TOKYO — Brazilian legend and Iraq coach Zico admits he feels “emotional” in playing his young and largely untested squad in a World Cup qualifier Tuesday against Japan, whom he coached 2002-2006. “For me it is very, very nice to be back in Japan and very emotional because I worked here 15 years and have a good impression of the Japanese,” he told local media Sunday, as his squad flew in after a training camp in South Korea. The 59-year-old, who starred in the World Cup in 1978, 1982 and 1986 without lifting the trophy, ended his playing career in Japan in 1994. He also helped develop J-League side Kashima Antlers, where he played from 1992-1994, as a technical director, and led Japan to Asian Cup victory in 2004. “I have built up many things here and I am happy that the Japanese people realize that,” Zico told Kyodo News. He was credited for calling up Jubilo Iwata defender Yuichi Komano, Wolfsburg midfielder Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg) and Gamba Osaka playmaker Yasuhito Endo for their first international duties. “Now it is a new team,” Zico said of the Blue Samurai, who have been guided by Italian tactician Alberto Zaccheroni since late 2010. “Japan are one of the superpowers in Asia and have bags of quality,” he said. “There are a lot of players in the team that can score goals so we have to watch out for all of them.” Zico has been in charge of Iraq for about a year and his men will clash with Japan at Saitama, north of Tokyo. The Samurai lead Group B on seven points, while Iraq, Australia and Oman each have two points, ahead of Jordan on one. Zico said his preparations had been hit by injuries and that Iraq would need a team effort to beat Zaccheroni's men. “Three players got injured in Korea and one player didn't arrive,” Zico told Kyodo. “Our team is young and many players are with us for the first time,” he said. “I have only got three regulars with me so we will need a complete team effort. “There are new players that I want to try out and see if they are up to the job but I am confident of getting a result. Mental strength will be the key,” he said. Denmark, Czech Republic Denmark and the Czech Republic drew 0-0 in their opening qualifying match for the 2014 World Cup Saturday. Denmark dominated the first half but the Czechs came back in the second with an early attempt by Matej Vydra. The home team kept pressing and regained control, and had several chances. Its best came from Nicolai Jorgensen and Leon Andreasen but Petr Cech was able to keep his goal clear. The Danes faced a compact and defensive Czech team. Cech jumped to make a save in the last minute when a lone Leon Andreasen took a clear shot. “We had like 10 chances or so, and we should have scored,” said coach Morten Olsen. “We are all disappointed. The ball should have crossed the line.” Captain and defender Daniel Agger added: “That's football. We didn't do everything right but we had lots of chances.” Denmark played without the suspended Nicklas Bendtner because of UEFA's one-match ban while the Czechs were without injured captain Tomas Rosicky, and his usual replacement, Daniel Kolar, and first-choice attacking midfielder Vaclav Pilar also were injured. — Agencies
