Japan coach Zico and his charges are under no illusions as to the scale of the task that awaits them at this year's World Cup finals.
The Asian champion hardly set the world on fire in the qualifying stages, but compensated for a lack of style with a steely resilience to become the first team to join host Germany in the finals with a game to spare.
Anything less than four points will probably not be enough to advance from a tricky first-round Group F that includes five-time world champion and holder Brazil, Croatia and Guus Hiddink's Australia.