Japan and UAE in fight for World Cup survival

Japan and UAE in fight for World Cup survival

TOKYO (AFP): Japan and United Arab Emirates will fight a
battle for World Cup survival this weekend in the Asian
qualifying tournament.

Saudi Arabia and Iran play an equally important match in the
second group today, as the Asian qualifying contest reaches its
decisive phase. Uzbekistan plays Kazakhstan tomorrow in the third
match of the latest round.

The UAE's surprise 3-0 defeat by Kazakhstan last weekend
revived Japan's flagging World Cup hopes. Sunday's match at
Tokyo's National Stadium will be their final chance however.

Only a major upset will stop South Korea taking Group B's
single automatic qualifying spot. But the battle is on to get the
second place and a playoff against the second team from Group A.

The UAE defeat left it with seven points, Japan with six
points and Kazakhstan with six points.

"We are lucky," said Japan's manager Takeshi Okada, who had
expected the Emirates to beat Kazakhstan.

"The UAE defeat gave us a chance again to win second place. We
still have to win our remaining three games, but first of all,
we'll give 100 percent in our attempt to beat the Emirates."

The Emirates will be without suspended super-sub Bakhit Saad
Mubarak Saad, a star performer in the tournament, who was sent
off against Kazakhstan for fighting.

Japan will be without skipper Masami Ihara, a key defender,
because of accumulated yellow cards.

Okada tried a new formation in a practice match, moving
struggling striker Kazuyoshi Miura back to midfield and sending
Brazilian-born Lopes Wagnar and Shoji Jo forward in an attempt to
find more aggression.

Okada would not say what tactics would be used Sunday.

Miura scored four goals in the opening match against
Uzbekistan, but nothing since.

The 30-year-old star is now isolated in the team, with even
squad goalkeepers reportedly refusing to practice penalty shots
with him.

Emirates coach Lori Sandri said: "I think Miura will not play
in midfield as well as he did in the front. It will be very
difficult for him to play well in a new position."

Sandri added: "Our goal is to win and secure second place. The
level of our team is almost the same as the Japanese, but we have
a one-point advantage. Anyway, the winners will take second
place."

Their match in the sweltering heat of Abu Dhabi ended in a 0-0
draw with Japan struggling. This time it will be the Emirates
turn to suffer on a cold Tokyo evening.

A Japanese win would secure South Korea's top spot in the
round robin tournament, ensuring its fourth straight appearance
in the World Cup finals.

But if Japan wins, it will still have to beat South Korea in
Seoul on Nov. 1 and the Koreans are never in a mood to do favors
to their old rivals.

There is similar tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran which
risks boiling over during their Group A match.

Iran leads that group and a victory would almost seal its
qualification while boosting the hopes of China and Kuwait of
overtaking the Saudis into second place.

Saudi Arabia is hugely talented but looked demoralized in its
2-1 defeat to the Kuwaitis last week.