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The David Beckham of Japanese soccer, midfielder Hidetoshi
Nakata will be absolutely crucial to Japan achieving
success at the World Cup on home soil.
Nakata is stylish playmaker with great vision and inspired
passing skills. His quick feet give him masterful ball
control and allow him to dribble through tight spaces
to get into scoring position, from which he'll unleash
a cannon-like shot.
Coming off a poor season for Italian club Parma after
a $26-million transfer from AS Roma, Nakata has even
more incentive to prove himself on soccer's greatest
stage. Japanese coach Philippe Troussier, in fact, suggests
that Nakata may be a better player for his disappointing
season.
"Nakata went to Parma with huge expectations,
perhaps too big," said Troussier. "But he
overcame a lot of adversity and is a completely different
person that he was a year ago. He's tougher physically
and mentally, and we expect a lot from him."
Nakata made his club debut with Shonan Bellmare of the
Japanese J-League in 1997 before moving to Italy the
following year and signing with Perugia. After a year
and half there, he moved on to AS Roma in January 2000.
Nakata spent two seasons in Italy's capital, helping
Roma win its first Italian league title in 18 years
last year, but was frustrated at the lack of first-team
opportunities. Roma sold the flamboyant midfielder to
Parma at the end of the season
Voted Asian Footballer of the Year in 1997 and 1998,
Nakata earned his reputation at club level playing in
Serie A (Italian first division) against some of the
best players in the world.
His success in Italy paved the way for his fellow countrymen
to leave Japan and earn a spot in some of the top clubs
around the world: Junichi Inamoto (Arsenal), Shinji
Ono (Feyenoord) and Naohiro Takahara (Boca Juniors).
Now, with the eyes of the soccer world watching, Nakata
has a chance to not only give the home fans in Japan
a treat, but also to show what his seasoning in Europe
has done for him.
"I think playing overseas has made me tougher,"
said Nakata. "It's made me a better player in a
lot of ways."
With files from Associated Press
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