The Japanese have fallen in love with the World Cup since their debut in 1998. Since then they have participated in all editions of the tournament. Their 4 Asian Cup titles in the last 7 tournaments is proof of their domination on the continent. With technically strong and tactically aware players, who now play in Europe's top leagues, Japan has the ability to advance from their group. A group of Colombia, Poland and Senegal seems evenly matched giving the Blue Samurai a great opportunity to progress to the knock-out round. Even though the team finished first in their Asian qualifying group, the style of football being played was not attractive enough for the Japanese public and as a result, Vahid Halilhodzic was replaced with former Gamba Osaka manager Akira Nishino just two months before the Russian kickoff. Nishino, who is also a former national youth team manager, will attempt to quickly reclaim and then improve Japan's expansive brand of attacking football. Keisuke Honda made the interesting move to Mexico's Pachuca where he has found his form again after a nightmare end to his Milan career. Shinji Kagawa will be the brains behind the operation, the Bourissa Dortmund maestro may combine with striker Shinji Okazaki for Japan's goal threat. Okazaki is a former Premier League champion and the most capped player in this Japanese team. Most capped but not the oldest as the oldest outfield player is Makoto Hasabe, the Japanse captain at 37 years old is amazingly finished another wonderful Bundesliga campaign which was capped off by winning the German Cup final against Bayern Munich.  

 

Head Coach: Akira Nishino

 

Population: 127 million

 

Appearances: 6

 

Best: Round of 16(2010,2002)

 

How they Qualified: After jogging to the final round of Asian Qualifying, the Blue Samura were complacent and opened the round with a 2-1 loss at home to a plucky UAE team lead by the mercurial Omar Abdulrahman. That loss seemed to spark the team to life and they then went unbeaten all the way until they qualified on the penultimate matchday. 

 

Star Players:Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund), Keisuke Honda (Pachuca), Makoto Hasebe (Eintracht Frankfurt), Shinji Okazaki (Leicester), Yuto Nagatomo(Galatasaray)

 

Wildcard: Maya Yoshida- Probably does not get mentioned enough when discussing the Japanese team.  He has quietly gone on to amass over 80 caps for his country while forging a 6-year career with Southampton in the English Premier League, a club that he often captains. Yoshida has to be commander for the Japanese as Poland, Senegal and Colombia all have accomplished attackers. 

 

Legend:Hidetoshi Nakata

GOALKEEPERS

 

Eiji Kawashima-Metz(France)

 

Masaaki Higashiguchi-Gamba Osaka(Japan)

 

Kosuke Nakamura-Kashiwa Reysol(Japan)

 

 

 

DEFENDERS

 

 

Yuto Nagatomo (Galatasaray)

 

Tomoaki Makino-Urawa Reds(Japan)

 

Wataru Endo-Urawa Reds(Japan)

 

Maya Yoshida-Southampton(England)

 

Hiroki Sakai-Marseille(Japan)

 

Gotoku Sakai-Hamburg(GermanY)

 

Gen Shoji-Kashima Antlers(Japan)

 

Naomichi Ueda-Kashima Antlers(Japan)

 

 

MIDFIELDERS

 

 

Makoto Hasebe -Eintracht Frankfurt(Germany)

 

Toshihiro Aoyama-anfrecce Hiroshima(Japan)

 

Keisuke Honda-Pachuca(Mexico)

 

Takashi Inui-Eibar(Spain)

 

Shinji Kagawa-Dortmund(Germany)

 

Hotaru Yamaguchi-Cerezo Osaka(Japan)

 

Genki Haraguchi-Fortuna Dusseldorf(germany)

 

Takashi Usami-Fortuna Dusseldorf(Germany)

 

Gaku Shibasaki-Getafe(Spain)

 

Ryota Oshima-Kawasaki Frontale(Japan)

 

Kento Misao-Kashima Antlers(Japan)

 

Yosuke Ideguchi-Leonesa(Spain)

 

 

FoRWARDS

 

 

Shinji Okazaki-Leicester(England)

 

Yuya Osako-Werder Bremen(Germany)

 

Yoshinori Muto-Mainz(Germany)

 

Takuma Asano-Stuttgart(Germany)