Japan coach Zico said Wednesday he will scrap his 3-6-1 formation for this weekend's friendly at home to Finland after Japan were outclassed by the United States in Saturday's 3-2 defeat in San Francisco.
Zico started Tatsuhiko Kubo as a lone striker against the U.S. but his plan backfired as Japan's six-man midfield were run ragged for over an hour at SBC Park.
With Japan trailing 3-0, the Brazilian coach switched to four at the back and the Asian champions mounted a fight back after a rash of substitutions, with goals from substitute Seiichiro Maki and Yuji Nakazawa giving the scoreline some respectability.
"We will play a different shape against Finland but we have to make sure we play solidly," said Zico. "There was no lack of heart against the United States but the quality of our soccer left a lot to be desired."
Kubo, back in the national side after a lengthy injury-forced absence, looked rusty and did not even manage a shot on goal against the Americans.
Maki, meanwhile, staked his claim for a place in the starting line-up against the Finland in Shizuoka on Saturday with his first goal for the national team while fellow Hisato Sato also looked lively on his Japan debut.
Zico, who picked out Maki, Sato, and midfielders Makoto Hasebe and Yuki Abe for special praise after the match, did not make any changes to the 22-man squad he took to the U.S.
After the Finland match, Japan begin their defense of the Asian Cup with a home qualifier against India on Feb. 22 and then travel to Germany to play a friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Feb. 28.