Time for a dose of reality for Japan football

Japan lost to local rivals South Korea for the second time in a year Monday night, losing 2-0 and once again raising serious questions about manager Takeshi Okada's aim of reaching the best four in the upcoming World Cup.

To be honest, neither side really dominated, but it was Manchester United player Park Ji Sung who looked the class act, scoring a well-taken goal in the sixth minute. In reality, it will be a great achievement for Japan to make it out of their group, and Park has said the same about his own team's chances, yet Okada is doggedly sticking to his goal of reaching the semi finals. While it's great to be ambitious, it's also good to remain realistic, something that Keisuke Honda clearly has problems with - he has suggested that Japan could win the World Cup. I agree; it is a possibility. If none of the other teams turn up.

I'm Japanese, so of course I want my national team to do well, but do I really think they can best the likes of Portugal, Spain, Holland, Italy, France, Brazil, England, etc, etc? No. I'm a fan, but I'm also a realist. It's time for the national team to temper their ambitions with some humility and reality.

HH