Konno doubtful for Japan´s World Cup opener

Japan defender Yasuyuki Konno seems certain to miss Japan’s World Cup opener against Cameroon on June 14 after injuring his right knee in the 2-0 warm-up defeat to Ivory Coast on Friday.

Konno, who has played at right-back in Japan’s last three international matches, sustained the injury when he was tackled by Ivorian striker Aruna Dindane on 66 minutes in the friendly in the Swiss city of Sion.

“It is ligament damage so it’s doubtful he will play in the first game,” said Japan coach Takeshi Okada on Saturday before his squad left their altitude training camp in the Swiss ski resort of Saas-Fee, the Kyodo news agency reported.

“This kind of injury normally takes two weeks (to heal),” he added.

Okada said he would monitor the 27-year-old FC Tokyo utility man’s progress before deciding on whether to draft in cover for the Cameroon game in Bloemfontein.

The Blue Samurai will also play the Netherlands and Denmark in Group E with Okada insisting on his ambitious but widely ridiculed goal of reaching the semi-finals in South Africa.

“There is still time so we’ll have a look at him (Konno) over the next two or three days. He was walking after the game and he is walking normally now,” Okada said.

His squad was due to arrive at their World Cup base in George on Sunday after their fourth straight international defeat.

They earlier lost to a third-string Serbia 3-0 in April, 2-0 to South Korea last month and 2-1 to England last Sunday.

Japan are set to play another warm-up before taking on the Indomitable Lions, although Okada would not reveal his team’s opponents, Kyodo said.