Focus On... JAPAN!

JAPAN

Manager: Alberto Zaccheroni
Previous Best: Round of 16 (2002, 2010)

Likely Line-up (4-2-3-1)

Pos	Name	Age	Caps	Club
GK	Kawashima*	31	56	Standard Liège (BEL)
RB	Uchida*	26	67 (2)	Schalke 04 (DEU)
CB	Konno*	31	80 (1)	Gamba Osaka
CB	Yoshida	25	40 (2)	Southampton (ENG)
LB	Nagatomo*	27	69 (3)	Internazionale (ITA)
DM	Hasebe*	30	78 (2)	Eintracht Frankfurt (DEU)
DM	Endō*	34	143 (13)	Gamba Osaka
RAM	Okazaki*	28	75 (38)	Mainz 05 (DEU)
CAM	Honda*	27	55 (20)	AC Milan (ITA)
LAM	Kagawa	25	56 (18)	Manchester United (ENG)
ST	Kakitani	24	11 (5)	Cerezo Osaka

* Has appeared at a previous World Cup

Average Age: 27.7
Total Caps: 730
Best Odds: 200/1 (BetVictor)
Player to Watch: Shinji Okazaki

Owing to a combination of excellent performances, and the scheduling the Asian qualifying, Japan were the first country to qualify for the World Cup. The development of the game in Japan since the launch of the first professional league there in 1993 has been incredible. The J-League is now made up of 40 professional clubs, in two divisions, and the top division boasts higher average attendances than much more established leagues, such as those in Russia, Portugal or Scotland.

Now considered perennial World Cup participants, it seems strange to consider that this is only the fourth World Cup the Japanese have actually qualified for, having only made their debut in 1998, and having co-hosted the 2002 tournament. Although one could have said the same of Saudi Arabia just a few years ago, the strength of the game in Japan now makes a World Cup not featuring Japan seems like an unlikely possibility for decades to come.

In goal Japan will pick Eiji Kawashima of Standard Liége. Kawashima went to the 2010 World Cup as backup, but after an impressive performance against England in a pre-tournament friendly, he won selection for the first group game, and has been Japan’s first choice goalkeeper since. It may be worth noting that at 6’1” Kawashima is slightly short for a goalkeeper (the same height as Shay Given).

Japanese footballers moving to Europe in recent years have shown a preference for the Bundesliga. The World Cup features 2 players based in England, 2 in Italy, none in either France or Spain, but 7 in Germany. One of those 7 is Atsuto Uchida of Schalke 04, who will probably start at right-back. Not the quickest fullback in the World, he will nonetheless join in with attacks when he can.

In central defence 2 of Konno, Yoshida, and Morishige will be picked. The extra experience of Konno (80 caps) and Yoshida (40 caps) may give them the edge over Morishige (9 caps). Yoshida plays in the English Premier League with Southampton, while Konno has spent his entire career in the J-League. Despite standing at only 5’10”, he is surprisingly good in the air, and is good enough with the ball at his feet to play in midfield if required. At left back Yūto Nagatomo of Internazionale returns after an impressive performance at the 2010 World Cup

In midfield Makoto Hasebe will captain the side, and will be one of Japans key players. Now playing with Eintracht Frankfurt, he won the Bundesliga in 2008/09 with Wolfsburg. Hasabe will be the engine room of the side, and will be joined in midfield by the massively experienced Yasuhito Endō, whgo will represent a threat to opposition goalkeepers from free kicks.

The line of 3 attacking midfielders are where Japans stars are to be found. On the right Shinji Okazaki (left) of Mainz will be the least known of the 3, but will certainly be worth watching. Okazaki bagged 15 goals for Mainz in the Bundesliga this season, and if you intend to gamble on the World Cup, he may prove an excellent investment in the goalscorer markets. The trio is completed by Keisuke Honda of AC Milan, and Shinji Kagawa of Manchester United.

Up front Mike Havenaar of Vitesse was surprisingly not selected by Zaccheroni, and the Italian is now trying to decide between Yūya Ōsako of Köln, and Yoichiro Kakitani of Cerezo Osaka. European bias may lead you assume that Ōsako will win out, given that he is playing in the Bundesliga, but the performances of Kakitani have attracted the attention of Arsenal and Atletico Madrid in recent times, and he might be the favourite to be selected in Japans first game. Strong performances in the 2013 East Asian Cup also go in Kakitani’s favour.

Japan find themselves in a group with Greece, Columbia and Ivory Coast. Injury to Columbia’s Falcao means no team can truly be said to stand out as favourites, and Japan may well be able to escape to the knock-out phase.