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Name | Japan | Nickname | Samurai Blue
| Association | Japan Football Association | Confederation | AFC (Asia) | Head coach | Alberto Zaccheroni | Captain | Makoto Hasebe | Most caps | Masami Ihara (122) | Top scorer | Kunishige Kamamoto (75) | FIFA code | JPN | FIFA ranking | 30 | Highest FIFA ranking | 9 (February 1998) | Lowest FIFA ranking | 62 (February 2000) | Elo ranking | 19 | Highest Elo ranking | 8 (August 2001, March 2002) | Lowest Elo ranking | 112 (September 1962) | First international | Japan 0 � 5 Republic of China (Tokyo, Japan; 9 May 1917) | Biggest win | Japan 15 � 0 Philippines (Tokyo, Japan; 27 September 1967) | Biggest defeat | Japan 2 � 15 Philippines (Tokyo, Japan; 10 May 1917) | Appearances | 4 | First World Cup | 1998 | Best result | Round 2, 2002, 2010 | Asian Cup | Appearances | 6 | First apps. | 1988 | Best result | Champions, 1992, 2000, 2004 | Appearances | 4 | First apps. | 1995 | Best result | Runners-Up, 2001 |
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The Japan national football team is the national association football team of Japan and is controlled by the Japan Football Association.
The Japanese team is commonly known by the fans and media as
|}, or
|},
|} as abbreviated expressions. Although the team does not have an official nickname as such, it is often known by the name of the manager. For example, under Takeshi Okada, the team was known as
|}. Recently the team has been known or nicknamed as the "Samurai Blue".
Japan is one of the most successful national teams in Asia, being a three-time winner of the AFC Asian Cup and having advanced to the second round at the FIFA World Cup finals in 2002 and 2010. They also finished second place at 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup. As of 8th October 2010, Japan are the Unofficial Football World Champions taking the title from Argentina in a 1-0 victory.
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Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Score* |
Venue |
Competition |
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06 Jan 2010 |
Yemen |
W |
3 � 2 |
YE Ali Muhesen Stadium, Sana'a, Yemen |
2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
02 Feb 2010 |
Venezuela |
D |
0 � 0 |
JP Ōita Stadium, Ōita, Japan |
International Friendly (2010 Kirin Challenge Cup) |
06 Feb 2010 |
People%27s Republic of China |
D |
0 � 0 |
JP Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo, Japan |
2010 East Asian Football Championship |
11 Feb 2010 |
Hong Kong |
W |
3 � 0 |
JP National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan |
2010 East Asian Football Championship |
14 Feb 2010 |
South Korea |
L |
1 � 3 |
JP National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan |
2010 East Asian Football Championship |
03 Mar 2010 |
Bahrain |
W |
2 � 0 |
JP Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan |
2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
07 Apr 2010 |
Serbia |
L |
0 � 3 |
JP Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan |
International Friendly (2010 Kirin Challenge Cup) |
24 May 2010 |
South Korea |
L |
0 � 2 |
JP Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan |
International Friendly (2010 Kirin Challenge Cup) |
30 May 2010 |
England |
L |
1 � 2 |
AT UPC-Arena, Graz, Austria |
International Friendly |
04 Jun 2010 |
CIV |
L |
0 � 2 |
CH Stade Tourbillon, Sion, Switzerland |
International Friendly |
14 Jun 2010 |
Cameroon |
W |
1 � 0 |
ZA Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa |
2010 FIFA World Cup Group E |
19 Jun 2010 |
Netherlands |
L |
0 � 1 |
ZA Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa |
2010 FIFA World Cup Group E |
24 Jun 2010 |
Denmark |
W |
3 � 1 |
ZA Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa |
2010 FIFA World Cup Group E |
29 Jun 2010 |
Paraguay |
D |
0 � 0 |
ZA Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa |
2010 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 |
04 Sep 2010 |
Paraguay |
W |
1 � 0 |
JP International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan |
International Friendly (2010 Kirin Challenge Cup) |
07 Sep 2010 |
Guatemala |
W |
2 � 1 |
JP Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan |
International Friendly (2010 Kirin Challenge Cup) |
08 Oct 2010 |
Argentina |
W |
1 � 0 |
JP Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan |
International Friendly (2010 Kirin Challenge Cup) |
12 Oct 2010 |
South Korea |
D |
0 � 0 |
KR Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, Korea Republic |
International Friendly |
09 Jan 2011 |
Jordan |
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QA Qatar SC Stadium, Doha, Qatar |
2011 AFC Asian Cup |
13 Jan 2011 |
Syria |
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QA Qatar SC Stadium, Doha, Qatar |
2011 AFC Asian Cup |
17 Jan 2011 |
Saudi Arabia |
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QA Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Ar Rayyan, Qatar |
2011 AFC Asian Cup |