Japan

Asian Cup 2011 Teams: Japan

Road to Qatar


Japan Copyright © Soccerphile	Japan Copyright © Soccerphile

Grouped with Bahrain, Yemen and Hong Kong, Japan were expected to breeze through Asian Cup qualifying - particularly after beating Yemen in their home opener.

But a 1-0 defeat on the road in Bahrain threw a spanner in the works and placed immense pressure on then coach Takeshi Okada. Fortunately a 6-0 thrashing of the hapless Hong Kong turned things around, and Japan comfortably won their remaining three games to top the group with five wins out of six.

The Samurai Blue deployed a mixture of experienced veterans and youthful newcomers to battle their way through qualifying, and they always appeared to have the measure of a relatively weak group.

Fixtures

Group B

Japan v Jordan; 9 January 2011, Qatar Sports Club, Doha

Japan v Syria; 13 January 2011, Qatar Sports Club, Doha

Japan v Saudi Arabia; 17 January 2011, Al-Rayyan, Doha

Analysis

New Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni has called up 11 players who missed the recent World Cup, with the likes of Maya Yoshida, Takuya Honda and Yosuke Kashiwagi representing a new generation of talent.

Japan start their Asian Cup campaign against Jordan, before taking on Syria and ending their group stage against the team who knocked them out of the 2007 tournament, Saudi Arabia.

The Samurai Blue are one of the powerhouses of East Asian football, but Zaccheroni may feel a slight sense of unease at having to face three West Asian sides in the group stage. Nevertheless Japan are expected to ease through to the knock-out stages, although their new Italian coach will no doubt be eager to record victories in the opening two games and to make a final day showdown with the Saudis academic.

Key player: Keisuke Honda

Keisuke Honda took the World Cup by storm, and the powerful attacking talent is expected to lead Japan's quest for goals in Qatar.

Honda has an eye for goal and a deceptive turn of speed, but it's his mental strength and determination to succeed that makes him such a vital player for the Japanese.

One to watch: Tadanari Lee

A fourth-generation Zainichi Korean, the player now known as Tadanari Lee took Japanese citizenship in 2007 in order to represent Japan at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Lee has shrugged off repeated questions over his nationality by simply performing on the pitch, and although he's unlikely to start in Qatar, his bustling style makes him a real threat off the bench.

Coach: Alberto Zaccheroni

A journeyman coach in Italy's highly tactical Serie A, Japan marks Alberto Zaccheroni's first foray into international management. He started it brightly with a high-profile friendly win over Argentina, but Zaccheroni is experienced enough to know that success in the major tournaments is what will keep him in the job.

Record

2000; Champions, 2004; Champions, 2007; Semi-finalists

Soccerphile says

Japan might be three-times Asian Cup champions, but they're going through somewhat of a rebuilding phase under new coach Zaccheroni. The Samurai Blue clearly have an eye on the 2014 World Cup after naming a relatively youthful Asian Cup squad, but they should nevertheless escape the group stage with ease, with a confident Zaccheroni no doubt aiming to steer his side into the final at Doha's Khalifa International Stadium.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Lierse), Shusaku Nishikawa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)
Defenders: Masahiko Inoha (Kashima Antlers), Daiki Iwamasa (Kashima Antlers), Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Yuto Nagatomo (Cesena), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke), Gotoku Sakai (Albirex Niigata), Tomoaki Makino (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Maya Yoshida (Venlo)
Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Daisuke Matsui (Tom Tomsk), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund), Hajime Hosogai (Augsburg), Jungo Fujimoto (Shimizu S-Pulse), Takuya Honda (Shimizu S-Pulse), Yosuke Kashiwagi (Urawa Reds), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow)
Forwards: Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse), Ryoichi Maeda (Jubilo Iwata), Tadanari Lee (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)

The winner of the Asian Cup takes part in the Confederations Cup.

Our partner site QatarVisitor.com based in Doha carries all the necessary details on attending the event including travel, visa and hotel information.

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