Japan National Team Preview and Options to Win the Group C

Japan will look to advance out of Group C and make the knockout round in the 2014 World Cup. Group C appears to be the weakest of the groups in the World Cup so Japan does have a chance. They are listed with World Cup betting odds of 4-1 to win Group C behind Colombia and Ivory Coast.

Japan is a huge longshot to win the entire World Cup as they are not considered a contender. They are given a chance though to come out of Group C. Colombia is the clear favorite to win the group but then it is up for grabs between Ivory Coast, Japan and Greece.

Key Players

Japan has some talented players including Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki. If Honda has a big tournament this team can make it out of Group C and they are not without a chance to win the group. Japan’s captain is Makoto Hasebe but there are some definite concerns about his healthy. He still has not made it back after having knee surgery. If Hasebe is not fully fit the team could struggle. There is no question the team needs Kagawa and Honda to have a big World Cup if they are to advance to the Round of 16. It would also help if they continue to get scoring from Okazaki who had eight goals in qualifying.

Japan is coached by Alberto Zaccheroni who led AC Milan to the Serie A title in 1999. Japan did really well in qualifying as they scored 16 goals in the Asia qualifying group stage. Japan first made the World Cup in 1998 and they will be making their fifth straight appearance at the World Cup. They have made the knockout round twice.

Schedule

15 June 2014

Ivory Coast vs. Japan, Arena Pernambuco, Recife

19 June 2014

Japan vs. Greece, Arena das Dunas, Natal

24 June 2014

Japan vs. Colombia, Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba