The national team's three opponents over the next seven days may not present as severe a test as the Netherlands did last month, but that is not to say they have nothing to teach Takeshi Okada's men.

Japan plays Hong Kong in an Asian Cup qualifier in Shizuoka on Thursday (although a decision on whether to cancel because of the coming typhoon will be taken at noon), before the focus switches back to preparations for the World Cup with friendlies against Scotland on Saturday and Togo next Wednesday.

Okada can harbor reasonable expectations of success against a trio from which only Togo has any chance of qualifying for South Africa, but the manager must still be casting envious glances at two individuals who will line up against his team.