23 Oct 2003(Thu)

I know many people are worried about Japan's chances of qualifying for the Athens Olympics football tournament.

But now the draw has been made, those fears must have turned into optimism.

Japan, clearly, has got a kind draw, and will start as the favourite to take the sole qualifying place from Group B.

Just to recap.

Group A comprises South Korea, China, Malaysia and Iran. Group B is Japan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Lebanon. Group C is Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq or North Korea, and Oman.

The winner of each group qualifies for Athens.

South Korea, Japan and Kuwait were the top three seeds, so would head one of the three groups, but the good news for Japan was that they avoided China and Saudi Arabia.

Although I have always been optimistic about Japan's chances, despite the fact the team lacks the personality and the individual quality of the 2000 selection, I was concerned about them meeting China.

I saw Japan play China at the Asian Games in Pusan, Korea, a year ago, and was very impressed with the Chinese.

Japan won the game, in the quarterfinals, 1-0 with an excellent goal from the "Gamba Gon," Nakayama, but I thought China played very well and looked very dangerous.

So I was happy to see China drawn in Group A, where they will have a tremendous battle with both South Korea and Iran.

Peter Velappan, general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation, has described Group A as the Group of Death. This is true, so Group B must be the Group of Life, with Japan having a wonderful opportunity to qualify for the Olympics for the third successive time after Atlanta and Sydney.

Japan, of course, will still face some tough games, especially against the United Arab Emirates, whose teams are always well prepared and well organised because of the amount of money the federation can pay to attract a top coach.

But the fitness, team work and experience of the Japanese players, thanks to the high standards in the J.League, should be enough to see them through.

ends