World Cup 2014 Team Spotlight – Japan
So far, the trend for Japan has been to go out early in the World Cup finals, advancing only one time past the group stage and never past the round of 16 in five previous tries.
Group C: Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan and Colombia
FIFA Ranking: 47
Jun 14 v Ivory Coast, Jun 19 v Greece, Jun 24 v Colombia
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Nevertheless, that won’t stop the reigning AFC Asian Cup champions from arriving in Brazil with big hopes to win this summer’s World Cup.
Appearing for its fifth consecutive World Cup final, Japan has perhaps it’s best opportunity of turning in its best performance ever, but drawing into a tough Group C has to have them wondering if they can really change their fortune and make an impact at Brazil 2014.
A lot of that hope will hinge on how well striker Shinji Okazaki and midfield maestro Shinji Kagawa play.
And while the play of Kagawa will be relied upon to keep the Japan World Cup team engine room firing on all cylinders, it is the goal scoring capability of Okazaki that could make or break how far Japan can go.
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Okazaki scores regularly for Japan and nets about 1.5 goals every two matches and tt will be the responsibility of former AC Milan manager Alberto Zaccheroni, to utilize his high-flying striker to keep up with Ivory Coast in Japan’s first game, as well as their bouts with Greece in Natal and group favorite Colombia.
Zaccheroni took over the team in 2010 and he has already had success, recording an impressive victory over Argentina in his first game, along with winning the AFC Asian Cup in 2011 and the EAFF East Asian Cup in 2013.
If he can get what is expected from Okazaki, he could match, or better yet outdo, Japan’s best Word Cup performance, which came in 1998 in France, before being repeated in South Africa in 2010.
No doubt Zaccheroni will feel the pressure, but it is something he has grown used to after a bumpy qualifying ride, which saw Japan finish as runners up after losing against North Korea and Uzbekistan.
All of that after being expected to make light work of the first group stage.
However, things went much better in the second and final group stage, as Japan lost just one game and ended up in first place.
Matt’s Free Prediction – Group Stage –
Unlike 2002, when Japan made it out of the round of 16, the current Japanese World Cup squad will miss out on a top two finish in Group C here.
Unlike World Cup odd makers, who have them pegged third favorites to win Group C , I expect them to finish last in a very competitive round that sees them fall to the top three in the group.
