The host opened the scoring two minutes before the interval with a curling shot from Shinji Kagawa.

Shinji Okazaki then added another after 57 minutes, poking home a headed assist from Keisuke Honda.

Japan will face Oman, Jordan and Australia in World Cup qualifiers next month.

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni also named Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo and Bolton Wanderers striker Ryo Miyaichi for next Wednesday's Kirin Cup game, which serves as a tune-up ahead of three final-round World Cup qualifiers in June against Oman, Jordan and Australia.

Kagawa is back in Japan after helping Borussia Dortmund to its second straight Bundesliga championship and DFB Pokal victory.

CSKA Moscow midfielder Honda will make his first appearance for Japan since scoring in a 3-0 win over Korea Republic last summer.

Japan's Kirin Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Lierse), Shusaku ishikawa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo).

Defenders: Yuichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata), Yuzo Kurihara (Yokohama F. Marinos), Yuhei Tokunga (FC Tokyo), Masahiko Inoha (Vissel Kobe), Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan), Tomoaki Makino (Urawa Reds), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke 04), Hiroki Sakai (Kashiwa Reysol).

Midfielders: Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg), Hajime Hosogai (Augsburg), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow), Hideto Takahashi (FC Tokyo), Ariajasuru Hasegawa (FC Tokyo).

Forwards: Ryoichi Maeda (Jubilo Iwata), Shinji Okozaki (Stuttgart), Takayuki Morimoto (Novara), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund), Genki Haragichi (Urawa Reds), Ryo Miyaichi (Bolton).

Football Federation Australia said the kick-off of the match in Brisbane on Tuesday 12 June was changed to 8pm after consultation with FIFA, the AFC and World Sport Group.

The amendment of the previous kick-off time of 7.30pm has been made to accommodate a potential massive viewing audience.

"This World Cup qualifier between the two top nations in Asia is already attracting huge interest around the region with two months to go to the game," FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said.

"The vagaries of time zones mean that an 8pm (AEST) kick-off better accommodates the massive TV audience in Japan in particular and makes the telecast more accessible to fans across Asia.

"Australia is part of a worldwide football family and it’s great to know that so many eyes will be on the Socceroos and Brisbane on 12 June."

The match between the first and second ranked teams in Asia will be the highlight of match day three of the World Cup's final round of Asian qualifiers and will have one of the highest viewing audiences for the round.

The last time the two teams met in the final of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar, the viewing audience was 484 million in 80 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, North America and North Africa.

Bridge and Antonis missed Sydney FC's past two matches and coach Vitezslav Lavicka said a decision on the pair had yet to be made.

Sydney is coming off a flat 0-0 draw with lowly Gold Coast and travel to Newcastle to face the Jets.

Antonis, 18, racked up more than 20,000km travelling for Olyroos and A-League games before Sydney decided to give him a break while Bridge has a back injury.

"Some players like Mark and Terry are close but it's hard to say now if they will be available for this weekend," Lavicka said.

"If the physio, doctor or fitness coach say they are not ready then I'll respect that. We need players to be fully fit."

But Tokyo said it was not considering filing a protest with the North Korean authorities about alleged mistreatment of the Japan team before and during the 15 November match.

The Blue Samurai was held up for four hours on arrival at Pyongyang airport and roundly booed when the Japanese national anthem was played ahead of the match before an extremely partisan crowd of 50,000 at the Kim Il-Sung stadium.

"I presume that, if Japan won by 2-0 or 3-0, our players themselves would have been abducted," conservative opposition lawmaker Tetsushi Sakamoto told a lower house committee on Monday, according to Japanese media.

He praised Japan's Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni, despite the defeat being largely attributed to the large number of substitutes for the starting line-up against Korea DPR.

The match result did not affect the final standing of Group C, in which Japan and Uzbekistan have already advanced to the final qualifying round, with Korea DPR and Tajikistan out of contention.

"The lion's share of the credit should go to manager Zac (Zaccheroni) as he let the team lose by 1-0," Sakamoto said.

"Judging from the way he used the players, I presume he was resolutely prepared for a draw or defeat by the narrowest of margins."

Foreign Minister Kochiro Gemba told the committee: "I understand various things occurred (at the match) including unfortunate incidents."

At Pyongyang airport, immigration and customs officials held up the Japanese team for four hours while chiding them for laughing and confiscating 'contraband' such as bananas, chewing gum, and instant noodles, according to media reports.

North Korea allowed only 150 supporters and 10 domestic journalists from Japan to visit the secretive country for the match.

The Tokyo government statement said: "It was not desirable that spectators in North Korea showed an unfriendly attitude.

"It is understood that the Japan Football Association is taking action with regard to the customs' treatment and the spectators' behaviour."

The parliamentary committee was dealing with North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s to train spies in Japanese language and culture.

The unresolved kidnapping issue has prevented the two countries from normalising ties. Japan has strictly curbed exchanges with its communist neighbour, especially after Pyongyang tested nuclear bombs.

The Japan football Association (JFA) said it had sent a letter to its North Korean counterpart making inquiries about how the Japan team was treated and about the limits imposed by Pyongyang on supporters and media from Japan.

"We made the inquiries in a communication which we regularly make with host countries after international matches," JFA spokesman Hideki Kato told AFP.

Copies of the letter were reportedly sent to world governing body FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.

Socceroos defender Sasa Ognenovski won the top gong last year, but wasn't considered good enough to earn nomination this time.

Meanwhile, Asian champion Japan had Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda nominated.

The other contenders are Iranian defender Hadi Aghily, former winner Server Djeparov from Uzbekistan, Asian Cup top scorer Koo Ja-Cheol from South Korea and his countryman Yeom Ki-Hun.

Honda was named the most valuable player at the Asian Cup in Doha in January.

All three candidates for women's player of the year are Japanese after the country's World Cup success this year.

Homare Sawa won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot at the tournament in Germany, while goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori and Aya Miyama have also been shortlisted.

The AFC awards will be presented at a ceremony next week in Kuala Lumpur.

Playing before a capacity crowd at Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang, Pak gave the Koreans a 1-0 lead in the 50th minute with an angled header beyond the reach of Japan goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa.

The match had no bearing on the outcome of the group - Japan has already qualified for the next stage while Korea DPR cannot make it - but there is always tension in this fixture between two nations that do not have diplomatic ties.

This was the first time the Japanese men's team had played on north Korean soil since 1989.

That tension bubbled over at times, with several shoving skirmishes breaking out.

Korea had Jong Il Gwan sent off in the 77th minute for an aggressive tackle on Atsuto Uchida.

"It was a very tough atmosphere for us," Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni said.

"The opposition was very physical, especially their forwards. We were already able to achieve our goal of qualifying but the opposition just had one thing to play for today."

Korea controlled the flow of play against a Japan team resting several of its regulars.

Tadanari Lee appeared to have equalised for Japan late in the second half but the goal was disallowed when Mike Havenaar was judged to be offside.

With many in the 50,000-seat Kim Il Sung Stadium holding up sheets of coloured cardboard, the match had the atmosphere of one of North Korea's mass games and after the match several Korean players ran onto the pitch waving the national flag.

The small contingent of Japanese fans was barely audible.

Four of the Korean players, including star striker Jong Tae Se, were born into ethnic Korean communities in Japan and bitterness still runs deep over Japan's 35-year occupation of Korea, which ended in 1945.

More than 200 Japanese citizens, including 150 fans and two dozen journalists, travelled to Pyongyang for the game - the largest Japanese delegation in years.

As a precaution, Tokyo sent a team of Japanese diplomats to Korea DPR to watch over them.

Supporters should refrain from the use of loud speakers and spirited drum beating at the Kim II-Sung Stadium during Tuesday evening's (local time) match in Pyongyang, said Nishitetsu Travel, logistical coordinator for Japan's official tour.

Japanese national flags and banners also will not be welcome 'to avoid any potential troubles', the travel agency said.

"We are going to a nation with which Japan has not diplomatic relations. Should something unexpected happen, we will not have the Japanese embassy or a consulate," to help, said Takeshi Kumai, an official with the travel agency.

"We believe the customers understand the situation," he said, also urging fans to refrain from displaying anything with political connotations.

Relations are tense between Japan, which once colonised the Korean peninsula, and North Korea, whose agents in the 1970s and 80s abducted Japanese citizens to help train Pyongyang's spies in Japanese language and customs.

The Japanese expect a tough battle against Korea DPR which will be making an all-out effort to win its home game after a nail-biting 1-0 loss at its previous encounter in September in Saitama, north of Tokyo.

For the upcoming game, North Korea's football authority has set aside a total of 150 seats for Japanese spectators.

The Japan Football Association was given 70 of the tickets, and sold 65 of them to fans through the official tour, which sold out quickly.

North Korea has also allowed 10 Japanese journalists to cover the game, which will be broadcast live for Japanese TV viewers.

The tour will leave Japan on Monday for Pyongyang via Beijing, where participants will give up their mobile phones until they leave North Korea.

The fans will have a sightseeing tour of Pyongyang in Tuesday morning, before the early evening kick-off.

"Travellers will be advised to follow instructions from (North Korean) attendants during their stay," Kumai said.

Japan and North Korea have had tense ties but have been placed in the same Asian qualifying round Group C along with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

The Japanese government will dispatch a team of 13 officials to Pyongyang from Saturday through Wednesday in an effort to minimise the risk of 'unforeseen events' for the fans, Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba told reporters.

The Japanese government urged those going to North Korea to 'abide by the various restrictions', Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said.

Tokyo imposes sanctions on the secretive neighbour in protest at its nuclear weapons programs and its reluctance to come clean on the fate of Japanese nationals it admitted to kidnapping in the Cold War years.

North Korea has demanded Japan to atone for its harsh colonial rule of the Korean peninsula before and during the World War II, and said its nuclear programs are for peaceful use.

The 15 November match will be the first time Japan has played in North Korea since 1989.

The ministry staff will stay in a hotel in Pyongyang and use it as their base since Japan and North Korea have no diplomatic ties, Kyodo news agency reported on Wednesday.

The Japanese government had been advising citizens to refrain from visiting the country since Tokyo imposed economic sanctions after a missile launch by North Korea in 2006.

But Japan has decided to allow members of the national team, accompanying reporters and team supporters who register for official tours organised by the Japan Football Association to go to North Korea.

With roughly 200 Japanese projected to enter North Korea, a government official called it 'necessary to dispatch Foreign Ministry staff from the standpoint of protecting Japanese nationals'.

Zaccheroni also included Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo, Wolfsburg midfielder Makoto Hasebe and Borussia Dortmund striker Shinji Kagawa in the group for the two-match trip.

Okazaki, who plays for Stuttgart in the Bundelisga, scored twice in Japan's 8-0 thrashing of Tajikistan in last month's Group C match at Osaka. Havenaar, of the J.League's Ventforet Kofu, also scored two goals in that game.

Japan plays at Tajikistan on 11 November and then takes on Korea DPR at Pyongyang on 15 November. It will be the first time Japan has played in North Korea since 1989.

Australia looks sure to progress after a 3-0 home win over Oman kept it on maximum points in Group D, and South Korea moved towards the last stage with a 2-1 win against UAE.

Thailand held Frank Rijkaard's Saudi Arabia to a 0-0 draw, but North Korea's hopes of reaching a second World Cup in a row suffered a setback with a 1-0 home loss to Uzbekistan.

Iraq edged a tense clash with China 1-0 and there were also wins for Jordan and Qatar as 10 games swung into action across the region.

Rampant Japan was the big winner as it notched up four goals in each half against Tajikistan in Osaka, led by Mike Havenaar and Shinji Okazaki who both bagged a brace.

"This victory gives us a very good feeling. I knew hopes among fans were high. The players responded with their good performance today," said coach Alberto Zaccheroni.

South Korea had a second-half own goal to thank as UAE defender Ismail Hamdan's inadvertent strike helped it to a 2-1 win in Suwon. Arsenal's Park Chu-Young had opened the scoring and UAE pulled one back in second-half injury time.

An own goal also played a part in the other match in the group as Lebanon twice led - thanks to a brace by Hassan Maatouk - only for Mahmoud Younes to put into his own net in the 88th minute to allow Kuwait to steal a 2-2 draw.

Lebanon, though, can still entertain hopes of taking second as it has bounced back impressively after a humiliating 6-0 opening match walloping by South Korea going on to beat the hapless UAE 3-1 in its previous match.

In Sydney, Brett Holman, Josh Kennedy and Mile Jedinak were all on the scoresheet as Australia registered its third win out of three and look certain to progress.

"The target was to win and to win well," said captain Lucas Neill. "Now we've got one foot in the next round but we've still got a lot of work to do."

In Pyongyang, Alexander Geynrikh's first-half strike was enough to secure a 1-0 win for Uzbekistan, who is level on seven points with Japan at the top of Group C.

North Korea, who lashed out against its low FIFA ranking after being drawn in a tough group for the third round, would have targeted the Uzbek clash in Pyongyang as a must-win as it scraps for the second qualifying spot.

The North Koreans competed at their first World Cup since 1966 last year, but they disappointed at the Asian Cup in January after being bracketed with holder Iraq and three-time winner Iran in another unkind draw.

Jordan took a big step towards its first berth in the final qualifying stage with a 3-0 away win over Singapore, while Qatar came out on top of a 3-2 slug-fest against Indonesia in Jakarta.

China's ex-Real Madrid coach Jose Antonio Camacho admitted the defeat to Iraq, who played 25 minutes with 10 men, had put its qualification hopes in jeopardy.

"It's going to be difficult to qualify from here but it's not impossible. We will try harder in the next game to see what we can do," he said.

Rijkaard, who was hired for Saudi Arabia's World Cup campaign, may also come under pressure after failing to win any of the first three games.

"The Saudi team still have a chance because we will play Thailand on our home soil as Oman lost to Australia," insisted the former Barcelona boss.

Meanwhile in Tehran, security was ramped up at Iran's Azadi Stadium following political tensions with Group E rival and Gulf neighbour Bahrain over Manama's tough clampdown on Shiite dissidents.

However, the game was virtually over as a contest inside the first minute as the visitor had Rashed Al Hooti sent off and the host then cruised to a 6-0 thrashing of its rival.

The winner and runner-up of the five groups will be drawn into two pools for the round-robin fourth stage, with the eventual top two in each section earning a ticket to the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

The two third-placed teams will then face each other for the right to contest an intercontinental play-off.

Robert Lewandowski of Borussia Dortmund put Poland ahead after 32 minutes.

South Korea hit back midway through the second half when Park scored his first from a Seo Jung-jin cross, then with 14 minutes remaining, South Korea took the lead on a Park shot from the edge of the area.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski scored a late equaliser.

South Korea plays a 2014 World Cup qualifier against United Arab Emirates on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT).

Meanwhile, Japan laboured to a 1-0 win over Vietnam in a scrappy friendly ahead of the Asian champion's World Cup qualifier next week.

Japan dominated the game in the first half with star midfielder Shinji Kagawa going close before the home side took a 25th minute lead through striker Tadanari Lee.

But Vietnam fought back in the second half with sharp counter attacks while Japanese substitutes squandered scoring chances.

"We wanted to test players whom we have not been able to use. We saw poor continuity," said Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni.

"It was good that we won. But we need to improve our game."

The Japan Football Association said that Honda injured his right knee in CSKA Moscow's league match against Spartak last weekend.

Nakamura, who plays for Kawasaki Frontale in the J.League, has been ruled out after breaking a toe.

The injuries will jeopardise Alberto Zaccheroni's attempt to extend his unbeaten streak of 13 games as Japan coach.

The 21-member squad, who last month beat United States, were named recipients of the "People's Honour Award", previously won by the likes of baseball home-run king Sadaharu Oh and film director Akira Kurosawa.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan spoke at a ceremony to recognise their victory over the two-time champion to win Asia's first football world title.

The victory by the team, nicknamed "Nadeshiko" after a pink flower seen in Japan as a symbol of beauty, was a rare moment of brightness for the nation following the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis.

"You gave courage to and reinvigorated all of the people who are trying to recover from the devastation of the Great East Japan Earthquake," Kan told the ceremony.

Afterwards coach Norio Sasaki told reporters: "We want to further devote ourselves to giving people inspiration and courage."

The award, created in 1977 to honour figures who have given "bright hope" to the public, has been presented to 18 individuals in the sporting and entertainment worlds, but never before to a group.

The squad were also given commemorative "Kumano fude", traditional cosmetic brushes crafted in Kumano, Hiroshima prefecture. The "Kumano" brush is a favourite among Hollywood stars and make-up artists.

"I'll unlikely be using (the brush) ahead of football games, but I would like to use it on other occasions," vice captain and midfielder Aya Miyama told reporters.

The Nadeshiko upset holder and host Germany and swept aside Sweden on their way to a penalty shootout win over United States in July.

Shinji Kagawa scored two goals for Japan, firstly in the 35th minute and then in the 53rd. It was the Borussia Dortmund striker's first match for Japan since breaking a bone in his right foot in January at the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar.

"I'm satisfied with not only that we won over Korea but also that my players played a great game," Zaccheroni said. "They kept their concentration for 90 minutes and played our soccer. We'll start preparing for the qualifiers and I'll look for new players to get into the national team."

Keisuke Honda also scored for Japan, making it 2-0 in the 51st minute.

The Japanese controlled the ball for the majority of the game at Sapporo Dome with Korea Republic struggling to mount much of an attack in the final warm-up match for both nations before World Cup qualifying begins in September.

Kagawa put Japan in the lead with a shot from just outside the box. Yasuhito Endo stole the ball and directed it to Tadanari Lee, who sent a nifty backheel pass to Kagawa. The striker then beat goalkeeper Jung Sung Ryong with two defenders all over him.

Honda doubled the advantage early in the second half after being fed by Hiroshi Kiyotake, who controlled a deflection by Jung off a shot from Tomoaki Makino.

Kagawa scored his second goal with a clinical finish only two minutes later, executing a give-and-go with Kiyotake.

"We didn't expect an easy time so I'm happy we won in 90 minutes," Kagawa said. "I want to thank the many supporters here who helped us tonight."

Lee, a fourth-generation South Korean born in Tokyo who became a Japanese citizen in 2007, started for Japan in his first match against his ancestral homeland.

The teams last met at the Asian Cup, where Japan beat Korea Republic in the semi-finals and went on to win its fourth continental title by defeating Australia 1-0 after extra-time.

Japan wore black armbands in memory of former international Naoki Matsuda, who died last Thursday at the age of 34, two days after suffering a heart attack and collapsing during training with his Japan Football League club.

Japan will be bidding for its fifth straight appearance at the World Cup when it starts qualifying for Brazil with a match against Korea DPR in Saitama next month.

"How we played was important tonight," Honda said. "We played well and prepared ourselves for the qualifiers."

Matsuda, a gutsy defender who helped Japan reach the 2002 World Cup last-16 round on home turf, died last Thursday, aged 34, after falling into a coma with a heart attack during training two days earlier.

