YOKOHAMA — National team caretaker Hiromi Hara has urged his players to seize their chance to impress incoming manager Alberto Zaccheroni in Saturday's friendly against Paraguay.
Zaccheroni's appointment on Monday came too late to secure a visa to lead out the team at Nissan Stadium, forcing Japan Football Association technical director Hara back into the dugout for the first time since leaving FC Tokyo in 2007.
Zaccheroni will be in the stands to watch Saturday's rematch with the team that beat Japan in the second round of the World Cup, and Hara reminded his players of the importance of making a good first impression.