Japan may have been the first nation to qualify for this, but preparations have been pretty dismal. The recent home defeat to South Korea was the second of 2010, and there have also been 0-0 draws with Venezuela and China, and a thoroughly depressing 3-0 defeat at home to Serbia's B team. The draw could have been a lot kinder too. Japan's greatest asset is a skilful midfield but the age-old issue of physical strength remains a problem. The management have set a frankly ludicrous target of reaching the semi-finals, but I'd say it would be a terrific achievement to make it through the group stage and bow out gracefully to Italy in the last 16. Sadly, I think we'll fall short of even that.
Men to watch: Midfielders Shunsuke Nakamura and Yasuhito Endo have been the core of the side for the past three years, though Nakamura has been on a downward spiral since flopping at Espanyol. The real ones to watch though are youngsters Takayuki Morimoto and Keisuke Honda.
Weakest link: Loath as I am to admit it, 102-cap skipper Yuji Nakazawa is starting to become a liability: his legs are going. Yoshito Okubo is another whose selection baffles me – he wouldn't even make my squad but remains in the likely starting XI .
The coach: France '98 coach Takeshi Okada only returned because of Ivica Osim's ill health, and rarely shows sufficient tactical nous. He likes 4-2-3-1.
Best chant: "O… vamos Nippon! Nippon, Nippon, vamos Nippon! (Hai, hai, hai-hai-hai-hai!)
Least-liked opponents: South Korea and Australia.
TIPS
Winner:Golden boot: David Villa (Spain).
England: Semi-finals via a world-class manager.
Follow Ben Mabley at mabley.footballjapan.co.uk