"I believe there were so many things he still wanted to accomplish. It was really unfortunate," Japan and CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda told Japanese media on Monday.

"But I have seen and heard people around him vow to carry on his will," said the 25-year-old, who powered Japan to the last 16 at last year's World Cup in South Africa.

"In a sense, we must make his death not the end but the beginning of something."

Wolfsburg midfielder Makoto Hasebe said: "All we can do is look forward and move on. I believe that is what Matsu-san would have wished. Having said that, our next game will be very important."

While the national squad remained in Sapporo to fine tune for the friendly, some 1,300 people including present and past team-mates and fans attended the memorial service for Matsuda in his hometown of Kiryu, northwest of Tokyo.

Matsuda, despite his huge following who loved his unyielding attitude, moved to third-tier Matsumoto Yamaga this year after he was dumped from J.League side Yokohama Marinos after 16 years with the club after an injury-hit season.

French coach Philippe Troussier, who piloted Japan through the 2002 World Cup campaign, remembered Matsuda as a 'key man' in his flat three-man backline.

"He was like my son and he died too young," Troussier, now coach of China's Shenzhen Ruby, said after the funeral.

But Matsuda was also remembered for encouraging his World Cup team-mates to be flexible in their defence.

Being relatively tall for a Japanese at 183 centimetres, he was capped 40 times for his country.

His international career ended in 2005 when he fell out with then national coach and Brazilian legend Zico.

In its last encounter, Japan beat Korea Republic 3-0 on penalties in the Asian Cup semi-final before winning a fourth continental title against Australia in Doha in January.

It was the Blue Samurai's first win over its cross-strait rival in six matches since 2005.

Alberto Zaccheroni, who became Japan coach after the 2010 World Cup, has called up 14 Europe-based players for the Sapporo friendly, including Borussia Dortmund goalmachine Shinji Kagawa.

Korea Republic coach Cho Kwang-Rae has called up nine Europe-based players but three of them - Bolton Wanderers midfielder Lee Chung-Yong, Hamburg striker Son Heung-Min and Sunderland frontman Ji Dong-Won - pulled out due to poor condition or club commitments.

Leandro Domingues opened the scoring on eight minutes, firing in a sizzling shot before another dangerous strike forced Yokohama goalkeeper Hiroki Iikura into action.

While Yokohama struggled to get the ball to its two forwards, Kashiwa put itself two up when Jorge Wagner struck home a left-footer in the 66th minute to seal the victory.

Kashiwa now has 41 points, one more than Yokohama, and is five points above defending champion Nagoya Grampus and Gamba Osaka. Sanfrecce Hiroshima trails on 32 points.

Nagoya will play Jubilo Iwata, while Gamba Osaka will play bottom-placed Avispa Fukuoka on Sunday.

In other games Japan national team strikers Tadanari Lee and Hisato Sato gave Hiroshima a 2-0 win over Ventforet Kofu.

Former Japan forward Yoshito Okubo scored a penalty three minutes into injury time to give Vissel Kobe a 3-2 win over Urawa Red Diamonds.

Seven-time former champion Kashima Antlers was a solid 3-1 winner over Montedio Yamagata, while Hiroshi Kiyotake led Cerezo Osaka to a 2-1 win over Kawasaki Frontale.

Albirex Niigata overwhelmed Shimizu S-Pulse 4-0.

The 24-year-old Philadelphia Independence forward has started all five games of Germany 2011 for the Stars and Stripes but failed to hit the back of the net to add to the 17 goals she has scored for the US in 70 appearances.

With the USA bidding for a third World Cup crown to add to their triumphs at the 1991 and 1999 tournaments, Sundhage says she has no plans to drop Rodriguez from her attack, even with youngster Alex Morgan in form.

Alongside veteran Abby Wambach, who scored against Brazil in the quarter-finals and France in the semis, Rodriguez has forged a key partnership for the US and Sundhage says she will keep the pair together.

Sundhage has brought Morgan off the bench in all bar one of the five games at the competition so far and the 22-year-old striker scored the final goal in the 3-1 win over the French.

"Amy Rodriguez played well before the World Cup and played well together with Abby Wambach," said Sundhage.

"I think they have been OK and she (Rodriguez) will score a goal sooner or later.

"I try to avoid looking (negatively) at any one player, there is a reason she hasn't had a breakthrough, it's not only her, it is the team."

The Stars and Stripes have never lost to Japan in 25 meetings since 1986 with 22 wins and three draws.

The Americans have already beaten Japan three times this year, once at the Algarve Cup in March and twice in pre-World Cup friendlies.

But Japan coach Norio Sasaki says his players are ready to pull off another giant-killing feat.

Despite their nickname Nadeshiko - a flower symbolising grace and beauty - the Japanese knocked out the hosts in the quarter-finals and third-placed Sweden in the last four.

They face a formidable challenge in the USA - traditionally the super-power of women's football - who are bidding for a third World Cup title after their victories in 1991 and 1999.

Sasaki says his women have got stronger as the tournament has progressed and this is their time.

"We won against Germany and Sweden, that was empowering and it helped to let us know how strong we really are, the players have got stronger so why not tomorrow?," he said.

"As trainer of Japan, I have lost five times to America, so this is a good time for the gods of football to give me a victory over them."

Captain Homare Sawa is a contender for player of the tournament and says they are determined to make history.

"We don't feel the pressure, we just want to take our chance. We have to give 100 per cent and work together, we have to work hard to steal balls in defence."

Having played in five World Cup tournaments, the 32-year-old refused to say whether victory on Monday could lead to her retirement.

"I am not thinking about the future right now, just about tomorrow's match, nothing past that," she said.

Despite their flower-inspired nickname Nadeshiko, the Japanese are the giant-killers at Germany 2011 having shocked the host 1-0 in the quarter-finals and then dominating Sweden 3-1 in the semi-final.

The nation's previous best display at a World Cup was the quarter-finals at the 1995 tournament and Japan will make history if it beats two-time winner the Stars and Stripes on Sunday.

"It's definitely not impossible and it helped to win against Germany; it proved things like that are possible," Japan coach Norio Sasaki at training on Friday.

"It gave additional power to the team and it is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to win this and beat the number one team in the world."

Under veteran captain Homare Sawa, Japan's all-action style, controlled passing, patient build-up and aggression in front of goal have carried it to the Frankfurt final, despite losing 2-0 to England in the group stages.

The local media waxed lyrically about the Japanese, comparing them to a Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona.

Former US coach April Heinrichs, a member of FIFA's technical study group, said the comparisons were justified after watching the Japanese restrict Sweden to just four shots on goal in the semi-final.

"Every player is the master of the ball and good with both feet," Heinrichs said.

"Every player is hard to read and is moving off the ball, ready to receive it and is very confident.

"They are playing for each other; it is the most inspiring Japanese team I have ever seen."

Meanwhile, the Stars and Stripes are gunning for a third world crown, having never lost to Japan in 25 meetings since 1986 with 22 wins and three draws.

US showed fighting spirit to equalise against Brazil in the 122nd minute of its quarter-final, then held its nerve to beat the South Americans 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out, before beating France in the semi-final.

The Americans have beaten Japan three times this year, once at the Algarve Cup in March and twice in pre-World Cup friendlies.

Coach Pia Sundhage, who is not shy about singing to her players, blended Simon and Garfunkel's hit Feelin' Groovy into Friday's press conference as she told how she is trying to keep her players relaxed ahead of the Frankfurt final.

"You know, this life is about competition, there is a lot of pressure, a lot of stress," the 51-year-old from Sweden said.

"Of course, the players feel the same thing and while it's exciting, they have to do this, they have to do that.

"So I tell them: 'Slow down, you move too fast, you gotta make the morning last, kicking down the cobbled stones looking for fun and feelin' groovy.'"

Having beaten France 3-1 in Wednesday's semi-final in Moenchengladbach, Sundhage says regeneration is important as her team prepares to take on all-action Japan.

"We need to get our legs back, we played a phenomenal game against Brazil, extra time, one man down and then a lot of defending against France," she said.

"We have talked about defending and keeping possession is the best method of defence and to not rush in."

It was a magnificent performance from Sawa, competing in her fifth World Cup, which stole the show as she lifted the Japanese to just their second quarter-finals after 1995.

The 32-year-old combined perfectly with fellow midfielder Aya Miyama to score two early goals after 13 and 39 minutes, adding her third on 80 minutes for a Japanese World Cup record. Ohno netted after 15 minutes.

"Even for myself it was a bit of a surprise," said Sawa.

"I didn't dare imagine I could score so many as three goals.

"The first and second were in combination with Miyama and she really gave me a nice ball. You could also say they're Aya's goals too."

Mexican coach Leonardo Cuellar admitted his side was shell-shocked.

"To take two goals so soon shook the team. They didn't allow us to settle. It's difficult to catch up against a team that is very technical and skillful," said a tearful Cuellar.

"This was a very painful defeat. Psychologically, mentally and physically we will have to recover before the next game.

The Japanese demolished Cuellar's young side to achieve a second win in as many games after a 2-1 opening success against New Zealand.

With a maximum six points the nation is assured of one of the two group qualifying spots to advance to the final eight with one group game to go.

Nicknamed 'the Nadeshiko' - a pink flower symbolising grace and beauty - the Japanese showed their mettle as they overwhelmed Mexico from the outset.

Sawa, the country's record 168-capped player, headed in after 13 minutes from a perfectly delivered Miyama freekick and two minutes later her INAC Leonessa teammate Ohno doubled the account from a Yuki Nagasto cross.

The Mexicans could find no answer to the attacking Japanese as Sawa continued the rout six minutes before the break when she rose above the melee in front of goal to head in a Miyama corner.

Japan thought it had a fourth just before the break but Yuki Nagasto's effort was ruled offside.

After the break, Stephany Mayor's long-range effort offered some hope to Mexico but it was saved with one hand by a diving Ayumi Kaihori.

Key striker Maribel Dominguez, who had been struggling with a calf injury, was replaced by defender Kenti Robles after 62 minutes as Cuellar tried to plug Mexico's leaky defence.

But Sawa slammed home Japan's superiority with her third when she fired in past diving 16-year-old keeper Cecilia Santiago after a Yukari Kinga cross on 80 minutes.

Three minutes later Norio Sasaki substituted the midfielder for Rumi Utsugi and a celebrating Sawa ran off the pitch to an ovation from the crowd 22,291 crowd.

The Japanese didn't give up their search for a fifth goal, with Nagasto and Miyama missing two last-gasp efforts.

It was a triumphant start to the tournament for Sasaki's fourth-ranked Japanese who did now even know if they could compete in Germany after the earthquake and tsumani that devastated Japan in March.

England, who drew 1-1 with Mexico in their Group B opener, looks set to take the second group qualifying spot after coming from behind to beat New Zealand 2-1 in Dresden to sit second in the table on four points.

The Mexicans, still with a slim mathematical chance of going through, play New Zealand, who have no points from two games, in Sinsheim on Tuesday.

Japan next play England in Augsburg.

In was the sixth victory for the Japan in eight meetings with the Mexico, who fare badly against the Asians in the world tournament having lost the play-offs for the World Cup in 2003 and 2007 to Japan.

His comments contradict coach Alberto Zaccheroni who said he was pleased with the scoreless friendly draw with the Czech Republic.

The Asian champion attempted 11 shots, including four Honda free-kicks, against an under-strength Czech side but towering Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech stood in its way at Yokohama's Nissan Stadium on Tuesday.

Zaccheroni praised his men for their efforts to adjust to a new 3-4-3 formation which they had already tested in another 0-0 draw with Peru in a friendly in Niigata last week.

But CSKA Moscow and Blue Samurai star Honda wasn't convinced.

"We aren't there yet on the whole. I can imagine the coach saying something positive by taking various factors into consideration. But we should not talk at such a level," the outspoken 24-year-old told Japanese media.

"We must play a kind of football that is more awe-inspiring," said Honda, a talented attacking midfielder who has openly declared Japan should aim for the title at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

"Are we getting the sense of direction? I don't think it is that easy," added Honda, who powered Japan to the last 16 in South Africa last year for its best-ever World Cup on foreign soil.

The new system, which is supposed to make more attacking use of the flanks and saw Honda pushed further forward, failed to produce a goal in either game despite Japan starting with seven Europe-based players on Tuesday.

"We played well even though we adopted an unfamiliar system," insisted former AC Milan boss Zaccheroni.

"We lacked many elements including speed. But overall I'm satisfied.

"We are moving in the right direction."

In a dull first period, Cech punched away Gamba Osaka midfielder Yasuhito Endo's 37th-minute free-kick, the only shot on target from either side in the first 45 minutes.

Honda warmed to the task in the second half. In the 78th minute he was heavily involved in good chances for Stuttgart striker Shinji Okazaki and Sanfrecce Hiroshima frontman Tadanari Lee. But their shots were saved by Cech.

"Honda was always at the centre of our play," said Zaccheroni.

"I don't have the stats on hand but he touched the ball more than anybody else."

Japan is unbeaten in 10 matches since Zaccheroni took over from Takeshi Okada after the 2010 World Cup.

It narrowly won a record fourth AFC Asian Cup title in January but had not played until the Peru game due to the 11 March earthquake and tsunami.

It will battle regional rival Korea Republic at home on 10 August in its last warm-up before World Cup qualifiers that are due to start in early September.

Both Japan and the Czech Republic drew with Peru 0-0 and the three teams ended with two scoreless draws for an identical two points each.

The Japanese and the Czechs fought squarely in the first half with Stuttgart forward Shinji Okazaki, CSKA Moscow's Keisuke Honda and Wolfsburg midfielder Makoto Hasebe missing for Japan.

The Czech Republic also misfired through Bayer Leverkusen defender Michal Kadlec and Besiktas defender Tomas Sivok in the eighth and 16th minutes.

The best chance for the home side came in the 37th minute when Okazaki was brought down just outside the box but Yasuhito Endo's sizzling shot was saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.

In the 52nd minute, Maya Yoshida's header went wide off a return from Tadanari Lee after Honda sent a cross from the left.

Japan came close to a goal in the 77th minute, but again Cech, who often sent a long ball to threaten the Japanese goal mouth, made some fine saves to stop a couple of shots from close range.

Honda's free-kick in injury-time landed on the top of the goal net as the final whistle sounded.

Playing its first match since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami hit the country's northeastern coast, Japan controlled the flow of play but was unable to capitalise on its chances.

Peru defender Jesus Rabanal took forward Ryoichi Maeda down 10 minutes after the break and Keisuke Honda sent a curling free kick just over the crossbar for Japan's best chance.

Peru seized control late in the second half and looked to have secured the win when substitute Raul Ruidiaz hit the post with a right-footed volley that eluded Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.

Peru face the Czech Republic on Saturday while Japan play the Czechs on Tuesday.

Both teams made the trip to Japan after receiving assurance that the post-earthquake nuclear crisis posed no risk for players.

Japan captain Makoto Hasebe threatened 23 minutes in when he took a pass from Yasuhito Endo and sent a right-footed shot just wide of the post.

Adan Balbin had Peru's best chance of the first half three minutes later with a long-range shot that was deflected just over the crossbar by Kawashima.

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni was using the three-nation tournament as a warmup for his team's qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup beginning in September.

Peru coach Sergio Markarian named a predominantly home-based squad and was giving his younger players some international experience.

Brisbane Roar's Mitch Nichols got the Olyroos off to a perfect start when he scored in the fourth minute after a quick counter attack at the Tohoki Denryoku Bigswan Stadium in Niigata, Japan.

The Australian side looked sharp after the goal, dominating the midfield and creating numerous chances.

But it was unable to capitalise on its opportunities and on the stroke of half-time Kensuke Nagai made the side pay with an equaliser.

In the 50th minute Japan went close when Hiroshi Kiyotake's shot hit the post.

Former Liverpool reserve goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis, who came on for Andrew Redmayne at half-time, was left rooted to the ground as he watched the shot hit the crossbar.

Soon after Bouzanis was again in the action when defender Ryan McGowan headed the ball back to the keeper.

But the pass was intercepted by Nagai, who flicked his shot over the on-rushing Bouzanis to give him a double and make the score 2-1.

Nagai then turned provider with five minutes to go when his inch-perfect cross found the unmarked Yuya Osako at the edge of the 16-yard box and he hit a neat volley to put the result beyond doubt.

The Olyroos take on Yemen in Olympic qualifiers on June 19 and 23.

Olyroos line up: Andrew Redmayne (gk) (Dean Bouzanis (gk) 46'), Ryan McGowan, Matthew Jurman, Aziz Behich, Oliver Bozanic (c), Isaka Cernak (Golgol Mebrahtu 64'), Rocco Visconte, Matthew Foschini, Jason Hoffman (Mirjan Pavlovic 88'), Mitchell Nichols, Marko Jesic (Diogo Ferreira 75').

Gamba Osaka forward Takashi Usami, Kashima Antlers defender Daigo Nishi and midfielder Kosei Shibasaki from Kawasaki Frontale have all been named for the first time in the 23-man party that will play games against both Peru and Czech Republic.

Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo, Schalke defender Atsuto Uchida, Stuttgart forward Shinji Okazaki, CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda and Wolfsburg midfielder Makoto Hasebe are also included.

Japan faces Peru on June 1 in Niigata before taking on the Czech Republic a week later in Yokohama. The duo will also meet in Nagano on June 4.

"After we withdrew from the Copa America, we have three matches to assess our players before going in to the World Cup qualifiers in September and we have two out of the three in the Kirin Cup," said Zaccheroni, who guided Japan to Asian Cup glory this January in Doha.

"The results are important but more importantly, I want to see the development of our team and also get to know the players. It's a great opportunity to see some unfamiliar players in these occasions.

"I am hoping that the players who have been selected this time can show their growth and give me a hard time deciding my team for the games."

Asked about opponents Peru and Czech Republic, the Italian added: "They obviously have two different styles but they have one similarity, which is a fighting spirit.

"Peru always play as hard as they can and Czech Republic played very well against Spain recently. I hope we can learn something by playing two teams who have a different styles."

Japan squad for the Kirin Cup: Eiji Kawashima (Lierse SK), Masaaki Higashiguchi (Albirex Niigata), Shusaku Nishikawa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima); Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Yuzo Kurihara (Yokohama F. Marinos), Masahiko Inoha (Kashima Antlers), Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan), Tomoaki Kajino (Cologne), Michihiro Yasuda (Vitesse Arnhem), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke), Maya Yoshida (VVV-Venlo); Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg), Kosei Shibasaki (Kawasaki Frontale), Ryota Moriwaki (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Hajime Hosogai (Augsburg), Akihiro Ienaga (Real Mallorca), Daigo Nishi (Kashima Antlers); Ryoichi Maeda (Jubilo Iwata), Tadanari Lee (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Kunimitsu Sekiguchi (Vegalta Sendai), Shinji Okazaki (Stuttgart), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow), Shinzo Koroki (Kashima Antlers), Takashi Usami (Gamba Osaka).

Costa Rica was officially confirmed as the replacement for Japan.

