With Sadio Mane, James Rodriguez and Robert Lewandowski bearing down on the Japanese goal, the Blue Samurai must be at their defensive best in Russia when they take on Senegal, Colombia and Poland in Group H.

So it is perhaps little surprise that the first person Akira Nishino visited after taking over from  Vahid Halilhodzic two months ago was Yoshida, flying to England to sound out the rugged Southampton centre-back.

For football fans around the globe, a team’s kit often serves as an everlasting visual representation of certain memories. Nowhere is this truer than in the FIFA World Cup, where the four-year gap means kits usually change from one edition of the competition to the next.

Some kits have been immortalised due to their unique designs, while others remain forever associated with the team’s success. 

Here are five unforgettable kits from the Continent’s representatives in this year’s World Cup. View them below and then pick your favourite .

Usami was named among the 23-man squad that will represent the Samurai Blue when they take on Colombia, Senegal and Poland in the country’s sixth straight qualification for the Finals, and his selection prompted an outpouring of emotion.

"My wife was in tears,” said the 26-year-old former Gamba Osaka and Bayern Munich midfielder, who made his debut for Japan in 2015. “It's the first time ever that my wife cried over football or what I achieved in my career. 

“(The World Cup) is a place I've been wanting to get to ever since I watched the 2002 World Cup. I wouldn't be lying if I said the reason I can stay motivated about football is because of the World Cup.”

The former JFA technical director, who took charge from Vahid Halilhodzic last month, signalled his intentions by turning to his old guard, including talismanic forward Keisuke Honda and playmaker Shinji Kagawa.

Japan, beaten 2-0 by Ghana on Wednesday in Nishino's first game as coach, face Colombia, Senegal and Poland in Group H at the World Cup.

Forward Shinji Okazaki (pictured below), who has won an English Premier League title with Leicester City, and defenders Yuto Nagatomo and Maya Yoshida will also bring experience.

Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min was unable to make an impact as Edin Visca scored in the 28th minute, just before half-time and then in the 79th to steal the show.

It made for a low-key send-off for Shin Tae-yong's Korea Republic, who were playing their final home warm-up and will face holders Germany, Mexico and Sweden in Group F in Russia 2018.

After Visca opened the scoring, midfielder Lee Jae-sung levelled for the hosts two minutes later, only for the Bosnian midfielder to grab his second just moments before half-time.

And Visca, who plays for Istanbul Basaksehir in Turkey, dashed any hopes of a late comeback when he completed his treble in the 79th minute.

The teams traded chances early on. Roma striker Edin Dzeko fired just over the bar in the 12th minute, and fluffed a one-on-one opportunity nine minutes later.

Son went close for Korea Republic in the 27th minute, when he danced past two defenders but was denied by goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic at point-blank range.

One minute later, Eldar Civic's cross failed to find Dzeko, but it deflected off defender Kim Min-woo and found Visca's foot to make it 1-0 to Bosnia.

The home team bounced back near the half-hour mark as Lee, fed by Hwang Hee-chan, flicked over Sehic.

But in first-half injury time, Haris Duljevic caught the Korean defence napping with a long cross for Visca, who easily beat goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu for a 2-1 lead.

Korea Republic exerted pressure in the second half but were wasteful in attack and they were made to pay when Visca struck 11 minutes from time.

Source: AFP

In just his third appearance, 25-year-old Nabbout fired in a brilliant 54th minute finish as Australia cruised to a morale-boosting maiden victory under head coach Bert van Marwijk.

His strike came in between a classy Mathew Leckie brace, the dynamic winger improving his tally to eight goals in green and gold.

And there was still time for substitute Milos Degenek to force an own goal off Jakub Jugas to put the seal on a one-sided encounter at the NV Arena.

 

It was the only goal in Saudi Arabia's 1-0 qualifying win against Japan but it was enough to secure the side a place in the Finals for the first time in 12 years. 

It was a heady moment for the 23-year-old, originally a substitute, who was feted as a national hero at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah. 

Since then the Al-Ittihad midfielder, who grew up in the port city of Jeddah, has emerged as one of the kingdom's brightest young talents, and was among key players sent off to Spain to hone their skills for the second half of this season.