Injury-hit Japan prepare for Asian Cup warm-ups

Japan - Japanese coach Zico goes into crucial warm-up matches for this month's Asian Cup missing key players through injury.

Striker Tatsuhiko Kubo, who has scored six times in his last six appearances for the national side, was the latest to withdraw from the depleted squad for this week's Kirin Cup because of a knee injury.

In the tournament Japan will play Slovakia here Friday before taking on Serbia and Montenegro at the Yokohama stadium next Tuesday. Slovakia meanwhile will play Serbia and Montenegro in Fukuoka Sunday.

The latest injury will come as a huge blow to Japan's Brazilian coach who is already without Europe-based stars Hidetoshi Nakata, Shinji Ono, Naohiro Takahara and Junichi Inamoto as he plans Japan's defence of the Asian Cup later this month.

SV Hamburg's Takahara and Dutch club Feyenoord's Ono have not been included in the Asian Cup squad because they have been chosen for the Japanese Olympic squad to play in Athens in August.

Bologna's Nakata and Fulham's Inamoto are injured.

Kubo is also expected to miss the Asian Cup to be played in China, where holders Japan will take on Oman, Thailand and Iran in the opening round in defence of the title they won in Lebanon four years ago.

"For the other strikers, it is a big chance. I want them to take their chances," said Zico, saying he expected a tough workout against the European teams.

"Both teams play European style football," said the Brazilian legend. "I want to make these two matches a good stepping stone for the defence of the Asian Cup.

"We must be greedy for a win, we need to gain more confidence and prepare for the Asian Cup.

"This is probably the best-possible team that I can form at this moment. It is a team looking forward to our first match against Oman in the Asian Cup," added Zico.

Since the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991, Serbia and Montenegro have reached the last 16 in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 quarterfinals.

New coach Ilija Petkovic has brought top striker Savo Milosevic from Spanish side Celta Vigo as well as Nenad Jestrovic from Belgium's Anderlecht and Danko Lazovic from Feyenoord.

 -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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