We continue our run down to the World Cup and having looked into Colombia and Poland, attention turns to Japan.
The Samurai Blue eased to Russia 2018 having topped Group B of AFC qualifying, winning six of 10 games, to guarantee their spot at the World Cup. However, preparation has been anything but plain sailing for Japan. Akira Nishino only took over the reins in April after Vahid Halilhodzic’s dismissal to end a three-year hiatus out of the game.
They’ve won only one of their last six matches, that victory coming two days before the World Cup starts in a 4-2 win over Paraguay, while Japan have lost four of those six games. Fortunately, they were drawn in a somewhat favourable group. In Colombia, Poland and Senegal, Group H is one of the more unpredictable ones to call in Russia and Japan will hope to use that to their advantage.
Nishino has at his disposal a number of players who ply their trade in Europe’s top leagues, with Shinji Kagawa the key man in the squad. The Borussia Dortmund star may have failed to nail down a regular starting spot for the Bundesliga side last season, featuring from the off on just 12 occasions, yet despite a lack of regular action, Kagawa still mustered five goals and one assist from his limited action.
1.7 key passes per 90 was also a respectable return for a Dortmund side in transition and Japan will be looking for their creative star to exceed expectations on the international stage this summer. In a likely 4-2-3-1 system, there is ample pressure on the 29-year-old to pull the strings behind the lone forward, yet an 87.5% pass success rate will go some way to ensure Japan spend as little time up against the ropes as possible.
Japan may be the early favourites to finish bottom of Group H, yet with all four teams as capable of the magnificent as they are the madness, the Samurai Blue know they have as good a chance as Colombia, Poland and Senegal at landing a last-16 spot. However, those hoping on the strikers to make a sustained impact may be waiting with bated breath.
The three forwards in Japan’s squad - Shinji Okzaki, Yuya Osako and Yoshinori Muto - netted 18 league goals between them last season, hardly a return to write home about, with Mainz 05 striker Yoshinori Muto scoring eight of those. The 25-year-old is unlikely to start this summer, but has the ability to impress from the bench against tiring defences.
Muto has previously attracted interest from Manchester United and Newcastle and he’ll look to be on song in Russia in order to fire Japan out of Group H. His notable movement off the ball and wicked sense of anticipation means the Mainz 05 star has what it takes to put Colombia, Poland and Senegal to the sword, but it’ll take a huge effort from the striker and his teammates in order for Japan to secure a knockout spot this summer.
