It may not be as good a sendoff for the Japanese Olympic team as Saturday's 6-0 victory over Kuwait, but Tuesday's 3-1 win over Morocco's Olympic team at Tokyo's National Stadium was just the kind of workout Philippe Troussier's team needed before heading for Sydney.
Morocco showed the kind of rugged fighting spirit Japan will be up against in the Olympics, but the home team showed that it can respond. Troussier's plan to create a team that bonds in skill and spirit is showing results.
The team fought back after going behind early on thanks to two own-goals and a cracker from substitute Masashi Motoyama. That showed their skill.