Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni is convinced the Blue Samurai have a realistic chance of lifting the World Cup in the not-too-distant future, the Serie A-winning manager said on Tuesday.
"I think Japan have an opportunity to win the World Cup in the future, and I'm not saying this as some sort of cheap flattery," Zaccheroni said at the JFA House ahead of next week's World Cup qualifier at home to North Korea.
"Japanese football owes it to itself to keep improving, and people here understand they have to try to catch up and eventually pass the best teams in the world.