A plethora of new faces meant Japan's East Asian Cup campaign was never going to go off without a hitch, but after winning the title for the first time and discovering some genuine World Cup squad candidates in the process, manager Alberto Zaccheroni has every right to be satisfied with the outcome.
Japan beat tournament host South Korea 2-1 on Sunday night to lift the trophy at the fifth attempt, finishing two points clear in first place after a 3-3 opening draw with China and a 3-2 win over Australia. A total of eight goals scored and six conceded tells the story of an unfamiliar squad coming together for the first time, but the team gained in strength as the competition progressed and Yoichiro Kakitani's 91st-minute winner against the Koreans was proof of its growing resolve.
"The players exceeded my expectations, but I already knew they had quality," Zaccheroni said of an exclusively domestic-based squad featuring seven players called up for the first time. "The fact that the players were able to grasp the team concept so quickly is proof of their intelligence. I could feel their desire to make the most of their chance."
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.