Japan coach targets World Cup last-four spot

Japan coach Takeshi Okada has insisted that his squad’s target of a semi-final spot at next year’s World Cup remains unchanged no matter who may stand in their way, according to reports.

“Nothing will change,” he told Japanese media on Thursday when he was shown by journalists the complete list of 32 World Cup qualifiers and asked if he would still stick to the ambitious goal.

Asked which countries Japan, former Asian champions, want to avoid at South Africa 2010, he said “I don’t think about it at all.”

“We’ve got tougher as a team and moved forward little by little in the past year,” the coach said. “We may not look brilliant but we have more stable strength.”

Okada returned home after Japan beat Hong Kong 4-0 in an away Asian Cup qualifier on Wednesday when Algeria, France, Greece, Portugal, Slovenia and Uruguay became the last countries to qualify for the World Cup finals.

“In Europe and South America, powerhouses have qualified as expected. I think it will be a great competition,” said Okada, who guided Japan to a winless World Cup debut at France 1998 in his first stint as national coach.

His World Cup target has been widely seen as unrealistic as Japan’s best result yet was a last-16 spot in the 2002 edition they co-hosted with South Korea.

On Saturday, the Blue Samurai battled to a scoreless draw in an away friendly against South Africa when their lack of finishing power was laid bare.

In September, they were whipped by the physically stronger Netherlands 3-0 and battled from behind to beat travel-weary Ghana 4-3 in friendlies in Dutch cities.

But last month Okada’s Japan outclassed Hong Kong 6-0 in a home Asian Cup qualifier and easily beat visiting second-string squads from Scotland and Togo in friendlies.