The Japanese football team, also known as the Samurai Blue, is raving about the World Cup stadium in Qatar in ways few expected. The discipline and coordination they carry as a nation consistently garner respect from their neighbours. Japan has all of the ingredients to be a football powerhouse: the world's third-largest economy, a population of 125 million people, a national passion for football, a prominent domestic league, and the infrastructure that comes with co-hosting its own World Cup.
Japanese football chiefs said Wednesday there is "little chance" they will bid to replace China as hosts of next year's Asian Cup, two days before the deadline to declare interest.
Japan winger Yuyo Kubo's goalscoring form has vindicated the decision to select him over Keisuke Honda, coach Vahid Halilhodzic said after a 4-0 victory over Thailand in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
The Japanese football team, also known as the Samurai Blue, is raving about the World Cup stadium in Qatar in ways few expected. The discipline and coordination they carry as a nation consistently garner respect from their neighbours. Japan has all of the ingredients to be a football powerhouse: the world's third-largest economy, a population of 125 million people, a national passion for football, a prominent domestic league, and the infrastructure that comes with co-hosting its own World Cup.
Japanese football chiefs said Wednesday there is "little chance" they will bid to replace China as hosts of next year's Asian Cup, two days before the deadline to declare interest.
Japan winger Yuyo Kubo's goalscoring form has vindicated the decision to select him over Keisuke Honda, coach Vahid Halilhodzic said after a 4-0 victory over Thailand in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
