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A to Z of WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA 2010 - Japan
JAPAN
When Japan beat Uzbekistan 1-0 in Tashkent they became the first team to join hosts South Africa in the 2010 World Cup Finals. Overall they won four, drew three and lost just one of their Group 1 qualifying matches. That single defeat, which was in their final group game when they went down 1-0 to Australia, meant that they finished second in Group 1 whilst Australia took the top spot.
2010 will be Japan’s fourth successive appearance in the finals. Their initial entry in 1998 saw them lose their first two matches 1-0 to Argentina and Croatia. Their final result, an unexpected 2-1 defeat at the hands of ‘minnows’ Jamaica, saw the Samurai Blues eliminated at the end of Round 1.
Co-hosts with South Korea in 2002, they made it through to the last 16 thanks to two victories over Russia and Tunisia and a commendable 2-2 draw with Belgium. However in Round 2 they were drawn against a Turkey side playing at the top of their game. Despite fanatical support from the home crowd and a battling display from the team, they exited on the back of a 1-0 defeat. Turkey went on to finish in third place overall in the tournament.
Four years later, when the Finals were held in Germany, Japan made their third successive appearance at the World Cup. But the dizzy heights of Round 2 proved as elusive as they had been in 1998. This time the Blues secured only 1 point in total thanks to a 0-0 draw with Croatia. Their two other matches saw them lose 3-1 to Australia and a 4-1 drubbing from eventual quarter-finalists Brazil.
Japan’s national side are called the Samurai Blue (the shirt colour) or are named after the head coach. The current incumbent is Taskeshi Okada who was in charge when Japan first entered the world stage in France ’98. After a spell in domestic football he again took up the national reins in 2007 when the previous coach, Ivica Osim, suffered a stroke. Okada is regarded as one of the finest football strategists in Asia.
Okada’s squad has a small but influential group of European based players. Principal amongst these is ex Celtic playmaker Shunshuke Nakamura, now with Espanyol, one of the best free-kick takers in the business. An equally gifted left-footer is Keisuke Honda of VVV Venlo of Holland who, at 20 years of age, is seen as the future of Japanese football. As always the rock of the team is the 100+ capped defender and team captain, Yuji Nakawaza.
Japan, ranked 43rd by FIFA, have been drawn in Group E alongside Holland, Denmark and Cameroon. Betfred are offering odds of 11/1 on Japan topping this group whereas Blue Square see them not making it to the last 16 at 11/4. Coach Okada has said recently “Our main target in South Africa is to reach the semi-finals”. If you believe him and have blind faith in the Land of the Rising Sun, then you can get odds of 300/1 with bwin on Japan actually lifting the World Cup come July 11th.
Posted: Saturday, March 20th, 2010 @ 08:03 pm by Mark
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