Soccer: Japanese fighting history as well as Belgians

SAITAMA - Co-hosts Japan will be on their guard against Belgian counter-attacks but it is the huge expectation of home fans that poses the biggest problem in their cup opener in Saitama tonight.

Japan coach Philippe Troussier is acutely aware that no host country has failed to reach the second round of the cup, and fans will expect a vast improvement on the 1998 campaign when Japan lost all three first-round games in France.

Since Japan's 1-1 draw in a "friendly" against Sweden last week, the side have been hit by an injury scare over playmaker Shinji Ono.

But Ono is expected to start on the left of midfield after worries over appendicitis, while Troussier looks set to gamble on striker Akinori Nishizawa who had his appendix removed last month.

"Belgium are extremely effective from set pieces and they attack with real speed," defender Ryuzo Morioka said.

"We know all about [Marc] Wilmots. "He will be a handful to mark, so we know that we can't afford to lose concentration for a moment against them."

With both sides adopting a 3-5-2 system, control of the midfield will be crucial, and Hidetoshi Nakata needs to reproduce the form he showed in the 2-0 win over Poland in March if Japan are to come away with three points.

Johan Walem, who operates in a similar attacking midfield role for Belgium, will be a potential matchwinner if the Japanese defenders allow him time on the ball.

Japan are all too aware of the aerial threat of Belgium forwards Gert Verheyen and Wilmots after the experience of losing 3-0 to Norway.

The Norwegians exposed Japan's frailties in defending set pieces in Oslo, although the return of Asian Cup captain Morioka from a hamstring injury adds more stability to the defence.

Japan have struggled in attack, a shortcoming they will be eager to put right.

They and co-hosts South Korea carry the main hopes of Asia.

Defeat against Belgium will only intensify the pressure on Japan to beat Russia and Tunisia in their remaining matches in group H.

Probable teams:

Japan: Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, Naoki Matsuda, Ryuzo Morioka, Koji Nakata, Tomokazu Myojin, Junichi Inamoto, Kazuyuki Toda, Hidetoshi Nakata, Shinji Ono, Akinori Nishizawa, Atsushi Yanagisawa

Belgium: Geert De Vlieger, Daniel Van Buyten, Glen De Boeck, Nico Van Kerckhoven, Jacky Peeters, Yves Vanderhaeghe, Timmy Simons, Johan Walem, Bart Goor, Marc Wilmots, Gert Verheyen.

Referee: William Mattus (Costa Rica).

- REUTERS

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