|
QUALIFICATION
Japan qualified as No. 5 of the qualifier to become the twelves team for the World Cup. In the qualifying games for 5 to 8 Japan defeated at first Ireland and then France with 2:1 each.
COACH
Akira Takahashi aged 33 was still a player at the 2002 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur and the 2003 Asia Cup. For some years he was captain of the team.
To achieve the World Cup qualification at his first very important tournament as coach is a big success.
| 
