National team manager Alberto Zaccheroni on Monday refused to put a limit on Japan's ambitions at next summer's World Cup, but stopped short of claiming his team can win the trophy.
Japan became the first side to qualify for the 32-team tournament in Brazil after drawing 1-1 with Australia in June, and was handed a favorable first-round group earlier this month with Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire and Greece the Group C opposition.
Second-round appearances on home soil in 2002 and in South Africa eight years later represent the high-water mark in Japan's four World Cup appearances so far, but Zaccheroni declined to be tied to a specific target when asked how far his team could progress next year.