Japan prepare for tough group in soccer event

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Olympic coach Yasuharu Sorimachi bore the look of a troubled man following the draw for this year's Beijing soccer tournament.

Sunday's draw pitted Japan against the Netherlands, the United States and Nigeria in Group B of the 16-team competition which is contested by under-23 sides.

"I knew we would get a difficult group," Sorimachi told Japanese media on Monday.

"Holland are probably the second best side in the world in this age group.

"We have also struggled against African teams so it's an extremely tough proposition. We will study the opposition and try to impose Japan's style of play on them."

Although immediately labeled the "group of death" by the Japanese media, Asian rivals South Korea and Australia also have difficult first-round assignments.

The Koreans face Italy, Cameroon and Honduras in Group D while Australia must negotiate Argentina, Ivory Coast and Serbia in a high-quality Group A.

Australia coach Graham Arnold said the draw was similar to the one the team faced at Athens in 2004 and he expected them to get through the group in Beijing.

"Last time we had a similar group and we did very well to make the quarter-finals," Arnold said in a statement.