Zaccheroni wants to continue Japan improvement

Japan manager Alberto Zaccheroni has urged his side not to rest on their laurels.

The former AC Milan, Inter and Juventus coach led Japan to their fourth Asian Cup in January, with a 15-match winning run in 2011 only ending with November’s 1-0 loss to North Korea.

But the Italian does not want Japan’s march to stop here: “The team is improving, and the results have been above expectations,” he told Tutto Mercato Web.

“But we need to grow even more because we’re now playing for (a place in the) the 2014 World Cup.”

“We know that we’re favoured, but aside from Australia and South Korea we need to watch out for Middle Eastern teams who know how to use home advantage.”

“To play in Tehran, Baghdad, or Beirut is not a walk in a park.”

Zaccheroni also praised the level of talent in the country’s domestic J-League, which entertained fans despite a six-week interruption following the earthquake and tsunami.

“It’s a league without too much pressure, full stadiums, and a football inspired mostly by the Brazilian style; very technical,” he said.

“Japanese players, while not being particularly tall, are very resistant, have great technique, and learn the fundamentals very well.”

“It’s not by chance that there are 26 Japanese players in Europe.”