World Cup Team Guide: Japan

Manager: Akira Nishino

Key player: Keisuke Honda - Clsoing in on a century of caps, the 32-year-old remains a Japanese icon, something aided by his very handy return of a goal every three games at international level.

Qualifying:

Japan lost just twice in Asian qualifying, topping Group B with 20 points from 10 games. six wins, two draws and two losses secured them a place in Russia, though they finished just a point ahead of the intercontinental play-off places.

Last time out:

2014 World Cup:

The Japanese suffered a campaign to forget in Brazil, finishing Bottom of Group C with just a single point from three games. They got their campaing off to a bad start at they surrendered the lead to lose 2-1 to the Ivory Coast, before drawing 0-0 with Greece next time out. A place in the last 16 was still up for grabs as they faced Colombia in Fortaleza, only for a crushing 4-1 defeat to send them home with their tails between their legs.

History:

Japan first qualified for the tournament in 1998 and have appeared at every iteration since. However, they are yet to taste any real success, having only made it out of the group twice, falling at the last 16 stage in both 2002 (when they co-hosted the tournament) and 2010.

Who will they face?

Colombia (1pm, June 19, Saransk), Senegal (4pm, June 24, Ekaterinburg), Poland (3pm, June 28, Volgograd).

Final squad:

Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Metz), Masaaki Higashiguchi (Gamba Osaka), Kosuke Nakamura (Kashiwa Reysol).

Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (Galatasaray), Tomoaki Makino (Urawa Red Diamonds), Maya Yoshida (Southampton), Hiroki Sakai (Marseille), Gotoku Sakai (Hamburger SV), Gen Shoji (Kashima Antlers), Wataru Endo (Urawa Red Diamonds), Naomichi Ueda (Kashima Antlers). 

Midfielders: Makoto Hasebe (Entracht Frankfurt), Keisuke Honda (Pachuca), Takashi Inui (Eibar), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund), Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka), Gentki Haraguchi (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Takashi Usami (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Gaku Shibasaki (Getafe), Ryota Oshima (Kawasaki Frontale).

Forwards: Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City), Yuya Osako (FC Koln), Yoshinori Muto (Mainz 05).