Asian heavyweights Japan are facing a series of injury scares ahead of their first game in the qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup against Thailand today.
Japan are in Asian Group Two, which also includes Bahrain and Oman, in their bid to make it to their fourth straight World Cup.
Four forwards have fitness problems, with former Frankfurt striker Naohiro Takahara hurting his right thigh and Seiichiro Maki injuring his right side, both in a friendly against Bosnia and Hercegovina a week ago.
Kobe forward Yoshito Okubo has inflammation on his right knee, while Iwata forward Ryoichi Maeda has a cold.
The Japanese forwards, however, insist they are ready for the match.
"I have no problem for the game. Pain? I don't feel any pain when I'm playing," Maki said.
Okubo said he would try his best to score.
"This is a match we can't afford to lose to Thailand. I really want to win," he said.
Thailand have experienced a different kind of uncertainty as players saw snow for the first time in their lives last weekend, forcing them to abandon proper training for today's faceoff in the Tokyo suburb of Saitama.
"We don't have snow in Thailand. We can postpone a game when heavy rain makes pitch conditions bad. I leave it to the Asian Confederation," Thailand coach Chanvit Phalajivin said after being forced to practice indoors.
The top two teams in Asian Group Two will move on to another qualifying round for tickets to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Thailand are led by three Manchester City FC players -- Suree Sukha, Kiatprawut Saiwaeo and Teerasil Dangda -- who defeated 2006 Asian club champions Jeonbuk Hyundai of South Korea 2-0 on Friday.
"My players are in their best form. It will be an interesting game," Chanvit said.
"It's a tough group, with Japan being the unquestionable favorites. However, I think we can take the group's second qualifying place by beating Bahrain and Oman. To advance from this group we would probably need 10 points, so we not only need to win our home game, but try to get results away from home," he said.
Japan coach Takeshi Okada, who took over in December to replace the ailing Ivica Osim, hoped that the home crowd would give Japan "a stronger fighting spirit" against Thailand.
"I expect Thailand to defend tightly and try to counter-attack. They are also good at set-piece play," he said.
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