No Wasabi: Japan’s coach blaims for loss
WASABI, as we all know, is a Japanese plant with a thick green root that tastes like strong horseradish and is used in cooking, especially in powder or paste form as an accompaniment to raw fish.
Little wonder, Japan manager Alberto Zaccheroni was so upset when North Korean customs officers confiscated his wasabi when he arrived with the squad in Pyongyang for a World Cup qualifier. “Zaccheroni carries the spicy Japanese condiment with him on trips, squirting it on everything, even plain rice,” it was reported. “It was a recipe which worked, the Blue Samurai unbeaten in his first 16 games.”
Just to darken the Italian’s mood, they lost. “He ate little but bread for three days in Pyongyang,” said Japan FA president Junji Ogura, who also revealed the players had had their bananas, chewing gum and instant noodles taken at the airport. Fortunately, Zaccheroni and his squad had already qualified for the next stage of qualifying.
North Korea? They’re out of the competition.
Strange how the manager only ate bread because of no wasabi, but he didn’t play on the soccer field – and the team still lost.
Must have been a slow news day I suppose. 🙂