Japan coach Yasuharu Sorimachi on Tuesday dismissed suggestions that his team could struggle in the absence of overage players, and says his players are fighting fit and ready for battle in their Beijing Olympic opener against the United States.
Sorimachi has been forced to bring a squad comprised of only Under-23 players after Vissel Kobe refused to release Yoshito Okubo and Gamba Osaka deadball specialist Yasuhito Endo had to withdraw with a viral infection.
But Sorimachi, speaking two days ahead of the team's Group B meeting in Tianjin, insists his players possess the battling qualities required to pull through when the going gets tough.