Japan say they have nothing to lose at World Cup

Underdogs Japan landed in their World Cup base camp of George on Sunday to a rousing welcome mixed with their optimism despite four straight international defeats in the run-up to the big tournament.

A boy scout’s brass band battled with ear-splitting vuvuzela-blowing supporters and the city’s choir for attention as the Blue Samurai arrived on a chartered air journey from their Swiss Alpine training camp of Saas-Fee.

The popular Western Cape resort has been picked by Japan for several reasons, including a good-luck factor. Japanese star Ai Miyazato won the inaugual women’s golf World Cup there in 2005 in partnership with Rui Kitada.

“My favourite is of course Bafana, Bafana. But after them, I will definitely cheer for Japan,” George executive mayor Mercia Draghoender told AFP. “Definitely, a financial and economical boost will be there,” she said of the Samurai’s presence in her city on South Africa’s scenic “Garden Route” coastline.

The team did not talk to reporters at the airport before they were taken to their base, the luxurious Fancourt Hotel and Golf Estate, where the Japanese golf duo triumphed.

But Japan and CSKA Moscow rising star Keisuke Honda declared before the squad left Saas-Fee that the former Asian champions were raring to bounce back from the series of friendly losses.

“You may think we’re going to lose three straight (group) matches, don’t you?,” he asked Japanese media.

“If we play bearing in mind we have nothing to lose, it would do us good,” added Honda, who turns 24 on the eve of Japan’s Group E opener against Cameroon on June 14 in Bloemfontein, followed by clashes with the Netherlands and Denmark.

Japan lost 2-0 in a warm-up against Ivory Coast in Sion on Friday. They had earlier lost 3-0 to a third-string Serbia and South Korea 2-0, both at home, and 2-1 to England a week ago in Graz, Austria.

“We could have matched ourselves against weaker opponents but we needed to play strong teams,” Japan coach Takeshi Okada said in Saas-Fee about the last two games.

The Blue Samurai bared their perennial lack of firepower while keeping up a solid defence despite conceding three own goals, two of them through Brazilian-born centre back Marcus Tulio Tanaka, against the powerhouses.

“The players may have some fear but after being pushed into a tight corner, they’d rather fire up,” said 53-year-old Okada.

The friendly results further discredited Okada’s highly ambitious but widely ridiculed goal of reaching the semi-finals in South Africa in what will be Japan’s fourth straight World Cup appearance.

Okada guided Japan to a winless World Cup debut at France 1998 in his first job as national coach. French disciplinarian Philippe Troussier coached them to a last-16 spot in the 2002 edition co-hosted by Japan and South Korea.

But they made an early exit in Germany four years ago under Brazilian legend Zico when they were crushed by Brazil and Australia and drew with Croatia.

So a pressing task for Okada’s Japan, known for their well organised midfield, is to score a World Cup win for the first time abroad.

“Even if we defend tightly, it won’t give us a thrust,” Okada said. “What we should do is unchanged but it has become clearer still. It is important to pass the ball around but we also need players to charge forward.”

Honda, who has emerged from former Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura’s shadow as he helped CSKA reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with goal scoring after his move from Venlo in January, said he was ready to do his job.

“If we attack the opponents where it hurts them most, it will lead to scoring chances. We want to give all we have as this event takes place just once in four years,” the creative midfielder said ahead of his World Cup debut.