Japan are still hopeful that they can fulfill coach Takeshi Okada’s pre-tournament prediction and reach the semi finals as they prepare for their second round World Cup 2010 finals clash with Paraguay in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Okada had made his assessment to loud roars of laughter and widespread ridicule in the press amidst despairing form for the Blue Samurai during his reign and in the lead-up to the tournament in South Africa. Japan were beaten twice by South Korea in the past year, with the last defeat prompting Okada to offer his resignation to the Japanese FA, who promptly turned it down.
But midfielder Yasuhito Endo typified the renewed sense of confidence in the Japan camp when insisting that the team would do their best to reach their target, and after stylish wins against Cameroon and Denmark in the group stage, the Land of the Rising Sun has become unified in its support behind the players.
Japan are Asia’s last representatives in the finals now after the exit of South Korea on Saturday, but Endo believes that the team will continue to grow stronger in the face of adversity.
“Yes, I am confident,” Endo said when asked if Japan can reach the semi-finals. “I hope the forthcoming matches will turn out in our favour.”
Japan will now have to find a way to overcome a Paraguay side that have been hard to break down while sporting canny attackers upfront with the likes of Roque Santa Cruz. Endo credited their opponents with playing attractive football and stressed that the Blue Samurai would need to continue at their previous top levels to beat the South Americans.
“We have watched their games,” Endo said. “They are really hard-working players and the team is quite creative. That said, we have a great deal in common so we must strive hard to defeat them.”
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