Japan manager Vahid Halilhodzic has warned his players that they are in for a rude surprise if they tackle next week's World Cup qualifier against Iraq with the same laissez-faire attitude with which they began Wednesday's 1-1 friendly draw with Syria.
"In the first half, I think there were some players taking the game too lightly," said Halilhodzic, who takes his team to neutral Tehran to face Iraq on Tuesday. "That's something that I can't accept. I think some of the players were surprised by how hard our opponents fought and how much quality they had."
Japan found itself out-muscled and outmaneuvered by the Syrians in the opening 45 minutes at Ajinomoto Stadium, before going a goal down three minutes into the second half after a thumping header by striker Mardek Mardkian.