Asian champion Japan was drawn into a tough yet mouth-watering Group B with Australia, Jordan, Oman and Zico-led Iraq for the final round of 2014 World Cup qualifying on Friday at the Asian Football Confederation's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
Alberto Zaccheroni's side lifted the Asian Cup last year with victory over Holger Osieck's Australia in the final. In its first match of that tournament, Japan produced an injury-time 1-1 draw with Jordan.
Oman coach Paul Le Guen will be eager to exact revenge against Japan, which he lost to as manager of Cameroon in the first round of the 2010 World Cup.