Bahrain coach Milan Macala has criticised his players for being in awe of Japan.

MANAMA: Bahrain’s Czech coach Milan Macala believes the Gulf side has a good chance of booking progression to the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals.

Bahrain are in the hat for the final Asian qualifying round draw which takes place tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur after qualifying behind former Asian champions Japan. Macala’s men won three and drew and lost one match each in the third round.

“Everybody has an equal chance right now,” the 64-year-old Macala told the Gulf Daily News. “Each of the remaining countries is very strong; we all are the best in Asia, and anyone can win any match.”

About the draw, Macala had no preferences as to which teams would present a formidable obstacle.

“We have no preferences in who we want to play against - it is completely out of our control,” he said. “We must take care of ourselves first, and be prepared for everyone.”

“Surely, there are some factors which can affect us in our group, like how much travel we have to do to play an away match, but generally these don't matter. All the teams can pose different troubles for us, and we can do the same against them.”

Bahrain failed to make the cut for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany last time round by a whisker. In the inter-AFC playoff, the Bahrainis beat Uzbekistan before narrowly losing to CONCACAF side Trinidad and Tobago in the inter-continental playoff.