Japan and Greece face a high-stakes World Cup shoot-out here on Thursday after opening match defeats which have left their participation in the tournament hanging by a thread.
With Japan outmuscled by Ivory Coast 2-1 and Greece thumped 3-0 by Colombia on Saturday, defeat for either side in their Group C collision in Natal could well be terminal. Whether Japan or Greece are heading for the exit on Thursday night will depend on the outcome of Colombia’s showdown with the
Ivory Coast earlier on Thursday. But what is not in doubt is that neither Japan nor Greece has much margin for error in Thursday’s kick off.Japan’s English-based defender Maya Yoshida believes it will be crucial for the Blue Samurai to score first against the Greeks. “They have a good orientation defensively so if we get the first goal they have to come forward so we will have a chance to take more initiative,” said Yoshida Keisuke Honda, who faded badly in the second half against the Ivorians after firing Japan ahead in the 16th minute, insisted his team-mates had picked themselves up after the defeat in Recife.
“We’ve got it out of our system,” said Honda. “losing wasn’t what was shocking, it was not being able to play to our strengths.” “The best characteristics of the Japanese turned against us. We’re a diligent side and when we started trying too hard it destroyed us.” Manchester United playmaker Shinji Kagawa suggested caution may have to be thrown to the wind if Japan are to avoid crashing out.”
Greece are going attack us, so we have no option but to start with the same strategy.” But Greece’s national team manager Fernando Santos meanwhile believes he has pinpointed Japanese vulnerabilities after scrutinising their performance against the Ivorians.