Japan manager Philippe Troussier has left the door open regarding a possible move to manage Scotland after the 2002 World Cup, describing it as "a great challenge."

"Scotland has such a great history and a good national team. I feel flattered that Philippe Troussier is on the list of the Scottish F.A. That, I think, proves that what I've done for Japan has been highly evaluated by people overseas," Troussier said through a translator to The Japan Times on Friday.

The Scottish tabloid Daily Record reported on Thursday that Troussier is on the short list of the Scottish Football Association as a candidate to succeed Craig Brown after the World Cup.

"I've been telling many people that I won't be a candidate for the Japan job after the World Cup. If the offer from the Scottish association comes to be realized after the World Cup, that would be a great challenge for me," the 46-year-old Frenchman said.

"However," he stressed, "my current priority is the Japan national team and I have a contract with the JFA until the end of the World Cup.

"I'd like to make the best possible preparations for the World Cup with the help from our players, staff members and JFA and then do as well as possible in the tournament with our team," Troussier noted.

Troussier refused to say if he had been contacted by the Scottish F.A.