FILE PHOTO: Akira Nishino, head coach of Japan's Gamba Osaka, watches their FIFA Club World Cup third-place playoff soccer match against Mexico's Pachuca in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan December 21, 2008. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File PhotoOKYO, April 12 (Reuters) - Japan's new soccer coach said on Thursday he hopes a return to attacking tactics can help repair the relationship between players and staff ahead of the World Cup.The Japanese Football Association hired Akira Nishino as Blue Samurai boss this week after the surprise decision to fire Vahid Halilhodzic of Bosnia two months before Russia 2018.Nishino has been JFA technical director since 2016 and had a rapport with the players and understood the set-up which matters given that the finals are close, the JFA said.But Nishino said the sacking of Halilhodzic confused him. "At the time of the sacking I definitely wanted to support Halilhodzic, as always," said Nishino, who cut a nervous figure during his first encounter with the media as head coach. "If possible I want to fight offensively and the players want to fight with the same spirit," he said.Nishino will have three friendly matches starting with one against Ghana at the end of May to get his philosophy across to the players before the World Cup. Japan are drawn in Group H alongside Colombia, Poland and Senegal.

Source: Egypt Today April 12, 2018 13:41 UTC