\\\'Japan need cool heads\\\'

TOKYO, Aug 1 (AFP): New Japan coach Javier Aguirre has demanded the Blue Samurai play with cool heads as well as their hearts following their World Cup flop, local media reported Friday.

The 55-year-old, who led his native Mexico to the last 16 of the World Cup in 2002 and 2010, has identified a lack of staying power as one of the causes for Japan's failure to win any of their matches in Brazil.

"In all their three games they made a good start but weren't quite strong enough to convert that into the right result," Aguirre told the Daily Sports newspaper. "I want to see strength in the latter stages of games.

"That means when they are leading with five minutes to go, they don't get turned over. Keeping hold of a lead is also part of controlling a game."

Asian champions Japan were beaten 2-1 by Ivory Coast, held to a goalless draw by a 10-man Greece and thumped 4-1 by Colombia at the World Cup, ending the four-year reign of Italian Alberto Zaccheroni.

Aguirre added: "We will pay due respect to the work carried out (by Zaccheroni) and continue to play the Japanese way. That is to retain possession and to attack in numbers."

But in a clear warning to his players, the Mexican demanded more from Japan before his first game in charge against Uruguay in Sapporo on September 5, followed by another home friendly with Venezuela in Yokohama on September 9.