JFA looking for proper replacement for Takeshi Okada

After displaying their best ever World Cup performance on foreign soil, Japan football association (JFA) has not been able to find a replacement for Takeshi Okada as a national coach. Japan will play their friendly matches without a new coach. The Samurai Blues are set to play Paraguay on September 4 and Guatemala three days later in Osaka.

JFA technical director Hiromi Hara, who has been tasked with finding a replacement for Takeshi Okada as national coach, said Monday he would fill in for the two internationals to be played at home.

Okada's contract expires at the end of this month.

The squad for the games will be announced on Friday.

Hara, 51, who coached J-League sides Urawa Reds and FC Tokyo before joining the association, returned home Monday after travelling abroad for talks with potential foreign candidates for the coaching job.