Japan146;s magnificent 7

Japan coach Zico was unable to call on Europe-based trio Hidetoshi Nakata groin, Junichi Inamoto broken fibula and Naohiro Takahara lung infection but his team were never troubled by a lightweight India team that last beat them in 1970.

Striker Tatsuhiko Kubo opened the scoring in rain-swept Saitama with a superb left-foot volley after 13 minutes. Midfielders Takashi Fukunishi and Shunsuke Nakamura also found the net as Japan took a 3-0 halftime lead. Takayuki Suzuki added a fourth goal 10 minutes after the restart before Nakazawa fired home a Nakamura free kick from close range in the 66th minute. Mitsuo Ogasawara made it 6-0 two minutes later and the dread-locked Nakazawa headed his second of the game in the 78th minute to complete the rout.