Japan Coach: Australia Are Asia's Strongest
 

  It could be mind games but Japan coach Takeshi Okada has hailed World Cup rivals Australia as the best in Asia...
  To deal with the Socceroos, Japan have called up their strongest possible squad for their vital 2010 World Cup qualifier against Australia.
  The top two teams from Group One meet in Yokohama on February 11.
  After losing 1-0 to Bahrain in a 2011 Asian Cup qualifier last week, Okada has come in for some fierce criticism.
   In come five European-based players such as Shunsuke Nakamura and St. Etienne’s Daisuke Matsui.
  "We learn from defeat but we don't change our tactics because of defeat. We just play our best against Australia," Okada told reporters.
  "Australia are the top team in Asia. No other Asian teams have such solid individual skills as Australia."
   Despite the opposition, Okada is confident of the three points. "We've improved our squad so we can beat such an excellent team," he said. Japan have seven points from three games so far while Australia have two points more. Blue Samurai will warm up with a February 4 friendly against Finland.