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Football
But the Japanese, who showed a rare attacking spirit in the 2-2 opener with Beligium which brought them their first point in a World Cup finals, will be looking to build on that performance and advance their own ambitions. Otherwise, the two-time Asian champion will have to rely on Belgium slipping up against Tunisia in order to achieve its goal — emulating all previous World Cup hosts by reaching the second round. Russia, which beat Group H makeweights Tunisia 2-0 without Mostovoi and midfield partner Alexei Smertin, is determined to press the pair into action for the Japan clash. Coach Oleg Romantsev has drawn a veil of secrecy over training sessions in Shimizu, keeping the Japanese guessing. Mostovoi, who plays his club football for Celta Vigo in Spain, resumed full training only two days ago and it is not certain he will be able to play the full 90 minutes. The Japanese, still seeking their first World Cup victory, are planning to exploit Russia's slow-moving defence and use the wide-open spaces on the flanks that were apparent in the game against Tunisia. Takayuki Suzuki, one of the Japanese goal-scorers against Belgium, said he believed Russia were not as strong as the Belgians. ``We will have chances on quick counter-attacks,'' he said. ``The Russian attack requires several steps and we may ambush them right there.'' But Japan showed defensive weaknesses of its own and it was only the unusually spirited attacking performance from midfield, led by Junichi Inamoto as playmaker Hidetoshi Nakata was closely marked, that earned them a point. Super-sub Alessandro Santos, who became a Japanese national last November, said the Russian match would be a `battle in midfield' and the Japanese had more stamina. ``We will look for counter-attacks,'' he promised. Another potential headache for Japan is the impressive 18-year-old substitute Dmitri Sychev. He is the leading scorer in the Russian league, who was in fine form against Tunisia and set up one of the goals.
Mexico on course
In Miyagi, Ecuador coach Hernan Dario Gomez has vowed his team will `fight to the death' to avoid an early exit when it meets Mexico in their Group G match. The debutants were given a harsh lesson in reality of life at football's top table earlier this week, outclassed by Italy 2-0 in their opening match. Another defeat against Mexico could well send the South Americans spinning out of the tournament. Ecuador's task has been made more difficult by the loss of star midfielder and captain Alex Aguinaga. Aguinaga pulled a muscle during the loss to France and is definitely out - but Gomez is refusing to be despondent. ``We aren't giving up just yet,'' Gomez said. Adored by Ecuadorean fans for taking the country to their first World Cup finals, Gomez will be hoping to repay some of the faith shown in him by prising a result from Mexico. Ivan Kaviedes, who scored several important goals for Ecuador in qualifying but who was a surprise non-starter against the Italians in Sapporo last week, will replace Aguinaga. Mexico meanwhile hopes the return to form of the talismanic Cuauhtemoc Blanco will be maintained as it attempts to reach the second phase of the World Cup for the third time in a row after 1994 and 1998. The 29-year-old was inspirational in the 1-0 victory over Croatia last week, earning a penalty with a typically darting run into the box, which he then converted spectacularly.
Turkey regroups
In Incheon (South Korea), coach Senol Gunes and his backroom staff have been working to restore confidence in the Turkey camp ahead of the tightrope Group C match with Costa Rica. The Turks were livid with the performance of South Korean referee Kim Young-Joo after he awarded a contentious late penalty and sent two Turkish players off as four-time winners Brazil got home 2-1 in Ulsan on Monday. Turkey, in its first World Cup finals' appearance in 48 years, must beat the top Concacaf qualifiers to stay alive at the World Cup. Its task won't be easy after the Central Americans spoilt China's heralded World Cup debut with a 2-0 defeat in Gwangju, Korea, on Tuesday. Turkey was in uproar over the way the national team lost to the Brazilians. The head of Turkey's football federation, Haluk Ulusoy, put an historical bent on the debate over Kim's performance, noting that some 700 Turkish troops died fighting for South Korea in the Korean War in the 1950s. ``We gave a thousand martyrs for Korea 50 years ago. Now a single Korean killed 70 million Turks,'' Ulusoy said. Gunes, criticised by sections of the Turkish press over his tactics against the Brazilians and for his players' volatile behaviour, has spent the last few days trying to get his players in the right frame of mind to beat Costa Rica. He will have to do without Unsal, the Galatasaray left midfielder and Aston Villa stopper Ozalan Alpay, who both have one-match bans after receiveing red cards in the opening game. Once again Turkey will look to the explosive talents of veteran striker Hakan Sukur to get the goals to sink the Costa Ricans and give them a chance of second-round qualification. Costa Rica's strikeforce of Manchester City's Paolo Wanchope and Mexican-based Rolando Fonseca give them bite in attack and the contrasts in playing styles between the aggressive Turks and the Brazilian-style Ticos gives the match an intriguing look.
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