Despite back-to-bank defeats against first South Korea and then England, courtesy of two second-half own goals, Japan retain hopes that coach Takeshi Okada’s pledge to take his nation to the semi-finals still has legs.

 

Japanese midfielder Makoto Hasebe was looking for three wins from their last friendly matches but with only s single match against the Ivory Coast remaining before the real thing commences in South Africa, defeats against three fellow qualifiers may not be the dire omen some people may think. Indeed, the Wolfsburg player was keen to stress that the national side must not peak too soon during the World Cup tournament.