To be exact: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania So yes, it is not only doable but not passing the group stage would be a huge disappointment. Obviously the game against the Netherlands is very difficult, but still. Well that doesn't make me very happy haha.
Let's say: I would have prefer SK's or Iran's group while Qatar is just a joke group (especially thanks to the presence of Qatar itself) while KSA group is ala Japan's 2022 aka the hardest. I found this in Wikipedia but I'm not 100% sure it's correct: 06/14 vs Netherlands in Texas 06/20 vs Tunisia in Mexico 06/25 vs Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania in Missouri
So Japan drew 2xUEFA and CAF which is great for Japan, or almost always great for Japan historically. I was praying for them not to draw a CONCACAF team.
Japan's record against the smaller teams are worrying, still remember the loss to Poland in 2018 and Costa Rica in 2022. These should be winnable matches, yep Japan screwed up by losing these matches which could have been vital.
From pot 1 Netherlands, no complaint. Avoids the big teams, including the one in half-crisis like Brazil or Germany. One of the hosts or Portugal-Netherlands-Belgium much better. Hosts of course weaker than the 3 Europeans, but hosts, generally overperform. Plus not getting them increases the chances to get Curaçao or Haiti... so don't mind not getting the hosts either. Even if in retrospect the South Korean group does look nice for South Korea. Netherlands, can't complain, probably one of my 2 top choices for Japan, Belgium or Netherlands. Pretty much perfect. Pot 3 on the other hand... somehow would have liked to avoid Tunisia. Maybe overrating them, but would have taken any other Africans over them. But ok, we'll see. Avoided Norway, which of course is good, even if getting Norway would have meant not getting another Euro team from pot 4. But Haaland looks like poison for Japan... So good. Pot 4, No Haiti/Curaçao, no New Zealand, too bad. Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania... uncomfortable but beatable UEFA team. It's not an overly difficult group, with 48 teams that's not even possible (group I looks tough though) but could have been easier. If they finish in the top 2 Brazil or Morocco next of course isn't ideal, but ok , if they pass that next runner up group ABEI if I read that correctly, that looks rather easier then for the last 16. We'll see, don't like that Tunisia draw, otherwise quite good, but not perfect.
Sweden has never been weaker, they are the least likely to qualify out of all the potential remaining UEFA participants.
Sorry? Poland with Lewandowski in his prime was a weak team? Really? And Japan fielded the subs too. I prefer Albania over the others. Poland is risky, Sweden it depends too much but better to avoid norse countries, you can't never say if they will overperform, Ukraine for me is the stronger team. Anyway I hope Japan will arrived at match3 with 3rd place guaranteed or it will be again agony of doha around the corner.
Much better to get Tunisia than Algeria or Morocco for instance. Suffice to look at Tunisia's recent results and where their players play.
Morocco is pot 2. Impossible for Japan to get. Recent results, nothing problematic, easy qualification for the WC, now hanging out in the gulf with the B/C Team
I know, I'm just saying Japan would struggle much more if they had to play them instead of Tunisia. Morocco's best players play all over Europe most notably in Spain, Italy, France and England whereas Tunisia's best players play in Tunisia, Turkey, Qatar.
Are there any video analysis in English or French about Japan's group and their chances at the World Cup? Unfortunately my Japanese is not good enough to watch football experts discussing this.
Friendly confirmed against England at Wembley stadium on March 31st. Hopefully more friendlies will follow.
Why England? Belgium would have been better. And a north african country like Algeria please JFA do your job!
Technically they would still have time to book 1-2 pre-World Cup friendlies in late May probably. Although I agree that Belgium or even Luxembourg would have been better.
What is wrong with playing England? I would hav thought it is an excellent preparation match, especially with first game against the Dutch
English football is quite different. Anyway in 2010 we played a friendly against England (lead 1 - 0 with Tulio by head and then lost 1 - 2 with 2 owngoals by Tulio and Nakazawa) AND we were in group with Netherlands. History repeats itself... 2010 again?
Playing England is fine, a few more friendlies would be nice (against Morocco, Algeria or Egypt for instance).
Could be his last WC. Fortunately, the JNT has a bunch of good players playing in his postition, but I really wanted to see him play in the WC