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Alberto Zaccheroni believes Japan is ready despite uncertain conditions in Tajikistan and North Korea
The Samurai Blue squad will face their Group C opponents in afternoon matches on poor pitches and with unusually small numbers of away supporters
Nov 2, 2011 5:41:00 AM
By Dan Orlowitz
Getty
Japan national team coach Alberto Zaccheroni is confident that his team will be able to overcome any of the numerous problems facing them in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Tajikistan and North Korea.
In addition to playing in the afternoon to accommodate local power-supply concerns, pitches in both counties are causing concern. The ground at Pamir Stadium in Dushanbe is reportedly poor, while the North Korea match has been relocated to the artificial turf at Pyongyang's Kim Il-sung Stadium.
Japan originally considered practicing on a similar pitch during their two days in Beijing between matches, but that idea has been shelved by Zaccheroni.
"It's just a matter of getting used to [the artificial turf]," Japan's undefeated trainer told reporters.
"Once we get an idea of the condition of the pitch [at Kim Il-sung Stadium], we'll be fine."
Zaccheroni also discussed the team's plans to train in Doha before the Tajikistan match.
"We were there for the [2011] Asian Cup, so we felt like it was a good place to practice. It's easier for the team to practice in warm conditions before playing in the cold than the other way around."
The Samurai Blue are also struggling to accommodate traveling supporters. North Korea's government announced on Tuesday that they intended to limit the number of Japanese fans entering the country to 150, prompting protests from the Japan Football Association (JFA) after supporter interest exceeded expectations.
"If a lot of people sign up for the tours, [the JFA] will ask North Korea to increase the number of fans they allow into the country," said JFA general secretary Kozo Tashima. "The current number is simply unacceptable."
The JFA's official tour to Pyongyang was capped at 65 fans. The tour operator has reportedly received over 90 applications, and other travel agencies are also offering packages.
Despite an official policy discouraging travel to North Korea due to a lack of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Japanese government is relaxing these restrictions in order to allow fans to watch the nation's first match in North Korea since 1989.
"The match in North Korea is an important one, and the government wants to support the Japanese team as much as possible," Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told a press conference last week.
In addition to playing in the afternoon to accommodate local power-supply concerns, pitches in both counties are causing concern. The ground at Pamir Stadium in Dushanbe is reportedly poor, while the North Korea match has been relocated to the artificial turf at Pyongyang's Kim Il-sung Stadium.
Japan originally considered practicing on a similar pitch during their two days in Beijing between matches, but that idea has been shelved by Zaccheroni.
"It's just a matter of getting used to [the artificial turf]," Japan's undefeated trainer told reporters.
"Once we get an idea of the condition of the pitch [at Kim Il-sung Stadium], we'll be fine."
Zaccheroni also discussed the team's plans to train in Doha before the Tajikistan match.
"We were there for the [2011] Asian Cup, so we felt like it was a good place to practice. It's easier for the team to practice in warm conditions before playing in the cold than the other way around."
The Samurai Blue are also struggling to accommodate traveling supporters. North Korea's government announced on Tuesday that they intended to limit the number of Japanese fans entering the country to 150, prompting protests from the Japan Football Association (JFA) after supporter interest exceeded expectations.
"If a lot of people sign up for the tours, [the JFA] will ask North Korea to increase the number of fans they allow into the country," said JFA general secretary Kozo Tashima. "The current number is simply unacceptable."
The JFA's official tour to Pyongyang was capped at 65 fans. The tour operator has reportedly received over 90 applications, and other travel agencies are also offering packages.
Despite an official policy discouraging travel to North Korea due to a lack of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Japanese government is relaxing these restrictions in order to allow fans to watch the nation's first match in North Korea since 1989.
"The match in North Korea is an important one, and the government wants to support the Japanese team as much as possible," Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told a press conference last week.
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