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	<title>billsportsmaps.com &#187; Japan nat&#8217;l team (soccer)</title>
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		<title>2014 FIFA World Cup teams: Japan (AFC), prominent players in 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying (theoretical best XI for Japan, with 3 other player-options listed).</title>
		<link>https://billsportsmaps.com/?p=26506</link>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 26 Apr 2014 22:40:31 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan nat'l team (soccer)]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[&#8230; Japan national team. AFC (Asia). Nickname: サッカー日本代 (Soccer Nippon Daihyo). Home jersey: dark blue with red trim. -Japan is in Group C (with Colombia, Greece, and Ivory Coast), &#8216;2014 FIFA World Cup Group C&#8216; (en.wikipedia.org). 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification: 2014 is Japan&#8217;s 5th qualification [5th consecutive] out of a 15 possible qualification attempts [...]]]></description>
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&#8230;<br />
<strong>Japan national team</strong>. AFC (Asia). Nickname: サッカー日本代 <em>(Soccer Nippon Daihyo)</em>. Home jersey: dark blue with red trim. </p>
<p>-Japan is in Group C (with Colombia, Greece, and Ivory Coast), &#8216;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_Group_C">2014 FIFA World Cup Group C</a>&#8216; (en.wikipedia.org).</p>
<p><strong>2014 FIFA World Cup qualification</strong>: 2014 is Japan&#8217;s 5th qualification [5th consecutive] out of a 15 possible qualification attempts (1930 &#038; 1934: did not enter; 1938: withdrew; 1950: banned [as a result of sanctions following World War II]; 1954: did not qualify; 1958: did not enter; 1962: did not qualify; 1966: did not enter; 1970 to 1994: did not qualify; <strong>1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014: qualified</strong>).</p>
<p>Previous WC: 2010, Round of 16 / 2-1-1. Highest WC finish: 2002 &#038; 2010, Round of 16 / 2-1-1.</p>
<p>Population of Japan: 126.6 million {2012 estimate}.<br />
Capital and largest city: Tokyo, pop. 35.6 million (metro area) [city population, aka Tokyo Metropolis, pop. 13.1 million] {2011 figures}.</p>
<p><em>Japan national team coach,</em> Alberto Zaccheroni. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberto_Zaccheroni">Alberto Zaccheroni</a>.<br />
<em>Japan squad captain,</em> Nürnburg DMF Makoto Hasebe. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makoto_Hasebe">Makoto Hasebe</a>.</p>
<p>[<strong>Note</strong>: players below reflect final 2014 WC squad selections.]<br />
<strong>Below: Theoretical Best XI for Japan (with 3 other player-options further below) -</strong><br />
<a href="http://billsportsmaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/japan_2014-fifa-world-cup_squad_best-xi_alternate-options_r_.gif"><img src="http://billsportsmaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/japan_2014-fifa-world-cup_squad_best-xi_alternate-options_r_.gif" alt="japan_2014-fifa-world-cup_squad_best-xi_alternate-options_r_.gif" /></a><br />
Photo and Image credits above -<br />
Japan on globe map, by Connormah at &#8216;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Japan_(orthographic_projection).svg">File:Japan (orthographic projection).svg</a>&#8216; (en.wikipedia.org).<br />
Japan map, from Demis Web Map Server/Gallery at <a href="http://www2.demis.nl/worldmap/mapper.asp">www2.demis.nl/worldmap/mapper.asp</a>.<br />
Japan 2014 WC jersey, photo from <a href="http://store.fifa.com/85287.html">store.fifa.com</a>.<br />
<em>Coach,</em><br />
Alberto Zaccheroni, photo unattributed at <a href="http://theovallog.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/all-eyes-on-qatar-as-asian-cup-takes-centre-stage/">theovallog.wordpress.com</a>.<br />
<em>Goalkeeper,</em><br />
