Despite sacking their coach just 71 days before the World Cup, Japan will attempt to prove their doubters wrong on Tuesday against a Colombia side sweating on the fitness of star midfielder James Rodriguez.... more »
Colombia will not take struggling Asian giants Japan for granted when the two sides meet in their World Cup opener in Saransk, Seville striker Luis Muriel said Sunday.... more »
James Rodriguez -- the top scorer at Brazil 2014 -- remains a doubt for Colombia's World Cup opener against Japan after missing training on Friday due to muscle fatigue.... more »
Japan captain Makoto Hasebe promised Thursday that a late change of coach will not damage morale when they begin their World Cup quest against Colombia next week.... more »
Crisis-hit Japan would struggle to avoid an early World Cup exit even under Jose Mourinho -- that's the stinging assessment of former coach Philippe Troussier.... more »
Japan's Maya Yoshida has the unenviable task of marshalling a defence to keep out three of the deadliest strikers in football at the World Cup.... more »
Japan coach Akira Nishino is set to come under the sort of intense scrutiny normally reserved for teams with genuine hopes of lifting the World Cup in Russia.... more »
The absence of any of the really big names in theory means Group H could be the most open of all in Russia, although both Poland and Colombia might have something to say about that.... more »
Trouble-hit Japan will hope star power can reverse their flagging fortunes after new coach Akira Nishino named his 23-man squad for the World Cup in Russia on Thursday.... more »
Ghana gatecrashed Japan's farewell game before the World Cup -- coach Akira Nishino's first in charge of the Blue Samurai -- with a 2-0 win on Wednesday.... more »
Lawyers for sacked Japan football coach Vahid Halilhodzic filed a legal claim against his former employers on Thursday claiming "damage to reputation and honour" and seeking compensation -- of one yen.... more »
New Japan coach Akira Nishino flagged his World Cup intentions on Friday by turning to his big hitters for the home friendly with Ghana on May 30.... more »
Japan forward Keisuke Honda has slammed former national team boss Vahid Halilhodzic's methods as the fallout from his abrupt dismissal as coach continued in the run-up to the World Cup.... more »
Lawyers for ousted Japan football coach Vahid Halilhodzic said Friday they are prepared to take Japanese officials to court over his shock firing just two months before the World Cup.... more »
Japan's newly appointed national football manager Akira Nishino said Tuesday the Blue Samurai have world-class technique and vowed to build on their organised playing style ahead of the World Cup.... more »
Akira Nishino, who has taken over Japan's national team just months before the World Cup, is an experienced domestic coach who was at the helm for one of Japanese football's greatest moments: a 1-0 Olympic win over a Brazil side containing Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo.... more »
Japan on Monday named respected veteran Akira Nishino as its new national football manager, taking an "emergency measure" after sensationally dumping Vahid Halilhodzic only two months before the World Cup.... more »
Japan has fired national football coach Vahid Halilhodzic just two months before the World Cup, after a series of disappointing performances by the Blue Samurai, local media reported Monday.... more »
Former Japan coach Philippe Troussier has cast doubt on the country's hopes of surviving their group at next year's World Cup, describing their draw as "bad news".... more »
Neymar scored a penalty and missed another as Brazil signalled their intent ahead of next year's World Cup by outclassing Japan 3-1 in Friday's international friendly in Lille.... more »
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