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Nakata snatches a draw for Japan

Misimovic, left, reacts after firing Bosnia level from the penalty spot

DORTMUND, Germany (Reuters) -- Hidetoshi Nakata earned World Cup finalists Japan a last-minute 2-2 draw against Bosnia in a friendly in Dortmund, Germany, on Tuesday.

Japan went 1-0 up when Naohiro Takahara converted a corner from midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura in the 45th minute.

Bosnia equalized 12 minutes after the break through a Zvejzdan Misimovic penalty and Emir Sphahic put them in front 10 minutes later.

"The players can cope with aggressive players and also the pressure -- the 2-2 draw has shown that, " Japan's Brazilian coach Zico said.

"We have until the World Cup to confirm that we can deal with teams that have taller players and that play more aggressively. Our advantage is speed," he added.

Zico, who played in the 1978, 1982 and 1986 World Cup finals for Brazil though he never won the trophy, said his side had given Bosnia too much space on a pitch that was not in best condition.

"In June, the weather will be better hopefully -- at least we should not have any snow."

Japan are drawn in Group F with Brazil, Croatia and Australia at the World Cup finals which start on June 9.

Ukraine held

Azerbaijan held World Cup finalists Ukraine to a 0-0 draw in a friendly in Baku on Tuesday, the first time the teams have met at this level.

An early strike from Ukraine's Maksim Kalinichenko hit the bar but otherwise the team, without top striker Andriy Shevchenko, failed to threaten in the first half.

After 32 minutes Azerbaijan's captain Rashad Sadygov almost opened the scoring with a powerful shot from 25 meters which went just wide.

Ukraine failed to convert a couple of good chances early in the second half of a scrappy game fought out in midfield.

Ukraine meet Spain, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia in Group H at the World Cup which starts on June 9.

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