JFA President Junji Ogura confirmed the side's non-participation in July's tournament in Argentina in a letter to CONMEBOL while offering the South American governing body its apologies for pulling out.

"It is a great pity that we cannot take part in the tournament," said Ogura.

"But we cannot form a squad good enough to play in the Copa America and we couldn't help but give up playing in the tournament."

The Asian champion was invited to compete in the South American championship as a guest, the same scenario as in 1999 in Paraguay, where it finished bottom of Group A.

But following the devastating East Japan earthquake on March 11, the J.League was suspended for six weeks and those postponed matches were rescheduled for July, originally left clear so Japan could take part in the Copa America.

The J.League clubs therefore refused to release their players for international duty and the JFA then tried to form the squad around European-based players such as Dortmund's Shinji Kagawa, Schalke's Atsuto Uchida and Yuto Nagatomo of Inter Milan but was unable to secure their participation.

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni said: "I respect the JFA's decision and am deeply grateful to the authorities of the JFA, CONMEBOL and FIFA, who worked enthusiastically towards our participation in the tournament.

"This year has turned to be an exceptional year following the East Japan disaster and that has put us in a situation where we have to make a difficult decision like this one."

The third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup will get under way in September and Japan will now have three friendly matches - Kirin Cup games against Peru on June 1 in Niigata and Czech Republic on June 7 in Yokohama - and against South Korea on August 10 in Sapporo to prepare.

Zaccheroni added: "We would like to move on to set our full focus on our preparation for our important games in the World Cup qualifiers."

With 32 teams from all over the Asian Football Confederation split into eight groups of four, Gamba Osaka finished top of its group while Nagoya Grampus, Kashima Antlers and Cerezo Osaka finished second to progress to the last 16.

The second round on May 24 and 25 does not consist of the usual home and away matches, but is a single leg played at the home of the group winners.

It has been a tough few weeks for everyone in Japan, including the football clubs. The J-League was just one game old when the earthquake forced a suspension of games until April 23.

Kashima's stadium suffered structural damage and is still not ready to use, forcing the club to play its home games 85 kilometres to the southwest in Tokyo.

"We had the earthquake and that forced us to suspend all our team activities for 16 days," Kashima coach Oswaldo Oliveira said. "This stopped the development of our team. I knew it couldn't have been helped though.

"After that, we started with three away games before playing at the National Stadium, which is not exactly the same as we play at home in Kashima."

Oliveira said the fact his team overcame its problems to advance was a tribute to the effort of all involved.

"Considering all those difficulties we suffered, plus the fact that we got through to the next round with one more match remaining last week, I think we can be given credit for our qualification for the Round of 16 this time, and the efforts from our players and our club staff members."

A trademark free kick by Yasuhito Endo delivered Gamba Osaka a 2-0 win over China's Tianjin Teda in Group E and a place in the knockout stages.

Frustrated by a sodden pitch and an opponent that defended in numbers, Gamba looked like making a shock early exit from the competition until Japan playmaker Endo curled a free kick around the wall and into the top right corner in the 73rd minute to make it 1-0.

Tianjin had been intent on securing a draw that would have delivered home advantage in the one-leg round of 16, and Arie Haan's side showed its attacking hand only after falling behind.

The Chinese side had good shouts for a penalty in injury time but the referee waved play on.

With Tianjin committing men forward, Gamba substitute Shoki Hirai broke clear in the dying seconds and was brought down by Tianjin goalkeeper Yang Qipeng, who was sent off. Highly regarded youngster Takashi Usami converted the penalty.

"I am feeling relieved as we got through this stage," Gamba coach Akira Nishino said. "It was a game we played with a lot of extra pressure."

The win moved Gamba to the top of Group E, ahead of Tianjin on goal difference, meaning Gamba will next host crosstown rival Cerezo Osaka in the round of 16. Cerezo trounced China's Shandong Luneng 4-0 in Group G on Tuesday.

"It's a pity that we now have to play against a Japanese side, but we focused on nothing but winning the group," Nishino said. "I will think about how to play (Cerezo) a little later."

In Group F, China's Hangzhou Greentown snatched a 1-1 draw at home against Seoul. The point was enough to allow Seoul to move into the top spot, after Al Ain beat Japan's Nagoya Grampus 3-1. But the win for United Arab Emirates' club wasn't enough, forcing it to settle for third while Nagoya retained second to earn a spot in the knockout stage.

The team that finishes top will host Kashima Antlers in the round of 16, while the runner-up will travel to Suwon Bluewings. Kashima, which qualified last week from Group H, downed Sydney 2-1 on Tuesday.

Japan's participation in the South American championships was cast into doubt following the massive earthquake and tsunami which hit the country in March.

The Japanese football association finally decided to take part but then ran into problems with convincing European clubs to release their Japanese players ahead of the start of the new season.

"We need to be patient until the end of the week. The Japanese federation is in talks with clubs in Europe," said Argentina football federation spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo.

"Once they know where they stand, they will be able to ascertain which players will be available to them and they can take a final decision.

"But it's going to be difficult."

Argentina officials insist that at the moment they are still counting on Japan to take part in the tournament but press reports indicate that Costa Rica could be brought in as a replacement.

The Japan Football Association had pulled out of the July tournament following the country's devastating earthquake and tsunami, but organisers urged the board to reconsider.

The JFA has received backing from the J-League, which will provide some players for coach Alberto Zaccheroni's squad, and the South American football confederation will help negotiate the release of Japan's players based in Europe.

Copa America spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo said the organising committee had not yet received official confirmation of Japan's participation.

"But if Japan could accompany us, the organising committee would be proud and very grateful," Cherquis Bialo told The Associated Press in Buenos Aires.

"Proud because the champion of Asia is going to play, which makes the Copa stronger football-wise, and grateful because we know that it's been a great effort to be able to fulfill this commitment and overcome a tragedy which has hurt the whole world."

Japan was invited to play in the South American championship as a guest nation along with Mexico.

The 11 March twin disasters severely damaged a nuclear power plant in Japan's northeast, causing widespread electricity cuts which forced the country's J.League to suspend five rounds.

The league has rescheduled its backlogged fixtures to be played during a break in July, which clashes with the South American championship, where Asian champion Japan is invited as a non-member guest along with Mexico.

"We will take part on condition that we call up a certain number of overseas-based players in a way to minimise the impact on the J.League," Japan Football Association technical director Hiromi Hara told Japanese media.

He added that the South American Football Confederation pledged to help negotiate with European clubs for the release of their Japanese players for the 1-24 July Copa America in Argentina.

The Japan FA is scheduled to make a final decision at an executive meeting on Thursday.

Meanwhile the J.League agreed at its own executive meeting to cooperate with Japan's participation in the Copa America on condition that Europe-based players make up the bulk of Alberto Zaccheroni's Blue Samurai squad.

"We also attach importance to the national team and want to respect the Japanese association's idea," J.League director and Gamba Osaka president Kikuo Kanamori told the Jiji Press news agency.

JFA president Junji Ogura met the heads of the South American Football Confederation and the Argentina Football Association at their headquarters last week.

Ogura said he had gained assurances that world football's governing body FIFA was considering an exceptional measure to require European clubs to free up Japanese players for the Copa despite its guest status.

Kanamori said, "We could feel JFA president Ogura's enthusiasm to pump up Japanese football."

The 11 March catastrophe has thrown Japan's J.League into disarray and five rounds of matches which were suspended are now due to be played around the same time as the 1-24 July Copa America in Argentina.

Under the current rules of world football's governing body, clubs are not obligated to free up Japanese players for the South American championship because Japan has been invited only as a guest.

But FIFA president Sepp Blatter is considering a one-off exceptional measure asking clubs to free up players, Japan Football Association (JFA) president Junji Ogura told Japanese media on Friday after visiting South America.

The measure would apply to Japanese clubs as well as teams in Europe and elsewhere who have Japanese players.

Ogura said that Argentina Football Association president Julio Grondona, who is also a senior FIFA vice-president, had asked Japan to reconsider pulling out when they met on Tuesday.

"Grondona knows that European clubs don't have to release their players, but he called Blatter this morning and Blatter said he would consider changing the rules," Ogura said, according to Kyodo news agency.

"Grondona knows how many Japanese players are playing in Europe and says if they are needed for the Copa America, then CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation) would take responsibility and negotiate their release."

The JFA board is expected to make a decision on the matter at a board meeting next Thursday, he said.

The J.League is opposed to releasing players in July because of its revamped calendar. European clubs may be reluctant to free up players for fear of injury as the northern summer break is important for them to tune up for the new season.

The JFA has submitted to the CONMEBOL a list of 28 Japanese playing in 14 countries in Europe's first or second divisions, who may make up the core of the Blue Samurai bound for Argentina, Ogura said.

He added that the JFA would also make a fresh plea to J.League teams to release their best players.

The Argentina Football Association, which hosts the South American championship July, asked Japan to reconsider its decision to pull-out of the event, Japan Football Association (JFA) vice president Kozo Tashima said.

"The Japanese association for its part has not reached a final conclusion," he said, according to the Jiji Press news agency and other media.

"We will reconsider whether we can send a national team by using our wisdom more than ever."

JFA president Junji Ogura told South American Football Confederation president Nicolas Leoz on Monday that the Asian champion cannot take part in the tournament, as an invited guest along with Mexico.

The nation's J-League suspended its season for five rounds until April 23, planning instead to play the postponed matches in July.

The month has been originally set as a summer break to free up players for the Copa America, prompting Japan's withdrawal.

But Argentina Football Association president Julio Grondona met with Ogura on Tuesday and urged Japan to rethink the decision, according to Tashima.

"They wanted to position the South American championship as an event to support Japan's reconstruction," he said.

"It won't be easy to reach a conclusion. We could either withdraw or go," Tashima said, adding that his association has until April 15 to make a final decision.

Japan Football Association president Junji Ogura had earlier travelled to CONMEBOL's Paraguayan headquarters to update the confederation on the situation with the quake and tsunami having brought to a halt action in the domestic J-League, creating a fixture backlog now set to be resolved in July.

"Our priority is to save lives and rebuild our nation. We regret we cannot participate at the Copa America," said Ogura, who was due later to go on to Argentina to convey Japan's decision likewise to the Argentinian Federation, Argentina being the host nation of this year's Copa from 1 to 24 July.

Twelve teams had been due to take part in the continental showpiece with Mexico joining the Japanese as guests.

The Mexicans have joined the event on a number of occasions while the Japanese guested in 1999, exiting in the group phase.

The United States has also guested in the past.

Earlier, Ogura told Japanese media: "We had asked to be invited to the South American championship, first of all. Therefore, it is not for us to make a decision unilaterally."

He therefore travelled to South America to give a first-hand assessment of the situation to CONMEBOL and Copa organisers.

The 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami devastated Japan's Pacific coast, leaving some 12,000 people dead while crippling a nuclear power plant, causing wide-ranging electricity cuts and heavy disruption to football, baseball and other sporting events.

The J-League has suspended its regular season for five rounds until 23 April to save the electricity used to stage night matches.

Japan had been drawn to play in Group A alongside host Argentina, Colombia and Bolivia.

It was to have faced Colombia in its opening match on 2 July at Jujuy, Bolivia five days later at the same venue and then the host in Cordoba on 11 July.

European clubs have freed up 12 Japanese players to join Alberto Zaccheroni's 26-strong national squad who will play a J-League select team in a fund-raising charity match in Osaka.

"I am not sure if it's right to play a match in this kind of situation," World Cup hero and CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda said ahead of the national side's first game since beating Australia 1-0 in the Asian Cup final in Qatar.

"But I think what is important is to take action," said the 24-year-old. "We want to lend a helping hand to disaster victims."

Zaccheroni and his squad, including such domestic club stars as Gamba Osaka midfielder Yasuhito Endo, lined up on Saturday to greet about 8,000 supporters with donation boxes before an open training session.

Some Y2.5 million ($29,836) went into the coffers in one day.

The earthquake-tsunami double disaster has left at least 27,000 dead and missing along the country's Pacific coast, more than 500 kilometres northeast of Osaka.

The catastrophe has also crippled a nuclear power plant, with workers scrambling to avoid a possible meltdown. It has triggered rolling power shortages and forced the shutdown the regular J-League season until 23 April.

Japan's two professional baseball leagues had to push back the start of the season by three weeks to 12 April and will refrain from power-consuming night games in eastern Japan until the start of May.

But the 'Gambare (Hang on), Nippon' charity match will be an exception, staged at Osaka's 50,000-seat Nagai Stadium under floodlights.

It will pit the Blue Samurai against the 20-member J-League selection coached by Dragan Stojkovic, boss of league champion Grampus Nagoya.

The Serb's squad, called the 'J-League Team As One', includes 1993 Asian Footballer of the Year Kazuyoshi Miura, still active at 44, and World Cup centre-backs Yuji Nakazawa and Marcus Tulio Tanaka, both of whom missed the continental championship due to injuries.

Due to the catastrophe, Japan cancelled a friendly against Montenegro in Shizuoka, central Japan, on 25 March and proposed to switch a planned 29 March friendly against New Zealand from Tokyo to Osaka.

But the All Whites opted out on safety concerns which also forced the cancellation of last week's world figure skating championships in Tokyo, some 250 kilometres from the crippled nuclear plant.

Zaccheroni was in Japan when an earthquake triggered a tsunami that ravaged the eastern part of the country on 11 March.

"When I think of the victims of this catastrophe, my heart breaks," Zaccheroni said. "Japan is a country that never stops, a country that progresses and that has a spirit of solidarity.

"I think it will recover quickly.

"I hope that Tuesday's game will bring a little bit of happiness, even if it is small, to the entire country, especially in the area that was hit badly."

The Italian says there a people in his homeland that want to help.

"(Inter coach) Leonardo has told me he wants to come to Japan and do what he can to help," Zaccheroni said. "The Italian Football Federation has also told me that they want to do something to help."

The Japan Football Association said it also expected four others, including World Cup star and CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda, to be released for the 29 March event in Osaka between the Blue Samurai and a J-League select squad.

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni in an earlier message said he hoped that the all-star match will 'help the whole of Japan take the first step toward its reconstruction'.

"This match may be held in an unusual setting but we will fight all-out as always by keeping our motivation high," said the former AC Milan boss, who guided Japan to a record fourth Asian Cup in January.

Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo, and Wolfsburg midfielder and Japan captain Makoto Hasebe are among the eight confirmed to play for Japan.

Honda, Schalke defender Atsuto Uchida, Stuttgart striker Shinji Okazaki and Augsburg midfielder Hajime Hosogai are awaiting approval from their clubs to go home.

European clubs - who have signed up an increasing number of Japanese players since the Blue Samurai reached the last 16 at the World Cup last year - have shown sympathy for the victims of the 11 March quake.

The 9.0-magnitude tremor, which triggered a monster tsunami, has left more than 18,600 people dead or missing and sparked an emergency at a nuclear power plant northeast of Tokyo.

Japan had originally planned a friendly with New Zealand in Tokyo, 250 kilometres from the crippled nuclear facility, for 29 March, a FIFA-sanctioned international match day.

But the All Whites have opted out due to safety worries even after the Japanese FA moved the venue 400 kilometres further away to Osaka.

New Zealand Football (NZF) also said its under-17 team's preparation game for the FIFA under-17 World Cup in Fukuoka had been cancelled.

"These decisions were reached after a lengthy consultation process with government agencies, the Professional Footballers Association, team management and staff," NZF said on its website.

The Japan Football Association had proposed moving the match against New Zealand -- which saw a massive quake strike Christchurch last month -- from Tokyo to Osaka and turning it into a charity match.

But the New Zealand embassy in Japan "raised concerns about the timing of the match so close to the tragedies that Japan has suffered, and the possible health and safety risk to players, staff and management", NZF said.

"This has been a tough decision to make but with the match just two weeks away and media reports reflecting such great uncertainty surrounding the nuclear situation in Japan we believe it is prudent to err on the side of caution and withdraw our teams," NZF chairman Frank van Hattum said.

"At this time emotions are running extremely high in New Zealand, and sadly the decision to proceed with a football match in this context was not feasible," he added.

"Our hearts continue to be with the people of Japan and everybody affected by the earthquake as they focus on this period of recovery. New Zealand Football will work as hard as possible with the JFA to examine the possibility of rescheduling the fixture for a future date."

The national football team had been scheduled to play Montenegro on March 25 in Shizuoka and New Zealand four days later in Tokyo.

Friday's earthquake and the subsequent tsunami pulverised Japan's northeastern coastline. The quake was one of the strongest recorded in history.

Nearly 3,700 people are officially listed as dead, but officials believe the toll will climb over 10,000 since several thousand more are listed as missing.

The quake struck on Friday and with officials estimating a death toll of more than 10,000 people, major sporting events in Japan were postponed over the weekend.

However, the Japanese football association believes two friendlies scheduled for later this month would help rally the nation.

Japan Football Association (JFA) general secretary Kozo Tashima confirmed the matches against Montenegro on March 25 at the Shizuoka Stadium, southwest of Tokyo, and New Zealand in the capital four days later, would go ahead.

"It would mean something to stage these games, more than ever," the Kyodo news agency reported Tashima saying at the JFA headquarters in Tokyo.

"We will hold it in Shizuoka of course, and I think having the game in Tokyo will really mean something. The matches are still two weeks away and we need to send a message to the rest of the world.

"The images people are seeing on CNN and what not, the world probably doesn't have an accurate view of what Tokyo is like at the moment.

"We need to inform people that Tokyo is functional, that the city is okay and order is being restored in Tokyo again.

"The entire Japanese football community needs to help the country get back on its feet again," Tashima added. "Not just soccer, but I think the whole sports world in Japan needs to step up for the nation."

A NZF spokesman told NZPA the organisation considered the match to be "on", until further notice, though they would be closely monitoring the situation in Japan on a daily basis.

NZF chairman Frank van Hattum said he had made contact with the JFA over the weekend and been told they were keen for the match at Tokyo's National Stadium, which has been sold out, to go ahead as planned.

Tokyo had been relatively unaffected, he said, and there were suggestions the match could be used as a joint fundraiser for Japan and Christchurch, which is recovering from a deadly earthquake on February 22.

The Japan Pro-Footballers Association (JPFA), currently representing 962 players at home and abroad, has decided to register itself as a labour union with the right to collective bargaining and strikes.

The decision was made by a majority vote at a special JPFA meeting on 28 February, the Kyodo news agency and the daily Asahi Shimbun said on Wednesday.

The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) has advised the 15-year-old JPFA to launch 'union activities as soon as possible', the Nikkan Sports said.

No official at the JPFA was immediately available to confirm the reports.

JPFA, whose members include CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda and Wolfsburg midfielder Makoto Hasebe, has been unsuccessfully seeking bigger allowances for international duty since before last year's World Cup.

They also want salary guarantees for players who sustain injuries during international games.

Japan players receive no appearance money but are given a daily allowance of Y10,000 ($119.70) for taking part in an international, according to earlier press reports.

