Re-entering the Games arena after 12 years, the twice winners find themselves without depth, reflected in the fact that a place in the next round by itself would be regarded as an achievement at home.

Gold medallists in the first Games at New Delhi in 1951, Indian football fans still have to be satisfied with memories of the bygone era when stalwarts like Sailen Manna, captain in 1951, Ahmed Khan, Mewa Lal and the like lend great character.

India, led by the present manager Chuni Goswami, retained the title at the 1962 Jakarta Games with a 2-0 win over South Korea. The consistency of Indian sides could be gauged from the fact that they were fourth at Tokyo in 1958 and took bronze at Bangkok in 1970.

In 1970, when India won the last of their three medals,current coach Syed Nayeemuddin was the skipper but this time around, his task has been rendered unenviable despite a sprinkling of talent in the side with the likes of captain IM Vijayan and his fellow striker Baichung Bhutia.

But ranked a lowly 120-odd in the world, India have struggled to even keep margins of defeats low abroad. The team could travel this time only at ``no cost to government basis'' and on the Indian Olympic Association's argument that it was to build the side for the 2001 Afro-Asian Games in India where football will be a compulsory discipline.

India will have a tough task on hand when they take on Japan, who warmed up with a facile 5-0 win over Nepal in their opening Group C encounter. Indian hopes are pinned on a win over the Himalayan kingdom for a berth in the next round as the second placed, where they could run into a strong Qatar.

Indian preparations have been haphazard with chopping and changing going on till the last minute. The IOA list contained the originally chosenplayers, but All-India Football Federation gave out a list with a few changes.

Lack of all players from the outset and without foreign exposure, training had a bumpy ride and the morale has not exactly been left sky high after defending champions Uzbekistan, with a depleted side, thrashed the probable main eleven of India 4-0.

Indian hopes of atleast making it to the next round stem from the victory over Nepal to claim the SAARC title last year and a good run in the Kochi Nehru Cup tournament before going down narrowly to eventual winners Iraq in the semifinal.

But Japan, determined to claim the title to maintain the status of one of the four Asian countries who made it to the World Cup in France, will be too formidable.

India could take some cheer that they actually hold a 3-2 win-loss record against Japan in the Games with a 1-0 win when they met last at the 1970 Bangkok edition, but against a formidable side which has gained from all the virtues of professionalism back home, India stand littlechance of even putting up a decent fight.