Japan Olympic men's soccer team manager Takashi Sekizuka has warned his players their stay in London will be short-lived unless they show more imagination than they did in Wednesday's 1-1 final home warmup draw with New Zealand.
Japan looked to be heading to the 2012 Summer Games on a high after taking a 71st-minute lead through Kenyu Sugimoto at National Stadium, only for Dakota Lucas to snatch an unlikely draw for the All Whites with virtually the last kick of the game.
But New Zealand coped with much of Japan's pressure despite the home side dominating possession, and Sekizuka believes his side will not escape a first-round group containing Spain, Morocco and Honduras unless his players mix things up and become less predictable.