It was the first time that Osim has called up Europe-based players since his appointment as coach last July, which came after Japan's disappointing World Cup campaign in Germany with one draw and two losses.

Saturday's win was the first time Japan had beaten Peru in four attempts, after two losses and one draw, but despite the win Osim expected more from his players.

"It's neither meat nor fish. I mean, it's no good," the Serbian said, singling out Nakamura for criticism.

"He must play quicker. Maybe he is under heavy pressure to do something special. He tried to produce a nice cross each time he played," Osim added.

"It's enough to play the role of a genius once in several times.  If you try to do that, it will end in a disaster. But he knows it.  He started to play better as the game went on."

Nakamura admitted he was not at his best on Saturday.

"I could have played better. Right now, it's more important for me to integrate myself with the team, so I just tried not to lose the team's momentum," he said.

"So far as I'm called up, I want to continue until 2010. I can play better and better if I continue, it never goes the other way," the Celtic star added.

Osim had kinder words for striker Takahara, whose goal on Saturday was his 16th in 45 games for the national side.

"I understand that it's not a mere happening he plays very well in the German league," the coach said.

Cup defence

Takahara knew exactly what his job was as a striker, saying: "I just turned round and hit the shot as I was able to control the ball calmly. I wished I were able to score in our passing play but I'm glad I scored, because I'm a forward."

Osim, who coached the former Yugoslavia to the World Cup quarter-finals in 1990, plans to call up more Europe-based players to prepare for the Asian Cup which will be held in July, co-hosted by Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.

"The defence of the Asian Cup will be the marker by which we measure the real capability of the Japanese team.

"We can consider it as a preliminary drill of the Asian qualifying round for the next World Cup," he said recently.