Chileans have to check the speedy Japanese

“We got full three days rest,” he said on Friday. The high-profile coach is on a mission here. He is banking on this tournment to resurrect his bruised image after Chile lost three consecutive matches in the World Cup qualifiers. According to the latest standings, Chile are at the seventh place with 10 points in as many matches so far.

Clearly the overwhelming favourites, the La Rocha’s confidence came to the fore even before the match had started. After a practice session in the morning, Acosta did not take time to name his playing eleven against Japan. The team for the morrow’s match has two World Cuppers in goalkeeper Marcelo Ramirez (Libre) and Moises Villarroel (Santiago Wanderers), both of whom played at the 1998 World Cup in France. And add to this the five Olympians — David Henrique (Colo Colo), Alex von Schwedler (Universiad de Chile), Francisco Arrue (Santiago Morning), Hector Tapia (Perugia, Italy), Rafael Andres Olarra (Universiad de Chile) and Cristian Andrez Alvarez (Universiad Catolica) — who will be seen in action tomorrow.

With them, Gustavo Huerta Araya (Cobreloa), Fernando Martel (Santiago Morning) and Marco Antonio Villaseca (Colo Colo) complete the line-up. It would be interesting to watch how Japan fare against their Latin American opponents, who are also the Olympic bronze medallist.

No doubt, speed will be the Japanese forte and even Acosta agreed. “They run very, very fast, particularly striker Fukai Masaki.” Against the speedy Japanese the Uzbeks clearly ran out of steam in the opening match. Besides Japan looked threatening on the counter-attacks and infact scored both their goals in swift, counter-moves.

The kick-off is at 7 pm.