On the eve of their first match in the World Cup, Coach Zico has urged his players to play with a lot of confidence when they face the Socceroos tomorrow.
He wants them to build on the 2-2 draw with Germany in a friendly and try and match Australia physically.
The Japan defenders will have to [...]

Japan start their adventure in the 2006 Germany World Cup tomorrow against Australia in Kaiserslautern. Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura has been passed fit so should start in midfield while double act strikers Naohiro Takahara and Atsushi Yanagisawa should also start after overcoming knocks.
Winger Akira Kaji however hasn’t recovered from an ankle problem so will not [...]

Shunsuke Nakamura the Japan midfielder player is expecting to play against Australia on Monday. Nakamura who was a doubt with a tweeked knee has confirmed that he should be fit to take his place in midfield.
This news must be a boost to the Japan squad who are still sweating of the fitness of Japan [...]

Shunsuke Nakamura joined the injury list of the Japan squad when he limped away from training with painful left hamstring .
This is not good news for our team who have another two midfielders on the treatment table.
Shunsuke is a special player who provides creativity in midfield.
The good news is that both Akira Kaji [...]

With the World Cup starting tomorrow, Japan’s secret weapon in the war to beat Australia, Croatia and Brazil in Group F has just arrived in Germany.
He is their unofficial mascot called Rommel.
The miniature dachshund - nicknamed Ron will be cheering the team on as they prepare to take on Australia on [...]

Hidetoshi Nakata the Japan star player might have been grumbling about his team’s performance.
But there is another side to the man who the Japanese public adore with some passion. Check out this documentary on Reuters to find out why.

JAPAN’s Brazilian-born left winger Alessandro ‘Alex’ Santos sprained his ankle whilst playing for Japan against Malta yesterday and hence joins fellow right winger Akira Kaji on the injury list ahead of the side’s World Cup opener against Australia on June 12.
Alex, who set up Keiji Tamada’s winning goal against Malta, limped off to be substituted [...]

Things are not looking up in the Japan squad.
A week to the World cup and you get your team’s star player moaning to the press about the team. This surely isn’t good news for team morale.
Hidetoshi Nakata once again complained about the team after the 1-0 win against Malta.
He said of the game [...]

The Japanese players are apparently feeling the cold weather in Bonn.
Some players have been seen to wear thermal gloves and up to four layers of clothing to practice in the 10 degree celsius weather as they continue to prepare for their first game against Australia.
I didn’t realise that Germany will be cold at [...]

It is good to see that Hidetoshi Nakata the darling of Japanese soccer for a long time and his heir apparent Shunsuke Nakamura have different opininons regarding the atmosphere in the Japanese camp.
Last week I reported in my blog that Hidetoshi Nakata was worried about the relaxed atmosphere in the Japanese squad.
Well his [...]