So, I told them to give careful analysis and examination (to the case) and have a conclusion in the (new) report," Okano said.
But the JFA's real intentions look a little different. The JFA itself needs time to receive an answer from Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on the JFA's offer to become the new Japan manager.
Okano admitted that the JFA had spoken with the former Nagoya Grampus Eight manager and didn't deny he may be contacted again.