New Japan coach Akira Nishino, appointed following the shock dismissal of Vahid Halilhodzic, received the backing Tuesday of the only other Japanese manager to lead the country at the World Cup.

With just two months until the 2018 tournament kicks off in Russia, the Japan Football Association on Monday dropped the bombshell that it had fired Halilhodzic after Japan's poor performances in its most recent warmup matches last month in Belgium, a 1-1 draw with Mali and a 2-1 loss to Ukraine.

Takeshi Okada, who coached Japan at the 1998 World Cup in France and in 2010 in South Africa, said JFA technical director Nishino, who coached J-League side Gamba Osaka to multiple titles, including the 2008 Asian Champions League, was the "best choice" to take the reins.

"In the sense that he knows the national team well, he is the best choice," Okada said. "Because he's been around the team continuously, I think he has a clear picture of what needs to be done."

(Two-time World Cup coach Takeshi Okada backed his friend and new Japan manager Akira Nishino on Tuesday.)

The JFA cited poor communication between Halilhodzic and his players as one of the reasons for firing the 65-year-old from Bosnia-Herzegovina, but Okada said exchanging ideas won't be a problem for Nishino.

"On top of getting great results in the J-League, he was even better when it came to communicating with the players," Okada said.

Okada, whose second stint as Japan boss came unexpectedly after then head coach Ivica Osim suffered a stroke in November 2007, knows better than most the challenge facing Nishino in Russia.

With his unheralded squad not expected to make an impact, Okada won plaudits for leading Japan to the round of 16 in South Africa.

Nishino has efffectively three weeks to bring together a squad in generational transition and whose preparation has been hampered by injuries to key players and the shock of Halilhodzic's dismissal.

With few standout individual performances and Halihodzic heavily rotating the starting lineups against Mali and Ukraine, the makeup of the side to face Colombia in the opening Group H match on June 19 remains largely uncertain.

Captain Makoto Hasebe and defensive stalwart Maya Yoshida are among the almost-certain locks, while Portugal-based attacking midfielder Shoya Nakajima was one of the few to stake a strong claim in the recent friendlies following his debut against Mali.

If Japan is to once again exceed expectations and emerge from a tough group that also includes Senegal and world No. 6 Poland, Nishino will needs his players to leave everything on the pitch, according to Okada.

"In order to win, I want to see them play with a never-say-die attitude," Okada said.