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Japan Team Profile – 2010 FIFA World Cup

Angela Asante, June 18 2010,
We now jump from “Africa in miniature” Cameroon to Japan in East Asia as LiveSoccerTV.com ends its coverage on Group E’s teams.

Japan - Tokyo, Shibuya
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Japan – the country, the football

Officially pronounced “Nippon-koku” or “Nihon-koku”, Japan is an island country situated in the Pacific Ocean.

To the south, it has Taiwan and the East China Sea whereas the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea, and Russia as well as the Sea of Okhotsk are located to the east and to the north respectively.

Japan is actually formed of 6,852 islands with Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido constituting 97% of Japan’s land area as the country’s largest islands.

Japan has one of the biggest populations in the world with around 128,000,000 inhabitants – 30,000,000 of which reside in Japan’s capital Tokyo only.

The ‘Land of the Rising Sun’ (the definition of the name Japan) experienced one of, if not the greatest, development in the industrial and economic world.

 

The 20th century saw them grow as one of the powerful nations. Japan is best known for its influence in science and technology; Car and machinery brands like Toyota and Akai are just few examples of Japan’s popularization in the world's scientific and technologic sector.

Now Japan’s importance in the world of business is far from being equaled by the country’s importance in the world of soccer.

If Japan’s national football team (the Samurai Blue) is a major force in the AFC region having won three trophies in six attempts, their pedigree is not the same at the international level.

Perhaps their 2001 second-place finish at the FIFA Confederations Cup will come as their most impressive run in a major international tournament.

But in the World Cup, there has never been much to celebrate. In their only three appearances – which came consecutively since France 1998 – Japan’s best result was a Round of 16 finish. That was back in 2002 when they co-hosted the tournament with South Korea.

Now at the 2010 World Cup which will be staged far away in South Africa, can the Japanese fulfill their dream of reaching the semi-finals of the competition?

Japan's national team of players run in celebration as they qualify for the finals of the World Cup

Japan – the road to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa

Placed as top seeds, Japan were given a bye to Round 3 just where they were eventually put in Pot A ahead of the draw along with Australia, Iran, Korea Republic, and Saudi Arabia.

Third Round

According to the draws that were made on November 25th 2007 in Durban, South Africa, Japan had to compete against Thailand, Oman, and Bahrain in Group 2.

The Samurai Blue were favorites to top the table and reach the next stage while a runner-up finish would have still assured them tickets to Round 4.

In their first 2010 World Cup qualifier on February 6th 2008, Japan welcomed Thailand at the Saitama Stadium in front of around 35,000 spectators. Endo gave the hosts the lead inside the first half of an hour but the Samurai Blue were soon shocked by Winothai’s equalizer for Thailand a minute later.

Things were leveled at half time but three second half goals from Okubo, Nakazawa, and Maki rounded up a 4-1 victory for Japan.

Therefore, the Samurai Blue enjoyed a good start to their 2010 World Cup qualification campaign but they quickly experienced defeat as they lost 1-0 away to Bahrain on match-day two.

Next up, Japan would crash Oman 3-0 at the International Stadium in Yokohama to put their campaign back on track before travelling to Muscat in Oman to hold off their opponents to a vital 1-1 draw.

On June 14th 2008, Japan profited of Thailand’s weakness to secure a 3-0 win away in Bangkok.

To end up the Third Round of qualifiers, the Samurai Blue took revenge on Bahrain by clinching a 90th minute winner to seal a reverse of their 1-0 defeat away to Bahrain earlier on.

So Japan successfully qualified into Round 4 as winners of Group 2. The Japanese picked up 13 points from a possible 18 and had an average of exactly 2 goals per match.

Japan's players celebrating together after taking the lead during a World Cup qualifierFourth Round

On June 27th 2008, a random draw for AFC’s Fourth Round was made in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. There, it was decided that Japan (who were initially drawn in Pot 2 with Iran) would play Australia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Uzbekistan in Group A’s five-team table.

Japan kicked off the Fourth Round of qualifiers with a match away to Bahrain. So the Samurai Blue had to travel to the Bahrain National Stadium in Madinat ‘Isa again where they had lost 1-0 in the Third Round.

In that game which took place on September 6th 2008, Japan’s Nakamura scored twice with Endo netting a goal in between to offer an overwhelming 3-0 lead to the visitors with five minutes of normal time to go.

However, things proved to be less easy in the latter stages for Japan when Bahrain’s Isa minimized the defeat with an 87th minute consolation goal before Tulio’s own goal a minute later almost saw the home side staging a dramatic comeback. The final score line was 3-2 in favor of Japan.

