Japan coach Takeshi Okada is optimistic about his side's chances of progressing to the knockout stages of next year's World Cup after they found themselves in a difficult although not impossible group in yesterday's draw in Cape Town.
Okada's side were picked along with two European sides - the Netherlands and Denmark - as well as Cameroon in Group E.
The Netherlands are undoubtedly the strongest side in the group and should have little problem beating the other three sides but the battle for the other qualifying spot will likely be wide open.
Japan open their campaign against Cameroon in Bloemfontein on June 14 before tackling the Netherlands in Durban on June 19 and finally Denmark in Rustenburg on June 24.
"As I knew there wouldn't be any easy games for us, I was not expecting too much from the draw," said Okada.
"None of those games look easy, but they don't seem to be way too much for us to handle. I would say that it's not too bad."
The Netherlands, Denmark and Cameroon will present a physical challenge for Japan they will need to overcome but Okada insists he will not be making many changes to the way his side have been training so far.
"As we have been working on our game in order to beat top teams in the world, I have no intention of making drastic changes to our style of play just because of the draw result," he added.
"Having said that, we have to study our opponents, and I have almost no information about Cameroon."
The Netherlands are undoubtedly the strongest side in the group and should have little problem beating the other three sides but the battle for the other qualifying spot will likely be wide open.
Japan open their campaign against Cameroon in Bloemfontein on June 14 before tackling the Netherlands in Durban on June 19 and finally Denmark in Rustenburg on June 24.
"As I knew there wouldn't be any easy games for us, I was not expecting too much from the draw," said Okada.
"None of those games look easy, but they don't seem to be way too much for us to handle. I would say that it's not too bad."
The Netherlands, Denmark and Cameroon will present a physical challenge for Japan they will need to overcome but Okada insists he will not be making many changes to the way his side have been training so far.
"As we have been working on our game in order to beat top teams in the world, I have no intention of making drastic changes to our style of play just because of the draw result," he added.
"Having said that, we have to study our opponents, and I have almost no information about Cameroon."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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