Are the Athens hopefuls Japan's "lost generation"?
Japan's Olympic Games hopefuls feel they have a point to prove in the United Arab Emirates next week.
But not to their Group B rivals Bahrain, Lebanon and the UAE.
No, it's to the folks back home in Japan.
As FC Tokyo winger Naohiro Ishikawa acknowledges, the players are well aware that they are being dubbed Japan's "lost generation" because of what went before them and what may come after.
"I am very accustomed to being in the age group that is not the focus of attention," Ishikawa said in an interview at the club's Kodaira training ground.
"But in some respects this brings out our strength. We have tremendous confidence and believe we can get the results we need.
"Rather than worrying about what people say, we can turn it round to our advantage and prove ourselves."
These are typically positive and honest comments from Ishikawa, who is sure to play a leading role in Japan's challenge for a third consecutive Olympic appearance.
The problem for Masakuni Yamamoto's youngsters is that they have a hard act to follow.
Just look at some of the names that went to Sydney four years ago: Nakata (Hidetoshi and Koji), Inamoto, Nakamura, Takahara, Yanagisawa, Nakazawa, Matsuda, Miyamoto...apologies to those not mentioned due to lack of space!
Following the Olympic team around in February for their three buildup games, the two players getting the most attention were 18-year-old Kunimi High School striker Sota Hirayama and Brazilian-turned-Japanese defender Tulio Tanaka.
It is easy to see, therefore, why Yamamoto's team does not have the "star quality" of Troussier's Class of 2000.
But, as Troussier himself always pointed out, there is much more to a successful team than merely talented individual players.
This is where Yamamoto's squad looks strong: well organised, great spirit, motivation, tactical awareness, and plenty of depth in most positions.
And with this extra point to prove to the doubters, they can go all the way to Athens and show they also deserve respect and recognition in their own right.
ends
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