Japan
Ambition Japan has qualified for every World Cup since 1998, generally alternating between elimination in the group phase and an exit in the round of 16. The coach, Hajime Moriyasu, has a sufficiently strong squad to see the latter as an achievable aim, though having to face Germany and Spain does not help.
Experience The vast majority of Moriyasu’s squad now plays in Europe: There are only seven representatives of J League clubs among his selected 26, and two of them have only recently returned home. At least in theory, this may be the strongest, most experienced, team Japan has ever taken to a World Cup.
Key Question If there is one flaw in Moriyasu’s squad, it is up front. Japan has no shortage of creative players — Takumi Minamino, Junya Ito, Takefusa Kubo, Daichi Kamada — but finding a reliable source of goals has been a problem for some time. It shows no sign of alleviating.
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