"Not even the most blinkered South Korean fan would deny that Japan presents the United States with the strongest test that Asia has to offer. The Samurai Blue may not have a player like Christian Pulisic who has played regularly at elite clubs, but the roster is full of talents playing at high level, and was the first country other than the hosts to qualify for the 2026 World Cup."
"Liverpool's Wataru Endo told fans when the 2026 ticket had been stamped that it was time to start thinking about lifting the trophy. Fellow Premier Leaguer Daichi Kamada said the same. That's what we all keep saying, said the Crystal Palace star. Our goal is to win the World Cup. For a team that has never won a knockout game at a World Cup (South Korea remains the only Asian nation to have done so), it is a bold statement."
Japan fields a technically excellent, well-organized squad with many players based in Europe and performing at elite club level. Key players include Wataru Endo, Daichi Kamada, Kaoru Mitoma and Takefusa Kubo, and selection can be entirely European-based. Japan reached the 2026 World Cup early and has beaten top teams in recent tournaments, narrowly losing to Croatia on penalties in 2022 after defeating Spain and Germany. Historical shortcomings include never having won a World Cup knockout game, though the team has shown movement, organization and defensive work. Coach Hajime Moriyasu plans rotation due to travel and fixture congestion, with victory the immediate target.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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