Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura has questioned the timing of national team coach Zico's decision to leave him out of the starting lineup for Wednesday's crunch World Cup qualifier against North Korea.
Zico has called up Reggina playmaker Nakamura and German-based striker Naohiro Takahara from Europe for the Asian champion's opening Group B match at Saitama Stadium 2002. But the Brazilian coach said Sunday "he probably won't play (Nakamura or Takahara) from the start," and indicated he will keep faith with the team that beat Syria 3-0 last Wednesday in Japan's final warmup match ahead of the North Korea game.
"I'd imagined that I would be in the starting lineup. I wonder why he (Zico) has left it this late to say something like that?" said Nakamura.
The Brazilian's comments will also come as a shock to Takahara, who left for Japan to join his teammates after scoring a superb double in Hamburg SV's 3-1 win away to FC Nuremburg on Saturday.