A win or draw gives them a bonus payment, the level of which is dependent on the ranking of the opponent.

The Blue Samurai's 1-0 extra-time win over the Socceroos in the Asian Cup final catapulted the side 12 spots to number 17 in the world.

But it wasn't all bad news for Australia. The Socceroos lifted five spots to be ranked at 21.

World Cup winner Spain lead the monthly rankings.

Around 3,000 people were locked out of the ground - at least 700 of whom were confirmed to have valid tickets for the game between Japan and Australia - amid reports of heavy-handed security by riot police that included the confiscating of fans' cameras and confrontational behaviour towards a crowd that included families with children.

Al-Rumaihi denied suggestions that people without tickets had been granted entry earlier in the afternoon thus contributing to a situation that saw fans - some of whom had travelled from as far as Japan and Australia - unable to watch the game despite holding valid tickets.

He did concede the security situation needs to be reviewed but claimed gates were kept open until after the 6pm kick-off to alleviate the problem even though they were supposed to shut earlier due to security associated with the arrival of the Crown Prince of Qatar, insisting people turning up late for the game and without tickets were to blame, a situation with serious implications for the 2022 World Cup.

"In general, I'm very happy with what they have done. Some issues have been raised that we have to consider," said Al-Rumaihi.

"We will sit down with the security people - we have big events coming, not just the World Cup. In general, yes, there are some issues here, we have to sit down with them and consider in the future that they have to improve themselves because we have a lot of events coming here.

"For me, all the time we told the spectators to come earlier. Yesterday, we were supposed to close the gate because of security reasons around 5.30pm, we continued to open the gate until around 6.05pm. People were coming with and without tickets, most of them without tickets, a couple of thousand, which was causing a problem.

"Some of them were unhappy about not attending the match even though they held tickets but due to the security and protection of the spectators, we decided to not allow them in.

"Some of them went to the media centre, complaining, but everybody should know this is a tournament and it has a security procedure especially for the opening and the closing ceremony, so people should consider this.

"We were hoping that we didn't have something like this happen but it happened. You can't please everybody."

Al-Rumaihi insisted QLOC had done everything possible to try and avert the situation having outlined that ultimately, it had no control over security.

"There was a big crowd outside and most of them did not have tickets," he added.

"We tried to make the people understand 'please take it easy, we will try to solve the problems, if there is available seats, we will try to get you in'. The tickets have been issued for six months, people are waiting until the last minute and they want to come to the stadium.

"We always say go back, buy your ticket, try to come earlier and they still come the same way.

"Unfortunately some of them are Qataris and some are non-Qataris, they are coming from abroad and they want to go to the final. The final is very important for everybody.

"They should plan this earlier so that they come to the stadium with no hassle. I wish from my heart this didn't happen but we can't sell tickets more than the capacity of the stadium.

"We were urging everybody to come earlier but people still continued to come late. Most of the people that came had no tickets."

The events now raise questions over Qatar's ability to host the 2022 World Cup given the number of fans involved will be far greater than the 37,000 that turned up at Khalifa Stadium.

Al-Rumaihi also refuted claims spectators were not allowed to leave until up to an hour after the game, creating the possibility of serious injury due to congestion around the gates.

"Some of the people left the stadium before the trophy presentation was finished," he said.

"The gates were open. It was not an issue leaving the stadiums."

He also stressed the QLOC would look at refunding ticket-holders who were unable to watch the final that Japan won 1-0.

"We will consider that," he said.

"People can go to our website and approach us regarding this. We will discuss this issue with the AFC and come back to them when we have an answer."

Substitute Tadanari Lee scored an extra-time winner as his side edged Australia 1-0 to win a pulsating final and become the most successful team in the history of the competition.

Lee sent a stunning left-foot volley past the diving Mark Schwarzer in the 109th minute to hand his country its fourth title at the continental showcase, a feat no one else has achieved.

The win, following successes in 1992, 2000 and 2004, carried the added bonus of an automatic place at the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil - the traditional World Cup warm-up tournament.

"It is a great victory. We have a really great team. They were united and won the title against such strong opponents," said Zaccheroni.

"I knew (Lee) would do it. What is great about this team is that players who started on the bench could produce results on the pitch."

Zaccheroni, who was recruited after last year's World Cup and tasked with improving its last-16 performance in Brazil in 2014, said it was a tribute to his players that they won after a gruelling semi-final.

"We improved throughout the tournament. Our attack played with great speed and accuracy. That's a great feature of this team at the moment. To get into the final, physically we were very exhausted," he said.

"So to play against a tactically and physically very good Australian team and win is a great achievement.

"This is an excellent team with fantastic players and I'm really proud of myself to be managing them."

Like its great rival Korea Republic, which it beat in the last four on penalties, Japan brought a young team to Doha but it showed that it has big potential.

Captain Makoto Hasebe said it bodes well for the future.

"It is meaningful that we have won the tournament despite the fact that we have come as a young team," he said.

"I think it was a great experience for the young players and I hope they will build on it."

But he is convinced it still has room to improve.

"To fight in the world, we must improve our individual skills otherwise we cannot win. In this sense, we can see a task ahead of us. I hope everyone of us will work hard after going back to their clubs," he said.

"We were outdone by Australia physically. We must improve ourselves in this area."

In an indication of Japan's quality, CSKA Moscow star Keisuke Honda was voted the tournament's most valuable player.

"It hasn't really sunk in," said the midfielder.

"I am not personally satisfied with my performance and I want to improve myself more and more and want to show an improved Honda to the people of Japan."

Asked what winning the tournament meant for Japanese football, he replied: "I have seen Japan win this title a number of times since I was a child.

"But I personally think this victory is more valuable than previous ones. We beat Qatar, we beat South Korea and we beat Australia to win the title.

"The value of this victory is something unseen in our previous Asian Cups."

Lee's superb volley from Yuto Nagatomo's left-wing cross settled a hard-fought contest in Japan's favour at Khalifa Stadium, as it claimed its fourth continental crown in 18 years to become the Asian Cup's most successful nation.

"Physically, we were very exhausted for the final," said Zaccheroni.

"(Keisuke) Honda, (Yasuhito) Endo and (Makoto) Hasebe did not train, (Shinji) Okazaki yesterday couldn't even walk, Nagatomo had a foot problem and couldn't prepare.

"We were playing against a very good physical and tactical team like Australia, so the final was a separate game.

"Our attack, we played with speed and accuracy, that's the feature this team has at the moment and they improved all the way to the final."

The Italian also hailed Eiji Kawashima's performance after the keeper pulled off two crucial saves in each half to deny Harry Kewell.

"I did not know that he was being criticised by the media, he did very well in the World Cup," he added.

"I don't like changing keepers a lot, of course sometimes they make mistakes and then you have to deal with criticism as well. Kawashima played with composure and he knows that I trust him. He played well in the semi-final and the final and answered the criticism. Against Australia he had plenty to do and he performed very well.

"I have not won an international competition, this is the first time. This is an excellent team and we have excellent players so I am proud to manage this team."

Australia coach Holger Osieck, meanwhile, admitted his side paid the price for some poor finishing.

"We had our opportunities and what is always encouraging is the way we play and we create opportunities," said the German.

"However, it is crucial to convert them and later on in the game it backfired and that is a problem. We had to be more clinical in our finishing and it's not enough to win a game if you don't score.

"We have seen a very exciting game between two very good teams. You can imagine we are disappointed, we definitely had our opportunities, unfortunately we couldn't convert.

"I'm very proud of my players, their performance and their attitude. I give them credit and really feel sorry for the boys that they didn't get the reward for their efforts. You can imagine in our dressing room it's not a great atmosphere, everybody's really sad.

"All in all, our team represented Australia in a great way."

The 25-year-old has only played twice for Japan and had never scored before but he finished like a veteran in the 109th minute after the final against Australia finished deadlocked 0-0 in 90 minutes.

The dangerous Yuto Nagatomo raced down the left flank and found the unmarked forward in the box, and he executed his volley in spectacular fashion, smashing it past Mark Schwarzer to write his name in the history books.

"I feel super. I could not play for such a long time and I had to keep on waiting, believing that there would be a chance for me," said the Sanfrecce Hiroshima player.

"I could score a goal in the end and I'm really happy."

Asked what it felt like sitting on the bench, he said he stayed positive and waited for his opportunity.

"I kept talking to myself, saying 'I'll be a hero. I'll be a hero' before I went onto the pitch," he said.

"I'm really happy that I was able to stand on this pitch. I really want to thank everyone. We'll have to work hard as the Asian champions and I want you, the fans, all to support the Japanese national team."

Although born in Japan, Tadanari is of Korean heritage and only gained Japanese citizenship in 2007.

Witnesses said irate fans - some holding their tickets in the air - were forced to watch the match on a television behind a fence that encircled the 40,000-seat Khalifah Stadium.

Some fans complained that baton-wielding police roughly pushed the crowd and ordered them to leave because the stadium was sold out, although there were thousands of empty seats.

A spokeswoman for the tournament's local organising committee said no one would comment and that the issue would be addressed at a news conference on Sunday.

Qatar was recently awarded hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup and FIFA president Sepp Blatter was among the guests at the final.

The Australian team played with style, humility and an attacking attitude throughout the event and it fully redeemed itself of the disappointing sortie to the 2007 Asian Cup in south-east Asia and 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

There can be no recriminations at the team after a narrow and perhaps harsh 1-0 defeat to the slick Japanese in an absorbing and wildly fluctuating final in Doha.

Falling to Japan - and to such a sublime strike from super sub Tanadari Lee that watching UEFA president Michel Platini would have been proud of in his playing days - is no disgrace or cause for despair, especially since the Socceroos gave their all and certainly played as much and as well as their opponent.

Perhaps the difference between the two teams was that Japan was more dangerous with its fewer chances.

This came about because Japan was able to get behind Australia’s defence with defence-splitting passes usually from star midfielders Yasuhito Endo and Keisuke Honda.

In sharp contrast, after an inspiring first half in which they mixed their attacking approach with success, the Socceroos became a touch too predictable with their constant crossing into the box.

After being tormented by Tim Cahill for all of the first period, the Japanese defence got to grips with the Everton man and his threat became less potent as the game wore on and he got more and more frustrated.

Fellow striker Harry Kewell played beautifully before he was replaced and he was clearly enjoying the freedom to roam which Holger Osieck gave him.

His finishing was woefully off on the night. Otherwise he could so easily have scored a goal in each half.

All in all the Socceroos can feel proud of their deeds in Doha six months after the disaster in Durban although they probably will always see this final as the one that got away.

But as Osieck regroups and starts a rebuilding process that is designed to lead Australia to the next World Cup in Brazil in 2014, he can take comfort from the fact that he has a solid foundation from which to launch his qualification drive.

Osieck knows that he has a trio of exceptional defenders in Mark Schwarzer, Sasa Ognenovski and Lucas Neill on which he can rely, assuming they continue to play for their country.

He knows that in Mile Jedinak, Carl Valeri and Matt McKay he has three reliable midfielders who are poised to be around for a number of years.

He also knows that the previously untried strike partnership of Cahill and Kewell showed enough understanding and promise during the whole tournament to suggest that they could blossom into a real lethal weapon Australia has not had for ages.

So it’s all good for Australia despite the trauma of a deflating defeat in a final, which is never easy to take.

The next Asian Cup of course will take place in Australia in 2015.

There can be no better reason for the Australians to put the loss to Japan behind them and look forward to getting it right on home soil in four years.

Substitute Tadanari Lee struck in the 109th minute to shatter Australia's hopes and give Japan a record fourth Asian Cup title, its third in the past four tournaments.

The Socceroos were gallant in an enthralling contest played in front of 37,174 fans at Khalifa Stadium and enjoyed the majority of the chances.

But it was a single defensive lapse that cost them.

Yuto Nagatomo brushed off Luke Wilkshire on the left flank and sent in a curling cross and Lee, a 99th minute substitute, was left totally unmarked to smash a well-taken volley past Mark Schwarzer.

Up until that point the Australia defence had been rock solid, but Lee was left in wide open space after losing marker David Carney and the rest of the defence with alarming ease.

"Mixed feelings, proud, disappointed," said captain Lucas Neill, who carried on his fine form alongside Sasa Ognenovski.

"We always felt in control of the game even though we gave away a lot of possession to Japan it never felt they were really going to hurt us.

"In our defence we felt solid and strong and then one lapse in concentration and maybe a moment of fatigue in extra time, it's gifted them the goal."

The loss revived memories of Australia's first Asian Cup campaign in 2007, when it was dumped out by Japan in the quarter-finals.

It also cruelled a chance for veterans such as Neill, Schwarzer, Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton to claim a piece of silverware for a golden age of Australian football that included qualifying for back-to-back World Cups.

The match went to extra time after a scoreless but entertaining 90 minutes in which both sides created several good opportunities.

Australia started brightly with Matt McKay, who kept his place in the starting line-up ahead of Emerton, squandering a chance in the second minute after some impressive build-up from Cahill, Brett Holman and Carl Valeri.

The Socceroos suffered a scare when Schwarzer fell awkwardly while making a clearance off the goal line but the gloveman, who broke Alex Tobin's caps record in his 88th appearance, played on.

Some brilliant service from Wilkshire and Carney created a host of chances in the air, with Cahill ever present and Kewell forcing a great reaction save from man-of-the-match Eiji Kawashima in the 19th minute.

Japan kept the ball well to take the sting out of Australia's momentum and also looked the part going forward, with brilliant midfielders Keisuke Honda, who was later named player of the tournament, and Yasushito Endo pulling the strings.

Australia thought it had taken the lead three minutes into the second half when a Wilkshire cross struck the bar and was almost bundled in by Cahill and referee Ravshan Irmatov rightly called play on despite Socceroos' claims the ball had crossed the line.

Holger Osieck introduced Emerton in the 65th minute for a tiring Holman and Japan should have taken the lead a minute later with its best chance to that point.

Nagatomo found Shinji Okazaki with a pin-point cross, but the striker glanced his header just wide with Schwarzer beaten.

Australia's best chance followed in the 72nd minute, with Kewell looking certain to give it the lead after turning Daiki Iwamasa to get into a one-on-one with Kawashima, but the goalkeeper made a brilliant save with his feet.

Osieck handed Robbie Kruse a big opportunity off the bench in place of Kewell in extra time and the Victory striker almost scored with his first touch, forcing another outstanding save out of Kawashima with a fine header.

But with the match seemingly heading for penalties, Australia's defence was breached for only the second time in the tournament, and Australia's players sank to the pitch with agony as the final whistle sounded.

"You can imagine how disappointed we are," Osieck said. "We definitely could have won the game, we just didn't convert.

"But I have to say that I am proud of the players, in their performance and their attitude throughout the tournament.

While Japan possesses some of the best attacking weapons on show in Qatar its defence has caused concerns for coach Alberto Zaccheroni, leaking seven goals to Australia's one.

And still buzzing from a 6-0 annihilation over Uzbekistan in the semi-finals, captain Lucas Neill believes the Socceroos could be primed to capitalise.

"All over the pitch we are going to have to be winning personal battles to make sure that we get on top of this game and limit their chances because they have ruthless finishers," Neill said.

"But defensively we know that we can cause them problems.

"We have to create those chances, expose them and show the ruthlessness we did in the semi-final."

Despite an injury to striker Shinji Kagawa, Japan still boasts plenty of attacking firepower in playmaker Keisuke Honda and Shinji Okazaki and Ryoichi Maeda, who each have three goals for the tournament.

But the Socceroos have an ace up their sleeve in coach Holger Osieck, who knows Japanese football well having coached J-League side Urawa Reds in two separate stints, leading it to the AFC Asian Champions League title in 2007.

"We will see. I've got my ideas, I know the players, I know the style," Osieck said.

"That's one thing but to make a transfer of that on the pitch is what I don't know."

The Socceroos embark on one of the biggest matches in Australian football history at Khalifa Stadium after storming into the tournament decider at only its second attempt since switching to the Asian Confederation in 2006.

Since arriving in camp in Qatar, Australia's core group of senior players has repeatedly voiced its desire to reap some silverware to show for a golden age that has included qualifying for back-to-back World Cups.

While the likes of Neill, Mark Schwarzer, Tim Cahill and Brett Emerton are all on the wrong side of 30, none have indicated this will be their international swansong.

But Neill acknowledges this is their best, and likely last, chance for major international glory.

"This is an opportunity to etch Australia's name on to some silverware that will never be taken away from us," Neill said.

"The rest is memory. For this era of players, it's an ideal opportunity to win something.

"It would be a very nice reward for a lot of hard work and sacrifice.

"It brings an opportunity to go into the 2013 (Confederations Cup) and potentially of some of us holding on to 2014 (World Cup) and maybe even 2015 (Asian Cup).

"But that's the future, this is now.

"For the last, however, there has never been a better chance and perhaps there never will be as well."

Standing in Australia's way in Doha is a Japanese side that has become a familiar foe in recent years.

It was the Blue Samurai who dumped Australia out of the last Asian Cup in 2007, while the Socceroos earned their first World Cup win against them in 2006, a result which paved the way for a progression to the knockout stages.

"It's becoming a really good sporting rivalry between the two countries," Neill said.

"They have a very talented team, they were a lot of people's choice for the final. They are a team that has players all over Europe now."

While Australia stormed into the final with a 6-0 romp over Uzbekistan, the Japanese were stretched to 120 minutes by Korea Republic before prevailing on penalties.

Their build-up suffered a significant setback with striker Shinji Kagawa ruled out of the final after breaking a bone in his foot in that match.

But Australia coach Holger Osieck believes that has done little to boost his side's chances.

"It's surely a big blow for the team but knowing the rest of the squad, I think they will be able to compensate," Osieck said.

Japan, ranked 29th in the world to Australia's 26, reached the knockout stages of last year's World Cup but came to Qatar with a youthful squad as Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni looked to build for the future.

But a team led by impressive playmakers Yasushito Endo and Keisuke Honda has built steadily throughout the tournament after kicking off with a nervy 1-1 draw with Jordan.

AUSTRALIA v JAPAN at Khalifa Stadium, Doha

Kickoff: Sunday 2am

Head-to-head: Australia 7, Japan 5, draws 6

Last meeting: Australia 2 Japan 1, Melbourne, World Cup qualifier, June 2009

FIFA world rankings: Australia 26, Japan 29

Australia’s road to the final: India 4-0, Korea Republic 1-1, Bahrain 1-0, Iraq 1-0, Uzbekistan 6-0

Japan’s road to the final: Jordan 1-1, Syria 2-1, Saudi Arabia 5-0, Qatar 3-2, Korea Republic 2-2 (penalties 3-0)

Australia probable (4-4-2): Mark Schwarzer; Luke Wilkshire, Lucas Neill (c), Sasa Ognenovski, David Carney; Brett Holman, Mile Jedinak, Carl Valeri, Matt McKay; Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell

Japan probable (4-2-3-1): Eiji Kawashima; Atsuto Uchida, Maya Yoshida, Yauyuki Konno, Yuto Nagatomo; Makoto Hasebe (c), Yasuhito Endo; Yosuke Kashiwagi, Keisuke Honda, Shinji Okazaki; Ryoichi Maeda.

