THE FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP:TEAM BY TEAM ANALYSIS

GROUP A
JAPAN
        NIPPON DAIHYO represents Japan in association football.They won the 2011,asian cup and hence participate in the curtain raiser.They finished in 2nd place in the 2001 edition.They are coached by Italian Alberto Zaccheroni,the former Milan coach has much experience at the highest level and is on the right track in terms of making Japan the best in Asia and also a house-hold name in world football.Expect to hear a lot of the "Nippon ole"  chants in Brazil.The Japanese lost 3 games on the bounce before scoring a last minute equaliser against Australia,made them the first team to secure their place in Brazil next year,after Brazil.Now the confederations cup presents itself to them as a chance to test themselves competitively ahead of next year.Zaccheroni has stated that the tournament will act as a "building block" for next year.Japan play a 4-2-3-1 system.They have highly attacking players with Keisuke Honda as the 10 and Shinji Kagawa on the left,but he will the first to tell you that he prefers playing in the middle of the park.Then the stuggart Shinji Okazaki who has scored 33 goals in 63 matches for Japan. Players to watch for the Blue samurai  are definitely Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda.Honda is struggling for fitness and may not make the tournament,but the people of japan would be hoping that he can make the flight to Brazil.Kagawa on his own will what to be at the best he can when the tournament comes around.But a somewhat more crucial player is their captain Hasebe who provides the team with a lot of energy and drives them on and on.Japan are hoping to go one better than 2001,but with the quality of the other teams,it would be quite an achievement if "Zaccheroni japan" can pull it off.