Japan coach Takeshi Okada admitted that positives from Japan’s 3-0 defeat at home by a second-string Serbia were hard to find.
The hosts were outclassed in Osaka thanks to a first half-brace from Dragan Mrda and a free-kick on the hour from Nemanja Tomic.
Japan were missing their European-based players as well as domestic stars such as Kengo Nakamura and Marcus Tulio Tanaka though the visitors were made up of entirely of players who ply their trade in the Serbian league.
"A match at a time like this is difficult for the players, and we also had some injuries," Okada said according to the Japan Times.
"But they are representing Japan whatever kind of game it is. The team needs to dig in and try to get the win especially when we are losing, and I think we were lacking in spirit tonight.
"I wasn't able to take away many positives from tonight, but I did find out some things about the players. When our key men are missing we really need to find some way to work it out."
Japan take on Cameroon, the Netherlands and Denmark in Group E of the 2010 World Cup while Serbia face Australia, Germany and Ghana.
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