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Asian Cup: Japan coach Ivica Osim tells players to muck in

Japan coach Ivica Osim has demanded his entire squad muck in and be flexible against Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam in their tough Group B at the Asian Cup next month.

"Imagine everybody is defending and everybody is attacking," Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura told sports dailies, explaining what the seasoned Bosnian strategist has told the defending champions. "Gone are the times when two of the midfielders were offensive and the two others were defensive."

Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker Hisato Sato added: "[Osim] particularly emphasised the importance of defense by forwards. Both Qatar and the UAE are tight when it comes to ball possession and fierce in pressing. We surely have to bear it in mind."

Osim has played videos of Qatar and the UAE in action in separate meetings with his forwards, midfielders and defenders at a training camp just outside Tokyo since Sunday.

He personally watched the two countries play at the Gulf Cup in January, won by the UAE under French coach Bruno Metsu.
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