Japan's Okada: I'm Going Nowhere And Still Want Last Four Finish At World Cup

Despite a series of below-par performances and results, under-fire Japan coach Takeshi Okada is sticking to his target of finishing in the last four at the 2010 World Cup.

A 3-1 defeat at the hands of fellow South African hopefuls South Korea in Tokyo on Sunday evening meant that Japan finished third in the four-nation East Asian Championship above Hong Kong.

The loss at the hands of their bitter rivals came after two goalless draws against Venezuela and China.

Japan are in a tough group in South Africa with the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark but Okada is not about to alter his semi-final objective.

"I have no intention of changing our goal," Okada said according to The Daily Yomiuri.

"I don't think it's putting the players or our staff under unnecessary pressure. All we can do is keep working at it.”

The former Yokohama F Marinos boss also stated that he was not about to step down from the position of head coach.

"As I've said before, me and the coaching staff are under contract with the [Japan Football Association] whether we win or lose. It's up to the president and the technical committee to decide my place here.

"I have no intention of bailing out on my players as long as they are behind me."

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