achievement for the team, 2-1 away and drawing 0-0 at "Almost there are questions as to home. Aside from that, they all the whether Japan has missed its dealt with the remainder of team's window of opportunity with the opposition with ease, players this crop of players. winning four and drawing two of their other games. are How will they do? based Group E will prove difficult Intemsting facts c.:iome in the for Japan. Cameroon, Japan is the only non• -:::':Janese domestic Denmark and the American team to take part Netherlands are all capable in the Copa America, playing r _=3.gue and they of taking three points in 1999 and invited to return KEY PLAYERS ~Clply don't have away from their respective in 2011. ==,-oughbig game matches with the Samurai 'Star' Shunsuke Shllilsuke Nakamura =:qJerience to make Blue. Nakamura had an asteroid Full Name: Japan should be happy named in his honour in Birth Date: 24 June 1978 :::....-=- impact," says Andy to take things one step at 1999. Height: 5' 10" (1.78m) 'uwnsend a time and concentrate on Weight: 1521b(69kg) Position: Midfielder making it out of the first four Coverage Schedule before worrying about their and Venues Profile Nakamura is the biggest 2am Profile star of Japanese football. He is potential to hit the final four. 14 June - 15:00 blessed with a creative football •an's manager Takeshi In order to do so, they Japan v Cameroon mind, which he couples with :i;adasaid he believes his will have to play solid vision and precision to drive (Bloemfontein) his team forward. He excels at ::'e are capable of making defence, led by captain Yuji 19 June -12:30 :: semi-finals. free kicks, both in passing and Nakazawa, and look to use Netherlands v Japan shooting. But his lack of strength, 'Yhile confidence is a good the talent and speed of their (Durban) coupled with his declining speed, II ing, and Japan do have midfield to take advantage of 24 June - 19:30 leave him vulnerable to more me reason to be, a final free kicks and set pieces. Denmark v Japan physical opponents. :IIfinish still seems out of (Rustenburg) Qualification i eir grasp. Shinji Okazaki Playing second fiddle to After reaching the second Links ~wAsia qualifying group stage of Asian qualification Full Name: Shinji Okazaki www.jfa.or.jp/eng Birth Date: 16 April 1986 ember Australia, Japan was with ease, Japan struggled www.itv.com/sport/footba] i/ Height: 5' 8" (1.73m) - early the second best team to overtake Australia, losing fifaworldcu p/teamprofiles/japan Weight: 1541b(70kg) ~Asia. Position: Striker '.Vith few of their players • Profile He is the hope of a new '5ed outside of Japan, the generation of Japanese players, ..:estion is whether the J• 2004 though Okazaki is still unknown eague is a crucible capable Their third Asian Cup championship was outside his home country. The a successful defence of their 2000 title striker has proved even better : providing quality stars for and confirmed their emergence in Asian for Japan than his club and was --e international scene. football. awarded the 2009 IFFHS World's Equally, with 2004 Top Goal Scorer for his impressive ~arking the high point of 15 goals tally.

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