Japanese football team 'have benefitted' from oxygen equipment
Using oxygen equipment to help prepare for matches at high altitude has proved beneficial for the Japanese football team, it has been suggested.
The squad adopted oxygen treatment to condition them for the Fifa World Cup in South Africa and their team coach has stated the move has paid off, the Independent reports.
Takeshi Okada said the extra effort in preparations, which also included eating beef to increase haemoglobin in the players' red blood cells, has paid dividends as the Blue Samurai can qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament with a draw or victory against Denmark tonight (June 24th).
Mr Okada confirmed: "The training seems to have lasting effects."
The Japanese have only conceded one goal in the competition thus far and that was down to a goalkeeping error, the newspaper added.
Another country to have gained an advantage at the contest through using oxygen equipment is South Korea, with the AFP recently suggesting the technique played a role in their victory over Greece.
Posted by Jenny Richards
24/06/2010 13:23:08
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