A month later, the AFC Fourth Round of qualifiers resumed with Japan drawing at home for the first time in their 2010 World Cup qualification campaign.

Tamada equalized for the hosts on 40 minutes but the Samurai Blue just didn’t do enough to edge past Uzbekistan at the 55,142 packed Saitama Stadium.

Tamada scored again though for Japan, this time in a 3-0 victory away to Qatar on match-day three of the Fourth Round.

In their first qualification game of the year 2009, Japan drew again at home. They were held 0-0 against Australia in Yokohama.

To kick start the second part of the Fourth Round of qualifiers, Japan defeated Bahrain thanks to Nakamura’s lone goal which subsequently ended the team’s winless run at home.

Japan repeated this result away to Uzbekistan before terminating their campaign with a 1-1 draw at the International Stadium Yokohama against Qatar.

Japan finished as runners-up of Group A behind the leaders Australia after securing 15 points from four wins and four draws out of eight games.

By talking hold of the second spot, the three-time AFC Asian Cup champions consequently qualified automatically into the finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament in South Africa.

Japan – 2010 FIFA World Cup group stageJapan - World Cup qualifier

As part of Asia’s Football Confederation, Japan were sectioned in Pot 2 ahead of the draw with other qualified nations from North America and Oceania.

It was then revealed on December 4th 2009 that the Samurai Blue would have to fight against the Netherlands, Denmark, and Cameroon.

Match-day One:

Japan’s first 2010 World Cup game will be against Africa’s Cameroon in Bloemfontein. The Samurai Blue will hope to silence the Indomitable Lions but how difficult will that prove to be?

Cameroon have a particular way of playing football which is characterized by the players’ individual strength on the ball and their intelligent formation on the field.

Their midfield is especially difficult to break so Japan will have to be ready enough to overcome their African opponents and therefore clinch maximum points on Day 1.

Match-day Two:

Japan take on the Netherlands on Day 2 of the 2010 World Cup. The match will start at 13:30 South African local time, June 19.

The crowd at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban should witness a nice game on that day. The orange side (Dutch fans) might end up being the happiest but this is only a possibility, not a reality for the time being.

The Samurai Blue could shock the Netherlands who possess the likes of some of Europe’s finest stars.

Match-day Three:

Japan’s last game in the group stages of the World Cup will be staged in Rustenburg. They will be affronting Denmark at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium at 20:30 South African local time.

In terms of play, this clash might not be so captivating but the importance of this match could turn its tempo from an normal level to a higher intensity.

Japan – 2010 FIFA World Cup squad

(This section will be updated as soon as Japans national soccer team roaster for the 2010 World Cup tournament is officially announced to the media).

Japan – Expectations from the country and their top star

Japan go into the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with the dream of reaching the last four at least. On paper, they are certainly not even among the best eight teams that have qualified for the tournament.

But their desire looks so intense that it may be converted into heroic play on the field during the competition.

Japan's playmaker, Shunsuke NakamuraShunsuke Nakamura

Japan’s player to watch will be their star midfielder, Shunsuke Nakamura.

He is best known for his striking abilities. His powerful left foot can deceive goalkeepers, especially from free-kicks.

Nakamura was ignored by one of Japan’s former coaches, Philippe Troussier, and thus couldn’t make it for the 2002 World Cup which was co-hosted by his country.

In the 2006 World Cup in Germany, he tasted disappointment as Japan crashed out of the tournament in the first round. This year, the midfielder has been singled out by current coach Takeshi Okada as the man to carry Japan on his shoulders.

Japan – Relevant quotes

Japan coach, Takeshi Okada: “We want to defeat European teams”

“Our aim is to reach the semi-finals and we’re not going to change this dream, regardless of the draw. We’ve been draw in a group containing two European teams and the mission ahead is clearly not easy.

“But we’ve prepared against European teams for years and we really want to defeat them. 

“We’ve learned about the hurdles we have to overcome. Therefore the next step is to make plans and carry them out.”

Japan – World Cup record Japan's national football team, the Samurai Blue

Japan never qualified into the finals of a World Cup until in the late 1990s.

They reached the 1998 World Cup tournament in France and from there they enjoyed four consecutive qualifications which includes their South Africa 2010 participation. 

In 2002, Japan also co-hosted FIFA’s greatest tournament along with South Korea and they clinched their best record by reaching the Round of 16.  

2010: Qualified

2006, 1998: Round 1

2002: Round of 16

Throughout the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, LiveSoccerTV.com will offer you the tournament at your fingertips.

Watch out for match previews, latest news, live feeds, video highlights, and much more on the Japanese national team and the rest of the 32 participants in LiveSocccerTV.com’s exclusive coverage of the enire 2010 World Cup competition.
 



 

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