(Originally published in Japanese. Photographs provided by the Japan Football Association.) ...

Japan will be hoping ... bid to make a run deep into the World Cup knockout stages. Having qualified for the last six consecutive tournaments prior to 2022, the Samurai Blue's appearances on ...

Two former World Cup winners — Spain and ... match of the first round. Stingy Japan has a solid squad and is the more likely of the other two teams to upset the natural order if one of the ...

DOHA, Qatar — The second-biggest upset of the 2022 World Cup so far was a product of soccer ... the Germans were stunned and beaten by a brilliant Japan team that their own Bundesliga helped ...

with Japan winning a seven-goal thriller 4-3. Croatia go their revenge the following year at the World Cup, winning 1-0 thanks to a late Davor Suker goal. The two teams came up against each other ...

As each team raises its level, Japan's strength stands out amid ... Japan lost to Croatia in the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, failing to achieve their long-term goal of ...