Australia key man: After a career littered with injuries, a fit and firing Harry Kewell is finally making his mark at a big tournament. Has lost the pace he once had but makes up for it with his brilliant skills, vision and finishing ability.

Japan’s key man: While Yasushito Endo is the architect in Japan's attack, it's Keisuke Honda that is usually the destroyer. Calm, confident and technically sound, the CSKA Moscow playmaker is hard to contain as a threat up front as he often drops deep back into the midfielder. Also poses a huge threat from set pieces.

Moore, who retired after the 2010 FIFA World Cup, also said that midfield will be the area where the deciding match will be won and lost.

Old rivals Australia and Japan clash in Doha on Sunday (AEDT) for the biggest prize in Asian football.

Moore said McKay will play a key role in the Australian national team’s bid to put the Blue Samurai to the sword and win the first major honour in its 89-year history.

Moore, 35, could not speak highly enough of McKay’s telling contribution to the team.

His former clubmate has taken to international football like a fish to water.

He made Harry Kewell’s goal against Iraq in the quarter-finals and three of the six goals Australia scored against Uzbekistan in the semi-finals came from his assists.

"I’m not being biased but for me McKay has made the biggest impact in this tournament," Moore told The World Game.

"What I like about him is that he is very tight on the ball and keeps possession.

"One criticism I have is that he does not score enough goals.

"He has shown that he can set people up and he does get into good scoring positions because he has a huge engine.

"He must realise that he is an international player now and as a midfielder he needs to score goals as well."

To overcome three-time winner Japan, the Australians must win the battle in midfield, Moore warns.

Having played against the Japanese several times in his chequered career, Moore is in an ideal position to assess both teams’ chances going into the final.

"The Japanese are very technical and move the ball extremely well," he said.

"The way I see it is that Japan will have a lot of possession.

"But our defence, particularly goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and centre-backs Lucas Neill and Sasa Ognenovski, has been solid and this gives the whole team a lot of confidence.

"But we must take control of midfield, which as always is the most important part of the park.

"This could be a replica of the South Korea game in the group phase.

"It will be like a game of chess and for the first 20 minutes neither team will take any risks.

"We have to make sure that when they are shifting the ball defensively we are well organised at the back and always have at least three defenders and a defensive midfielder to manage things.

"Japan won’t have three strikers so this way we will never be outnumbered at the back.

"Their transition is not necessarily better than ours but definitely quicker so we have to be on our guard for 90 minutes."

Moore partly reiterated Ognenovski’s view expressed this week that Japanese footballers generally feel the Socceroos have a cutting edge over them because of a bigger physique and stronger temperament.

"We definitely have a psychological edge over them because mentally we are far stronger," he said.

"I think they fear us from both the mental and physical side."

Moore, who has played 52 times for Australia, said he was inspired by the performances of Neil and his men in Qatar.

"The Socceroos have done really well," Moore said.

"They were not at their best in the group stages but they certainly lifted in the knockout phase. That’s a sign of a good side."

The 21-year-old Celtic midfielder put the Koreans 1-0 up from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute of this week's semi-final, before allegedly pulling a monkey face and scratching his cheek in front of a pitch-side camera.

His celebration caused offence in sections of the Japanese media, who said the act was a racial slur on their country, but South Korea media officer Park Il-Ki said it was a reference to monkey chants from Scottish fans.

"It was about the unsporting treatment he got in the Scottish league, especially in away games," Park told AFP.

"People made noises and monkey sounds in Scotland when he played away games. That was something that he wanted to show people from all over the world.

"They call him a monkey, as an Asian, but he wanted to show how strong Asian footballers are, so that was the main intention."

Park added: "He told me that, when he scored at the Asian Cup, he wanted to do that kind of celebration.

"The match against Japan was the first time he had scored a goal at the tournament. There was no other reason for it. He planned it before the tournament."

Ki was the target of racist abuse from a minority of home fans during Celtic's 3-0 win at St Johnstone in the Scottish Premier League in October.

A statement on the St Johnstone website published in November said: "It has been brought to the club's attention that an extremely small minority of our support may have been responsible for making racist noises towards certain Celtic players during Saturday's game.

"St Johnstone FC will conduct a thorough investigation into these allegations."

St Johnstone is yet to announce the results of its investigation.

Earlier, Asian Cup tournament director Tokuaki Suzuki said the matter would not be taken any further.

The 21-year-old was substituted in the 87th minute of Japan's penalty shoot-out victory over South Korea in the Asian Cup semi-finals in Qatar and a scan on his return to German league leader Borussia Dortmund confirmed a broken metatarsel.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet, it'll take me some time," said Kagawa. "Now I need to try and get back to playing as quickly as I can."

"I have already had an injury in the same place in 2009 and that was sorted out in a month, but I haven't felt as bad as now.

"We have a good team despite our youth and I have a good feeling that we will win the title."

Dortmund is 11 points ahead of Leverkusen in the Bundesliga with Kagawa having played a major role in the club's success before he left on international duty.

Signed from Japanese second division club Cerezo Osaka for 350,000euros ($A480,500) last northern summer, Kagawa has scored seven goals in 18 Bundesliga appearances.

"Surgery is needed and Shinji cannot play again this season," said a Dortmund spokesman.

Dortmund insiders said they will not be tempted into the transfer market with young German international Mario Gotze likely to continue in the first team.

Kagawa was substituted in the 87th minute of the last-four triumph over its regional rival after damaging the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, meaning the 21-year-old will now miss the final against Australia at Khalifa Stadium.

"The Japanese Football Association has informed Borussia Dortmund's sporting director Michael Zorc on Wednesday afternoon that Shinji Kagawa picked up an injury and had to be substituted in the Asian Cup semi-final against South Korea on Tuesday. Kagawa suffered a suspected fractured metatarsal in his right foot," a statement on Borussia Dortmund's official website read.

The news is also a bitter blow for Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp with Kagawa's form instrumental in its rise to the top of the Bundesliga table, the midfielder finding the back of the net eight times in his first season with the German club. He also scored twice in Japan's 3-2 win over Asian Cup host Qatar in the quarter-finals.

The Koreans took the semi-final at Al Gharafa Stadium to penalties when Hwang Jae-won made it 2-2 at the end of extra-time with a dramatic last-gasp equaliser.

But Kawashima gave his side a boost with two spot-kick saves while Hong Jeong-ho sent his effort wide and Keisuke Honda, Shinji Okazaki and Yasuyuki Konno all successfully converted their penalties to send Japan through to the final, where it will face Australia after the Socceroos beat Uzbekistan 6-0.

And Zaccheroni hailed the performance of Kawashima with the Italian coach confident the keeper has proven his worth as Japan's number one.

"There are no goalkeepers who do not make mistakes, they do not exist," he said.

"A couple of days ago I told Kawashima I trust him very much. I told him that again today and throughout the game he performed much better than I expected."

The match lived up to expectations of being one of the most tightly contested of the tournament and Zaccheroni conceded it could have gone either way during the course of the 120 minutes.

But once penalties were needed the former AC Milan boss was confident his players would have the mental strength to prevail.

"It was a very tight match," he added.

"Looking at the first half we were better than them, especially with our attacking and combination play.

"In the second half, Korea were better than us, especially because they pushed us with their physical ability. They could run more than us as well.

"In the penalties I told the players to forget the goal we conceded at the end. I told them to have the confidence to take the penalty shoot-out and win.

"This team plays as a team, this is their mentality and we showed that today."

For South Korea it was its second successive game at the Asian Cup that had gone to extra-time and boss Cho Kwang-rae conceded that ultimately took its toll on his players.

"I would like to thank my players for playing hard in a second game that went to extra-time," he said.

"I am quite satisfied with the players and how they approached the game. I am personally surprised with their sharpness and ability to control the game until the end.

"How they approach a game has developed well in a short period of time at the tournament.

"We showed how Korean football can be developed in the future."

Centre-back Yasuyuki Konno netted the decisive penalty after Koo Ja-Cheol, Lee Yong-Rae and Hong Jeong-Ho had all failed from 12 metres for South Korea.

Japan led going into the final minute of extra-time but Hwang Jae-Won slammed in a sensational equaliser following a scramble inside the Japanese box to make the score 2-2 and send the game to penalties.

It was a redemptive moment for Hwang, who had conceded the controversial spot-kick from which substitute Hajime Hosogai had given Japan the lead in the seventh minute of extra-time, but his joy proved short-lived.

Ki Sung-Yueng had given South Korea the lead via another disputed penalty midway through the first half, with Ryoichi Maeda drawing Japan level nine minutes before half-time.

In front of just over 16,000 fans at the 22,000-capacity Al Gharafa Stadium, South Korea withstood early Japanese pressure before coming close to making the breakthrough in the 16th minute.

Ki's precise free-kick from a tight angle on the left drew a superb, athletic save from Eiji Kawashima and Lee Chung-Yong's goal-bound follow-up effort was headed away from danger by Konno.

A minute later it was Japan's turn to threaten and the South Korean goal was fortunate to survive intact as Shinji Okazaki's downward header was scrambled onto the left-hand post by Jung Sung-Ryong.

Park Ji-Sung, making his 100th international appearance, made an inauspicious start to the match when he was booked for elbowing Makoto Hasebe but he redeemed himself by winning the penalty from which Korea took the lead.

The Manchester United midfielder was barged to the floor by Konno as he chased a ball into the box and, following a patient run-up, Ki swept the resulting spot-kick into the bottom-left corner.

The referee rejected Korean appeals for a second penalty after Park tumbled in the box again under a challenge by Maeda, and in the 36th minute Japan drew level.

Enterprising left-back Yuto Nagatomo got in behind Cha Du-Ri on the Japan left and toed the ball square for Maeda to tuck away the equaliser from six metres.

Korea came desperately close to establishing a 2-1 lead in the 72nd minute but Lee Yong-Rae's gentle dead-ball effort from the edge of the Japanese 'D' missed the right-hand upright by a whisker.

A lack of clear-cut goalscoring opportunities saw the game drift into extra-time and the referee stunned Cho Kwang-Rae's side when he awarded a penalty for Hwang's block on Okazaki on the periphery of the penalty area.

Jung dropped to his right to repel Keisuke Honda's soft spot-kick but the in-rushing Hosogai crashed the rebound into the roof of the net from close range to put Japan on the brink of the final.

Hwang's dramatic equaliser prolonged the drama even further, but Korea's nerve faltered in the shootout, with Kawashima saving from Koo and Lee Yong-Rae, while Hong missed the target completely.

The highly-rated 21-year-old struck in the 28th minute to cancel out Sebastian Soria's opener before again scoring Japan's equaliser after a Fabio Cesar free-kick had restored the lead for Qatar just after the hour.

Kagawa was then fouled inside the box by a Qatar defender but Masahiko Inoha was on hand to sweep home Japan's winner.

And Zaccheroni praised the contribution of the young striker, delighted that he has finally got the goals his performances at the Asian Cup have deserved.

"I know what he can do on the pitch and what he can do for the team," said the Italian. "The way he performed today I am very satisfied. In the first half he did not really show what he can do on the pitch but in the second half he did."

Japan was certainly pushed all the way by a Qatar side that was clearly buoyed by the backing of almost 20,000 fans at Al Gharafa Stadium.

Maya Yoshida's dismissal, which led to the host's second goal, could have proved costly for the Blue Samurai and Zaccheroni acknowledged that his players need to cut out mistakes if they are to maintain their charge for the title.

"I expected the Qatar team to have momentum because they are the host of this tournament," added the former AC Milan boss. "We could not play as we want all the time, but it depended on the situation.

"We passed the ball to each other in defence too often and we needed to bring the ball to the forward more. Qatar also played well but their second goal was not really a strong shot and we conceded. This is something we need to work on and improve."

Qatar has received increased attention during the tournament after it was awarded the hosting rights for 2022 World Cup, and Metsu feels his players can be proud of how they have represented themselves.

"We played very well against Japan. We frightened them and we were very skilful in the match," said the Frenchman.

"We have shown the whole world that Qatar is a strong team. We showed that we can play good football."

Inoha struck in the 90th minute at a packed Al Gharafa Stadium to keep alive Japan's bid for a fourth continental title and crush Qatar's dreams of a first semi-final appearance.

Sebastian Suria's 12th-minute opener for Qatar was cancelled out by Shinji Kagawa, who drew Japan level again with 20 minutes to go after Fabio Cesar's free-kick crept inside Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima's near post.

Japan defender Maya Yoshida was harshly dismissed after receiving a second yellow card in the incident that led to the free-kick but with the arena set for extra-time, Inoha struck a decisive last-gasp blow.

Japan will play the winner of Sunday’s quarter-final between Iran and South Korea for a place in the final.

Japan thrashed fellow three-time champion Saudi Arabia 5-0 in its final group game and a number of robust Qatari challenges in the early stages bore testament to the host's desire to impose itself.

Qatar midfielder Mesaad Ali went close twice within a minute, working Kawashima at his near post and then forcing the goalkeeper into a one-handed save with a precise drive from 30 metres.

The breakthrough came soon after, as Uruguayan-born Suria cantered onto a ball over the top and, with the Japan defence claiming offside, stepped inside Yoshida before squeezing a left-foot shot beneath Kawashima.

Coach Alberto Zaccheroni led the protests from the Japanese bench but replays showed that Suria had been played onside by Inoha.

Japan's response was slow in coming but on 28 minutes it levelled, Keisuke Honda lifting the ball over the Qatari defence for Shinji Okazaki, whose goal-bound lob was headed in on the line by Kagawa.

Japan captain Makoto Hasebe stung Qasem Burhan's gloves with a low drive and Kagawa half-volleyed wide as the Blue Samurai belatedly found their rhythm in the minutes preceding half-time.

Okazaki glanced a header fractionally wide of the far post from Yuto Nagotomo's left-wing cross early in the second period before Yoshida's harsh red card shifted the momentum in Qatar's favour.

Booked earlier, the centre-back was unfortunate to receive another caution after an innocuous tangle with Yusef Ahmed.

Worse was to follow moments later for Japan, as from the subsequent free-kick, substitute Cesar curled in a tame low shot that Kawashima fumbled into the net at his near post.

Japan refused to be cowed by the twin setback, however, and Kagawa levelled in the 70th minute with a cool finish inside the left-hand post.

Suria found the side-netting five minutes from time, tricking half the crowd into thinking he had scored the winner, before Inoha rolled home into an empty net after Kagawa had been felled by Khaled Muftah.

A hat-trick from striker Shinji Okazaki was the centrepiece of a comfortable Japan victory that consigned traditional powerhouse Saudi Arabia to one of the most abject and humiliating defeats in its history.

The emphatic margin of Japan's victory saw it through as Group B winner, pipping Jordan to top spot on goal difference.

Three-time champion Japan, who needed an injury-time goal to rescue a 1-1 draw with Jordan in its opening game, raced into a 3-0 lead inside 20 minutes at Doha's Al Rayyan Stadium.

Reported Stuttgart target Okazaki, a replacement for injured playmaker Keisuke Honda, broke the deadlock in the eighth minute before doubling Japan's lead five minutes later with a diving header from Shinji Kagawa's centre.

Ryoichi Maeda made it 3-0 when he flicked home Yuto Nagamoto's cross in the 19th minute and Saudi Arabia, which sacked Portuguese coach Jose Pereiro after its opening 2-1 defeat by Syria, was already dead and buried.

Maeda extended Japan's lead early in the second half before Okazaki lashed home his third in the 80th minute as the hapless Saudi team, itself a three-time champion, crashed to a third successive defeat in the competition.

Jordan, meanwhile, had to battle back from a goal down and was indebted to some generous Syria defending as it booked a last-eight date with Group A winner Uzbekistan.

A draw would have been sufficient to take Jordan through at the expense of Middle East neighbour Syria and it saw Hasan Abdel Fattah fire narrowly wide after only 36 seconds at the Qatar Sports Club Stadium.

Syria gradually assumed control of the game, however, and on 15 minutes it took the lead.

Sanharib Malki's low shot was parried by Jordan goalkeeper Amer Shafi into the path of Mohamed Al Zino, who gleefully slammed the ball into an open goal from six yards.

Syria was through as things stood, but with its fans launching a premature Mexican wave, Jordan levelled.

It was a desperately poor goal to concede, defender Ali Dyab rising to meet Amer Deeb's innocuous cross from the Syrian right and succeeding only in heading the ball over goalkeeper Mosab Balhous and into his own net.

Jordan completed the turnaround shortly before the hour mark with another goal that owed much to statuesque reactions in the Syrian defence.

A goal-kick from Jordan goalkeeper Amer Shafi was allowed to reach the edge of the Syria box and striker Odai Al Shaify capitalised on the hesitancy to poke the ball past Balhous and send the Jordan fans into raptures.

Shinji Okazaki scored a hat-trick while Ryoichi Maeda weighed in with a brace to ensure Japan finishes top of Group B and set up a clash with host Qatar on Friday (Saturday AEDT).

Japan had made a slow start to the tournament with a late Maya Yoshida strike rescuing a 1-1 draw against Jordan, but it has since gone from strength to strength with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Syria followed by its rout of the Saudis.

"I am very satisfied with this result," said Zaccheroni. "We have overcome the first obstacle of the Asian Cup, which was to get through the group stage and we are improving game by game at this tournament.

"In any competition we like to get the good results. I was a little worried about making mistakes but we did not. The players had a great performance.

"Japan is a very young team. I have selected young players. I am very satisfied with how they have performed and sometimes they play great football."

Japan will need to maintain this form against a Qatar side that has also been improving as the Asian Cup has progressed, an observation that was also noted by Zaccheroni.

"They have come back from their first match defeat and have the momentum," said the Italian. "At the same time Japan is in good condition as well so I expect the next game will be a great match."

The defeat for Saudi Arabia brings to an end a sorry campaign that has seen the 2007 finalists fail to pick up a single point.

But coach Nasser Al Johar vowed that the Green Falcons will bounce back, saying: "The Saudi national team is very strong, sometimes we suffer setbacks but always we recover.

"I regret what has happened but hopefully the Saudi officials will help us overcome this and do what needs to be done for the future."

Japan is seething about the sending off of goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima in its 2-1 win.

Iranian referee Torky Mohsen gave Kawashima his marching orders for bringing down Sanharib Malki despite the player being flagged offside.

The referee insisted Malki was not offside because the ball was played back to the goalkeeper by a Japanese defender.

Tournament director Tokuaki Suzuki said the matter would not go to its disciplinary committee because 'it is a matter of a pure refereeing decision'.

He said only refereeing decisions involving cases of misidentification of players could be referred to the committee for review.

"I would like to stress that a referee decision is final."

Kawashima has been banned from Japan's next match against Saudi Arabia.

