Saitama ¨C National team manager Vahid Halilhodzic has challenged Japan to make it through the second round of 2018 World Cup qualifiers without conceding a goal after claiming a seventh clean sheet in seven games in Thursday¡¯s 5-0 win over Afghanistan.
Group E leader Japan takes on Syria at Saitama Stadium on Tuesday in its final second-round fixture with its place in the final round already confirmed.
Syria beat Cambodia 6-0 on Thursday to stay only a point behind Japan in second place, but results around the continent combined to ensure Halilhodzic¡¯s side will at least advance as one of the four best runners-up from the eight qualification groups.
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