Japan captain Makoto Hasebe has declared himself "ready to go" for his team's World Cup Group C opener against Ivory Coast in Recife at the weekend, shrugging off worries over a knee injury.... more »
Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura will have the honour of refereeing the opening game of the World Cup finals between hosts Brazil and Croatia, FIFA announced on Tuesday.... more »
Ivory Coast's African Player of the Year Yaya Toure is doubtful for their opening World Cup group game with Japan on Saturday, coach Sabri Lamouchi told the Ivorian press on Tuesday.... more »
Japan's talisman Keisuke Honda has predicted the Asian champions will produce a "miracle" at the World Cup and reach the quarter-finals, local media reported on Monday.... more »
Japan's World Cup squad departed their Florida training camp for Brazil on Saturday, confidence bolstered by two comeback victories but with plenty of work to do before their tournament opener.... more »
Japan's unsatisfying but triumphant performance in a final World Cup warm-up match left coach Alberto Zaccheroni looking for answers barely a week before his team's opener in Brazil.... more »
Yoshito Okubo netted the winning goal in stoppage time to give bloodied Japan a 4-3 victory over Zambia on Friday in the Asian champions' final World Cup warm-up match.... more »
Japan striker Yuya Osako has joined newly-promoted Bundesliga side Cologne from second division side 1860 Munich, the club and player have said.... more »
Long-time captain Makoto Hasebe will miss Japan's final World Cup warm-up match with an injury and playmaker Shinji Okazaki is doubtful due to illness, coach Alberto Zaccheroni said on Thursday.... more »
Japan's self-proclaimed close-knit World Cup squad vowed Wednesday not to compromise its solid defensive foundation now that the Blue Samurai also feature flashy attacking players.... more »
Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima says four years of playing in Europe since the 2010 World Cup have helped make him a better defensive leader and more formidable shot-stopper.... more »
Manchester United striker Shinji Kagawa scored the go-ahead goal in the 80th minute Monday as Japan defeated Costa Rica 3-1 in a World Cup warm-up friendly for both teams.... more »
Japan should forget about results at the World Cup and focus instead on laying down a style blueprint for the next 50 years, former Samurai Blue superstar Hidetoshi Nakata told AFP.... more »
Manchester United striker Shinji Kagawa scored the go-ahead goal in the 80th minute Monday as Japan defeated Costa Rica 3-1 in a World Cup warm-up friendly for both teams.... more »
Japan captain Makoto Hasebe will stay in the Bundesliga following the World Cup after signing a two-year contract on Monday to join Eintracht Frankfurt from relegated Nuremberg.... more »
Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni is turning up the heat in a pre-World Cup fitness push and star strikers Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda face a key test Monday against Costa Rica.... more »
Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni is turning up the heat in a pre-World Cup fitness push and star strikers Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda face a key test Monday against Costa Rica.... more »
Defender Atsuto Uchida spared Japan's blushes with a 43rd-minute winner as the Asian champions beat Cyprus 1-0 in their final home World Cup warm-up on Tuesday.... more »
Defender Atsuto Uchida spared Japan's blushes with a 43rd-minute winner as the Asian champions beat Cyprus 1-0 in their final home World Cup warm-up on Tuesday.... more »
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