No work permit issued
For new Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni, Friday's friendly against Paraguay will give him a glimpse of what he's got to work with at the Asian Cup.
Unfortunately for the former AC Milan and Juventus coach, he'll have to watch from a distance while Japan Football Association technical director Hiromi Hara takes charge as an interim manager for the Paraguay match and another friendly against Guatemala in Osaka three days later.
The 57-year-old Zaccheroni was appointed as head coach Monday on a two-year deal to take over from Takeshi Okada, but is yet to receive a work permit for Japan. So, the first Italian to coach Japan faces some hurdles in his first major task of preparing a squad for Asian Cup group matches against Saudi Arabia, Syria and Jordan in January.
Japan, the three-time Asian Cup champion, reached the second round of the World Cup in South Africa before losing in a penalty shootout to Paraguay. Just nine weeks later, the teams meet again in Yokohama.
"We must finish in the top three of the Asian Cup," Zaccheroni told reporters after his appointment this week, already dismissing thoughts of World Cup revenge. "Japan certainly have the strength to do it, and we must do it."
His aim after that is a quarterfinal place at the 2014 World Cup.
Japan was fourth at the 2007 Asian Cup, missing out on an automatic qualifying spot for the 2011 edition. Iraq was a surprise winner, beating Saudi Arabia in the final, while South Korea was third.
The South Koreans have lined up a friendly in Seoul next week against Iran, which plays China three days earlier.
In the last meeting, in June 2009, a late goal from Manchester United's Park Ji-sung ended Iran's dreams of qualification for the 2010 World Cup.
Park is one of 14 overseas players summoned for the clash at the same Seoul World Cup Stadium to take on Iran, with young Ajax striker Seo Hyuk-jun receiving a first call-up from new coach Cho Kwang-rae.
There will be a familiar figure preparing the opposition squad in the shape of Iran's Afshin Ghotbi.
Ghotbi has been Iran's head coach since March 2009, though made his name with spells as South Korea assistant at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.
The two Asian powerhouses are hoping to end continental droughts. South Korea lifted the last of its two Asian Cup titles in 1960, while Iran picked up its third trophy in 1976.
"My aim is for Iran to make it to the final after 35 years and become champions. We will do our best to make 75 million Iranians happy," Ghotbi said. Iran is grouped with Kuwait, Uzbekistan and hosts Qatar at the Asian Cup.
Australia, preparing for only its second Asian Cup, will play Switzerland at St. Gall on Friday, a match between two teams that fell at the first hurdle in South Africa.
New coach Holger Osieck is ready for his first match since his appointment in August.
His squad has not been as fresh as some would like with 16 out of the 23 who went to South Africa making the 20-man squad.
Osieck, who was assistant coach to Franz Beckenbauer with the West Germany team which won the 1990 World Cup, is taking things slowly as he prepares for the continental tournament and games with South Korea, India and Bahrain.
"You can't make radical changes with players you don't even know," he told the Australian media. "I saw the Socceroos live at the World Cup and I want to give those players the first opportunity.
"I want to go there (Asian Cup) with a team that has the definite option to be successful and probably finish on top.
"If you have players with the experience of two World Cups, who play in decent competitions, then the likelihood of achieving that is better than if you have 19- and 20-year-old boys."
Osieck has quickly been confronted with the realities of international football with the withdrawals of Harry Kewell, Josh Kennedy and Michael Beauchamp due to injury for the next friendlies.
Four days after the Switzerland match, Australia travels to Krakow to take on Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland.
Hosts of the 2011 Asian Cup, Qatar take on Bahrain and Oman in other friendlies this week. On Sept. 8 in New Delhi, two English coaches go head-to-head.
Former England and Manchester United captain Bryan Robson will guide Thailand against India, led by ex-Fulham midfielder Bob Houghton.
Houghton, former coach of China and Uzbekistan, is preparing India for its first appearance at the Asian Cup since 1984. - AP
Published Sept 1 2010
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