South Korea’s storming run to the semi-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup is often held up as an example of how a turbo-charged fanbase can power a host nation to previously unimaginable heights.
What often gets forgotten, however, is that co-hosts Japan bowed out in the round of 16 during the first and so-far only Far Eastern World Cup; falling where South Korea thrived on the biggest of all sporting stages. A vociferous home support, as it transpires, is no guarantee of success, even if it certainly helps.
Coached at the time by Frenchman Philippe Troussier, the Samurai Blues were sent packing in the first knockout stage by eventual bronze-medallists Turkey at the Miyagi Stadium.
That remains Japan’s most impressive run at tournament level; the men from the Far East never having reached the promised land of the quarter-finals despite qualifying for each of the last six editions. They were knocked out by surprise packages Paraguay in 2010.
Japan came even closer to a first-ever last-eight spot in Russia nearly a decade later; the two-goal lead given to them by Genki Haraguchi and Takeshi Inui overturned by a rampant Belgium fightback.
It was a 94th minute Nacer Chadli winner which broke Japanese hearts in Rostov.
Can Japan reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in Qatar?
The question is, can Hajime Moriyasu’s side go one step further in Qatar, and make history? They’ve certainly got the talent. This is arguably the most skilled Japanese squad ever to earn themselves an invitation to the so-called Festival of Football.
Celtic trio Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and the effervescent Kyogo Furuhashi could emerge as three of Qatar’s breakthrough stars. Takumi Minamino (formerly of Liverpool), Freiburg’s Ritso Doan and Daichi Kamada of Eintracht Frankfurt are all capable of scoring goals from midfield.
One-time Real Madrid wonderkid Takefusa Kubo, meanwhile, can change games in the blink of an eye. Watch out for his Robben-esque, left-footed curlers from the right-hand flank.
But it’s not all good news. With Germany and Spain joining them in Group E, the most likely outcome remains a group-stage departure. Then again, neither Germany nor Spain are total strangers to an early exit…
“To be honest, I want to go crazy (at the World Cup),” Furuhashi beams.
“We can fight against good opponents as a team. So we would like to discuss and express the soccer we want to play first. I want to play a game that will lead to us winning points at the World Cup.”
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