Nakata gives Japan first

Japan recorded their first ever victory in a World Cup finals yesterday, beating Russia 1-0 in their second Group H encounter. Hidetoshi Nakata, Japan's most famous footballing export who now plays for Parma, said: "When we were ahead against Belgium...

Japan recorded their first ever victory in a World Cup finals yesterday, beating Russia 1-0 in their second Group H encounter. Hidetoshi Nakata, Japan's most famous footballing export who now plays for Parma, said: "When we were ahead against Belgium we showed our inexperience by giving away an equaliser. But we were confident we wouldn't make the same mistake this time. Today was not about who did this or that individually. This was a win for the whole team, for all those who played and those who stayed on the bench."

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