Zaccheroni pleased with Japan win

New Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni said he was satisfied with the team’s performance after watching his new charges beat Paraguay to avenge their defeat in the first knockout stage of the World Cup.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa netted the only goal in Japan’s 1-0 win against the South Americans, who defeated the Blue Samurai on penalties in their last-16 clash in South Africa.

“It’s the beginning of a new adventure. Please always stay with us,” the Italian coach told a sell-out crowd of more than 65,000 people in Yokohama.

“The most impressive thing was that everybody worked really well as a team until the end. It was a very good game for the players and staff. I watched Japan’s games in the World Cup. They did what I expected them to do,” he added.

Zaccheroni, who signed a contract on Friday, watched the game from the stands as he has yet to obtain a working visa.

Japan’s caretaker coach Hiromi Hara said: “We couldn’t name the new coach when we called up this team, but we didn’t want to make an excuse.”

Zaccheroni, who won the 1998-1999 Serie A title with Milan during a long coaching career in Italy, will also watch tomorrow’s friendly against Guatemala in Osaka from the stands.

He will take charge of friendlies in October against Argentina at home and South Korea away in the run-up to the Asian Cup in January.