Japan will play against Spain in Cordoba on Wednesday night (Thursday morning Japan time) in its second friendly this year as it continues its preparations for the 2002 World Cup.

Following its 5-0 humiliation in France on March 24, the game against Spain will be a chance to see if the players have learned anything from their drubbing in Paris.

Coach Philippe Troussier said he would increase his team's defensive strength on the flanks, where the Spaniards are also dangerous.

The Frenchman dumped Yokohama F. Marinos midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura and has called up Yokohama F. Marinos defender/midfielder Yasuhiro Hato, Shimizu S-Pulse defender/midfielder Kazuyuki Toda and Sanfrecce Hiroshima defender Kenichi Uemura.

The uncapped Hato is quick and strong at marking, qualities that will probably be needed against the likes of Real Madrid's Raul Gonzales.

"I'd like to find a solution to our defense and then want to make our team competitive enough to play against the top 20 teams in the world," Troussier said.

In a short camp with his provisional squad earlier this month, Troussier tried to make his players understand the significance of expressing themselves and become tougher physically. Troussier tackled some of the players and pulled their shirts to make them understand what they are going to be up against.

"We'll be forced to play defensively for most of the game so we've prepared ourselves on what to do in such situations," Jubilo Iwata defender Toshihiro Hattori said.

Japan's attack will center around AS Roma midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata, Jubilo midfielder Hiroshi Nanami, Espanyol forward Akinori Nishizawa and Jubilo's veteran striker Masashi Nakayama.

Nakayama, who struck Japan's only goal in the World Cup finals in 1998, often scores decisive goals for his club and his high-energy game is something Japan can look to for a little extra inspiration against Spain.

Spain coach Jose Antonio Camacho knows who his defenders must shut down.

"Nakata is the dangerous one for us," he commented, adding: "After losing to France, Japan will move and run more and be more prepared to take us on."

Camacho's squad includes forwards Raul and Jose Mari Romero of AC Milan; midfielders Pedro Munitis and Gaizka Mendieta, who are expected to play on the sides; and defender Manuel Pablo Garcia of Deportivo La Coruna. Espanyol forward Raul Tamudo joins Real Madrid defender Fernando Hierro on the sidelines after withdrawing from the squad with a muscle strain.

Spain beat France 2-1 in a friendly on March 28 at home, snapping its losing streak at three after bowing to Germany, the Netherlands and England. In World Cup qualifying, the Spaniards are leading Group 7 with a 3-1-0 record over Austria, Israel, Bosnia and Liechtenstein.

Japan hasn't met Spain before at the senior level.

Focus on defense

ESTEPONA, Spain -- Japan held a 90-minute training session Monday evening at La Quinta soccer ground in Marbella, a Spanish resort on the south coast, to gear up for Wednesday night's friendly against Spain in Cordoba.

Japan manager Philippe Troussier concentrated on his team's defense and tested a five-man backline. He used two of the uncapped players, Shimizu S-Pulse defensive midfielder Kazuyuki Toda and Yokohama F. Marinos midfielder Yasuhiro Hato, for what appeared to be his starting 11. In a meeting prior to the training session, the French manager showed his players a video tape of Spain's game, a 2-1 win against France last month.

S-Pulse defender Ryuzo Morioka said, "I don't think we have changed much in the last four weeks since our defeat to France. But I want to use my experience (from the France game) as much as possible."