Japan coach savours win over Ivory Coast

May 25, 2008

Satellite TV For PC
Watch 3000+ television stations from 78 different countries on your PC! Sports, Movies, News etc.

Football Tickets
Largest selection of European football tickets online. All tickets shipped via FedEx or DHL. 120% refund!

£25 Free Bet
FREE £25 bet when you sign up from SoccerNews.
Bet on the new football season at Betfair.

Football Jerseys & more
Largest selection of soccer gear on the Net! Get the latest club & national jerseys of your favorite teams.

Under-pressure coach Takeshi Okada said that a 1-0 friendly win over Ivory Coast had boosted Japan's stuttering World Cup qualifying campaign.

Okada, criticised for his heavily defensive style, has been on the backfoot since Japan lost to unfancied Bahrain 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier two months ago.

“Of course, winning a game is more encouraging than losing,” Okada said after Japan beat Ivory Coast thanks to Keiji Tamada's 21st-minute goal in their first match since the Bahrain debacle.

“Although we were not fighting Ivory Coast in the World Cup, we did our best against the opponents on the day,” he said after the friendly in Toyota on Saturday. “I feel happy about today's win but I don't mean it is everything.”

Okada called up Europe-based players for the first time since taking over from Ivica Osim in December against a visiting side short of many of their best players, including Chelsea forwards Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou.

Okada said the physically superior Africans were “the best opponents we can use to test what we are trying to do now.

“Our players still imploded at times in the first half and stalled in the second half to come under pressure. But they managed to hold on to the last minute.”

Japan continue their qualifying campaign by hosting Oman on June 2, travelling to Muscat for the return on June 7, then meet Thailand on June 14 before flying home to play Bahrain on June 22.

Bahrain stand top of the Asian Group 2 table with two wins and six points, ahead of Japan and Oman on three points and winless Thailand.

Football Comparison Odds - Get the best odds for all your football bets!

Related Items from SoccerNews.com: