Keisuke Honda, the Japan striker, has acknowledged that his side have a better chance of progressing from the group stages at the World Cup if they reprise the tactics which enabled them to qualify for the tournament in the first place.

The Japanese will face Greece in their second group game.

It is a significant night for both sides since neither were able to win their inaugural fixture, with Japan perhaps the most frustrated given the manner of their defeat by Ivory Coast. They arrived in Brazil having profited from swift attacking play and reliable passing but seemed timid as their African opponents came from behind to win on Sunday.

It is not an experience which Honda is keen to repeat. "Possession - that is our strength," said the Japan forward. "When we have the ball we just need to keep the ball and not give it away easily. When we do lose the ball we should press immediately. That is our philosophy."

The Greeks are not expected to sit back either, despite their reputation for favouring a defensive strategy. "We will go out to win and that philosophy will not change," said forward Giorgios Samaras.