It's often said that once one does something, it can be done again, but the pressure and expectations increase immensely. Four years ago, Japan, against all odds, knocked off traditional women's football powerhouses Germany and the USA in order to win their first ever World Cup title. The Germans were seeking their third consecutive title and first on home soil, whilst the Americans were also hoping for a third trophy having won it in 1991 and 1999.
Now in that elite group of World Cup winners, alongside the aforementioned Germany, USA, and Norway, the Nadeshiko will want to prove that their success was not just a fluke. Following that historic win in 2011, they have gone some way to show that they fully deserve to be counted among the top women's sides in the world by securing a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics and winning the 2014 Asian Cup. Currently ranked no. 4 by FIFA, certainly, Norio Sasaki's ladies have been given a seemingly straightforward draw with three debutants in their quartet.
Since booking their ticket to Canada, Japan have been largely solid in their matches leading up to the big tournament. They defeated this summer's hosts in two friendlies, as well as New Zealand and Italy. However, they were outclassed and outplayed with France, a squad that highly regarded as one that could win it all this summer and will obviously face stiffer competition once they qualify from their group.
So who are some players Japan will be counting on? Without further ado, here are two of them:
Midfielders: Homare Sawa and Aya Miyama
At 36 years of age, Sawa will be making her sixth World Cup appearance this summer. That is more than any player - male or female - has achieved. Not surprisingly, she, in addition to being Japan's most capped player with 198 appearances, she is also their all-time top goalscorer with 83 goals. The veteran midfielder is considered as the best ever female football player to emerge from her nation and won several accolades, including the Golden Boot and Best Player as she captained her team to their first World Cup win in 2011.
After winning silver in London, she shocked her fans by announcing her retirement. Fortunately for them and team Japan, she opted to reverse this decision to take part in winning their first ever Asian Cup last year, and will hope to inspire her team to successfully defend their World Cup crown this summer.
Fortunately for Sawa, a lot of the duties will be lifted off her shoulders with fellow midfielder Aya Miyama now assuming the position as team's captain since 2012. The 30-year-old, who has netted a solid 36 goals in 147 appearances after making her debut back in 2003, first gained the attention of international women's football fans due to her classy display during the 2011 World Cup final.
Despite winning their first ever World Cup, Miyama was praised for going over to then-teammate Hope Solo and the USWNT to congratulate them on a good game played. Still, she is as tough a competitor as anyone else, having won the Asian Player of the Year award and played a vital role in their Asian Cup winning campaign last year.
Miyama is a two-time recipient of the Asian Player of the Year award
Despite, like many of her teammates, her small build, Miyama is still a threat due to her excellent free-kick technique, ambidextereous skills, and fleet-footed nature, making her tricky for defenders to track.
And finally, within the Japanese squad, viewers this summer could be in for a sister act. Striker Yūki Ōgimi (née Nagasato), who is second among Japan's all-time top goalscorers with 52 goals, is joined by younger sister Asano Nagasato, who scored her first international goal in the team's 3-2 win over Canada last October.
Japan will commence their World Cup title defense in Vancouver at BC Place and wrap up their group stage matches on June 16th with a trip to Winnipeg's Winnipeg Stadium.
Here is their full squad list:
Goalkeepers: Miho Fukumoto (Okayama), Ayumi Kaihori (Kobe), Erina Yamane (JEF United Chiba)
Defenders: Yukari Kinga (Kobe), Megumi Kamionobe (Niigata), Azusa Iwashimizu (Beleza), Aya Sameshima (Kobe), Saori Ariyoshi (Beleza), Kana Kitahara (Niigata), Yuri Kawamura (Sendai), Saki Kumagai (Olympique Lyonnais)
Midfielders: Homare Sawa (Kobe), Kozue Ando (Frankfurt), Aya Miyama (Okayama), Nahomi Kawasumi (Kobe), Mizuho Sakaguchi (Beleza), Asuna Tanaka (Kobe), Rumi Utsugi (Montpellier), Asano Nagasato (Potsdam)
Forwards: Shinobu Ono (Kobe), Yuki Ogimi (Wolfsburg), Yuika Sugasawa (Chiba), Mana Iwabuchi (Bayern Munich)
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