Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The Samurai Blue will make their sixth appearance at the FIFA World Cup at Russia 2018. Despite recent change at the helm, our Japanese journalist is cautiously optimistic of their chances.
A squad filled with big-name veterans and a vastly experienced coach in Akira Nishino at the helm, Japan will hope to channel the spirit of 2002 and 2010 when they reached the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup.
Our Japan expert is Etsuko Motokawa, a Japanese football journalist and author. Motokawa has covered football for over 24 years, attending her first FIFA World Cup in 1994, and she currently writes on Japanese football for several newspapers and websites.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/akira_nishino-japan-afp.html
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www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/japan_squad_2002.html
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seefeld: Japan defender Maya Yoshida has a score to settle with Colombia when the two sides re-unite in their Group H opener at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
The pair met in their group concluder at Brazil 2014 with Japan requiring a win against a Colombia side that had already sealed a place in the knockout stage.
Yoshida and Co battled hard but their hopes were dashed with a 4-1 defeat against uncompromising opponents. Four years on, that disappointment remains an unhappy memory for Yoshida.
"We were in a very difficult position going into the closing group match against Colombia," the 29-year-old Southampton centre-back said ahead of the pair’s upcoming meeting at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk.
"Our opening loss to Ivory Coast cost us dearly, when we scored early but then we threw away our lead cheaply.
"So when the Colombia test came, we faced a must-win scenario. We had a hard time (against Colombia) and they taught us a lesson of how tough the World Cup could be."
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Saudi Arabia are back at the FIFA World Cup for a fifth time, after a 12-year absence. The-AFC.com called on the opinion of a Saudi Arabian expert to run the rule over the Green Falcons' chances.
In four attempts since their historic 1994 debut where they reached the Round of 16, Saudi Arabia have not been able to navigate the group stage, and with their last appearance going all the way back to 2006, the Green Falcons will be hoping to show a different side to them in Russia 2018.
Part of our Expert View series, we look at how Juan Antonio Pizzi's men will line up at the World Cup, their chances, key players and predictions.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: With the 2018 FIFA World Cup now just days away, we sought the views of five football experts from across the continent. We begin the series with Korea Republic.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia is set to boast the largest contingent of sides representing the Asian continent with Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Islamic Republic of Iran and Australia all set to take to the field against the world's best.
The-AFC.com reached out to experts from each of the five countries, for a representative to give their thoughts on their country's chances and how they see things potentially playing out.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seefeld: Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa is confident the veterans in Akira Nishino’s squad will give an added edge to the Samurai Blue at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
Japan’s average age among their 23 players for their sixth consecutive FIFA World Cup is 28.3 years – the oldest since the nation qualified for their first appearance in France 1998 under Takeshi Okada.
Kagawa, now 29 and who narrowly missed the final cut for South Africa 2010 at the age of 21, is being counted on by Nishino to lift Japan out of a tough Group H, which has Colombia, Senegal and Poland, into the knockout stage after collecting just one point in Brazil 2014.
Japan – under former AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus boss Alberto Zaccheroni – played Colombia in their last group game in Brazil, a 4-1 defeat that eliminated them from the tournament.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Asian nations and players have produced some of the biggest World Cup moments throughout the years, but some of the Continent's finest talents were unfortunate not to participate in the tournament. Here are six of the best, choose your favourite in the poll.
Hong Myung-bo, Sami Al Jaber, Mehdi Mahdavikia, Tim Cahill. Just some of the names of Asia's footballing elite to have left their mark on the global stage. But how about those stars of the Continental game who have not been so fortunate, for one reason or another, to represent their nation at the FIFA World Cup?
We review and recognise six of those players from Kirkuk in Iraq to Sydney, Australia and invite you to pick your favourite in the voting poll at the end of the article.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: As the countdown to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia starts to heat up, we take a look at five Asian players that could make a name for themselves next month.
The FIFA World Cup is without a doubt the grandest stage in world football, and it comes as no surprise that a strong showing at just one tournament could massively shape a player's career in the years to come. As such, here are a number of players that could possibly propel themselves into the spotlight when the tournament kicks off in just over two weeks' time.