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By Alastair Himmer
TOKYO, June 16 (Reuters) - After months of facing the threat of a humiliating World Cup elimination, Japan coach Takeshi Okada has suddenly gone from clown to king.
Okada's job was definitely on the line after a 1-0 defeat by Bahrain in a qualifier in March.
Stinging criticism from Japan's normally reserved media forced Okada into his shell and lent an edge to the coach's press conferences, one ending sharply after just three minutes.
Okada's second spell in charge of Japan had also looked like ending prematurely after players complained of not understanding the coach's tactics in Manama.
One night in Bangkok, however, and Okada's position appears untouchable, Saturday's 3-0 win over Thailand booking Japan's spot in the final round of Asian World Cup qualifiers.
Japan Football Association (JFA) chief Saburo Kawabuchi immediately tipped Okada to stay until after the 2010 World Cup.
"Obviously, it's a relief to go through," Kawabuchi told Monday's Japanese media, refusing the entertain the notion Japan could still fail to reach the finals in South Africa.
"Of course we want Okada to continue as coach until the finals."
An exhausted-looking Japan squad returned home on Sunday following the third of four qualifiers in 20 days and with only the weekend's home game against Bahrain left.
The Gulf side have also assured their place in the final round of Asian qualifiers and lead Group Two by a point from Japan.
DEAD RUBBER
Sunday's match may have nothing riding on it, apart from deciding who finishes top, but Okada insisted he would not be resting key players in Saitama.
"I will never forget the way we lost that away leg in Bahrain," said the 51-year-old, who led Japan to their first World Cup finals in 1998.
"Our pride is at stake in this game. There won't be any experimenting with this or that. We simply want to pay Bahrain back."
Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura may be the only player given the night off against Bahrain after playing with a bruised ankle against Thailand.
Nakamura tied former Japan team mate Hidetoshi Nakata with his 77th international appearance, as did defender Yuji Nakazawa, one of Japan's goalscorers in Bangkok.
"The coach (Okada) is thinking about resting me," said Nakamura, who required a pain-killing injection to play against the Thais.
"But the ankle could heal by the weekend. I want play. We want some payback for losing last time. Even if I can't play I want to do what I can to help the team in the build-up."
