History, progress await Japan or Paraguay
Japan and Paraguay stand on the brink of history ahead of their second-r­ound clash today.
Japan and Paraguay stand on the brink of history ahead of their second-round clash today with neither side having made it to the quarter-finals of a World Cup.
As the only surviving Asian nation left in the competition, Japan coach Takeshi Okada believes his team can take inspiration from that just as Ghana did from being the last remaining Africans.
“I think we have to play with pride as a member nation of Asia. My wish to overcome Paraguay has grown stronger,” he said. “We’ve really played each group game as if we’re playing in the [knockout] tournament. We want to keep on playing with the same attitude.”
Okada said Paraguay’s two main strengths are their solid defence and their big forwards, meaning the Japanese have been paying special attention to set-pieces.
Paraguay have a much longer history in the tournament and coach Gerardo Martino is keen for his team to achieve something that will make them stand out from their predecessors.
“If we don’t go through nobody much will remember us but if we turn in Paraguay’s best ever showing then they will talk about us for a good while,” he said.
Striker Roque Santa Cruz believes the team has what it takes to keep progressing to a quarter-final match-up against either Spain or Portugal.
“We want to do something we’ve never managed to achieve and make history,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2010.
As the only surviving Asian nation left in the competition, Japan coach Takeshi Okada believes his team can take inspiration from that just as Ghana did from being the last remaining Africans.
“I think we have to play with pride as a member nation of Asia. My wish to overcome Paraguay has grown stronger,” he said. “We’ve really played each group game as if we’re playing in the [knockout] tournament. We want to keep on playing with the same attitude.”
Okada said Paraguay’s two main strengths are their solid defence and their big forwards, meaning the Japanese have been paying special attention to set-pieces.
Paraguay have a much longer history in the tournament and coach Gerardo Martino is keen for his team to achieve something that will make them stand out from their predecessors.
“If we don’t go through nobody much will remember us but if we turn in Paraguay’s best ever showing then they will talk about us for a good while,” he said.
Striker Roque Santa Cruz believes the team has what it takes to keep progressing to a quarter-final match-up against either Spain or Portugal.
“We want to do something we’ve never managed to achieve and make history,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2010.