Captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto on Sunday said Japan has put its nightmare defeats at the Kirin Cup behind it and insists there is no cause for alarm as the Asian champion prepares for two crucial upcoming qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup.
Japan suffered shock 1-0 home defeats to a second-string Peru and the United Arab Emirates in two build-up friendlies for Friday's Group B game in Manama and the controversial clash against North Korea behind closed doors in Bangkok on June 8.
Japan controlled possession for much of both matches in the annual three-team Kirin Cup tournament but was stung twice on the break and its first back-to-back losses in almost two years have cranked up the pressure on coach Zico.
"Sure, we have lost two friendly matches, there is no getting away from that fact," said Miyamoto after Japan began its final tuneup for the Bahrain clash at a training camp in Abu Dhabi.