World Cup preview: Japan

The Road To The World Cup

Japan recovered from a shaky third round qualifying performance, which included a loss to North Korea in Pyongyang, with a resounding display of football in the final round.

That said they did enjoy feasting on a group that could be described as weak at best. An aging Australian side that would go on to axe their manager was their toughest test.

Schedule

Formation: 3-4-3 / 4-2-3-1

Alberto Zaccheroni is known as one of the vanguards of the 3-4-3, a formation that relies on midfielders that can switch between attack and defense on a whim. Though the veteran manager does move to a more conventional formation to start, Zaccheroni opted for the 3-4-3 when Japan falls behind.

Manager: Alberto Zaccheroni

He’s managed some of the biggest clubs in Italy, including Juventus, Milan, Inter and Udinese and clinched the first berth in the 2014 World Cup, but Zaccheroni is under fire in Japan. He was criticized for becoming too passive following Japan’s loss to North Korea and the Japanese media felt he relied far too heavily on Keisuke Honda.

Whether Zaccheroni will heed calls for new tactics remains to be seen. Japan certainly has the talent to make noise in Brazil, but whether they have the temerity to truly use it will be the difference between a first-round exit and a long run.

Projected Starting XI

GK: Eiji Kawashima

DF: Atsuto Uchida

DF: Masato Morishige

DF: Yasuyuki Konno

DF: Yuto Nagatomo 

MF: Hotaru Yamaguchi

MF: Yasuhito Endo

MF: Shinji Okazaki

MF: Keisuke Honda

MF: Shinji Kagawa

FW: Yoshito Okubo

Projected Substitutes

GK: Shusaka Nishikawa

GK: Shuichi Gonda

DF: Maya Yoshida

DF: Masahiko Inoha

DF: Hiroki Sakai

DF: Gotoku Sakai

MF: Makoto Hasebe

MF: Toshihiro Aoyama 

FW: Yoichiro Kakitani

FW: Manabu Saito

FW: Hiroshi Kiyotake

FW: Yuya Osako

The Captain: Makoto Hasebe

Hasebe is Japan’s bull in the midfield, allowing Zaccheroni to employ three at the back when the Blue Samurai need to go on attack. Hasebe registered 135 appearances for Wolfsburg before leaving for FC Nürnberg in the summer. Along with countryman Hiroshi Kiyotakem, Hasebe became one of Der Rumreiche’s most important players under manager Gertjan Verbeek.

The Star: Keisuke Honda

Japan will go as far as Keisuke Honda will take them in Brazil. The CSKA Moscow star will join AC Milan in January and maybe finally garner the attention he deserves as one of the world’s best at his position. The 27-year-old has 18 goals in 48 appearances for Japan and will serve as the attacking maestro for Zaccheroni in the midfield.

The Young Gun: Shinji Kagawa

Things have not gone to plan for Shinji Kagawa at Manchester United since joining the club for the 2012/13 campaign. The 24-year-old found a place in the starting lineup hard to come by, though the flashes are there. Kagawa is an adept playmaker that should take some of the pressure off Honda when Japan goes forward.

The Swan Song: Yasuhito Endo

Simply put, Endo is a legend in Japan. He became the nation’s most capped player on October 16, 2012 and kept going. Endo was the first Japanese player to be named to the J-League’s Best Eleven ten consecutive times in 2012. At 33, Brazil will be the central midfielder’s last international hurrah, but what a career it has been.

Three Questions

1. Will Zaccheroni allow his best players to play to their strengths and change his tactics following a run of poor international results?
2. Will Arsenal forward Ryo Miyaichi make a difference for a team that needs pace on the wings to thrive?
3. Can Honda and Kagawa create the opportunities needed for players like Kiyotake and Shinji Okazaki up front?

Trivial Matters

Nicknames: Blue Samurai, Zac Japan.

Most caps: Yasuhito Endo (143).

Top scorer: Kunishige Kamamoto (80).

First international: May, 9, 1977. Japan 0-5 China.

World Cup appearances: Five.

Best World Cup result: Round of 16 (2002, 2010).

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