Kuala Lumpur: Japan technical director Masakuni Yamamoto insisted preparation will be key if the Samurai Blue are to secure an eighth consecutive FIFA World Cup qualification when the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 kicks off in September.

The Hajime Moriyasu-coached side will take on Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China PR and Indonesia in Group C with the draw ensuring a number of long-haul trips lie ahead for many of Japan’s predominantly Europe-based squad.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙤 #FIFAWorldCup 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙨!#AsianQualifiers Round 3 begins on September 5! pic.twitter.com/m8ll6z1Yi5

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“We have been drawn into a very difficult and challenging group,” said Yamamoto, who worked as Philippe Troussier’s assistant coach during Japan’s co-hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2002. .....

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