Its official: Philippe Troussier is not running a circus. The Japan coach was, in tabloid-speak, "gobsmacked" last Wednesday when he was quizzed about his team selection moments after Japan had defeated Yugoslavia 1-0 to win the Kirin Cup.
Asked why he had left Paraguay-based Nozomi Hiroyama on the bench for Japan's two games, Troussier shrugged: "Because this is not a circus. What do you want to see next? An elephant? A tiger?"
At least the Frenchman stopped short of calling Hiroyama a "donkey."