Team profile: Japan

It’s a young team under coach Alberto Zaccheroni, so time-tested veterans Keisuke Honda, 27, and Shinji Kagawa, 25, will be under pressure to do what they do best: play well-crafted soccer.

Honda, he of the bleached blond hair, is widely regarded as Japan’s best player — in June he scored the goal in a 1–1 draw with Australia. One was all Japan needed to ensure its fifth straight World Cup appearance. Honda prefers a central position, but at AC Milan coach Clarence Seedorf used him on the right side or as a defensive midfielder.

On March 2, 2013, Kagawa became the first Asian player to achieve a hat trick in a Premier League match when he scored three times for Manchester United in a 4–0 home win over Norwich. Since then, a lack of playing time with United has not prevented him from being a major contributor to Japan’s qualifying campaign. He was not selected for the final squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, so Brazil is his first World Cup appearance.

Yoichiro Kakitani is glimmering as Japan’s future star. A 24-year-old midfielder, he scored 21 goals in 34 games for Cerezo Osaka last season. He’s often compared with Kagawa, who also played for Cerezo. If Kakitani goes big in Brazil, he’ll probably attract interest from European clubs. 

They made a spectacular World Cup debut in 1998, despite losing all three of their group stage matches. Three years later, as hosts, they reached the knockout rounds, falling to the eventual third-placed team, Turkey.

The lowest-seeded team in its group behind Colombia, Greece and Côte d’Ivoire, Japan is Asia’s best chance for success in Brazil. It's hoping to qualify from the group to match its biggest triumph to date, reaching the round of 16. But don’t expect much other than some anime smiles: Pikachu is one of 10 Pokémon mascots, including Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle, officially supporting the squad in Brazil. 

They’re in a tough group, with a wily old coach, and have big upset potential if they make it to the knockout round. 

After winning the bronze medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, it took Japan another 30 years to qualify for the World Cup.