Japan coach looks ahead to next match against Netherlands

Japan beat Cameroon 1-0 in Bloemfontein yesterday through a Keisuke Honda goal to notch their first ever World Cup victory on foreign soil.

Japan beat Cameroon 1-0 in Bloemfontein yesterday through a Keisuke Honda goal to notch their first ever World Cup victory on foreign soil.

Teammates congratulate Keisuke Honda for scoring the only goal of Japan's match against Cameroon yesterday. PIC/AFP

Japan coach Takeshi Okada praised his players but said it was only one step towards qualification and at the final whistle his focus was on Saturday's game against the Netherlands, who beat Denmark 2-0 yesterday.

"Today our players have really done a good job," he said, but added the team needed to be more aggressive in attack.

"In the next game we will be up against the Netherlands. So we will have to go one step further.

"This is the first win on foreign soil in the World Cup for our team but this is not an achievement at all. What's coming next is the point," he said.

Disappointed Cameroon coach Paul Le Guen said his team had not played to their potential.

"I regret that the players were not able to play at the level they could. In the second half they fought but there was a lack of order in their fight," the Frenchman said.

"I think we were too nervous during the first half.

"We lost many many easy balls and that's why I'm disappointed because when you feel your team is not at its best level you are frustrated," he added.