Makoto Hasebe's 35th minute goal put Japan ahead before controversy struck late in the second half when Syria was awarded a penalty as keeper Eiji Kawashima brought down Sanharib Malki Sabah inside the area, though the forward had just been flagged offside.

After four minutes of protestations from the Japanese players, the referee dismissed Kawashima and Firas Al Khatib converted the resulting penalty.

The game was level for just seven minutes though as Japan was awarded a penalty of its own that Keisuke Honda confidently dispatched and as Syria pressed for a late leveller they too had a man sent off when Nadim Sabag was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time.

But despite the late drama Zaccheroni was more than happy with the performance of his players.

"It was not too tough a match for us. We scored in the first half and this was decisive because it was a totally one-sided game for Japan," said Zaccheroni. "Even when we were down to 10 players we performed like we had 11.

"The result against Syria was fair and I feel Japan have the potential to go far in the Asian Cup, so I am looking forward to seeing more improvement and development from us."

Japan now has four points in Group B and plays Saudi Arabia on Monday hoping to cement its passage to the quarter-finals.

"The Saudis have nothing to lose in the next match so we don't know what to expect of them. They are already out so may play more relaxed but at the same time they may not want to go home with no points," added Zaccheroni.

"We must respect them because Japan is behind other countries regarding preparations so we need to keep playing well as much as possible."

After claiming a famous win over Saudi Arabia in its opening group game, Syria had hoped to claim another formidable scalp today and consequently coach Tita Valeriu sent his players out with the emphasis on the attack.

That plan ultimately failed to secure the three points against Japan but Valeriu has no intention of changing his tactics for their final group game against Jordan next week.

"I was not happy with just getting a draw," he said. "My substitutions during the match show that I wanted a win.

"We played very attacking and were looking for the three points. From now on we will do our best."

Japan moved to the top of Group B on goal difference, locked with Jordan on four points, one more than Syria. Only the top two advance to the quarter-finals.

Midfielder Keisuke Honda scored the winner from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute after a foul on striker Shinji Okazaki.

Japan midfielder Makoto Hasebi opened the scoring off a pass from Daisuke Matsui in the 35th, but Syria striker Firas al-Khatib levelled with a penalty in the 76th.

Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima was sent off in the 70th for fouling striker Sanharib Malki.

Jordan stunned its opponent - ranked 75 places higher in the world - when Abdel Fattah's shot from the edge of the area struck the boot of Yoshida to loop into the back of the net just before half-time.

Japan rallied after the break but struggled to fashion many clear-cut opportunities and it looked as though Zaccheroni's first competitive game in charge of the Blue Samurai was to end in defeat.

However, Yoshida spared his coach's blushes when he headed home a cross from Wolfsburg's Makoto Hasebe in stoppage-time to ensure the Group B clash ended honours even.

Japan is bidding for a fourth Asian Cup title in Doha and Zaccheroni acknowledged the need for improvement if it is to make that a reality.

"I am not satisfied with the result. Japan controlled the match over the 90 minutes while Jordan played defensively," said the former Juventus boss.

"It was the opening match and I knew it would be difficult. I knew we did not have much space on the pitch, so to cope with that we needed to speed up our play.

"I could not imagine this result of course because we always play to win matches and that is how we prepared ourselves.

"They (Jordan) scored first and from that they gained confidence against us. That goal influenced the match."

Jordan coach Adnan Hamad was understandably disappointed with the result after seeing his side just seconds away from a famous victory.

"We were very close to getting the three points but the Japanese team took that from us in the last minute," said the Iraqi.

"But we cannot deny the performance of the Japanese team. I already stated before the match that I was happy to play them in the first match.

"It was a tough game for us but it should give us a boost for coming matches."

Abdel Fattah gave Jordan the lead, via a Yoshida deflection, just before the break and it looked like it would be enough to hand the West Asian side all three points after it repelled wave after wave of attacks from Japan in the second half.

However, Yoshida rose to head home Makoto Hasebe's cross to ensure Zaccheroni's first competitive game in charge of Japan did not end in defeat.

Chances were few and far between over the course of the first 20 minutes with a weak free-kick by Amer Deeb the only real effort of note.

But the pace of the game began to pick up after that as Shinji Kagawa forced a fine one-handed save from Jordan keeper Amer Shafi in the 22nd minute before Fattah shot straight at Japan number one Eiji Kawashima at the other end.

Hasebe should have put Japan ahead in the 39th minute when he was sent though on goal but the Wolfsburg midfielder drove his shot straight at Shafi.

It was made to rue that chance seconds before half-time when Jordan stunned it to take the lead when Fattah hit an effort from the edge of the area that looped off the boot of Yoshida and into the back of the net.

Japan started the second half strongly as Keisuke Honda twice went close with free-kicks while Hasebe volleyed narrowly wide.

It continued to dominate possession but was struggling to make it count in the final third and it seemed Jordan had done just enough to take all three points.

But Japan ensured it took away a share of the points when a short corner was played to Hasebe, who sent a cross into the area where Yoshida rose highest to head home.

"I will aim to become a number 10 who can score goals," he said about the shirt number newly assigned to him as the Blue Samurai ready to regain the continental cup when the tournament opens in Qatar on Friday.

"Just like Messi," the 21-year-old told reporters with a smile, referring to the Argentine goal-machine who also wears the same number for his country and Barcelona.

Kagawa has scored eight goals in 17 games after moving to Dortmund from J-League Cerezo Osaka last northern summer when he failed to make Takeshi Okada's World Cup squad who reached the last-16 in South Africa.

Alberto Zaccheroni, who took over from Okada in September, has said he would not fix the shirt number on any single player.

Many had believed that the number 10 would be handed to CSKA Moscow's Keisuke Honda, who scored two goals in South Africa, from former Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura who retired from international duty after the World Cup.

"I want to win the Asian Cup and keep the momentum going into the Bundesliga, making it a fulfilling year there," said Kagawa, who has reportedly interested Spanish clubs like Villarreal and Atletico Madrid.

But Kagawa admitted it would not be easy to score against Asian Cup Group B rivals Jordan, Syria and Saudi Arabia.

"I think they will defend deep," he said.

"But if we keep on fighting patiently for 90 minutes, chances will definitely present themselves.

"We've been practising how to use spaces and we need to create spaces and bore in. I expect difficult games ahead of us but we will fight patiently."

Japan lost to fellow three-time champion Saudi Arabia in the 2007 Asian Cup semi-finals, failing to lift a third-straight title.

For Kagawa, Qatar is a happy hunting ground as he was a member of Japan's squad that won an under-19 international tournament in Doha three years ago.

But Doha is remembered by many Japanese supporters as the place where Japan was tied 2-2 by Iraq in stoppage time in its last qualifier for the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

Japan failed to qualify and had to wait four more years to make their debut on the big stage.

The Blue Samurai players have been practising at the Al Ahli Stadium, the scene of the historic defeat remembered by the Japanese as a "tragedy of Doha".

"I have no particular feeling about it," said Kagawa, who was four years old at the time.

It has a new coach in Alberto Zaccheroni and a slew of young players who will be looking to prove that the team's 1-0 win over Argentina in October was no fluke.

Zaccheroni, 57, of Italy, took over from Takeshi Okada in August after an extensive search that dragged on for months.

His experience in the Italian Serie A, including leading AC Milan to the title in 1999, impressed JFA officials.

The expectations will be high for Japan in Qatar.

The Blue Samurai surprised many by reaching the round of 16 at the World Cup in South Africa last year with wins over Cameroon and Denmark in the group stage.

But the team has been forced to look to several fresh faces after veteran defenders Yuji Nakazawa, Marcus Tulio Tanaka and Catania forward Takayuki Morimoto all went down with injuries.

Uncapped Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker Tadanari Lee will fill in for Morimoto.

The 25-year-old Lee is coming off his best season in six years in the J-League, scoring a career-high 11 goals for seventh-place Sanfrecce.

Lee, who is of South Korean descent, played for Japan's under-23 team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics but has never been called up to the senior national side.

"Lee absolutely deserves this opportunity," Zaccheroni said.

"He won his place through his performances in the J-League this season."

Other players making their international debut are central defender Masahiko Inoha of Kashima Antlers, Albirex Niigata fullback Gotoku Sakai and Shimizu S-Pulse midfielder Takuya Honda.

"I have picked several young players for this Asian Cup," Zaccheroni said.

"We will spend a lot of time getting ready and hopefully during that time, they will come to understand my philosophy."

In addition to the new faces, Zaccheroni has called up eight Europe-based players, including World Cup veterans Keisuke Honda of CSKA Moscow, Wolfsburg's Makoto Hasebe and goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, who plays for Lierse SK of Belgium.

Shinji Kagawa was also named to the 23-man squad.

The 21-year-old midfielder has been a sensation at Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund since arriving in the northern summer with eight goals from 16 league matches.

Other Europe-based players include Yuto Nagatomo of Italian side Cesena, Schalke 04's Atsuto Uchida, Maya Yoshida of VVV Venlo and Daisuke Matsui of Tom Tomsk.

Japan, which won the Asian Cup in 1992, 2000 and 2004, will open its campaign against Jordan.

Japan squad:

Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Lierse SK), Shusaku Nishikawa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)

Defenders: Daiki Iwamasa (Kashima Antlers), Yasuyuki Konno (Tokyo), Masahiko Inoha (Antlers), Yuto Nagatomo (Cesena), Tomoaki Makino (Sanfrecce), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke 04), Maya Yoshida (VVV Venlo), Gotoku Sakai (Albirex Niigata)

Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Daisuke Matsui (Tom Tomsk), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg), Jungo Fujimoto (Shimizu S-Pulse), Takuya Honda (S-Pulse), Hajime Hosogai (Urawa Reds), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow), Yosuke Kashiwagi (Reds), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund)

Forwards: Ryoichi Maeda (Jubilo Iwata), Tadanari Lee (Sanfrecce), Shinji Okazaki (S-Pulse)

GROUP B - Japan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria

On the surface it should be a race in two between Japan and Saudi Arabia as to who finishes top of the section, with Syria and Jordan widely expected to struggle against the regional heavyweights.

Japan, under the tutelage of an Italian for the first time, has undertaken a comprehensive regeneration of its squad with Alberto Zaccheroni retaining only 10 of the 23 players that went to South Africa less than six months ago.

There are question marks over both central defence and the striking options but a midfield brimming with creativity and led by European regulars Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa and Makoto Hasebe has the ability to be the force that drives the East Asian nation to a third title in the past four attempts.

Saudi Arabia has suffered perhaps a little from not having to qualify for this tournament by virtue of finishing runner-up four years ago and after sending a second-string side to the Gulf Cup (in which it still managed to reach the final) has turned in patchy performances in losing to Iraq and defeating Bahrain over the past week.

Although the side retains a strong ‘spine’ with the likes of Hamad Al-Montashari, Manaf Abushgeer and Yasser Al Qahtani, and has a sprinkling of highly-rated youngsters including Naif Hazazi, Abdulaziz Al Dosari and Nawaf Al Abed, there’s perhaps not the overall level of quality of Saudi sides of the past.

That said, under-pressure Jose Peseiro should still be able to pilot his side safely out of the group where sterner challenges shall await in the knockout stage.

Syria will be making a fifth Asian Cup appearance but its last outing was way back in 1996 and it is yet to get past the group stage.

The side was dealt a blow when Ratomir Djukovic, Ghana coach at the recent World Cup, was sacked barely a month in to his tenure, after returning late from his holidays.

The Syrian federation was forced to draft in Valeriu Tita at short notice. At least the Romanian is familiar with the local scene having coached at club level in Syria since 2007 and the new man has selected 16 players from the local ranks.

A clutch of overseas players led by Kuwait-based striker Firas Al Khatib, Belgian-based forward Senharib Malki and defender Ali Diab, who plays in China, are the mainstays of a side that may cause a fright or two but which is unlikely to finish in the top two.

Jordan is probably the outsider to progress from the section but has history on its side; at its only other finals appearance it reached the quarter-finals in 2004 and, but for some arm-twisting of the referee by Japanese captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, should have defeated the eventual champion on penalties.

The side known as the ‘Nashama’ or the brave ones has only five foreign-based professionals but in Odai Al-Saify and Abdallah Deeb has two bright attacking talents who could cause problems – the reality though is that’s unlikely to be enough to topple either Saudi Arabia or Japan.

SCOTT'S PICKS: Japan & Saudi Arabia to qualify

Honda scored two goals in the World Cup in South Africa in June as Japan reached the knockout stage in its best World Cup performance on foreign soil, before losing to Paraguay on penalties in the last 16.

Honda is one of the eight Europe-based players Japan's squad, with Lierse SK goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, defenders Yuto Nagatomo of Cesena, Atsuto Uchida of Schalke, and Maya Yoshida of VVV Venlo joining him.

Midfielders were Daisuke Matsui of FK Tom Tomsk, Makoto Hasebe of Wolfsburg and Shinji Kagawa of Borussia Dortmund, who was named as the most valuable player in the German league's first half.

The team also includes Hajime Hosogai, who has signed a contract with German side Bayer Leverkusen.

"The Japanese team has been improving in 2010 with the excellent result in the World Cup and the men's and women's gold medals in the Asian Games," said Zaccheroni, the former boss of AC Milan.

"We should keep the momentum. But our ultimate goal is the 2014 World Cup. The history of Japanese football does not end at the Asian Cup. I want to help the young players improve a lot through the tournament."

Zaccheroni said he had picked players who had potential and were capable of integrating themselves with the team.

But he left out Japan's key defenders, Brazilian-born Marcus Tulio Tanaka, who has helped Nagoya Grampus win its first J-League title in the just ended season, and Yuji Nakazawa, because of knee injuries.

The Japan Football Association has set its goal at the Asian Cup on finishing in the best three, which will qualify the team for the next Asian Cup.

Japan will play Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria in Group B of the January 7 to 29 tournament.

Japan squad is:

Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Lierse SK/BEL), Shusaku Nishikawa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)

Defenders: Daiki Iwamasa (Kashima Antlers), Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Masahiko Inoha (Kashima Antlers), Yuto Nagatomo (Cesena/ITA), Tomoaki Makino (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke/GER), Maya Yoshida (VVV Venlo/NED), Gotoku Sakai (Albirex Niigata)

Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Daisuke Matsui (FK Tom Tomsk/RUS), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg/GER), Jungo Fujimoto (Shimizu S-Pulse), Takuya Honda (Shimizu S-Pulse), Hajime Hosogai (Urawa Red Diamonds), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow/RUS), Yosuke Kashiwagi (Urawa Red Diamonds), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund/GER)

Forwards: Ryoichi Maeda (Jubilo Iwata), Tadanari Lee (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse)

The Japan Pro-Footballers Association said the players are not satisfied with the amount they receive for playing in friendlies.

Japan's players receive between $2,000 and $2,500 for every match they win, but are asking the Japan Football Association for a minimum of $12,000.

Tetsuro Kiyooka, executive officer of the JPFA, was quoted by Kyodo News agency as saying "we have no intention of backing down".

JPFA lawyers will hold meetings with lawyers from the JFA on Tuesday to try to resolve the conflict.

The 32-year-old Nakazawa told Nikkansports newspaper that: "I don't want to cause the national team any problems so I'm thinking it's best not to take part."

Japan will open its Asian Cup campaign on 9 January against Jordan in Qatar.

Japan has won the Asian Cup three times. Nakazawa was a member of Japan's team that won in 2000 and 2004.

Nakazawa's absence would be a significant blow to Alberto Zaccheroni's squad as defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka is also sidelined with a knee injury.

"Manager (Alberto) Zaccheroni wants to take along the best members as a matter of course," Japan Football Association technical director Hiromi Hara told the Japanese media.

"This applies to players in Europe as well."

"It will be the most prestigious tournament in Asia."

Japan, three-time Asian Cup champion, hopes to regain the title it lost in 2007.

The Asian Cup, which is held every four years, is usually staged in the middle of the year but will be played from January 7 to 29 to avoid the hottest months in the Gulf state.

The schedule means the tournament will be played while most European leagues are in the middle of their season.

Hara said he had sent letters to the clubs of Europe-based Japanese players, requesting they be released for the continental cup.

The Japan squad that shocked Argentina 1-0 at home on October 8 with Zaccheroni in charge for the first time included nine Europe-based players.

Among them were CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda, new Tom Tomsk signing Daisuke Matsui, Borussia Dortmund's Shinji Kagawa, Wolfsburg midfielder Makoto Hasebe and Cesena defender Yuto Nagatomo.

Zaccheroni will hold a training camp at home from around December 26 and the squad will leave for Qatar on January 3, Hara said.

The 24-year-old Shimizu S-Pulse player has injured his right hamstring and will not be in the national squad that travels to Seoul for Tuesday's match, the Japan Football Association said Saturday.

Okazaki volleyed home a rebound off a long shot by Japan captain and Wolfsburg midfielder Makoto Hasebe in the 19th minute against Argentina, as former AC Milan boss Alberto Zaccheroni made his coaching debut with the side.

"I really regret it. I wanted to stay with this team a little longer and try to understand manager Zaccheroni's plans," Okazaki said, adding he wanted to revenge Japan's two defeats to Korea Republic this year.

Shimizu team-mate, midfielder Takuya Honda and Brazilian-born Nagoya Grampus centre back Marcus Tulio Tanaka have also pulled out of the match due to injuries, the association said.

Honda did not play on Friday due to a strained right thigh muscle after he was called up to the national team for the first time.

Tulio is suffering a right knee injury that forced him out of the Argentina game, while fellow Japan centre back Yuji Nakazawa is being idled due to a leg injury.

Striker Shinji Okazaki scored midway through the first half.

Argentina was at full-strength with Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez and Diego Milito.

Japan last faced Argentina in an August 2004 friendly and lost all six previous meetings with the South Americans.

The 52-year-old Zacherroni replaced Takeshi Okada, who stepped down as coach after leading Japan to the second round of the World Cup in June.

"Many of our players have quality but they are not aware of it," the former AC Milan boss said.

"I hope this victory will lead our players to believe more in their own potential."

"Our aim is not just to outdo Argentina," he added.

"There is a lot of room for our players and the team to grow with the 2014 World Cup as a new goal."

Shinji Kagawa of Borussia Dortmund, Keisuke Honda of CSKA Moscow and Yuto Nagatomo of Cesena have been included along with Lierse's Eiji Kawashima, Schalke's Atsuto Uchida, Leicester player Yuki Abe, Makoto Hasebe of Wolfsburg, FC Tom Tomsk's Daisuke Matsui and Catania's Takayuki Morimoto.

Domestic players Kengo Nakamura of Kawasaki Frontale and Marcus Tulio Tanaka of Nagoya Grampus also earn places, along with Jubilo Iwata forward Ryoichi Maeda, last season's J.League top scorer from last season, and in-form Mu Kanazaki of Nagoya.

But Yokohama F. Marinos defender Yuji Nakazawa, who has suffered from injury, misses out while Nagoya goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki has retired.

