{"id":1279838,"date":"2022-12-05T11:20:06","date_gmt":"2022-12-05T11:20:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1279838"},"modified":"2022-12-05T11:29:23","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T11:29:23","slug":"japan-odds-to-win-world-cup-squad-route-to-the-final","status":"publish","type":"outright_markets","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/outright-markets\/japan-odds-to-win-world-cup-squad-route-to-the-final\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan odds to win World Cup 2022: Confirmed squad, route to the final, ranking &#038; form"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Japan have reached successive knockout rounds of the World Cup for the first time in their history.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The <em>Samurai Blue<\/em> have reached the last-16 in three World Cups since making their tournament debut in 1998, but never in successive competitions &#8212; until now. In 2018, Akira Nishino&#8217;s men reached the first knockout phase but were valiantly eliminated 3-2 by Belgium.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/betuk-sign-up-offer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bet UK bookmaker review &#8211; and how to use their Bet \u00a310, Get \u00a330 welcome offer<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Now under the auspices of Hajime Moriyasu, the East Asian nation have defied all expectations to beat Spain and Germany in a &#8216;Group of Death&#8217; and top the table, sending the latter home and setting up a last-16 match-up against Croatia.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/betuk-sign-up-offer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BetUK Welcome offer<\/a>: Bet \u00a310, Get \u00a330 in Free Bets<\/h2>\r\n<p>\u00a0You can get \u00a330 in Free Bets when you bet \u00a310 with Bet UK by <a href=\"\/en\/go\/bet-uk?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>CLICKING HERE<\/strong><\/a> or on the image below.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;18+ GambleAware.org\\n\\nFull T&amp;Cs Apply. 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Deposit &amp; Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a \u00a310 minimum bet at odds of 4\/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x \u00a310 Free Bets: 1 x \u00a310 Horse Racing, 1 x \u00a310 Free Bet Builder and 1 x \u00a310 Football. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.betuk.com\/promotional-terms\"> T&amp;Cs apply<\/a>. 18+ <a href=\"http:\/\/gambleaware.org\/\">GambleAware.org<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\n<p>Ever since reaching the last 16 in 2002, the year they co-hosted the tournament with South Korea, Japan has been a consistent part of the World Cup furniture. In 2006, Japan, then managed by Brazilian legend Zico, crashed out of the groups, before making the last 16 in 2010 under Takeshi Okada. It was a similar tale of woe in Brazil, as the <em>Samurai Blue <\/em>flattered to deceive in Group C, finishing dead last without a win to show for their efforts. But, four years ago, they once again crystallised their neutral-loving existence in the public psyche, both on the pitch and off it. Japan rose to prominence in 2018 after images of their fans cleaner up stadia surfaced during the tournament, while their team on the pitch progressed through the groups. It was a memorable display by both travelling supporters and players. They&#8217;ve mimicked that feat so far in Qatar.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Latest Japan odds to win the World Cup<\/strong><\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e13f35; text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Betting market<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #e13f35; text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Bet UK<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Japan to win the World Cup odds<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/go\/bet-uk?q=gb-bop-sc1-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\"><strong>75\/1<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Ko Itakura most assists odds<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/go\/bet-uk?q=gb-bop-sc1-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\"><strong>80\/1<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Ritsu Doan World Cup Golden Boot odds<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/go\/bet-uk?q=gb-bop-sc1-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\"><strong>100\/1<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Japan route to the World Cup 2022 Final in Qatar<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Group stage results<\/strong><\/h3>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background: #e23e36; color: #fff; text-align: left;\">\n<td><strong>Fixture<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Stadium<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Date*<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Germany 1-2 <strong>Japan<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Khalifa International Stadium<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">23 November 2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Japan<\/strong> 1-2 Costa Rica<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Ahmad bin Ali Stadium<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">27 November 2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Japan<\/strong> 2-1 Spain<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Khalifa International Stadium<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">01 December 2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><strong>Who could Japan meet in the knockout rounds?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>As shock Group E winners, Japan face Croatia in the first knockout round, who also confirmed their place ahead of a heavyweight in Belgium. From there, be prepared to face Group G winners Brazil, before a semi-final that could consist of Argentina or the Netherlands, and then a final against either England, France or Spain.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background: #e23e36; color: #fff; text-align: left;\">\n<td><strong>Route as Group E winners<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Potential opponent<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Round of 16<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Croatia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Quarter-Final<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Brazil<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Semi-Final<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Argentina<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Final<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">France<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/ntrfr.betuk.com\/ad.aspx?bid=17432&amp;pid=3747214\" width=\"728\" height=\"90\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/h2>\n<h2><strong>Japan World Cup 2022 squad<\/strong><\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background: #e23e36; color: #fff; text-align: left;\">\n<td><strong>Player\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Position<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Age<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Club<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Eiji Kawashima<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Goalkeeper<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">39<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Strasbourg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Shuichi Gonda<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Goalkeeper<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">33<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Shimizu S-Pulse<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Daniel