New Japan coach aims for world top three
TOKYO (AFP) — Japan's new coach is rallying up his squad with high ambitions, setting a goal of placing in the top three at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Takeshi Okada's optimism is in stark contrast to the famously gloomy outlook of his predecessor Ivica Osim, who had bluntly forewarned the team that they would fail to defend the Asian Cup title which Iraq won in July.
Okada, 51, this month became the first Japanese to take command of the national team in nearly a decade after the gruff Bosnian tactician suffered a serious stroke.
Okada held his first practice with the national team Wednesday as they prepare to face Chile and Bosnia-Hercegovina next month in friendly games.
"Let's show the best performance ever for an Asian team and surprise the world at the World Cup," Okada told his players at the practice session, as quoted by Thursday's newspapers.
He said the squad should aim higher than South Korea's dream run in the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.
"In 2002, South Korea came in fourth. This team can do better," he told the players.
Okada guided Japan into their debut World Cup finals in 1998, but quit the post immediately after they were ousted in the tournament's first round with three straight losses.
Japan again exited the World Cup without any wins in Germany last year.
Okada declined to tell reporters what he discussed with the players, other than to say he was satisfied with them.
"I got the impression that the team's ability to understand and the overall level are high," he said.
"It's difficult to say in concrete terms what I want from them, but I want them to play football with as few mistakes as possible and as many successful passes as possible," he said.
Japan will face Chile on January 26 and Bosnia-Hercegovina on January 30.
To open the qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup, Japan will play a home game against Thailand on February 6.
