Japan out to end Asia’s jinx

Japan may never have a better opportunity to bring Asia’s woeful World Cup record against South American opposition to an end than when they face Paraguay in the second round in Pretoria. No Asian team have ever beaten a South American side at the World Cup. Of the 10 encounters between the continents, South America have won eight times with two games drawn -- North Korea v Chile 1-1 in 1966 and South Korea vs Bolivia 0-0 in 1994.