Eiji Kawashima (Standard Liège), photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe via <a href="http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Eiji+Kawashima/Standard+de+Liege+vs+KV+Kortrijk+Jupiler+League/ZuZxPD9i5mL">zimbio.com</a>.<br />
<em>Defenders, </em><br />
Atsuto Uchida (Schalke 04), photo by AP via <a href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentMulti/88932/Multimedia.aspx">english.ahram.org.eg</a>.<br />
Yasuyuki Konno (Gamba Osaka), photo from <a href="http://www2.gamba-osaka.net/club/player15.html">gamba-osaka.net/club/player15</a>.<br />
Maya Yoshida (Southampton), photo photo unattributed at <a href="http://football2channel.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-1003.html">football2channel.blog.fc2.com</a>.<br />
Yuto Nagatomo (Internazionale), photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images Europe via <a href="http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/aq2LufsBS00/FC+Internazionale+Milano+v+AC+Chievo+Verona/wBJSeHthZVn/Yuto+Nagatomo">zimbio.com</a>.<br />
<em>Midfielders,</em><br />
Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka), photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images AsiaPac via <a href="http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Hotaru+Yamaguchi/Cerezo+Osaka+v+Pohang+Steelers/Bn6ua2hm4eS">zimbio.com</a><br />
Makoto Hasebe (Nürnberg), photo unattributed at <a href="http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/match-report/294922/eintracht-braunschweig-v-fc-nurnberg">sportinglife.com/football/live/match-report</a>.<br />
Yasuhito Endō (Gamba Osaka), photo from <a href="http://www2.gamba-osaka.net/club/player07.html">gamba-osaka.net/club/player07</a>.<br />
<em>Attacking MFs/Forwards,</em><br />
Shinji Okazaki (Mainz), photo by Fredrik von Erichsen via <a href="http://www.rhein-zeitung.de/sport/fussball/mainz05_artikel,-Mainz-05-Okazaki-Mainzer-Torschuetze-beim-11-im-Test-gegen-Oostende-_arid,1090209.html">rhein-zeitung.de/sport/fussball</a>.<br />
Keisuke Honda (Milan) photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images via <a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/keisuke-honda-of-ac-milan-in-action-during-the-serie-a-news-photo/463807015">gettyimages.com</a>.<br />
Shinji Kagawa (Manchester Utd), photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe via <a href="http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/ycj2ehRCb-T/Manchester+United+v+Fulham+Premier+League/dk_6jqIZ7mO/Shinji+Kagawa">zimbio.com</a>.<br />
<em>Other player-options,</em><br />
Hiroki Sakai DF/RB/RMF (Hannover 96), photo by Bongarts/Getty Images via <a href="http://www.focus.de/fotos/hiroki-sakai-und-seine-hannoveraner-wollen-das-derby-natuerlich-vor_mid_1420910.html">focus.de</a>.<br />
Hiroshi Kiyotake AMF/W (Nürnberg), photo unattributed at <a href="http://www.ballball.com/ja-jp/team/1-fc-nurnberg/">ballball.com/ja-jp/team/1-fc-nurnberg</a>.<br />
Yoshito Ōkubo (Kawasaki Frontale), photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images via <a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/yoshito-okubo-of-kawasaki-frontale-in-action-during-the-j-news-photo/491929179">gettyimages.com</a>.<br />
___<br />
Thanks to the contributors at &#8216;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification">2014 FIFA World Cup qualification</a>&#8216; (en.wikipedia.org).<br />
Thanks to the contributors at &#8216;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_national_football_team">Japan national football team</a>&#8216; (en.wikipedia.org).<br />
Thanks to <a href="http://www.transfermarkt.com/en/">http://www.transfermarkt.com/en/</a>, for player-position details.<br />
Thanks to Soccerway.com, <a href="http://int.soccerway.com/international/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/2014-brazil/4th-round/group-a/g4658/">int.soccerway.com/international/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/2014-brazil/4th-round/group-a/</a></p>
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