FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Japan’s lack of firepower was only too apparent at this French Alps resort Sunday as they struggled to beat a local club 1-0 in a training match prior to their World Cup debut next week against Argentina.

Shoji Jo, whose striking potential helpd knock 31-year-old veteran forward Kazu Miura out of Japan’s final squad, squandered three chances to remain without a goal in six games.

Masayoshi Nakayama’s header in the eighth minute from a corner by star playmaker Hidetoshi Nakata sealed the win over second division outfit Gueugnon.

In the second half, coach Takeshi Okada fielded 11 substitutes to help them shake off any jetlag before their match a week later at Toulouse against the Argentines, two-times world champions. “I wanted us to win by scoring three goals or so,” sighed Okada, whose emphasis on an airtight defence paid off last Wednesday when Japan lost to powerhouse Yugoslavia by the only goal. “I really hope that the squad will tighten their defence no matter how and score on limited opportunities against Argentina,” said Okada. “We are going to fight to win. There is a chance for us, albeit limited,” he said.

Jo, the 22-year-old Yokohama Marinos forward, said Argentina were “superior in terms of capacity. But anything can happen in soccer.” He reminded reporters that Japan beat Brazil 1-0 in a preliminary match at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in which he and four other current Japanese stars played.