I really don't know what to feel with this current Japan anymore haha. It's a mixed feelings situation, but more of pessimism than optimism. I hope things will end up like in WC 10 but better. My main concern would be playing against bunkered teams. I don't want to see another WC 14 Greece match.
So Japan will be in pot 3, as it stands their options for the draw is as follows: From Pot 4 Japan cannot be drawn in the same group as Saudi Arabia or the winner of CONMEBOL/AFC play-off, as teams from the same confederation cannot be drawn in the same group. Then Japan will meet either an African team: Cameroon, Ghana, or Tunisia. Or either: Ecuador, the winner of the CONCACF/OFC play-off, or the remaing European team (Wales/Scotland/Ukrahne). So it is 50/50 to face an African team, and this team could be theoretically the team which Japan shall win against as this team is most probably the "weakest" opponents Japan can face compared to teams in Pot 1 & 2 (the same is applicable to other teams in Pot 4 as well). However, playing against an African team will not prevent Japan from facing any team from Pot A or Pot B (except Qatar, as Qatar is an AFC nation). While if Japan get Ecuador from Pot 4 then they will not be able to be drawn in a group with Brazil or Argentina, as members from the same association cannot be drawn in the same group, and if we add to this that Japan cannot face Qatar in the GS for the same reason, then if Japan draw in the same group as Ecuador they will get one of the four European teams from Pot 1: France, England, Spain or Portugal. Japan also won't be able to face Uruguay from Pot 2 (which means Japan will either get a team from Europe or USA or Mexico from Pot 2). If Japan get Wales/Scotland/Ukraine from Pot 4, then they will not be able to face more than 2 European teams in their group, so Japan will end up with the following combinations: 1- if Japan get Brazil or Argentina from Pot 1 then they will avoid facing Uruguay in the GS. 2- if they get one of the European teams from Pot 1 (France, England, Spain, or Portugal) , then they will face either: Mexico or USA from Pot B. While if Japan get the winner of CONCACAF/OFC, they won't be able to face another team from the CONCACF, which means they will either face Uruguay or a European team from Pot 2.
I am afraid that Japan won't be able to play against a European team until October, because European teams will be busy playing the useless UEFA Nations League in June (4 matches) and in September (2 matches). African nations may start their African Cup of Nations qualifiers in June as well. So, most probably Japan have to schedule friendlies against teams from CONMEBOL/CONCACAF in June, and try to find a space between the Nations league matches and schedule a friendly or two in Europe in September. The key for Japan is to schedule friendlies against teams drawn in the same group as South Korea, as these teams will be willing to play Japan as a preparation to face the Koreans in the World Cup.
So favourable draw scenarios for Japan will be: Pot 1: England/Portugal/Spain/France Pot 2: USA Pot 3: Japan Pot 4: Ecuador Or Pot 1: England/Portugal/Spain/France Pot 2: Switzerland/Uruguay/Croatia/Denmark Pot 3: Japan Pot 4: Costa Rica/New Zealand Or Pot 1: England/Portugal/Spain/France Pot 2: USA/Uruguay Pot 3: Japan Pot 4: Cameroon/Ghana/Tunisia Or Pot 1: England/Portugal/Spain/France Pot 2: USA/Uruguay Pot 3: Japan Pot 4: Wales/Scotland/Ukraine
Some tough teams to face, but then again, everything could change in the following months leading to November 21st. Teams including Japan might lose their key players to injury, drop in form, managerial changes...etc.
Japan will host four friendly matches in June, with the opponents yet to be determined: Kirin Challenge Cup (one-off matches) : 2/June (@ Sapporo). 6/June (@ Tokyo). Kirin Super Cup (4 teams tournament) : 10/June (@ Kobe). 14/June (@ Osaka/Suita). Japan cannot host a European national team at those matches, as all European teams will be playing Nations League matches in that period. The participating teams identity will depend on the results of the 2022 World Cup Draw (1/April) and who Japan will going to face at the WC.
