Littbarksi pleased with training

Coach Pierre Littbarski was a delighted man after Sydney FC trained for the first time in Japan ahead of the FIFA Club World Championship.

The Hyundai A-League club will clash with Deportivo Saprissa on Monday (Australian time), hoping to win that match and then set up a semi-final clash with English Premier League giant Liverpool.

Littbarski put his players through a two-hour session after arriving in Nagoya, and he believes they are right on track to be ready for the test Deportivo Saprissa will provide.

"I think the players showed at training today that they realise they need to step up the intensity if we want to be able to beat Saprissa," Littbarski said. "We know they have more experience and history but the players looked hungry."

"It was our first training session in Japan and I was very impressed with the way they trained. It was fast and the intensity was what we are expecting to compete at this higher level. We will need to play to our best and have some luck and bring that level of intensity to the game."

Steve Corica and Matthew Bingley were also pleased with the session.

"The boys looked sharp," Corica said. "As a team and also individually we know this is a big game on a big stage. The way we trained today showed that we are aware of what is needed at this level."

"We now have four days to fine tune things and if we can do that while remaining intense in everything we do then we will give a good account of ourselves."

"It is a massive chance for us, a once in a lifetime opportunity for most of us," Bingley added. "We are playing in a tournament that has the best team from every continent in the world."

"In anyone's language that is a great opportunity. It has been six months since we qualified but the boys just look like they want it and that showed at training today."

Courtesy of Sydney FC official website