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Japan
Japan launched its J-League in 1993 in the hope of becoming an international soccer power in the 21st century. It has already made headway with several of the nation's stars signing for big clubs across Europe.
And you can't forget about the country's performance in the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup. Japan reached the final and only lost 1-0 to world and European champions France.
As the countdown to the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan continues, CNNSI.com's Pedro Pinto will take a close look at all of the nations that will contend for football's greatest prize.
Pinto is an anchor on World Sport, the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
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Japan's first contact with the Western world came in 1542, when a Portuguese ship landed on its shore en route to China. In modern times, a strong work ethic, company loyalty, advanced technology and a relatively small defense budget have been mainstays of the Japanese economy. Today, Japan is one of the most densely populated nations in the world, with some 330 persons per square kilometer.
Provided by CountryWatch.com
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A well-organized unit, Japan's strength is in its tactical discipline. Frenchman Philippe Troussier has managed to create a side that has earned the respect of the football community.
At the center of Japan's every move is Hidetoshi Nakata. The midfielder burst onto the scene at the 98 World Cup, impressing all with his neat touches on the ball and crisp passes. If there is an open man, Nakata will find him. Just ask Parma teammates Savo Milosevic and Marco Di Vaio. Complimenting Nakata in midfield are two other Japanese exports, Junichi Inamoto (Arsenal) and Shinji Ono (Feyenoord).
The talented trio creates plenty of chances; the problem is that there is no one to finish them off. Japan lacks a true center forward, and that will always hurt their ambitions in major tournaments.
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Has to be Hidetoshi Nakata. He was a standout at Perugia, then helped Roma win the Serie A title and is now a permanent feature in the Parma lineup. Not only does he set up goals at will, he can score them as well. Troussier knows that if Japan is to go anywhere, Nakata will be in the driver's seat.
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Japan has two -- physical aggressiveness and lack of experience. In question is not the Japanese players' will to win, but rather their style of play. If they are going to make it far in the World Cup, their defenders will have to muscle opponents' strikers off the ball and beat them in the air -- two things not often seen from past Japanese sides. Their experience at the top level is also limited, with only one World Cup appearance.
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Strikers. If players like Akinori Nishizawa, Naohiro Takahara and Hiraoki Morishima can find the back of the net, Japan will be in business. The problem is that in the World Cup, defenses are tight and there is little space to maneuver in the penalty area. So the question is whether the nation's front line be able to adjust to these conditions, considering that much of the side plays professionally in the domestic J-League.
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Japan qualified automatically as a 2002 World Cup co-host.
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Japan has only one appearance, in 1998. It lost to Argentina (1-0), Croatia (1-0) and Jamaica (2-1), failing to advance into the second phase.
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Don't be shocked if Japan makes it out of its group and sneaks into the final 16. But whether they can make it past that stage is doubtful, considering they will probably come up against an experienced nation. It will be interesting to see how far the fans can inspire their stars at the finals.
How far will Japan go in the World Cup? View Instant Poll Results
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