Japan ready for Bahrain
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ByEurosport
Published 29/03/2005 at 11:53 GMT
Japan coach Zico says his players have nothing to fear when they face Bahrain in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday. Bahrain top Group B in the final round of the Asian qualifiers alongside Iran with both teams on four points from two games. Follow the As
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Japan have three points and need a victory in Saitama to reignite their campaign after Friday's 2-1 defeat by Iran in Tehran.
"Bahrain's players can run all day and they can be a real threat to Japan on the counter-attack," Zico told reporters on Tuesday. "They are a young team but we have more experience."
Bahrain are buzzing after their 2-1 victory over winless North Korea in Pyongyang when striker Husain Ali scored twice on the break.
Bahrain's players have also been boosted by a royal phone call from the tiny Gulf nation's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa wishing them good luck against Japan.
'GREATER EXPERIENCE'
Zico believes his side can match Bahrain for goals after beating them 4-3 in the semi-finals of last year's Asian Cup.
"Our greater experience can nullify Bahrain's threat," said the Brazilian. "We're at home and we must take three points."
Zico is set to revert to a 3-5-2 system after some senior players were frustrated at the coach's decision to tinker with his tactics to suit the returning Hidetoshi Nakata.
Team officials have denied reports that Japan captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto had broken ranks and said that the players, and not Zico, took the major decisions.
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