Press laments Japan’s football team after loss to I.Coast

Japanese commentators lamented their national team’s “physical shortcomings” as the Blue Samurai showed their vulnerability to set-pieces against taller opposition in their final World Cup warm-up game.

The Japanese were beaten 2-0 by the much-fancied Ivory Coast on Friday in Sion, Switzerland, marking the first time they have suffered four straight defeats for 12 years.

“The worst,” the daily Nikkan Sports said on its front page, while Sports Nippon carried the headline: “Japan straying until the very end.”

The result comes in the wake of humiliating losses to a second-string Serbia and South Korea — and a 2-1 defeat England in which they conceded two own goals.

Both goals on Friday came from free kicks and Japan were bombarded by long balls behind their defenders as the Ivory Coast created a series of chances.

“Japan fell victim to the difference of their physical shortcomings,” Tokyo Shimbun said.

Sports Hochi said Japan coach Takeshi Okada had no answer to the team’s continuing problems with set-pieces.

Former Japan coach Zico, who ended with one draw and two defeats at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, had predicted that Japan would face an uphill battle making up for their lack of physical stature.

“Japan will face a lot of long crosses from behind whenever they play a team which has a height advantage,” the Brazilian legend said.

Japan play the Netherlands, Denmark and Cameroon in World Cup Group E while Ivory Coast face Brazil, North Korea and Portugal in Group G.