Japan coach Zico is hoping a four-year plan will result in a shock defeat of the nation he represented in three World Cups.

The Brazilian knows only victory against his homeland in Dortmund on Thursday will keep Japan in the competition, and even then their fate will depend on the result of Australia's clash with Croatia in Stuttgart.

It is a tall order for a nation that has not even scored yet, but nonetheless Zico was confident a cluster of good omens could add up to an upset.

Firstly, Brazil are already qualified and will rest players. Secondly, the game will be played in the evening which suits Japan's counter-attacking style. And lastly, cup competitions occasionally spring surprises.

"Yes, it is true we can still qualify and I have told the players that against Croatia and Australia they should have shown more of the four years of work they have put in under me," said Zico.

"So if they show a little bit more spirit there is a chance of qualifying. In the World Cup some remarkable things have happened."

Japan wilted in the early afternoon heat of their first Group F game against Australia in Kaiserslautern, where a lead was overturned by a procession of late goals.

The goalless draw with Croatia that followed, which saw goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi save a penalty, was played in similar conditions - ones that Zico was convinced were unfit for such a tournament.

He said: "In the first two games it was very hot and it stopped Japan from playing to their strengths.

"Now the late kick-off should make it easier to play our game of counter-attacking at speed, so that's a good thing.

"Perhaps in the next World Cup they can introduce air conditioning for the early games."

The Brazilian, who played in the 1978, 1982 and 1986 finals, refused to give any clues about his team selection other than to confirm he had already decided on his starting XI.

Not surprisingly, up front is the area where changes are most likely, with the places of Naohiro Takahara of Hamburg and home-based Atsushi Yanagisawa, who had been guilty of an appalling close-range miss against Croatia, under threat.

Seiichiro Maki and Keiji Tamada are both keen to take their places in a side that could boast three British-based players in the shape of Bolton's Hidetoshi Nakata, Shunsuke Nakamura of Celtic and West Brom's Junichi Inamoto.

As well as a Brazilian in the Japan dugout there will be 12 on the pitch as defender Alex - real name Alessandro Santos - did not move to the Far East until he was a teenager and was granted citizenship only five years ago.