"This is the first Japan squad I have selected," said Zaccheroni.

"I have attended as many games as I could in the last month to get to know Japanese players."

Zaccheroni watched from the stand when Japan played Paraguay and Guatemala at home earlier this month.

"I couldn't get to know them in such a short period of time and decided to choose the basis of my squad this time from those who played last month's matches," added the Italian.

"We will have about 10 days to work together and I would like to fully use that period to learn about the players and deepen our communication in order to form the foundation of our national team."

The squad will get together on October 4 in preparation for the upcoming games. Japan will play Argentina on October 8 in Saitama before taking on South Korea on October 12 at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Japan squad to face Argentina and South Korea:

Eiji Kawashima (Lierse SK), Shusaku Nishikawa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo), Marcus Tulio Tanaka (Nagoya Grampus), Yuichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata), Yuzo Kurihara (Yokohama F. Marinos), Masahiko Inoha (Kashima Antlers), Yuto Nagatomo (Cesena), Tomoaki Kajino (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke), Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Yuki Abe (Leicester), Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Makoto Hasebe (VfL Wolfsburg), Takuya Honda (Shimizu S-Pulse), Hajime Hosogai (Urawa Reds), Daisuke Matsui (FC Tom Tomsk), Maeda Ryoichi (Jubilo Iwata), Kunimitsu Sekiguchi (Vegalta Sendai), Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow), Takayuki Morimoto (Catania), Mu Kanazaki (Nagoya Grampus).

Narazaki, 34, informed Japanese FA technical director Hiromi Hara, who has served as caretaker coach in the last two friendlies with new boss Alberto Zaccheroni currently unable to take up his role, of his decision to step down.

"I asked Mr Hara to exclude me from the squad list. He expressed his understanding with respect," said Nagoya keeper Narazaki.

"I have been thinking about this since the end of the World Cup. Everybody tells me that I should carry on but I have made up my mind. Pixy [Nagoya manager Dragan Stojkovic] understood my decision."

The Nara Prefecture native earned his 77th cap in Tuesday night's victory and brings the curtain down on a career that included appearances at four World Cups - 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010 - after making his debut in February 1998 against Australia.

However, Narazaki did not play in the recent finals in South Africa, where Japan reached the last 16.

"The period of my service was long but the number of matches I played was smaller. I remember many of them," he added.

"I have experienced many things with the national team, including four World Cups, since I was 20 years old. I am happy about that. I would like to pay that back from now on."

Morimoto scored in the 12th and 20th minutes before Guatemala replied through Mario Rodriguez shortly afterwards.

Japan, guided by caretaker coach Hiromi Hara as new boss Alberto Zaccheroni still has visa issues to resolve, made six changes from his team's last start 1-0 win over Paraguay.

The host started well and went ahead early. Yuto Nagatomo forged down the left flank and Morimoto exploited the space behind the Guatemala defenders to meet the Cesena full-back's cross with a fine header.

Japan doubled its lead in the 20th minute. Shinji Kagawa latched onto a smart pass from Keisuke Honda and fired a shot from close range that was blocked by keeper Ricardo Trigueno, but Morimoto was on hand to tap home the rebound.

Guatemala managed to reduce the deficit just two minutes later. Carlos Castillo stole the ball from Hideo Hashimoto in midfield and quickly fed forward Rodriguez, who displayed neat control before blasting home beyond Japan goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki.

Guatemala midfielder Erwin Aguilar tested Narazaki and defender Carlos Gallardo went close from 25 yards before Nagamoto saw an effort fly just wide after cutting into the box from the left.

Second-half substitutions disrupted the rhythm of the game but Hashimoto threatened the Guatemala goal in the 77th minute and two minutes later, defender Mitsuru Nagata headed over the bar.

Guatemala substitute Minor Lopez could not beat Narazaki with a mid-range drive in the 80th minute as the two sides were unable to add to the scoreline.

Iran gave its preparations for January's Asian Cup a massive boost with a 1-0 friendly win over South Korea.

Osasuna star Masoud Shojaei scored after 35 minutes to inflict the first defeat for the Taeguk Warriors on home turf since January 2008. For Iran, it was its second win in four days following a 2-0 triumph over China.

Lee Chung-yong and Park Ji-sung went close early in the match but 10 minutes before the break, their team fell behind as Shojaei gave the visitors the lead following a mistake from Lee Young-pyo.

The full-back gave the ball away in the centre circle to allow Pejman Nouri a run on goal and the Malavan midfielder squared the ball to Shojaei on the edge of the area, who clipped the ball over advancing keeper Jung Sung-ryeong.

Korea piled on the pressure in the second half but struggled to penetrate a stubborn defence and found Mehdi Rahmati in fine form when they did.

The Sepahan goalkeeper pulled off a superb reaction save to deny Park Chu-young from close range with 15 minutes remaining.

The 57-year-old will become the Blue Samurai's sixth foreign manager and is the first Italian to take the job. He will be officially unveiled in a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Zaccheroni is expected to attend Japan's training sessions from Thursday onwards but will not be in charge for the upcoming friendly matches against Paraguay on September 4 in Yokohama and Guatemala on September 7 in Osaka due to visa issues.

JFA technical director Hiromi Hara has already been confirmed in a caretaker capacity for both games, part of preparations for January's Asian Cup.

Zaccheroni has considerable experience in Italy having managed Udinese, AC Milan, Lazio, Inter Milan, Torino and Juventus, whom he guided to seventh after taking over midway through last season.

He also led AC Milan to the Serie A title in the 1998-99 season and replaces Takeshi Okada, who stood down after taking Japan to the second round of this summer's World Cup in South Africa.

The Japan Football Association had hoped to have a replacement for Takeshi Okada, who led the Blue Samurai to the last 16 in South Africa, in place for the two matches.

However, negotiations have lasted longer than anticipated meaning JFA technical director Hara will take charge of the team for the time being.

CSKA Moscow's Keisuke Honda, Grenoble's Daisuke Matsui and Yasuhito Endo of Gamba Osaka have all been named in the squad as well as Lierse goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima and Cesena defender Yuto Nagatomo.

Midfielder Shinji Kagawa, who joined Borussia Dortmund after the World Cup, also received a call up together with in-form Urawa Reds midfielder Hajime Hosogai and Shimizu S-Pulse midfielder Jungo Fujimoto.

Yuki Abe and Kiso Yario, who are negotiating moves with Leicester and Bundesliga side Freiburg, respectively, have been left out of the squad along with Kawasaki Frontale midfielder Junichi Inamoto and Yokohama F Marinos midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura.

"Since we have to play Paraguay and Guatemala with little preparation, we selected the players who are in good shape," said Hara, who also confirmed negotiations with three candidates are in the final stages.

Japan will play Paraguay in Yokohama on September 4 before tackling Guatemala in Osaka three days later.

Japan squad: Seigo Narazaki (Nagoya Grampus), Eiji Kawashima (Lierse SK); Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama F Marinos), Marcus Tulio Tanaka (Nagoya Grampus), Yuichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata), Daiki Iwamasa (Kashima Antlers), Yuzo Kurihara (Yokohama F Marinos), Yuto Nagatomo (Cesena), Tomoaki Kajino (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Atsuto Uchida (Shalke); Hideo Hashimoto (Gamba Osaka), Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Daisuke Matsui (Grenoble), Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg), Jungo Fujimoto (Shimizu S-Pulse), Hajime Hosogai (Uraw Reds), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow), Takashi Inui (Cerezo Osaka), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund); Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse), Takayuki Morimoto (Catania).

"I have realised anew that Japan is in the Far East," Japan Football Association (JFA) president Junji Ogura said about the challenge of luring coaches away from offers from European clubs and settling their families.

"It isn't easy," Ogura told Japanese media last week, pointing to the difficulty in replacing homegrown Takeshi Okada as national coach, with the prospect of living in Japan failing to woo prospective candidates.

Okada signalled before the 2010 FIFA World Cup that he would quit after the tournament but the association only started talks in earnest with potential replacements after the competition ended on July 11.

JFA technical director Hiromi Hara returned home from Europe after failing to sign Chilean Manuel Pellegrini, who was sacked as Real Madrid manager in May.

He also failed to sign Spaniard Ernesto Valverde who instead re-signed with Greek side Olympiacos.

Hara said talks were still under way with a few other "great" candidates but declined to give names or confirm reports that Japan offered the job to Spanish former FC Porto coach Victor Fernandez, or former Mexico coach Javier Aguirre.

Pellegrini turned down the offer partly for financial reasons, Hara said, adding that the coach and his staff feared "they would disappear from the European market if they stay away from Europe for a long time".

Among the 32 finalists at South Africa 2010, Japan and North Korea are reported to be the only countries that have not yet organised themselves for the next World Cup in Brazil by retaining or replacing coaches.

As a result, Hara himself will stand in as a temporary coach when Japan plays its first internationals since the World Cup at home against Paraguay and Guatemala on September 4 and 7.

"Japan is just a country in Asia, a developing football region," the influential daily Asahi Shimbun commented.

"For a person with coaching experience in Europe, the job to keep himself in the 'Far East' until the next World Cup doesn't look attractive."

The daily said it had even become difficult for European countries to sign national coaches at a time when top clubs offer tens of millions of dollars to recruit coaches.

The annual wage for Japan's new coach is estimated at 200 million yen ($A2.7 million).

In South Africa, Japan reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time on foreign soil but lost to Paraguay on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes.

Hara said the aim was to reach the quarter-finals in 2014 and that he has drawn a shortlist of attack-minded coaches.

Three foreigners - Philippe Troussier, Zico and Ivica Osim - have coached Japan after Okada led the Blue Samurai to a winless World Cup debut in 1998 in his first stint as national coach.

Troussier was recommended by the French Football Federation and Zico and Osim guided J-League clubs before becoming national coach.

Okada took over from Osim in late 2007 after the Bosnian suffered a stroke.

The Blue Samurai reached the second round of the FIFA World Cup under Takeshi Okada but the 55-year-old opted to step down following the tournament in South Africa.

Hara was tasked with appointing a successor and had hoped to quickly have a new coach in place but has so far been rejected by former Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini, who wanted to stay in Europe, and Ernesto Valverade, who re-signed with Olympiakos.

Consequently, Hara has been left with no choice but to lead Japan for home friendlies with Paraguay on September 4 and Guatemala three days later.

"Valverde decided to re-sign with Olympiakos and Pellegrini informed us that he wanted to stay in Europe in mid-August," said Hara.

"As technical director, I have an opinion on what Japan need to do to take the next step forward. Just because a new coach won't be here, I can't imagine the players who are chosen won't care."

Hara is determined to secure an experienced overseas coach and is prepared to bide his time in order to have the right man in place for the 2011 Asian Cup in January.

"The new manager must have experience coaching at the highest levels in Europe or South America, like the Champions League or the Copa Libertadores," he added.

"He must also respect Japan and seek to play to our strengths like (Ivica) Osim and Okada did. He must also be willing to work in Asia, endure all the travelling and the difference in religions, and work with Japanese staff.

"He must be in sound health because the national team coach's job is a high-pressure job."

The Spaniard, 49, will replace Takeshi Okada, who led Japan to the last 16 in South Africa, its best-ever FIFA World Cup result on foreign soil, the daily Sports Nippon said, quoting several unnamed sources.

The newspaper said Fernandez reached a basic agreement with the Japan Football Association (JFA) following negotiations with JFA technical director Hiromi Hara, who heads the panel to select the coach.

The two sides are to sign a contract shortly, the daily said, adding that they are expected to make an announcement 'within days'.

Fernandez is poised to lead the Blue Samurai for a home friendly in early September against Paraguay, which eliminated Japan on penalties in the second round of the FIFA World Cup.

Japan will play Paraguay at home on 4 September, JFA president Junji Ogura said. It will be Japan's first match under a new coach, who has yet to be named.

Takeshi Okada led Japan to the round of 16 for the first time on foreign soil in South Africa but stepped down from his post after the World Cup.

Paraguay beat Japan 5-3 on penalties after the two teams played to a 0-0 draw in the second round of the World Cup.

The 53-year-old guided the Blue Samurai to its best-ever World Cup performance on foreign soil as they reached the last 16 in South Africa, where they lost 5-3 on penalties to Paraguay after the game had ended goalless in 120 minutes.

Japan had shown poor form in the build-up to the tournament but put that behind them as it beat Cameroon and Denmark in the group stage and narrowly lost 1-0 to Holland.

However, Okada feels the time is right for a new coach to come in and take the national team forward.

''I've coached a lot of teams, but this World Cup team was definitely one of the best,'' he said.

''I don't think I'll work with these players again. I just wish them all the best in their careers.''

JFA technical director Hiromi Hara admitted the decision to appoint Okada's successor will not be rushed but hopes to have someone in place before the end of July.

''As the most important point, we'll see how each candidate could strengthen our national team,'' he said on Kyodo News.

'We'd like to make a decision by taking account of not only experience but personality and passion for Japan.

''We don't want to rush anything. Things will start moving once the World Cup is over."

Thousands of fans waved flags that read "Thank You" when greeting the squad at Kansai International Airport.

Japan surprised many by beating Cameroon and Denmark in group matches before being defeated in a penalty shootout by Paraguay in the round of 16 on Tuesday (Wednesday morning AEST).

"We returned a little earlier than we wanted," coach Takeshi Okada said. "We wanted to play one more game, but this was a great team that did a good job of representing the spirit of Japan."

It was the first time Japan had reached the knockout stage of a World Cup on foreign soil. Japan also reached the second round when it co-hosted the 2002 tournament.

Keisuke Honda, who scored twice in the group stage, paid tribute to his teammates.

"My teammates supported me and created situations that made it easier to score," Honda said. "But to be honest, I am disappointed, so will work hard to improve."

The team's performance in South Africa touched off large celebrations at home.

Thousands went to stadiums around the country to watch public showings, while Tokyo pubs and sports bars were open all night and packed. After the win over Denmark, the normally sedate streets of Tokyo erupted in celebration.

Okada, who said before the tournament he was targeting a semi-final berth, has indicated he will step down as coach. Guido Buchwald, a former Urawa Reds coach and German defender, has been mentioned as a possible replacement.

After spending most of the World Cup on the bench, the 32-year-old Nakamura told Japanese media Thursday that he has played his last game for Japan. The former Celtic and Espanyol player made only one substitute appearance in South Africa, during the 1-0 loss to the Netherlands on June 19.

Responding to a question from Nikkan Sports newspaper about his next game for Japan, Nakamura said "there won't be one for me".

The South Americans reached uncharted territory after overcoming a Japan side which was also looking to make it through to the last eight for the first time in Pretoria.

There was nothing to separate the sides after 120 minutes in which neither nation could produce a goal or much in the way of chances, and it was left to the first penalty shoot-out of the 2010 World Cup to decide the winner.

That honour went to Paraguay, which scored all five of its spot-kicks while Japan missed its third when Yuichi Komano smashed his effort against the crossbar.

Santa Cruz was understandably delighted with the historic win, but wants its record-breaking run to continue beyond the quarter-final showdown with Spain.

"We're very pleased, very happy, it can't be measured yet how big an achievement this is for us but we are very happy to get through," Santa Cruz told Press Association Sport.

"We set our goals very clearly and we said anything below this (reaching the quarter-finals) would be a disappointment. We've achieved that goal, but now that we are here we want to get even further and keep making history for our country.

"We are very pleased with the result, but we are also very keen to go back and rest now and have a great game in the next round."

Gerardo Martino's side will now meet Spain in Johannesburg after the European champion knocked out Portugal 1-0.

Speaking before the result of that match, Santa Cruz was in bullish mood about whichever of the two Iberian rivals got through, promising the victor a tough encounter this weekend.

"It will be very very hard whoever we play, but we don't mind who we face," the Manchester City striker said.

"Whoever is playing will have a very tough game against us, that's for sure. If there's one guarantee it's that we won't make it easy for anyone.

"We are very confident that in tough games we always play better, and hopefully it will be the same again in the quarter-finals."

As to his side's prospects of getting through to the last four, Santa Cruz added: "We know that it will be tough but we won't back down now that we are so far.

"We will make a big effort to win the next game and I think we have an opportunity to do it."

Paraguay was the lowest scorers of the eight pool winners after netting just three goals in its three Group F games - two of which came in the win over Slovakia.

The Albirroja also failed to create many goalscoring chances against Japan, but Santa Cruz hopes it will be a different story against the Spanish.

"We had two games where people were very concerned about the defending and it's very tough to create chances when people are defending with 10 or 11 players. We still had chances but we didn't have the fortune to score," said Santa Cruz, who has yet to get off the mark in South Africa.

"I think we're getting in positions and we're doing the right things. Some day things will start to fall for us, and hopefully it will be in the quarter-finals."

Paraguay's joy was Japan's disappointment as the Blue Samurai missed out on its own chance to make history.

Japan had only once before reached the last 16, on home soil in 2002, and goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima hopes it can continue to make progress for the next World cup.

"We can take confidence and have proved that the Japanese team can play much better than imagined. That's a good experience and we have to carry on for the next World Cup," said Kawashima, who was beaten by all five Paraguayans in the shoot-out.

"I tried to go into the penalty shoot-out with confidence but it's very disappointing I couldn't save any," he said.

Two out of four made the last 16, compared to just one out of five from Africa, and they did it in historical fashion with neither Korea Republic or Japan ever going beyond the group phase on foreign soil before.

Japan came into the tournament under a dark cloud after losing four games in a row, but it left with its dignity restored after beating Denmark 3-1 and Cameroon 1-0, and only narrowly losing 1-0 to Netherlands.

It put them into the knockout rounds and it was unlucky to fall 5-3 on penalties to Paraguay after the game ended in a scoreless draw.

It awoke to headlines full of praise on Wednesday.

"Surprised the world; endured a gruelling 120 minutes," the Asahi Shimbun said, while the top-selling Yomiuri Shimbun declared that its 'bravery will be remembered'.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan hailed the side's performance.

"They showed the world the real strength of Japanese football by working as a team," Kan said. "I applaud them for their brave battles."

South Korea won similar plaudits for its exploits, which tempted millions of people onto the streets of Seoul and other major Korean cities to watch the games live on big screen televisions.

It came into the tournament among an elite group of just six nations to have qualified for seven World Cups in a row, along with Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Italy and Spain.

But unlike the rest, before South Africa it could only boast of one win on foreign soil - a 2-1 victory over Togo in 2006.

It added to that in South Africa with an opening 2-0 victory over Greece, before crashing 4-1 to Argentina and then drawing 2-2 with Nigeria.

But squandered chances saw it lose 2-1 to Uruguay to draw a curtain on its campaign.

Despite failing in its mission to make the semi-finals, coach Huh Jung-Moo had nothing but praise for his players.

"My players did their best. We have the capability, but we have seen here that we have areas to improve on," he said.

"It would have been a lot better if we had played with a bit more confidence, but I feel hopeful for the future of South Korean football. The players are improving, our game is getting better."

