World cup worries for goal-shy Japan

Japanese media fretted over the national team's lack of firepower on Monday after a scrappy 1-0 win over Bahrain as the final stage of World Cup qualifying looms.

"The reality is that Japan are not in Asia's top class," the influential Asahi Shimbun said Monday of Takeshi Okada's squad.

"We have nothing but worries in mind when we ponder a final qualifying round filled with tough opponents," it added.

"In particular, how can we make up for our incompetence in front of goal?" Celtic's Shunsuke Nakamura missed an early penalty before defender Atsuto Uchida spared Japan's blushes in rain-soaked Saitama with a lucky strike in the dying seconds.

The result avenged Japan's 1-0 away defeat to Bahrain in March and left them top of Asian Group 2 ahead of the Gulf side, who also qualified for the final stage in September.

But it failed to assuage critics who say Japan's poor performance in front of goal could end their run of reaching three consecutive World Cup finals.

"A lucky goal for monotonous Japan," the Japanese business daily Nikkei said, complaining that Okada's team passed the ball too much and lacked penetration.

Okada admitted it had been a "long pending task" to improve the team's strike-rate and said his players needed more drive to win.

"I felt happy that my smart players scored a goal, albeit in a crude manner," said Okada, who guided Japan in their first World Cup finals in 1998.

"I have always told the players that they can play good football and have skills but that they lack one of the last pieces -- the persistence to win," he said.

Bahrain assistant coach Khalid Taj told the Sports Hochi daily that Okada's Japan were "undoubtedly weaker" than when they crashed out of the 2006 World Cup finals with just one point under Brazilian legend Zico.

"The forward line is particularly weak," he said.

Striker Yoshito Okubo was suspended for the match and ex-Frankfurt forward Naohiro Takahara was dropped because of loss of form.

Both Japan and Bahrain had already secured berths in the final round. Japan ended with four wins, one draw and one loss in a relatively easy group which also included Thailand and Oman.

Sapa-AFP