SYRIA, boosted by a shock 2-1 defeat of Saudi Arabia in their Asian Cup opener, are hoping to show their true worth against other three-time champions Japan today.
“We want to prove to the world that our good result against Saudi Arabia did not come by chance,” Syria coach Tita Valeriu said on the eve of their second Group B match against a Japanese team that salvaged a 1-1 draw with Jordan.
“Of course, it will be a great surprise if we win because Japan are a very strong team,” added the 44-year-old Romanian, who became the third man in three months to assume the job in mid-December.
“Japan are definitely much more difficult than Saudi Arabia. We must move cautiously in our field and put pressure on the other team.”
Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni, whose side saved his blushes with an injury-time equaliser against a doggedly defensive Jordan on Sunday, admitted another tough battle awaited them.
“Syria proved to be highly organised and highly motivated against Saudi Arabia,” said the former AC Milan boss, who took over from homegrown Takeshi Okada after the Blue Samurai reached the World Cup last-16 in South Africa.
“They are in an extremely good frame of mind as they are the only team with three points in our group.
“It is important to improve our speed against such a team who refuse to give us space,” the 57-year-old Italian added.
“We made 17 shots but drew with Jordan. We must finish on chances without fail.”
Zaccheroni is tasked with bringing the title back to Japan after Saudi Arabia beat them in the 2007 semi-finals before bowing to surprise packages Iraq.
Zaccheroni said there would no major change to his first team which featured a striker in front of CSKA Moscow’s Keisuke Honda and Borussia Dortmund rookie Shinji Kagawa.
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