Nakata (left) is glad to have made the last 16 (Allsport)
SECOND ROUND WAS OUR GOAL - NAKATA
By PA Sport Staff
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Japan star Hidetoshi Nakata says qualification
for the second round of the World Cup finals was the minimum his side was aiming
for at the start of the competition.
No host country in the tournament's history has fallen at the first hurdle and
both Japan and South Korea have ensured that statistic remained intact.
Japan secured a top-place finish in Group H and a second-round showdown
against Turkey with their 2-0 win over Tunisia.
It was the first time Japan had reached the last 16 but Nakata, who scored the
second goal against Tunisia, insisted that result was the least of their
ambitions.
"Getting through the first round was a minimum target to achieve as the
co-host. As we've achieved that, I'm happy," Nakata said in the Japan Times.
"We aimed not just to qualify, but to win the group and qualify for the next
round after we took the lead in the group."
South Korea will play Italy in the next phase after their stunning 1-0 win
over Portugal confirmed them as Group D winners.
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