Krong Angkor

Upbeat Japan insist semi-final goal still on

CAPE TOWN (AFP) - Upbeat Japan coach Takeshi Okada insisted Friday making the semi-finals of the World Cup next year remained a realistic goal after they were drawn against the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark.

Japan have never made it past the round of 16 in three previous attempts and open their fourth World Cup campaign in Bloemfontein against Cameroon on June 14.

"I think all the opposition countries are rated above us in a sense, but they are within a range that we can cope with. I think the group is not so bad," Okada told reporters.

"It will be the fourth World Cup finals for Japan and we are aiming for a top four spot. We don't intend to change our goal and we continue to aim for a top four spot."

The goal is widely seen as unrealistic and former coach Ivica Osim, who had to step down due to illness in 2007, said the Blue Samurai must not get their hopes up too high.

"The bigger the expectations, the bigger the disappointment," the Bosnian told Japanese media ahead of the draw.

"Japan is capable of pulling off a surprise, but to get to where Japan is trying to go, they will need a trampoline," he added.

"You can jump three meters, five meters in the air with a trampoline, but one has to understand how to use a trampoline in the first place.

"So the question is -- will Japan be able to figure out how to use a trampoline?"