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Japan coach fired after tie at Kazakhstan
TOKYO (AP) -- Shu Kamo was fired as coach of Japan's soccer team Sunday, a day after a 1-1 tie at Kazakhstan in a World Cup qualifier.Kamo already was under severe criticism after his team's previous qualifier, in which Japan allowed two goals in the final five minutes and lost to South Korea 2-1.
Japan and South Korea, co-hosts of the 2002, are bitter rivals. While South Korea leads the Asia Group B with a 4-0 record and 12 points, Japan is third at 1-1-2 and five points. The group winner qualifies for the 32-team field in France next summer and the second-place team advances to a playoff.
Assistant coach Takeshi Okada will replace Kamo.
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