The Japanese coach of Taiwan's Asian Cup soccer squad may not be expecting a win against regional giants South Korea tonight in their Group B qualifier, but he wants a goal at least.
Two weeks of preparations for the return leg against the Koreans has seen Toshiaki Imai concentrate on a more attacking game than the Taiwanese displayed during their insipid 3-0 loss at home three weeks ago.
"We must first be careful to do all the little things right, but I really need that goal. Even though it's harder to play as the visiting team, we still need to give it our best and see what happens," Imai was quoted as saying in a report on Sunday on the Chinese Taipei Football Association Web site.
PHOTO: AP
The report said the team trained with 24 players at National Chung Cheng University before Imai cut the squad to 20.
It said that injured striker Huang Wei-yi has been replaced by youngster Tai Hung-hsu, while captain Cheng Yung-jen has returned from suspension, pushing midfielder Huang Cheng-tsung off the squad. All other players are unchanged.
Toshiaki was not overly concerned about the loss of Huang, despite the impact this would have on the team's attack, the report said.
The 18-year-old Tai has missed training sessions because of the sudden change, but Imai said that "missing one or two practices isn't a big deal," according to the report.
Tai's positive attitude made this an ideal time for him to join the team, Imai was quoted as saying.
Other games
Other Asian teams have called up a host of European-based stars to spearhead their teams' drive to reach the Asian Cup finals in the next round of qualifying today.
Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will lead Australia against Kuwait, while China have drafted in Anderlecht forward Dong Fangzhuo and Sheffield United midfielder Li Tie to ensure they beat Singapore.
While Australia are already through to the finals co-hosted by Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam next year, they want to maintain their momentum and have named a dangerous squad for their trip to the Far East.
Coach Graham Arnold has included nine of the players who represented Australia at the World Cup. The whole squad is European-based, although PSV Eindhoven midfielder Jason Culina was ruled out on Monday with a torn hamstring.
"We decided to mix in some of the World Cup squad members with some players who just missed out and some of the promising young players that are currently at clubs in Europe," Arnold said.
"We are building some depth here and we want to have a big list of players that we can call on. The A-League players got their chance against Kuwait in Sydney and now players from Europe will have their chance in Kuwait," he said.
Australia is the highest ranked Asian side in the world at 33 after their run into the second round at the World Cup in Germany.
With three qualifying matches left, China need to beat Singapore in the city-state to avoid a tricky last two games. China are level with Iraq on six points in Group E, with Singapore and Palestine on three.
China, who were beaten by Japan in the 2004 final, only scrapped a last minute 1-0 win over Singapore in Tianjin three weeks ago and know they must do better on Wednesday.
Coach Zhu Guanghu has called up three overseas players -- Shao Jiayi from Energie Cottbusin, the newly-promoted Bundesliga club, as well as Dong and Li.
China also have playmaker Zheng Zhi back in action after a six-month suspension for pushing an opponent in an Asian Champions League match last year.
"Our opponents have an attacking lust and we will need to find more chances in their backyard," Zheng said.
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