Alberto Zaccheroni is only taking his first steps as national team manager, but already he has hit his stride.

The Italian got his reign off to the perfect start last Friday as Japan recorded its first ever win over Argentina, before reclaiming a measure of pride from two defeats to South Korea earlier this year with a rugged 0-0 draw away to its Asian rival on Tuesday.

Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez and their illustrious teammates were comprehensively eclipsed by a slick Japan in Saitama, and another promising display in Seoul suggests Zaccheroni is in line to reap a significant harvest over the months and years to come.