Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni admits the Samurai Blue have drawn a tough third round World Cup qualifying group against 2011 Asian Cup semi-finalists Uzbekistan and 2010 World Cup finalists North Korea.

The Asian champions are the favourites to progress from Group C, but Zaccheroni acknowledged there wouldn't be an easy route through against Uzbekistan, North Korea and Syria. (Alberto Zaccheroni, FIFA World Cup, Japan)