Japan

Confederation:AFC(Asia)
Head coach:Takeshi Okada
Captain:Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi
Group:E


Japan will be taking part in their 4th World Cup this summer at South Africa. The "Samurai Blue" have suffered 4 straight defeats in warm up games, rivals South Korea, that defeat raised questions as to whether Head coach Takeshi Okada would keep his job. Okada is still in charge and has the task of bettering Japan's World Cup record, which is the second round. To English fans, Japan may not have many familiar names, Junichi Inamoto and Shunsuke Nakamura are probably the most recognisable. Inamoto, famous for his peroxide hair had spells at Arsenal, Fulham and West Brom, Whist Nakamura played at Scottish giants Celtic. Nakamura is dangerous from set pieces and could prove to be vital for the Japanese.

Defender Tulio has already made the headlines this summer, he scored at both ends against England and has potentially ended Didier Drogba's World Cup. The Brazilian born Tulio is a big, imposing defender and will offer Japan a much needed aerial threat. Wolfsburg midfielder Makoto Hasebe plays in the midfield and on his day, he can pull the strings in the middle of the park. Yasuhito Endo will likely partner Hasebe in midfield and will act as the enforcer. Young CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda is also good at set pieces and has an eye for goal.

The Japanese strikeforce is mainly made up of home based players, Takayuki Morimoto is the only one who plays abroad. Yasuhito Okubo is tricky and fast, which will cause defenders problems. Keiji Tamada has 67 caps and he has scored 16 goals for his country.


Squad:

Goalkeepers: Seigo Narazaki (Nagoya Grampus), Eiji Kawashima (Kawasaki Frontale), Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (Jubilo Iwata)

Defenders: Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama Marinos), Marcus Tulio Tanaka (Nagoya Grampus), Yuichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata), Daiki Iwamasa (Kashima Antlers), Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Atsuto Uchida (Kashima Antlers)

Midfielders: Shunsuke Nakamura (Yokohama Marinos), Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Junichi Inamoto (Kawasaki Frontale), Yuki Abe (Urawa Red Diamonds), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg, Germany), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Daisuke Matsui (Grenoble, France)


Ant Myers