MIYOSHIGAOKA, Aichi Pref. — Dragan Stojkovic has described Japan's crushing 3-0 defeat at home to his native Serbia on Wednesday as a timely "slap in the face" and reckons the Blue Samurai must show a nastier streak to avoid stumbling at the first hurdle at the World Cup finals.
The Nagoya Grampus boss said he found Japan's lack of motivation against Serbia's "C team" disturbing, particularly as the friendly was serving as the final audition for South Africa for a number of players on the outskirts of the team and was played before a sellout crowd at Nagai Stadium.
"They have an obligation to play for the spectators and especially two months before the World Cup they have to be more motivated. I am very disappointed. I didn't see the movement. This is very dangerous," Stojkovic said on Thursday.