World Cup Preview - Group F - Japan

Japan:

Coach: Brazilian great Zico.

Game Schedule:
June 13 – Japan vs. Australia (3 p.m. EST)
June 18 – Japan vs. Croatia (9 a.m.)
June 22 – Japan vs. Brazil (3 p.m.)

Prospects: Japan qualified for this summer’s WC finals by topping a poor Asian confederation group including the powerhouse sides from North Korea and Bahrain. The side looks remarkably similar to that which made the Round of Sixteen on home ground in 2002. It’s dominated by a trio of European-based midfielders - Hidetoshi Nakata, Shunsuke Nakamura and Shinji Ono. As in 2002 the main challenge will be finding the back of the net without a consistent goalscorer.

Key Players: Goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi – can he keep the Brazilian attack out? I fear not.

Youngster to watch: There is no one under the age of 25 in their squad!

Who Will Get the Goals: I’m predicting that Japan will be the one side in the competition to go through all three games without a goal. But just in case I’m wrong, keep an on Kashima Antlers striker Atsushi Yanagisawa.

Who Will Get the Cards: Grampus 8 forward Keiji Tamada likes to get lippy with refs.

Funniest Name: After living in Japan, Japanese names don’t strike me as particularly funny anymore.

Prediction: Won’t have the ear-piercing home crowd behind them this time; not enough quality to win two matches; an early exit after failing to win a game.