Japan confident of WC victory rallies

CLEARWATER, United States, June 4 (AFP): Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni and his players are relying on the team's never-say-die attitude to spur them on at the World Cup.
Japan are prepping themselves to do things the hard way in Brazil as they have a history of falling behind early in games.
A day after battling from behind for a 3-1 victory over World Cup-bound Costa Rica, the Blue Samurai were taking stock of a belief built over four years of hard work since a run to the last 16 at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
"We don't give up," Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima said Tuesday. "We run to the end. There have been many moments in the last four years where we have been able to come back after a difficult situation."
It's a faith created from facing tough times together, including losing all three matches at last year's Confederations Cup in Brazil.
And for Italian Zaccheroni, who guided AC Milan to a pair of Serie A titles, such bonds have given his team a resilience to bounce back from misfortune and make the most from opportunity.
"We have a solid team concept. We have a team identity, a certain character. These factors are a power greater than the first goal," Zaccheroni said.
"When we give the opponent the first goal, they definitely can play more defensively. The important thing is to analyze why we give up the first goal, realise our error and improve our game. Even if we give up the first goal, we make our chances and we have to focus on finishing."