Japan manager Vahid Halilhodzic has warned his players that they are in for a rude surprise if they tackle next week¡¯s World Cup qualifier against Iraq with the same laissez-faire attitude with which they began Wednesday¡¯s 1-1 friendly draw with Syria.
¡°In the first half, I think there were some players taking the game too lightly,¡± said Halilhodzic, who takes his team to neutral Tehran to face Iraq on Tuesday. ¡°That¡¯s something that I can¡¯t accept. I think some of the players were surprised by how hard our opponents fought and how much quality they had.¡±
Japan found itself out-muscled and outmaneuvered by the Syrians in the opening 45 minutes at Ajinomoto Stadium, before going a goal down three minutes into the second half after a thumping header by striker Mardek Mardkian.
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