Keisuke Honda has issued Japan with a must-do-better report despite a 3-0 win over Syria in a key 2018 World Cup qualifier in neutral Oman on Thursday night.
Japan struggled to break down Syria in the first half, but Honda put his team ahead with a 55th-minute penalty, Shinji Okazaki added a second and substitute Takashi Usami completed a comfortable win in the late stages.
The result saw Japan seize top spot in second-round Group E of Asian qualifying with 10 points from four games, one ahead of Syria.