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Don't Panic is Zico's Advice

June 20, 2005

Looking at the Confederations Cup schedule heading into the tournament, Japan coach Zico didn't expect that his side could conceivably knock Brazil out of the tournament. Yet on Wednesday Japan could do just that against the team Zico played for in three World Cups in the 1970's and 80's. The former offensive machine (he scored over 100 goals in his first two seasons with Flamengo) has some advice for his Japanese squad: don't panic. "Every time the players were through on goal you could see they just panicked," the former two-time South American Player of the Year said. "That's not a problem of technique, it's psychological." As for the match-up against his side, Zico thinks the impossible can come true. "I'm confident, I really am. (...) It's important we retain our spirit and believe we can win." Mexico did it, why can't Japan.

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