1 Mar 2007(Thu)

February 28, 2007: There are some massive games coming up for Japan in the next few weeks.

No, not the under-22s as they attempt to qualify for the Beijing Olympics; or the national team as they prepare for their first match of the year, against Peru on March 24.

I'm referring to the women's team, who face a two-leg play-off against Mexico for a place in the World Cup in China in September.

The home leg will be played at Tokyo National Stadium on March 10, with the away leg in Mexico a week later.

Unfortunately, the home game clashes with a slate of J.League matches, but I am sure there will still be a big crowd at Kokuritsu to watch the "Girls in Blue" go about their business against the CONCACAF representatives.

I must admit the women's team provided one of my most memorable moments from the Athens Olympics when they beat Sweden 1-0 in their first group game.

The match was played at some remote venue in the days leading up to the official opening ceremony of the Games, and Homare Sawa and Company produced a wonderful display to keep out the European powerhouses. When the final whistle blew there were some emotional scenes all around, notably from the JFA president, Saburo Kawabuchi, who was watching from the grandstand.

It was a great moment for Japanese football, and helped to popularise the women's game back home.

Now under head coach Hiroshi Ohahsi, Japan are just two steps from qualifying for the World Cup, and the second of those steps must be taken in Mexico.

If the players are looking for motivation or inspiration, they should talk to the former JFA president, Shun-ichiro Okano, who still paints a vivid picture of the men's campaign at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico.

That was when Japan won the bronze medal, beating Mexico in front of 100,000 spectators at the famous Azteca Stadium. The players were so exhausted after the game that they could not even drink without assistance from a member of the staff.

They had given their all for the team and for their country in testing conditions, and with two goals from the legendary striker Kamamoto had won the bronze in the Mexicans' own fortress.

Let's hope "Nadeshiko Japan" can do it again, and maintain their proud record of having appeared in all FIFA World Cups since the women's edition started in 1991.

ends