MFA discussing pre-World Cup friendly with Japan

The Malta FA is in talks with its counterpart from Japan to hold a pre-World Cup friendly match between the two nations.

The Times has learnt that Japan, drawn in World Cup Group F along with champions Brazil, Croatia and Australia, are willing to take on Malta in a warm-up game in the first week of June in Germany.

High-ranking MFA officials are believed to have sought the views of national coach Dusan Fitzel over the matter.

Fitzel has since discussed the feasibility of the friendly with the players in his squad who expressed their readiness to play the friendly, thus giving the Malta FA the green light to continue discussions.

Malta and Japan, 18th in the latest FIFA rankings, have never played each other at any level before.

Yesterday, the Asian champions drew 2-2 with Bosnia-Herzegovina in another World Cup warm-up which was played in Dortmund.

Japan will now have a month's break before facing Ecuador at home on March 30 as they continue their build-up for this year's World Cup which runs from June 9 to July 9.

Last week, Japan made a perfect start to their Asian Cup defence with a 6-0 thrashing of India. They won the Asian Cup in 2004 and were one of the four Asian teams to qualify for the World Cup.

Coached by Brazil great Zico, Japan's squad includes the likes of Europe-based Hidetoshi Nakata, of Bolton, Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura and Junichi Inamoto, of West Brom.