Japan coach Takeshi Okada thinks that reaching a first ever World Cup quarterfinal with victory over Paraguay on Tuesday would be an important step in developing football in his country.

"For the football community of Japan, it would be very bright, wonderful news and encouraging if we advanced," Okada said through a translator. "Japan's aim of becoming one of the world-class teams would be one step closer if we can qualify for the last eight for the first time.

"The World Cup is a very good measurement to estimate the level of a nation at this time and we've come so far, not only to our credit, but to the credit of footballing community of Japan as a whole."

Japan is Asia's last surviving team after South Korea was knocked out in the second round by another South American team, Uruguay.

Okada said that the 2002 Japan side's stumble at the same round-of-16 stage may have been down to over-excitement on the part of the players.

"Now the biggest concern is that, while back in Japan the fans are jubilant, the players shouldn't be complacent," Okada said.

Especially since Paraguay is also chasing a spot in the quarterfinals for the first time.

"It's a massive thing - people need to know also that we are a small country and with all the problems in the country (this) is one of the only happiness people get in the country," Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz said. "People will be of course expecting a lot from us and if we make that place it would mean be one of the biggest achievements Paraguay have made in their history."

To achieve it, though, Santa Cruz and fellow forwards Lucas Barrios and Oscar Cardozo may have to do what they didn't in the group stage and score.

"There's more to what we do than just scoring goals," said Santa Cruz, who scored three in five World Cup qualifiers. "Our job is to make sure the defence doesn't have a lot of space to play in, and to try and stop the opposition from controlling possession."

Midfielders Enrique Vera and Cristian Riveros have scored, with defender Antolin Alcaraz getting the other group-stage goal.

"What matters most is how the team plays," Riveros said. "When we score it's even nicer if it's someone who's not a striker and doesn't usually find the target."

But the tight defence conceded just once in three group matches.

"Perhaps Paraguay are not one of the very gorgeous teams, but fundamentally they do have very powerful strengths," Okada said. "Starting from the solid defence to being quick offensively we have to be cautious about those strengths."

The Japanese are hoping their dead-ball prowess and speedy attacks could hold the key to breaking down the South Americans in Pretoria. Japan advanced thanks to a pair of precision free kicks from Keisuke Honda and Yusuhito Endo clinching a 3-1 victory over Denmark.

"Obviously from what we saw the other day, we need to try not to concede fouls near the area," Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino said.

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