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Scouting Japan

Having impressed in the Confederations Cup, the Japanese team will be looking to continue to solidify their reputation as an emerging nation of footballing talent. Due to play matches against Greece, Colombia and the Ivory Coast, they will need to produce some of their finest football to achieve qualification from the group stages.

Predicted Lineup

Kawashima

Uchida Yoshida Konno Nagatomo

Hasebe Endo

Kiyotaki Honda Kagawa

Okazaki/Kakitani

Coach: Alberto Zaccheroni

The Key Players

Shinji Kagawa: While still struggling to establish himself at Manchester United, there is no question that the former Dortmund man has huge talent. With pace and an eye for a killer ball, Japan’s tactics of quick and fluid attacks will hinge on Kagawa.

Keisuke Honda: Another starlet that is struggling at his new home, Honda’s season at AC Milan has not seen him live up to expectations. However, much in the same vein of Kagawa, his versatility and talent will be key for Japan to take on the more physical teams they face.

Shinji Okazaki: Following in the mould of Kagawa, Okazaki recently broke Kagawa’s record for most goals scored in the Bundesliga by a Japanese player with a tally of 15 in 33 appearances. The Mainz man has had a terrific season and should be leading the line for the World Cup.

The Surprise Call-Up

Having not represented Japan at international level in 2 years, Yoshito Okubo is perhaps the shock inclusion. The 31-year-old has enjoyed a career in Europe at Mallorca and Wolfsburg and this season has been in fine scoring form with 8 goals in 12 appearances in the J league. The stocky veteran offers a bit more strength up top if required and his inclusion could be a vital factor in Japan’s World Cup.

The One to Watch

While many may think Kagawa or Honda are the players to keep an eye on, the player I will be taking a close look at is Yoichiro Kakitani. Still a possible inclusion in the starting 11, most likely in the striker role, the Cerezo playmaker/striker is looking more and more likely to make a move to Europe, with Arsenal intrigued by his ability. At 24 years of age, one would think he would be on more radars, but his career has only really been reignited in the last couple of seasons, scoring 21 goals in 34 games for Cerezo last season. While this season has been slow in terms of goals, his role has changed to supporting Diego Forlan up top which he has done with great style. As mentioned, he can be utilised either as a striker or a playmaker and his incredible display against Belgium suggests that he has the ability to shatter a few World Cup dreams.

19 Comments Post a Comment
  1. J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    Learned a lot there. Looks like Japan has a heck of a lot of prospects, especially if priced right. Cheers.

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    1. Somalion
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Thanks Jonty, I wish I had more time to analyse a few stats but it's hard to do with some of these lads, international form vs club form is very different it appears.

      I'm hopeful they'll provide good cheap options for some, Kakitani I really am looking forward to watching.

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  2. applebonkers
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    in your endo

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    1. Somalion
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      😯

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      1. Somalion
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 10 months ago

        Save that for Give The Todd Some Love!!!

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  3. Epic Fail
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    They will have to be extremely budget. Can't see them getting anywhere near getting out of that group. May not even score any goals.

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    1. FortunesAlwaysHiding
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      I don't think they will be push overs though. Nobody is these days. I could see them managing to beat Greece.

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    2. Camp No No
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Yeah, I reckon they will do well against Greece, but true, Ivory Coast and Colombia must be big time favourites here.

      Btw, winning this group is not beneficial. The one finishing second will have a lot better chances to get to semis. Only reason why I have not bet that Colombia will get to semis is that I think they will win this group. But now I see they may have a good chance, as Ivory Coast might well win this group.

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      1. CABAYE4
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 10 months ago

        How have you come to the conclusion that coming 2nd would be preferable in that group?!

        Even discounting the fact that the group winner will almost certainly have played better and be in better form than the 2nd placed team, the 2nd played team would then have to play the Winner of England's group, and then the Winner of Group B, two of the highest quality groups there are.

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    3. Somalion
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      3rd favourites in my opinion, better than Greece I think. But I agree with you, their chances of progressing really will hinge on some massive displays and even then they could struggle. Funnily enough though, you'd expect physicality to be an issue yet their style pretty much negates it, they're very quick and play some nice little passes to get out of trouble.

      The real issue I think will be defending, I think they can score but defensively I'm not sure how well it will go.

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  4. Aaron Ramessi - Straya
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    great stuff Somalian...just to confirm you are talking about kiyotake from Nurnberg right?

    sakai brothers are unlucky to miss out on the xi, with uchida and naga in front of them!

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    1. Somalion
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Cheers 😀 Yes indeedy!

      As for the Sakai lads, it's hard to call. Both have made appearances and both are in the squad but if going by recent tournaments they seem to miss out. Still, it's only my prediction and lord knows I could be wrong 😛

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  5. Somalion
    • 14 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    Just wanted to add a little bit here (more so trivia than anything).

    Endo doesn't have the legs for a full match anymore and is often substituted for Yamaguchi of Cerezo. If there is a match that Yamaguchi starts over Endo keep an eye out for "Endo time", the period when Endo gets on the pitch and galvanises the team. It truly is remarkably the effect he has 😆

    With that said, I still expect him to be starting most matches.

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  6. Pete Campbell
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    Could be some value here and I think they'll make it out of that group

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    1. Somalion
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      Agreed that there are some nifty players, I think it'll depend on the big names producing to get out of the group. Then again, I've seen much worse teams cause upsets in the past.

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  7. Ludo
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 10 months ago

    Probably the most technically talented side in the group, but I'd worry that their opponents are the perfect combination of teams to bullya them out of the competition.

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    1. Somalion
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 10 months ago

      I agree with you, they do seem to hold up well against bigger players but they would certainly be at a physical disadvantage. I think that may be the reason behind Okubo's call up, he has a little bit more strength coupled with an experienced head.

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  8. Demí
    • 13 Years
    9 years, 9 months ago

    The only time Japan have ever scored more than two goals in a World Cup match(14 attempts) was against Denmark in 2010.

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    1. Somalion
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 9 months ago

      Pfffft take your stats and logic elsewhere 😉

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