Schmidt<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Goalkeeper<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">30<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Sint-Truiden<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Maya Yoshida<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Defender<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">34<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Schalke 04<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Yuto Nagatomo<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Defender<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">36<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">FC Tokyo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Hiroki Sakai<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Defender<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">32<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Urawa Red Diamonds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Miki Yamane<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Defender<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">28<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Kawasaki Frontale<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Shogo Taniguchi<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Defender<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">31<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Kawasaki Frontale<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Hiroki Ito<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Defender<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">23<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">VfB Stuttgart<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Takehiro Tomiyasu<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Defender<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">23<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Arsenal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ko Itakura<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Defender<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">25<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Borussia Monchengladbach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Takumi Minamino<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Midfielder<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">27<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Monaco<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Wataru Endo<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Midfielder<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">29<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">VfB Stuttgart<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Gaku Shibasaki<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Midfielder<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">30<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Legan\u00e9s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ritsu D\u014dan<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Midfielder<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">24<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">SC Freiburg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Kaoru Mitoma<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Midfielder<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">25<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Brighton &amp; Hove Albion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Takefusa Kubo<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Midfielder<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">21<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Real Sociedad<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Hidemasa Morita<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Midfielder<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">27<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Sporting CP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Junya Ito<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Midfielder<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">29<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Reims<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Daichi Kamada<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Midfielder<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">26<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Eintracht Frankfurt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ao Tanaka<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Midfielder<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">24<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Fortuna D\u00fcsseldorf<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Yuki Soma<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Midfielder<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">25<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Nagoya Grampus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Takuma Asano<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Forward<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">27<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">VfL Bochum<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Shuto Machino<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Forward<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">23<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Shonan Bellmare<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ayase Ueda<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Forward<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">24<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Cercle Brugge<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Daizen Maeda<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Forward<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">25<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Celtic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- Shortcode [bet-uk-world-cup-offer] does not exist -->\n<h2><strong>Japan players to watch at this year\u2019s World Cup 2022<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Japan top World Cup Golden Boot contender &#8211; Takumi Minamino\/Ritsu Doan<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Takumi Minamino never really took the Premier League by storm during his time for Liverpool and that ephemeral stint on the South Coast with Southampton, but the versatile forward has regularly delivered for his country. That period in the Premier League, although largely underwhelming, will no doubt have built resilience in Minamino, and given him a taste of the real hustle and bustle of elite football. On his day, he is a tricky operator and could prove Japan&#8217;s talismanic force once again. However, it is Ritsu Doan who is looking the more likely to win that ever-elusive gong with his two goals against Germany and Spain. He&#8217;s certainly proven he can do it against the very best.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Japan player to watch &#8211; Daichi Kamada<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Daichi Kamada was inspiring for Frankfurt in last season&#8217;s Europa League win. He is simply a tremendous midfielder, one of the most underrated in Hesse and has been absolutely vital for the <em>Samurai Blue <\/em>as they took on two of the world&#8217;s most formidable midfields in Spain and Germany. The 26-year-old is industrious, possesses great vision and is excellent with the ball at his feet. He has certainly surprised some people in Group E.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Japan emerging player to look out for &#8211; Takefusa Kubo<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>A moniker like &#8216;the Japanese Messi&#8217; is always going to place an immediate spotlight on you, and that&#8217;s exactly what happened to Takefusa Kubo during the formative stages of his career. The now 21-year-old has been on the books of both Barcelona and Real Madrid in his still tender years and is now a permanent fixture at Real Sociedad. Lightning-quick feet, skill in abundance and creativity that&#8217;s both mercurial and occasionally mesmeric, Kubo gives Japan an element of unpredictability and wonder.