Japan team at World Cup troubled by earthquake, hotel alarm

Word of a deadly earthquake in Japan and an early-morning false alarm at a team hotel have given the country's World Cup squad some unsettling moments.

Japan coach Akira Nishino, who built his professional reputation coaching Gamba Osaka, said he and a number of his players have acquaintances or loved ones affected by today's quake, making for an unwelcome distraction on the eve of the team's Group H opener against Colombia in Saransk.

"The psychological impact is something I'm slightly worried about at this point," Nishino said before today's afternoon's training session.

"As staff members, we are consulting with them and I'd like them to be settled down as soon as possible."
Midfielder and captain Hasebe Makoto said that on behalf of the team, he "would like to extend heartfelt condolences to those who've been affected and I hope damage can be limited as much as possible and recovery is as fast as possible."
"So I assume there was some negative impact."