Japan beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-0 in freezing conditions at the National Stadium in Tokyo last night, thanks in no small part to two goals from substitute Koji Yamase.

After a season of starring for the otherwise mediocre Yokohama F. Marinos, the tricky Yamase finally got his chance when JEF United striker Seiichiro Maki went off injured. Yamase scored twice, finishing both goals with aplomb - which begs the question of why he was never given a chance under former coach Ivica Osim.

Speaking of Osim, the former Yugoslavia coach watched the match from the National Stadium, just months after suffering what appeared to be a life-threatening stroke. While Osim undoubtedly made strides with the national team, he'll no doubt have noted that many of the players most effective against Bosnia and Herzegovina, namely Atsuto Uchida, Yoshito Okubo and Yamase, were players who were overlooked under Osim's reign - generally for players Osim knew from his days as coach of JEF United.

Japan face Thailand in their opening World Cup qualifier on February 6, and on the basis of their 2007 showing at the Asian Cup, the Thai's will be no pushover. With the JEF United side that lifted the 2005 and 2006 League Cup having disintegrated this January, and with Ivica Osim no longer in charge of the national team, many fans in Japan are hoping that 2008 spells change for the Blue Samurai, particularly in terms of playing personnel.