Japan
They beat Germany AND Spain in 2022 — the team nobody wants to draw.
Team rating
- Attack80
- Midfield82
- Defense79
Next matches
- Next upvs TunisiaEstadio BBVA, Guadalupe (Monterrey)Jun 20
- vs SwedenAT&T Stadium, ArlingtonJun 25
The read
Japan are the tournament's great over-performers — disciplined, relentless, and famous for stunning soccer royalty: at the last World Cup they beat BOTH Germany and Spain in . They don't have the biggest names; they out-organize and out-work everyone. They went toe-to-toe with the fancied Netherlands in the opener and refused to lose, clawing back a 2-2 draw with a last-gasp goal.
The fan’s readThe serial giant-killers who beat Germany AND Spain last time, out-organizing and out-working everyone, clawing a draw from the Dutch with a last-gasp goal. Adopt them to look smart.
Live storylines
- Japan's giant-killers strike again
Japan made its name shocking Germany and Spain in 2022. Fearless, organized, and technically superb, they're the team nobody wants to draw — the dark horse a savvy newcomer adopts to look smart.
Did it again: twice came from behind to draw the fancied Netherlands 2-2 (June 14), Kamada's 89th-minute header completing the comeback. A statement point — though it left them 2nd in Group F behind a rampant Sweden (5-1 winners).
The cast
- Hajime MoriyasuThe first coach ever to lead Japan at two straight World Cups, kept on after stunning Germany and Spain in 2022.manager
- Daichi Kamada ★The late hero who clawed Japan a draw against the Dutch.ClubCrystal Palace
- Keito NakamuraJapan's first striker off the line — a winger who keeps appearing in dangerous spots.ClubReims
- Takefusa KuboThe prodigy once called the next big thing — now a La Liga star.ClubReal Sociedad
- Ritsu DoanThe giant-slayer himself — he scored against BOTH Germany and Spain in 2022.ClubEintracht Frankfurt
- Yuto NagatomoA 39-year-old veteran at his FOURTH-plus World Cup — football immortality.ClubFC Tokyo
- Kaoru MitomaA Brighton winger who wrote his university thesis on dribbling — and proves it every game, leaving full-backs grasping at air.ClubBrighton
Key moments
- 20222022 — beat Germany AND SpainJapan came from behind to beat both Germany (2-1) and Spain (2-1) at the 2022 World Cup, winning their group — the first nation ever to defeat both in a single group stage.
- 20222022 — out on penaltiesJapan reached the Round of 16 in 2022 and lost to Croatia on penalties — they have still never reached a World Cup quarterfinal.
- —The over-performersJapan have built a reputation as the team nobody wants to draw: small in star power, relentless in organization, and repeatedly able to topple the giants.