Japan needs draw, Colombia a win

SAINT-ETIENNE, France (AP) -- Japan holds a slight advantage heading into its decisive match against Colombia on Sunday.

To reach the Confederations Cup semifinals, the Asians need only a draw while Colombia must win.

Japan's Italy-based midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura said his team would approach the match just like it approaches every other.

"We want to play Japanese soccer and win with Japanese soccer," said the Reggina star, who leads the competition with three goals in two matches.

"We'll approach it just like we approached the [France] game," he said, referring to a 2-1 loss to the host nation on Friday.

Nakamura knows about do-or-die games. His team Reggina survived a two-game playoff to stay in Italy's Serie A early this month.

Japan outplayed France for long stretches, led by Nakamura and his fellow Italian league midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata.

Nakamura's 28-meter (yard) free kick that ricocheted in off the post brought the 36,000 capacity crowd at Geoffroy-Guichard stadium to its feet, and briefly drew blue-clad Japan even with "Les Bleus."

The same stadium may be less than half full on Sunday.

Japan and Colombia both have three points in Group A, but Japan leads on goal differential.

Colombia will be without its captain, Inter Milan defender Ivan Cordoba, who received his second booking in a 3-1 win against New Zealand on Friday in Lyon.

Cordoba has been the most consistent player in Colombia's extremely tough back line. He will be replaced by the inexperienced Deportivo Cali defender Jose Mera.

Colombia snapped its 13-month scoring drought and rallied with second-half goals to beat New Zealand. The South Americans had not scored in five games, since May of last year in a 2-1 loss to Mexico -- a total of 542 minutes.

Besides Cordoba, Colombia will also be without starting forward Elson Becerra against Japan. Eudalie Arriaga will step in to fill that vacancy.

Japan won't be missing any players, but its starting eleven will be tired. Nine of the squad's starters have played every minute so far in a grueling schedule that includes only one day off between matches.

"These are the players I have, and that's all I can put on the field," Zico said.

Freshness may have been the difference against France, which substituted nearly its entire lineup from its first game.

Still, France coach Jacques Santini was impressed.

"This Japanese team proved here it came to win the Confederations Cup," he said.

To have a chance at winning the Cup, Japan must first draw even -- or beat -- Colombia.

 

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