South Africa World Cup 2010 Group E: Japan

Japan

The Netherlands Japan Cameroon Denmark

Japan

Road to South Africa

Despite a shock 1-0 defeat away in Bahrain, Japan topped the first of their qualifying groups ahead of the tiny Gulf nation as both sides moved through to the final round.

The second round of qualifiers always looked likely to be a two-horse race between Australia and Japan, and following a tense 0-0 draw in Yokohama, it was Australia who gained the psychological edge with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the Samurai Blue in Melbourne.

Japan ultimately finished five points behind the Socceroos, as coach Takeshi Okada lost his battle of wits with former J. League tactician and current Australia coach Pim Verbeek. Finishing behind their burgeoning rivals was a blow, but Okada is acutely aware that the real work starts in South Africa.

Fixtures

Japan Copyright © Soccerphile	Japan Copyright © Soccerphile

Japan v Cameroon 14 June; Bloemfontein
Japan v The Netherlands 19 June; Durban
Japan v Denmark 24 June; Rustenburg

Analysis

For an outfit that relies more on team-work than individual talent, Japan are perhaps not as cohesive a unit as one might expect.

Questions remain over the best way to utilise Espanyol midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, whilst rival J. League stars Yasuhito Endo and Kengo Nakamura often cancel each other out in the Japan midfield.

Goal scoring remains a problem, and most of Japan's goals in qualifying came via set-pieces, with powerful defenders Yuji Nakazawa and Marcus Tulio Tanaka proving a constant menace at corners.

Whether Japan can unearth a reliable goal scorer up front may hold the key to their chances, as the Samurai Blue struggle to convert their strong work ethic into goals.

Key player: Yuji Nakazawa

Yokohama F. Marinos defender Nakazawa played in all three of Japan's games at the 2006 World Cup, and the tenacious centre-back is in inspirational figure both in defence and attack.

One to watch: Shinji Okazaki

The latest in Japan's long list of striking hopes, the Shimizu S-Pulse striker is a boundless bundle of energy and fearless in front of goal.

Coach: Takeshi Okada

A widely unpopular figure, Okada stepped in for stricken former coach Ivica Osim after the Bosnian suffered a serious stroke.

He's done it once before, with Okada a late replacement for the sacked Shu Kamo at the 1998 World Cup finals in France. He'll hope for a better performance in South Africa, after Japan lost all three group games twelve years ago.

Record

1998, 2006 First Round. 2002 Second Round

FIFA Ranking

Predictions & Latest Odds

Last four? No, third or fourth in the group.
World Cup Betting

How they qualified

Second place in Asian qualifying group 1.

On the sidelines

Defender Masami Ihara has the most caps (123) for Japan.
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Soccerphile says

The Japanese have already heaped pressure on themselves, after coach Okada claimed that a semi-final berth was not beyond their reach. Despite such lofty aims, they may find a group containing the Netherlands, Denmark and Cameroon tough to get out of.

The Squad

Goalkeepers
Defenders
Forwards

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