A two-place climb to 44th on the latest FIFA/Coca Cola World
Ranking may be nothing big to brag about for Japan, who peaked at a
lofty 9
th, which remains the highest ever position an Asian
team have achieved, back in February 1998. However, their recent
hike represents the steady progress the Eastern Asians have made.
Japan's sustained progress was further underlined
in the recent Kirin Cup, where they raised the trophy aloft as
hosts courtesy of a win over Montenegro and a draw against
Colombia.
Positive preparations
With only four weeks to go before the start of the
AFC Asian Cup, the three-nation Kirin Cup provided the reigning
continental champions with a precious chance to sharpen their form
ahead of the defence of their crown. They made a winning start on 1
June with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Montenegro, who were
playing only their second match since independence. Veteran
defender Yuji Nakazawa headed the hosts into lead after 23 minutes,
before Eintracht Frankfurt striker Naohiro Takahara sealed the
success for Japan a quarter of an hour later.
Japan then played out a goalless draw with Colombia on
Tuesday, a result which proved sufficient for them to claim the
trophy by virtue of their superior goal difference over the South
Americans.
The reverse of Montenegro was Bosnian coach Ivica Osim's
seventh success in ten games at the Japanese controls. Appointed in
the wake of the 2002 FIFA World Cup™ co-hosts' disappointing
Germany 2006 campaign, the 66-year-old believes the Kirin Cup
proved a positive confidence-building exercise ahead of the Asian
Cup, while also providing him with a chance to identify his
charges' weaknesses.
"The players played well in the beginning but some of
them started to play individually," he pointed out after the
Montenegro match. "Our football is to move the ball quickly,
but it was destroyed by playing individually." Then, after the
draw against Colombia, he lauded his side's progress.
"Although we couldn't score, I think we played a nice
game. Had we taken one of the numeral chances we produced in the
second half, we would have won the game," concluded Osim.
European-based trio
Osim is under no illusion about the difficulties
Japan will face when they trade blows with Asia's elite in
July, but he will have been left encouraged by the nation's
all-conquering performance in the previous edition in 2004, when an
under-strength team successfully defended their title. This aside,
Osim's charges can also draw inspiration from their
European-based stars, who have been starring for their respective
employers on the old continent.
Among the three overseas-based players Osim recalled for the
Kirin Cup, Shunsuke Nakamura is poised to assume the
playmaker's role for his country in the Asian Cup, having
recently helped Celtic complete a Scottish league and cup double.
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Naohiro Takahara, who scored 11 goals in
30 matches for Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2006/07 season, proved
his worth to his country by netting in Japan's recent victories
over Peru in March and Montenegro.
Looking ahead to the Asian Cup, Takahara vowed to do his best
to help Japan clinch their third consecutive - and fourth overall -
continental prize. "With Australia also participating in the
tournament, it's going to be harder to defend the title.
However, despite the challenges the most important is we each do
our job well. Whoever I play with up front, I know what I have to
do," he said.
