Japan must try harder in World Cup: Honda

Japan’s star midfielder Keisuke Honda Sunday urged the Blue Samurai to aim higher in next month’s World Cup by seeking to win the tournament rather than aiming to reach only the semifinals.

“Personally, I think it would be OK to aim at winning the World Cup, rather than settling for the top four,” CSKA Moscow’s aggressive midfielder told reporters after arriving at Narita airport.

In the build-up to the tournament in South Africa, Japan coach Takeshi Okada has repeatedly said he would be satisfied if Japan reached only the semifinals, downplaying his team’s prospects against stronger opponents.

However, Honda said that Japan should aim higher, telling reporters that “there is no point of going” to the World Cup without trying to win games.

Japan will face tough opponents in their opening games of the tournament, up against Cameroon, the Netherlands and Denmark in the first round’s Group E.

“All of our opponents are better teams than us, but we still should have our chances” for upsets, Honda said.

Honda, 23, rose to stardom in recent years as a new hope for goal-shy Japan with his free-kick wizardry that helped CSKA reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time.

Honda added that he hoped to stay away from defensive duties during the World Cup, to showcase his aggressive style.

“I realise that my personal strength is offence. I think I am going to the pitch to show that,” he said. “If at all possible, I don’t want to have to go defence.”