The World Cup in Brazil is less than three weeks
away. Everyone talks about Germany, Spain and Brazil of taking the trophy
but the underdogs in such a tournament should never be underestimated!
Japan is a regular guest at World Cups and are
eager to improve their previous results. The 'Blue Sumarai's' have never
progressed to a semi-final but have enough quality to beat the big teams.
Time for a quick break down of the young football
nation:
-Japan has their own professional league knows as
the J-League since 1993
-Their best result at the Olympic Games is a bronze
medal in 1968 in Mexico City
-Never progressed further than quarter finals at a
World Cup
-Four times AFC Asia Cup winner
-In 2001 second place at the Confederations Cup
-Most famous player: Yasuhito Endō with 141 caps
-Biggest rivals: South Korea
Japan’s road to Brazil 2014.
The country did not experience a lot of trouble on
their way to qualify for the fifth consecutive world cup. They had two losses
against to Jordan and Uzebkistan and a draw against Australia.
In october 2012 they were able to turn the tide and
had a historic 1-0 win over France. A country they never defeated before.
Brazil 2014
Japan has been assigned to Group C together with
Greece, Ivory Coast and Colombia.
Not the toughest draw but Japan would have
preferred a Colombia without AS Monaco striker Radamel Falcao. He suffered a
major knee injury and was thought of to be out for the World Cup but seems to
be ready in time.
Ivory Coast is a team for Japan to watch out for.
The country from Africa has many experienced players on their squad such as
Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou. The Toure brothers Yaya and Kolo from Manchster
City and Liverpool will also make an appearance at the World cup stage who are
known for their scoring abilities.
And Greece?
The European champions of 2004 haven’t been able to
leave their mark on international football ever since but this is the World cup
and anything can happen.
Who is Japan hoping for?
Keisuke Honda, the number of 10 AC Milan will play
a part in Japan’s success. He recently transferred from CSKA Moscow to AC Milan
and it will be his sixth year as international and has 52 caps and 20 goals
behind his name. He should be the creative mind on the field.
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| Keisuke Honda |
Not all hopes will be on Honda but even more on
Shinji Okazaki. The striker of Mainz 05 playing in the German Bundesliga scored
eight goals in the qualifying stage and is currently Japan’s fourth all time
goal scorer. Will he shoot his country to the next rounds?
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| Shinji Okazaki |
Japan has two players representing the Premier
League: Manchester United’s Shinji Kagawa should
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| Shinji Kagawa |
And Southhampton defender Maya Yoshida
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| Maya Yoshida |
The complete squad selected by coach Alberto Zaccheroni:
Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Standard
Liege), Shusaku Nishikawa (Urawa Reds), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)
Defenders: Masahiko Inoha (Jubilo Iwata),
Yasuyuki Konno (Gamba Osaka), Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan), Masato Morishige (FC
Tokyo), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke), Maya Yoshida (Southampton), Hiroki Sakai
(Hannover), Gotoku Sakai (Stuttgart)
Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka),
Makoto Hasebe (Nuremberg), Toshihiro Aoyama (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Hotaru
Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka)
Forwards: Keisuke Honda (AC Milan),
Yoshito Okubo (Kawasaki Frontale), Shinji Okazaki (Mainz), Shinji Kagawa
(Manchester United), Hiroshi Kiyotake (Nuremberg), Yoichiro Kakitani (Cerezo
Osaka), Manabu Saito (Yokohama F Marinos), Yuya Osako (1860 Munich)
Supporting Japan this World Cup? Make sure to dress
in White, Red and blue and to be chanting Nippon Ole Nippon Ole Nippon Ole!!