Brazil would likely have a friendly against Japan. https://ge.globo.com/futebol/seleca...amistosos-japao-coreia-do-sul-argentina.ghtml
You have it the wrong way around with Ecuador I'm afraid. Getting Ecuador won't prevent getting Brazil/Argentina/Uruguay, as far as I know pot 4 will be emptied last, so getting one of the other 3 prevents Japan from getting Ecuador. Then depends too on how the draw is done exactly, how they deal with the teams that can't go in a certain group anymore... Example: Group A with Qatar already done, Group B Brazil-USA Group C: France-Germany Japan is drawn... then normally Group B. But think once I saw that in that case they put a team in Group C, because Group C can't have any other Europeans and Serbia is still there... if they do it that weird way that would increase the chances that Japan gets a South American early. Anyway, looks like an African team is rather likely. And I guess everybody hopes to get the US from pot 2 (and those that can Qatar-USA) Brazil-Germany-Japan-Wales. Bring it on!
ikr? They've always been Japan's bogeyman. Their current players are good too e.g Antony, Raphinha, Richarlson, Paqueta, Vini Jr...etc. It's gonna be a useful test to Moriyasu's defensive tactics.
Yes, Pot 1 is going to be drawn first. I was not meaning the order of the draw as much as I was meaning who is Japan will get from Pot 4 (theoretically the easiest team to beat in the GS).
Hey guys. I tried this website for a virtual World Cup draw: https://draw.inker.one/#/wc/gs/2022 Show me yours!
My concern is in friendly Japan will get a 1-1 or a 0-0, then the hype will become unbelievable and in WC Japan will f**k up and get 4-0'd by Brazil.
That's exactly what happened with Zac's Japan, they beat Argentina, France, and Belgium (I think) in the friendlies but got humbled in the WC by Ivory Coast and Colombia. I'd rather it goes the other way around, getting stomped on in the friendlies, then surprise the whole world in the WC
Yes. Eventhough the win against Argentina goes back to 2010 (early in Zacherooni's reign) and the win against France in 2012 (before the team secured their qualification and began preparing for 2014 World Cup), but they drew 2-2 against The Netherlands, won 3-2 against Belgium in late 2013 (both matches played in Belgium in preparation for the 2014 WC).
Pots for the World Cup draw: The pots for Friday’s World Cup draw ⏳ pic.twitter.com/EvIed1csuA— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 31, 2022
Tunisia is now in Pot 3, while Canada in Pot 4 as a result of their defeat against Panama. So teams Japan can be drawn against from Pot 4 are: Cameroon, Ghana, Canada, Ecuador, The winner from Wales/Scotland/Ukraine, and the winner from Costa Rica/New Zealand.
Oh damn I didn't realise the draw is on Friday. That's good. I think this will be a high quality World Cup. Seems like there aren't many total rubbish teams making the cut. Ofcourse next time around with 48 teams that'll change.
ikr? Asia will have 8 f***king teams! What were they thinking? Oh well, it's all about the money. The last Euro wasn't as exciting, especially the group stage, due to the large numbers of teams participating. Oh, here is a website that does a mock WC draw done for you by just pressing a button. https://draw.inker.one/#/wc/gs Somehow, I mostly get Brazil and Germany in Japan's group, lol
Interestingly, this team has had a pretty good record against traditional Asian powerhouses. 2019 1-0 Saudi Arabia (Asian Cup) 2019 3-0 Iran (Asian Cup) 2021 3-0 South Korea (Friendly) 2021 0-1 Saudi Arabia (WCQ) 2021 2-1 Australia (WCQ) 2022 2-0 Saudi Arabia (WCQ) 2022 2-0 Australia (WCQ) 6 wins & 1 loss / 13 goals for & 2 goals against * I didn't include the South Korea match in the 2019 E1 championship because it was played on a non-FIFA date.
Portugal is the only team Japan has never faced. In 2003 they were scheduled to play the Kirin Cup in Japan but withdrew from it because of SARS virus.
Japan's performances in previous WC tournaments were: 98 GS 02 R16 06 GS 10 R16 14 GS 18 R16 22 ??? Hmm... Pretty interesting. Would they break the trend (curse) this time? Oh, and what's wild for me is going by The JFA pledge for 2050, if the above trend continues, Japan would end up winning the WC in 2050!!! I hope I am still alive when that happens.
Group E: Spain . Costa Rica / New Zealand . Japan . Germany . Well at least Japan got either Costa Rica and New Zealand.