"We'll get the Asian Cup back home," said Japan soccer manager Philippe Troussier on Thursday at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, only a few hours before his senior team's departure for the upcoming Asian Cup.
"There are five title contenders: South Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Japan," said Troussier, "It's a good opportunity for us to fight and carry out our responsibility." The 45-year-old Frenchman explained that Japan now has a new responsibility to prove its ability as an Asian leader in the sport, following its success at the World Youth Championship in 1999 and the Sydney Olympics last month.
Also, the Japan senior team played well during the regulation period against world champion France in the King Hassan II Cup in Morocco in June before bowing to the world champion on penalties.