NEWS

Japan will play Finland in Tokyo in a Kirin Challenge Cup 2009 friendly on February 4 to prepare for their Asian final-round World Cup qualifier against Australia on February 11 in Yokohama.

The Finland match will kick off at 7:20 p.m. at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
Japan coach Takeshi Okada said, “We are going to have decisive matches in the World Cup qualifiers in 2009. This is the most important thing for us, together with the Asian Cup qualifiers. We have to get through these qualifiers.”
“I believe that our national team is gradually, but steadily, making steps forward, and we’ll play those games with all our strength and make 2009 a successful year,” Okada added.
Asked about the Finland game, the 53-year-old Japanese coach said, “We are not going to change our style of football just because we are playing Finland. It’ll be a good occasion for us to check the progress of the things we’ve been working on.”
Japan will start the New Year with a training camp from January 10. They will then play AFC Asian Cup 2011 qualifiers against Yemen on January 20 in Kumamoto and away to Bahrain on January 28.
The Boys in Blue will also play Bahrain on March 28 in Saitama in a World Cup qualifier.
Japan will then play the three-nation Kirin Cup tournament in May to gear up for a three-match World Cup qualifying series: in Uzbekistan on June 6, at home to Qatar on June 10, and away in Australia on June 17. The Kirin Cup teams will be announced later.