Japanese Knock Greek Gods from Pedestal

Japan ended the hopes of the Greeks lifting another major international trophy by beating Otto Rehhagel's side 1-0 in Frankfurt.

The dream of adding the Confederations Cup to the European Championship trophy had already been rudely interrupted by the sublime Brazilians on Thursday but many saw this as a result in the natural order of things. This defeat raises worrying questions about the current standing of Greece.

Japan could have run up a rugby score over the woeful Greeks whose only consolation was that they missed fewer chances than the profligate Japanese. However, Japan created far more chances and would have humiliated the Greeks had it not been for their inability to hit a barn door from five yards.

Greece caught flat-footed by lively Japanese

As it is, Greece just didn't get going and didn't even show any of their smash and grab heroics which brought the European Championship trophy to Athens last summer.

The Asian champions looked more fleet of foot and displayed a maverick style of attack that at times had Greece pulled over the pitch. It was a shame, and a relief for Greece, that their flowing football was so undisciplined in the final third of the pitch.

Japan's strikers Atsushi Yanagisawa and Keiji Tamada should be made to relinquish the title of attackers after being guilty of a series of appalling misses in what soon became a one-sided game.

Japan finally find the net after glaring misses

The Japanese goal in 77th minute was not a classic either and it will have hurt the Greeks to have defended well against far superior chances only to have fallen to a case of lazyitis. A sloppy pass out of the defense was slotted through the rigid back four by Shunsuke Nakamura for substitute Masashi Oguro to poke home past an exposed Antonis Nikopolidis.

It was a bitter blow for the Greeks who will wonder if the game would have turned their way in 52nd minute after it looked like they had been robbed of a penalty when Angelos Charisteas looked to have been hauled down in the penalty area.

However, for the Greeks to complain about that decision in the wake of such a weak capitulation will seem like a spent force clutching at straws. The Greeks have rarely shown the desire or confidence to beat teams in their competitive games since Portugal.

Something wrong, but what exactly?

If it is still a hangover from those heady days, it's time someone got them some alka-seltzer. Maybe opponents have found them out; maybe they were just lucky last summer, maybe a new generation deserves a chance. Trouble is there appears to be few younger stars coming through to carry the dream on. Greece look in trouble.

Nothing should be taken away from Greece for their Euro 2004 win and two defeats does not mean a return to international mediocrity, especially when one was a master class by the World Champions.

But Greece do not look happy and have struggled in both games. Losing to Japan a year after dispensing with France, the Czech Republic and Portugal should be seen as a symptom that something is wrong.

Japan in with semi-final shout

The Japanese win lifts them up into a potential semi-final position with Mexico and Brazil playing in the later game. The World Champions were top of Group B on goal difference at the start of the day with Mexico in second.

Japan took the top spot after the win over Greece but will vacate it if either Mexico or Brazil win in Hanover. The final day of Group B takes on special significance now with three teams vying for two spots.

Unfortunately, Greece won't be one of them.