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Japan tactical analysis &amp; likely formation at the World Cup<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1286543 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-66x65.jpg 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-240x240.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-999x999.jpg 999w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-85x85.jpg 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-20x20.jpg 20w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy-330x330.jpg 330w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/11\/09162315\/1279838_1279838_JAPAN-World-Cup-Squad-copy.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There is nothing particularly ground-breaking about Hajime Moriyasu&#8217;s system and style. The former Japan international tends to set his stall up in a variation of a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, emphasising midfield overloads to protect the backline and keep hold of possession. With Daichi Kamada as one of his midfielders of choice, Moriyasu has set up in a 4-2-3-1, with the Frankfurt man pushing a little higher as a quasi-10 to unlock doors &#8216;in the hole&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p>Behind him, Sporting workhorse Hidemasa Morita has offered bundles off energy and industry (as he has shown in the Champions League this season), while Wataru Endo has brought a bit of grit and defensive resilience. Takefusa Kubo and Junya Ito have largely taken the flanks, with Doan coming in as a key insurance policy on the bench.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/ntrfr.betuk.com\/ad.aspx?bid=17432&amp;pid=3747214\" width=\"728\" height=\"90\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Japan&#8217;s previous World Cup finishes<\/strong><\/h2>\n<table style=\"height: 1179px;\" width=\"362\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background: #e23e36; color: #fff; text-align: centre;\">\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Year<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Finish<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1930<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Did not enter<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1934<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Did not enter<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1938<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Withdrew<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">1950<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Suspended from FIFA<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">1954<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Did not qualify<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">1958<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Did not enter<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">1962<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Did not qualify<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">1966<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Did not enter<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">1970<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Did not qualify<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">1974<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Did not qualify<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">1978<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Did not qualify<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">1982<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Did not qualify<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">1986<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Did not qualify<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">1990<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Did not qualify<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">1994<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Did not qualify<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">1998<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Group stage<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">2002<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Round of 16<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">2006<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Group stage<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">2010<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Round of 16<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">2014<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Group stage<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2018<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Round of 16<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><strong>Japan FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Where are Japan\u00a0in the Fifa World Rankings?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span>Japan<\/span> are currently ranked 24th in the <span>Fifa World Rankings.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Who is the Japan<\/strong><strong>\u00a0m<\/strong><strong>anager?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Hajime Moriyasu is the man in the dugout. The 54-year-old made 35 appearances for Japan during his playing days, but all of his appearances came before they reached the 1998 World Cup for the first time.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Who is the current Japan\u00a0captain?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>That honour is currently held by veteran centre-back Maya Yoshida. The former Southampton defender (now at Schalke 04) has 124 caps for his country.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>How many times have Japan\u00a0won the World Cup?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Japan have never won the World Cup, nor has any other Asian nation.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>How many times have Japan\u00a0competed in the World Cup?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Japan have appeared in the past six World Cups, having never made an appearance before that (pre-1998).<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Who has scored Japan&#8217;s most goals in World Cup tournaments?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Legendary midfielder Keisuke Honda has four goals at World Cups for Japan, making him his nation&#8217;s top scorer at the tournament.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Which player from Japan\u00a0has the most World Cup appearances?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Makoto Hasebe, Eiji Kawashima and Yuto Nagatomo all have 11 World Cup appearances from the 2010, 2014 and 2018 tournaments. Hasebe has since retired from international duty, but Kawashima and Nagatomo are expected to feature in Qatar.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<!-- Shortcode [world-cup-2022-read-more] does not exist -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Japan have reached successive knockout rounds of the World Cup for the first time in their history. The Samurai Blue have reached the last-16 in three World Cups since making their tournament debut in 1998, but never in successive competitions &#8212; until now. In 2018, Akira Nishino&#8217;s men reached the first knockout phase but were&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":1286499,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Japan odds to win World Cup 2022: Confirmed squad, route to the final, ranking & form","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Latest Japan to win the World Cup odds, plus betting preview, tips, odds predictions and more. 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