World Cup Preview - Group E - Japan
Nickname: "Samurai Blue."FIFA ranking: 45th
Coach: Former international Takeshi Okada
Game Schedule:
June 14 – Japan vs. Cameroon (Bloemfontein, 10 a.m. EST, ESPN)
June 19 – Japan vs. Netherlands (Durban, 7:30 a.m., ESPN)
June 24 – Japan vs. Denmark (Rustenberg, 2:30 p.m., ESPN)
Prospects: Japan's gaffer Takeshi Okada has made the bold pronouncement that he plans to guide his side to the semi-finals - it must be nice to live on his planet of undying optimism. Back on earth, Japan will struggle mightily to get out of this difficult group. As always they have midfielders such as Yasuhito Endo who will run all day long; their fatal weakness, however, is that their strikers act as if scoring goals brings shame upon their opponents' families.
Key Player: Celtic's Shunsuke Nakamura is the only current Japanese player who approaches international quality. He's got pace on the wing as well as much needed guile.
Youngster to watch: 22 year old Catania forward Takayuki Morimoto.
Who Will Get the Goals: Nakamura's free kicks are about the only goal threat for this side.
Who Will Get the Cards: Brazilian-born defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka is a bit of a wild card.
Prediction: Unless the ear-piercing vuvuzuelas deafen put their opponents off, Japan will finish bottom of the group.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 8:27 PM
2 Comments:
I would be shocked if Japan advance and expect them to end up dead last. I think all of Holland, Denmark, and Cameroon have the beating of them.
I do think that bloke Honda that plays in Moscow is very good, but I just can't see Japan winning even one of these matches.
Agreed. I'm sad to say it, because I had such a great time watching their games with students in '02, but I don't think the national side has progressed at all since then and has maybe even regressed a little.
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