Zaccheroni diplomatic
ByReuters
Updated 01/08/2011 at 09:23 GMT
Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni refused to bring politics into the equation after the Blue Samurai were drawn against North Korea in World Cup qualifying, the Italian instead highlighting how he would approach his first campaign at this level.
Japan manager Alberto Zaccheroni
Image credit: Reuters
Asian champions Japan host North Korea in a politically charged opening Group C match in the third round of regional qualifiers on September 2, but Zaccheroni was quick to specify that every match would be equally as difficult.
Syria and Uzbekistan are the other two teams in the group.
"There are no easy opponents," Italian Zaccheroni said. "We are the Asian champions so everyone will be studying ways to beat us but we will just take it one match at a time."
Japan's matches against North Korea have frequently been played against a backdrop of political tensions relating to World War II, North Korea's nuclear ambitions and the kidnapping of Japanese citizens.
While Zaccheroni, unbeaten in 10 games as Japan coach, refrained from making any early predictions, North Korea striker Jong Tae-se was confident his country would be one of the two to advance to the final stage of qualifying.
"We will definitely qualify with Japan," Jong, once a J.League player but now with Germany's Bochum, was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.
"It's the group of death and Japan and Uzbekistan will both be feeling the heat."
Japan midfielder Yasuhito Endo predicted, however, that Japan would win all their matches.
"We can't afford any slip-ups," he told Nikkan Sports. "We want to go through having won all our games to prove we're up to the task."
The top two teams from the five Asian groups advance to the final round beginning in June 2012.
"This is my first experience of a World Cup qualifying competition," said Zaccheroni, who led Japan to the Asian Cup title in Qatar at the start of the year.
"I like new challenges."
North Korea could prove that and more for the Italian.
Japan beat North Korea 2-0 behind closed doors in Bangkok to qualify for the 2006 World Cup after FIFA switched the game from Pyongyang after a defeat by Iran triggered crowd violence.
"The most important thing is to prepare well," said Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa. "All the games will be difficult and we won't make the mistake of being complacent."
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