Japan line up France friendly
Reuters - Friday 27 January 2012, 07:23
Japan will play France away
in a friendly on October 12, their first meeting since 2003, the
Japan Football Association (JFA) said on Friday.
The JFA and Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni are keen to test
the Blue Samurai against world-class opposition as they push for
a place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Asian champions Japan have lost all five games played
against former World Cup and European Championships winners
France, once on penalties.
Japan are bidding to qualify for their fifth successive
World Cup finals, after making their first appearance in France
in 1998, won by the host country.
The JFA are trying to line up another friendly on October 16
with reigning world and European champions Spain topping a
wish-list, along with Italy and England, according to local
media.
Japan take on Iceland in a friendly in Osaka on February 24
before a World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan in Toyota five
days later.
Both Japan and Uzbekistan have already qualified for the
final round of Asian qualifiers.