While it shined, Australia, which made the last 16 in Germany 2006, failed to make it out of Group D and with coach Pim Verbeek departing a shake up of the old guard is expected.

The Socceroos' campaign got off to a disastrous start when it was routed 4-0 by the Germans and had influential midfielder Tim Cahill sent off.

It kept itself in mathematical contention for the knockout phase when it drew 1-1 with Ghana and produced its best performance with a pulsating 2-1 victory over the higher-ranked Serbia.

But it ultimately lost out on a place in the last-16 on goal difference.

Captain Lucas Neill admitted naivete in losing to Germany, but insisted it did itself proud in the way it recovered.

"The way we conducted ourselves in the next two games is something we can really be proud of," Neill said. "Unfortunately, it wasn't enough."

Korea DPR, at its first World Cup in 44 years, was the one team truly out of its depth.

It put up an impressive performance in a 2-1 defeat to Brazil but was routed 7-0 by Portugal and 3-0 by Cote d'Ivoire.

Coach Kim Jong-Hun called it a learning experience, but the fate of the team remains uncertain as it returned to its impoverished communist homeland on Wednesday stony-faced.

The next challenge for all four is the Asian Cup in Qatar in January.

Paraguay progressed to the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time after beating Japan 5-3 on penalties following a goalless draw in Pretoria.

The victory was reportedly greeted with a party atmosphere in the streets of Paraguay, and Martino revealed his side was enjoying being part of those celebrations.

"Obviously we are having a party, we're celebrating together with the rest of the people of Paraguay," he said.

"I can imagine the happiness of the people there, and of course let them enjoy it.

"I've seen the players make a huge effort. It was a very close match and of course now we celebrate the fact we're in the quarter-finals."

Martino admitted it may take a while for this historic achievement to sink in.

"I believe that (goalkeeper Justo) Villar was right when he said in the dressing room that we haven't given the necessary importance to this match yet. Perhaps we will give it that afterwards," he added.

"It's the first time that Paraguay have made the quarter-finals and the same would've applied to Japan. I just think we were lucky during the penalties, that made the difference."

It was not the most exciting of matches, with clear-cut chances at a premium during normal and extra-time.

However, Martino believes neither side should feel too disappointed about their performance.

"Perhaps it was not the way people wanted to see it, but neither the winner or loser have anything to reproach themselves about," he added.

Martino, who finished the match in tears, admitted it was an emotional success for him.

"There's a lot of fear, there's a lot of tension during a match," he explained.

"It's very difficult to go through a match like that, the extra time, penalty shoot-out, and everybody knows this is an unfair way to decide a match, but that's the way it is.

"Okay, we didn't play too well but I think we were looking for the win and we had some of the better moments on the pitch.

"But when you get all the way to the penalty shoot-out you make a huge effort and then the tension is released. So many things go through your mind, so there's the reason for the tears."

For Japan coach Takeshi Okada, it was a disappointing finale to what might have been his last game in the hotseat.

He also took responsibility for his side's exit.

Asked about his feelings when the winning penalty went in, Okada said: "To be honest I felt that our World Cup was over, so I felt really sad.

"In terms of how we played I have no regrets at all, the players were really wonderful and they've been truly proud of being Japanese and representing Asia. I'm proud of them.

"I couldn't make them win, that's my responsibility. I didn't get my emotion across and didn't make them eager enough. It wasn't enough on my part."

Asked about his future, Okada suggested his time as Japan coach may be coming to an end, adding: "In a state of not having any reflection, I don't think I have anything left to do now."

With neither side able to make the breakthrough during 120 minutes of precious few goalscoring chances or notable incidents, it needed the first shoot-out of the 2010 World Cup to separate the two nations.

And it was Paraguay which emerged victorious after Japan defender Yuichi Komano, looking to make it 3-3, slammed his effort against the crossbar.

That proved to be the crucial miss as Paraguay scored all five of its efforts, with Oscar Cardozo casually slotting home the winning spot-kick to send his team wild.

Paraguay will now meet the winners of the match between Spain and Portugal for a place in the semi-finals, while the Blue Samurai head home after seeing its own dreams of a maiden World Cup quarter-final ended.

There was little to separate the sides during an evenly-fought first half that produced only a couple of moments to excite the fans at Loftus Versfeld stadium.

After a low-key opening 20 minutes in which defences were comfortably on top, the game briefly sparked into life with both sides going desperately close to scoring.

First Paraguay forward Lucas Barrios produced a great turn to break free in the area, and his low shot was blocked by Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.

Then, 60 seconds later, Daisuke Matsui rattled the Paraguay crossbar with a brilliant curling drive from outside the area that had the leaping Justo Villar beaten.

Paraguay ace Roque Santa Cruz and Japan star Keisuke Honda also had half-chances as the period drew to a close, but both players fired their left-footed efforts just wide.

It was little surprise to see the game deadlocked at the break, with neither side having been prolific scorers in qualifying for the last 16.

Paraguay netted just three goals - the lowest of any of the eight pool winners - and conceded only once in finishing top of Group E, while Japan's three matches produced only two more goals as it claimed runners-up spot in Group E.

With that in mind, Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino had stressed the importance of scoring first in this match, and that must have been the message he reiterated to his team at half-time as the South Americans began the second half on top.

It looked dangerous down the left, and from one of its attacks Cristian Riveros powered a glancing header goalward, but Kawashima plucked the ball from underneath his crossbar.

Although Paraguay was enjoying the better of proceedings, Japan also had a couple of efforts of its own through defenders Yuto Nagatomo and Tulio, but Villar was largely untroubled.

That would prove to be the case for both goalkeepers over the final half-hour of regulation time with defences once again dominating, sending the match to extra-time.

Paraguay enjoyed the better of the first period, with Barrios heading straight at Kawashima, who then came out quickly to block after Nelson Valdez had spun well on the edge of the area and poked a shot goalward.

Neither side came particularly close to snatching a late winner in the second half of extra-time, meaning this year's World Cup would have its first penalty shoot-out - with Paraguay taking the honours.

The Japanese have only once before reached the knockout stages of the World Cup when, on home soil in 2002, they were eliminated at the second-round stage by Turkey.

But the Blue Samurai is again in the last 16 in South Africa after beating Cameroon and Denmark to finish second in Group E behind Netherlands.

That set up a showdown with Paraguay at Loftus Versfeld and for one of the nations a maiden appearance in the quarter-finals awaits.

Okada is optimistic it will be his side making history, although he knows it will not be easy.

"It will be a challenge for us as we try to get into the last eight for the first time, so we will be doing our absolute utmost to address this challenge," said Okada, whose side was the first team to book its place in South Africa after a relatively comfortable qualifying campaign.

"Paraguay are solid in defence and quick in attack and it's clear they are good team because they finished first in their group, but if we can deliver 100 percent of what we can do then I'm certain that we will be able to win.

"So tomorrow I hope that physically and mentally we can give everything."

Paraguay helped contribute to one of the biggest surprises of the tournament so far - the early exit of defending champion Italy.

The Italians finished bottom of Group F, with Gerardo Martino's Paraguay going through as winners after beating Slovakia and drawing with the Azzurri and New Zealand.

Okada added of the South Americans: "In their group they were first amongst very good teams. All of them were very good and strong in their group, and they finished first.

"Many their players play in European leagues and they're all good players, and up front particularly they are very quick.

"Perhaps Paraguay aren't one of the most fancied teams but they are strong and good at going from defence to attack quickly, which is something we have to be careful about."

Asked what it would mean back home in Japan if it was to make it through, Okada said it would be great news but insists it needs to be viewed as just another step in the right direction rather than the ultimate fulfilment of a goal.

"I would say for the football community it will be wonderful and encouraging news. What the Japanese football community is aiming at, which is to become one of the top teams, will be one step closer if we qualify for the final eight," he said.

"But I have to say if you only pile bricks vertically they will eventually fall down, so we have to support from both sides.

"I personally don't want to base everything on just one result or just one competition. We need to have a longer-term vision, to estimate and evaluate the level of Japanese football.

"We need to be aware of the journey and path which is still ongoing."

Paraguay was the surprise winner of Group F following the shock demise of defending champion Italy, and the South American outfit now find Japan standing between it and a first-ever place in the last eight.

Japan finished second behind the Netherlands in Group E after defeating Denmark 3-1 in a winner-takes-all showdown between the two nations in the final game.

Looking at the threats Japan could pose his side in Pretoria on Tuesday (Wednesday morning AEST), Martino said: "Fundamentally they are a team who get back into their defensive positions very well, using a back-line of four and practically five midfielders, with (Keisuke) Honda generally up front.

"When they get the ball they come out very quickly on the counter-attack, this is what we have to be careful of most, the fast breaks.

"When they find space they get men forward into attack and this is the most important issue to be careful about.

"And obviously from what we saw the other day, we need to try not to concede fouls near the area," added Martino, referring to the free-kicks scored by Honda and Yasuhito Endo against Denmark.

The 29-year-old Tulio bruised his back in the latter stages of his side's 3-1 win against Denmark, but trained alone on Saturday in a light session.

"I just picked up a knock late in the game against Denmark. I'll be all right," Tulio said. "You expect fatigue to build up during a tournament, but I am really looking forward to playing against Paraguay."

Tulio had an eventful few days leading up to the tournament, scoring own goals in friendly losses to England and Cote d'Ivoire and colliding with Didier Drogba, resulting in the Ivorian captain breaking his right arm.

Japan's three group games were against attack-minded teams, but the match against Paraguay offers a different tactical challenge.

Okada said Paraguay has a 'solid back line' and know how to 'switch quickly from defence to attack'. He also says it has mental strength and technical astuteness.

Japan surprised many observers by beating both Cameroon and Denmark to reach the round of 16, and a narrow 1-0 loss to the Netherlands - which topped Group E - also showed how hard Okada's team is to beat.

The Blue Samurai put poor form in the build-up to the tournament behind them with victories over Cameroon and Denmark in Group E to seal their place in the last 16 for the first time ever on foreign soil.

Okazaki opened his World Cup account when he climbed off the bench to score the clincher in the 3-1 win over the Danes on Friday and the Shimizu S-Pulse forward believes if Japan can continue to fight as it has so far it has every chance of victory against Paraguay.

''We didn't have a South American team in our group and I expect there will be fiercer tackling for the ball and the most important thing is that we don't lose those battles,'' he said.

''We have been winning those battles and that is how we have got this far. If we stay confident then I think we can keep winning. We have got nothing to lose.''

Okazaki's first World Cup goal came as a relief for the 24-year-old, who finished as the world's top international scorer for 2009 with 15 goals.

Since the turn of the year, however, Okazaki has struggled to match that form but after getting off the mark on Friday he is determined to add to his tally in South Africa.

''After getting a lot of texts from my friends it sunk in (that I had scored at the World Cup) and now I am hungry for more," he added. "I have got an image of how I want to play at this tournament."

Its 3-1 win over Denmark in its final Group E game Thursday (Friday morning AEST) meant Japan had equalled its best World Cup run which came when it was co-host in 2002.

Before the Japanese arrived in South Africa they showed they were already thinking big: the coach's stated ambition was to reach the semi-finals.

To achieve that, it must first beat second-round opponent Paraguay on Tuesday (Wednesday morning AEST) in Pretoria - another team that has never made it as far as the quarter-finals.

"We want to go further and higher in this competition, step-by-step," striker Keisuke Honda said after the game at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

That's a thought that resonates with coach Takeshi Okada.

"We haven't achieved our final end," he said.

"The players will need a break but tomorrow we will renew our efforts towards our challenges."

Honda, who got his and Japan's second goal of the tournament in the 17th minute against Denmark with a thundering free kick, was named Man of the Match.

He expressed his team's lofty aspirations.

"Before the start of the match I recognised the importance of the game and I had expected to be really jubilant" about the result," he said. "I'm not as jubilant as I had expected to be because we haven't finished the competition."

Okada accepts his team has limitations, boasting no star names and modest international pedigree.

"We have been able to make it to the knockout stage. But we can still not play on an equal footing as the leading world-level teams," he said.

What the Japanese do have, and demonstrated against Denmark, is a feisty team spirit.

That quality has come to the fore in South Africa where Japan has improved notably after losing all four of its pre-tournament warmup matches.

"Our players are now better," Okada said.

"We are very good at holding the ball and counter attacking from the middle. The players are better and more accurate and better at making the right decisions. That's one of the big differences we have made."

The Japanese beat Cameroon 1-0 in their first game for its first World Cup victory on foreign soil. It lost its second match, 1-0 to the Netherlands and finished second in Group E.

Japan and Paraguay have never met at a World Cup. In their last encounter, in a May 2008 exhibition match, they drew 0-0.

Paraguay topped Group F with five points, drawing 1-1 with Italy, beating Slovakia 2-0 and drawing 0-0 with New Zealand.

The Paraguayans also reached the second round at the World Cup in 1986, 1998 and 2002.

Needing only a draw to qualify from Group E, the Asians took the lead in the 17th minute when CSKA Moscow midfielder Honda bent in his set piece from 30-yards out on the right.

Although not as spectacular, Endo's 20-yard effort followed on the half-hour mark when the outstretched Thomas Sorensen was beaten for the second time.

Jon Dahl Tomasson saw his penalty saved nine minutes from the end, but bundled in the rebound to give his side a glimmer of hope, only for Shinji Okazaki to seal Japan's triumph and book a last 16 tie against Paraguay.

Japan coach Takeshi Okada named an unchanged team for the third match in succession, while his counterpart Morten Olsen was boosted by the availability of Nicklas Bendtner, who passed a late fitness test.

Per Kroldrup was drafted in for the suspended Simon Kjaer, with Jesper Gronkjaer replaced by Thomas Kahlenberg.

The Scandinavians had the first real chance inside five minutes, but Tomasson found himself in the wrong position as he tried to deal with a deflected Simon Poulsen cross and the chance went begging.

Yoshito Okubo then sent in a low cross from the left that was flicked on nicely by Daisuke Matsui 10 yards out, only for Sorensen to intervene outstandingly with his feet.

Moments later Makoto Hasebe latched on to a defence-splitting pass, but wastefully shot over.

At the other end captain Tomasson was again played in, on the left side of the box this time, but his low shot curled agonisingly wide.

The deadlock was broken the next time Japan went up-field thanks to Honda's stunning free-kick, his second goal so far at the finals.

It came after Matsui was fouled 30-yards out on the right and a curling and dipping shot was sent over the wall into the far corner beyond an outstretched Sorensen.

Tomasson had his third chance inside the opening quarter when Christian Poulsen lifted the ball over the defence, but the Feyenoord front-man failed to connect cleanly and Eiji Kawashima parried the ball away to safety.

Endo then made it 2-0 when he bent his free-kick around the wall into the right-hand corner.

After Christian Poulsen tried his luck from distance, Sorensen prevented his side falling further behind before half-time when he tipped over Yuichi Komano's effort from the right.

The Stoke City goalkeeper was saved from embarrassment by his right-hand upright less than three minutes after the restart when he spilled a routine catch from an Endo free-kick.

Kahlenberg then seemed to be taken by surprise when the ball came to him at the back post, guiding the ball wide from a tight angle, while Tomasson was again let down by his control in the six-yard box after Lars Jacobsen swung over a useful cross from the right.

Denmark continued to pile on the pressure and substitute Jakob Poulsen was next to come close, with his long-range effort punched away by Kawashima.

Christian Eriksen, another replacement, then saw his strike from outside the box fade away as the Danes looked short of ideas.

When the players did manage to get into the penalty area, the out-of-form Tomasson, on a 15-match goal drought before this match, was unable to convert.

With 11 minutes to play, another effort from distance by Soren Larsen left the cross-bar shaking, but seconds later Tomasson finally managed to hit the back of the net.

After Daniel Agger received a shove in the back to win a penalty, the veteran striker saw his shot stopped by Kawashima, but the rebound was unconvincingly sliced hope.

It gave Denmark hope, but substitute Okazaki killed its spirit in the 87th minute when Honda teed him up to send Japan through.

The Arsenal forward was expected to miss Denmark's opening 2-0 loss to the Netherlands and the 2-1 victory over Cameroon, a game in which he scored, but won his battle with a groin problem on both occasions.

Now, with just 90 minutes separating the Scandinavians from a place in the next round, Bendtner continues to struggle with the injury that has plagued him for almost the entire season.

Bendtner has already been singled out as the danger-man in Rustenburg for the Asians by its coach Takeshi Okada and Olsen said: "First of all we have to see if he can play and we will decide that tomorrow.

"He has been doing quite allright. It's by necessity that every other day he does not participate in the practise.

"Every time he has played we wait to see the reaction from his injury. There's always a doubt when we have injuries like that, so we will have to wait and see."

Teammate Daniel Jensen, though, was ruled out by the Danish boss, while Simon Kjaer is suspended.

Olsen admitted he was "not nervous, but excited" ahead of the clash which his side must win to guarantee progress.

Both sides have lost to the Dutch so far but wins over Cameroon have put them on three points each, with a draw in the match at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium favouring the Asians and their slightly superior goal difference.

And the Danish boss is expecting a tough encounter against a team he describes as being very similar to his.

Olsen continued: "Here we have two teams that have good qualities, who are perhaps not amongst the favourites for the World Cup.

"But these are two teams that if they use their full potential, then we can have a fair match against big teams as well.

"I'm not surprised by the way they played (against Cameroon and Holland).

"I said before the World Cup that Japan could be one of the teams that could surprise with people knowing nothing about Asian football.

"But we have followed Japan for the last half year and I've seen them play some games.

"They are fighting for each other and fighting for the country. You saw the Dutch team with all its qualities have many problems against Japan."

Olsen also admitted he will be extremely unhappy if Denmark failed to progress.

He added: "I will be very disappointed. I started by saying that we have ambitions.

"We have had problems with injuries, but think our team has such good qualities that we will continue solving the problems we have.

"So we will be disappointed, but off course we know we are up against a team with really good qualities."

Japan needs only a draw to reach the last 16 as it has a better goal difference than Denmark, although the two sides are level at three points in Group E.

The Netherlands is already assured of advancing having won both matches in the group.

"I think it will be a very big match for both sides. To win such a big match, I think in a sense we need something beyond the team's tactics," Okada said at Japan's training base of George.

"I really want the players to fight with a solid mentality," he said.

"It would be ideal if we can overwhelm the opposition by 10 goals. But it won't be that easy. I think it's going to be a very close, fierce match."

Japan has taken heart from upsetting African powerhouse Cameroon 1-0 and then going down fighting 1-0 to the favoured Dutch side.

Denmark lost 2-0 to the Dutch but swept aside Cameroon 2-1 to knock the Africans out of contention.

Okada warned against the Danes' huge height advantage over the Samurai Blue - nearly eight centimetres between the starters in its last games.

"How to deal with their height in set plays and their long balls will be our main issues," said Okada.

"We have to be sure about how to maintain a solid defence against them."

Okada reaffirmed that young Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner will be a major threat.

"I think Bendtner will be the key man in their attack. They will fight under his lead."