New Japan coach Takeshi Okada began the first training session for his team on Wednesday with the ambitious goal of finishing in the top three at the 2010 World Cup finals.
"Let's surprise the world at the World Cup," Okada, who took over from stroke-hit Ivica Osim earlier this month, told more than 30 players he called up for the camp in Chiba Prefecture.
"South Korea's fourth-place (finish) in 2002 is the best result so far by an Asian side. We'll go better than that and I'm confident we'll achieve it," Okada said as he began full-fledged preparations for Japan's World Cup-qualifying campaign, which begins in February.
Twenty-nine of the players took part in practice matches against two university sides on Wednesday and Okada appeared content with their performances.
"I thought I would have to take a long time to make them play the way I want them to, but now I'm feeling it wouldn't take so long to do it," Okada said. "Every one of them lived up to my expectations in today's matches. I would not name a name even if there is a player I'm not satisfied with."
The Japan Football Association finalized the appointment of Okada on Dec. 7, three weeks after Osim suffered a stroke.
Candidates for Okada's side will get together again on Jan. 15 in Kagoshima Prefecture ahead of Japan's home friendlies with Chile on Jan. 26 and Bosnia and Herzegovina four days later at National Stadium in Tokyo in warmup matches prior to their first qualifier for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa on Feb. 6.
The JFA said Wednesday that the Feb. 6 game against Thailand will be played at Saitama. Japan will also host Oman at Yokohama on June 2 and Bahrain at Saitama on June 22.