We can't shoot straight, grumbles Japan coach Osim

HANOI, July 23 (Reuters) Moody Japan coach Ivica Osim brought his players down to earth with a bump after their Asian Cup win over Australia.

The tough-talking Bosnian was unable to watch Japan's penalty shootout victory over the Socceroos for fear of a heart attack but was quickly back on form at yesterday's practice.

''You should have played better yesterday. You need to get your focus back. The tournament is not over yet,'' the 66-year-old growled. ''When you shoot, make sure you hit the damn target. You can't shoot straight.'' Japan, bidding for a third successive Asian Cup title, overcame Australia in a draining match in Hanoi on Saturday to set up a semi-final against Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

But Osim was in no mood for congratulatory pats on the backside as he prowled around the pitch waving his arms and giving an earful to any player who put a foot wrong in training.

''He didn't look pleased or anything,'' Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura told Reuters. ''That's just him. He is right.

We need to provide more threat by taking more shots from distance.'' Japan comfortably won Group B before beating Australia 4-3 on penalties after their quarter-final ended locked at 1-1 following extra time.

However, the defending champions have been guilty of being over-elaborate and have tried to walk the ball into the net at times after turning down shooting opportunities.

''We need to make sure when we attack we get a shot at goal in,'' said Nakamura. ''We need that awareness. If we can't you need to some special to open up defences and score goals.'' Eintracht Frankfurt's Naohiro Takahara has scored four goals and Seiichiro Maki and Nakamura two each so Japan are hardly suffering a drought.

Osim's priority is the 2010 World Cup, though Nakamura suggested that some Japan players were too concerned with incurring their coach's wrath to take risks on the pitch.

''He hates us getting caught in possession in dangerous positions,'' smiled the Celtic midfielder. ''That's why sometimes you can tend to look for safer option of keeping possession.

''Obviously, you need imagination but Osim is trying to capitalise on Japan's strengths. We try to break teams down with our passing and movement.'' REUTERS BJR VC1445