Japan | VS
| Korea Republic |
| Date/Time: | Sep 2, 2011, 10:24 am(GMT) |
| Competition: | World Cup Qualifying |
| Live/Repeat: | Live |
Japan-Nth Korea game given green light
SAITAMA, Japan - Japan's opening World Cup qualifier against North Korea will go ahead as planned on Friday after initial fears it would need to be put back a day due to an approaching typhoon.
The Japan Football Association said Thursday the game will proceed despite Typhoon Talus being forecast to come close to Japanese coastal areas on Friday night.
Both Japan and North Korea qualified for the 2010 World Cup and will be favourites to progress from Group C, which also includes Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Japan, the reigning Asian champion, is unbeaten since Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni took over a year ago.
However, North Korea could provide a sterner test in Saitama, and Japan had called in all of its big-name European stars such as Shinji Kagawa of Borussia Dortmund and CSKA Moscow's Keisuke Honda.
However Honda was ruled out with a knee injury, while Kengo Nakamura will be missing due to a broken toe and Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo is absent while recovering from a dislocated shoulder.
"Japan did very well at the (2010) World Cup and we won the Asian Cup so teams are very motivated when they play us," said Zaccheroni. "There are a lot of expectations of us but we have to show character, good balance and show no fear ... We must prepare well and turn pressure into power."
In the other Group C game, Uzbekistan will make the relatively short journey to Tajikistan. The host is fortunate to be playing at all and only made it after Syria was disqualified after fielding an ineligible player in the earlier qualification rounds.
The Japan Football Association said Thursday the game will proceed despite Typhoon Talus being forecast to come close to Japanese coastal areas on Friday night.
Both Japan and North Korea qualified for the 2010 World Cup and will be favourites to progress from Group C, which also includes Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Japan, the reigning Asian champion, is unbeaten since Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni took over a year ago.
However, North Korea could provide a sterner test in Saitama, and Japan had called in all of its big-name European stars such as Shinji Kagawa of Borussia Dortmund and CSKA Moscow's Keisuke Honda.
However Honda was ruled out with a knee injury, while Kengo Nakamura will be missing due to a broken toe and Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo is absent while recovering from a dislocated shoulder.
"Japan did very well at the (2010) World Cup and we won the Asian Cup so teams are very motivated when they play us," said Zaccheroni. "There are a lot of expectations of us but we have to show character, good balance and show no fear ... We must prepare well and turn pressure into power."
In the other Group C game, Uzbekistan will make the relatively short journey to Tajikistan. The host is fortunate to be playing at all and only made it after Syria was disqualified after fielding an ineligible player in the earlier qualification rounds.
