A bounty in the form of cash prizes by the AIFF may be in the waiting if they do the impossible by beating Japan, ranked 100 places above them. While even holding them would make them richer, the most optimistic Indian fans only wish would be to avoid an embarassing scoreline against the defending champions in the first AFC Asian Cup qualifier on Wednesday.The two teams met in the World Cup qualifiers last year when the Indians were thrashed on both ocassions. They conceded seven goals in Japan and four more in the home game at the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata.No second arguments exist that the Indians would badly miss defenders Sameer Naik, M Suresh, midfielders S Venkatesh, Climax Lawrence and striker Abhishek Yadav. But Indian coach Syed Nayeemuddin is optimistic about it, ‘‘I have told the players not to feel inferior or underestimate their own potential. They should take the field thinking they can beat Japan. I am looking for a victory. My boys are capable of making the team champions.’’However, the bitter cold in Japan would pose another serious problem for the visitors who has not played much under chilling temperatures. The Indian defence, marshalled by K Ajayan and N Pradeep, would have to be at its best to keep the nippy Japanese attackers at bay. Team captain Bhaichung Bhutia asks his team mates not to br overwhelmed by the situation. ‘‘It is vital that the team plays well, and we have to stay focussed and give our best,’’ Bhutia said.Japan can afford to leave out Bolton Wanderers’ Hidetoshi Nakata, Celtic’s Shunsuke Nakamura and Hamburger SV Naohiro Takahara as their local stars, including Tatsuhiko Kubo and Shinji Ono, look good enough to do the business tomorrow. The group also has continental powerhouses Saudi Arabia who take on Yemen in Sana’a the same day.Coach Zico, a Brazilian legend himself, is using tomorrow’s match as vital preparation for this summer’s World Cup in Germany where they face defending champions Brazil, Croatia and Australia in their group.
