"This is football. There is no use in standing still and we have to prepare for the next match," Brazilian coach Zico said after the three-time Asian champions yielded three goals in the final 10 minutes to surrender a 1-0 lead.

The loss made it hard for Japan to survive the first round in a tough group which also includes five-time champions Brazil. Japan will meet 1998 semi-finalists Croatia on June 18 in Nuremberg.

"We did not do anything after taking the lead," said Zico who has vowed to guide Japan to their best ever World Cup since their winless debut in 1998. His predecessor Philippe Troussier took them into the round of 16 on home soil four years ago.

"We had two clear goalscoring chances on the counter-attack but if you do not put the ball in at one end you sometimes concede it at the other," he said.

Japan also lost a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with hosts Germany in a warm-up match two weeks ago.

"We have to change our mindset after the same thing has happened twice," Zico said.

"We have to study the way we repel any power play the opponents may employ as a last resort," said Zico, a star midfielder in three World Cup campaigns as a player for Brazil.

"We may be able to stop a couple of shots but not for long because of our physical disadvantage. We also have to learn to convert our chances."

Central defender and captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto admitted that it was tough to keep at bay the physical Australians who were taller and heavier than Japan's "Blue Samurai."

"We were running out of stamina after leading 1-0," said the 29-year-old. "Of course, we are left in a difficult position after losing the first match. But we will only have to look ahead."

Hamburg striker Naohiro Takahara, who scored both goals in the German friendly, said: "I feel very disappointed but this is not the end. I will start afresh toward the next match so that I can produce a result.

Celtic playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura, whose cross found its way into the Australian after a goalmouth melee, said Australia coach Guus Hiddink's timely subsitition strategy seemed to have paid off.

"We were alright until they started substituting players. We were no longer able to cope and they beat us when we tried to get the ball in a one-one situation."

Zico said his squad needed to put the disappointment behind them. "There is no use in feeling down. They have to look ahead with a fresh frame of mind."