 "Fifa World Cup 2018, Russia World Cup, Japan football team, Shinji Kagawa")
Japan will make their sixth appearance at the finals in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Although, this edition will see the return of some star players back into the fold, a late managerial change and a squad bereft of clear tactical identity might hinder their plans to advance from a winnable yet tricky group.
Coach
Coach Akira Nishino took over the Blue Samurai after his predecessor Franco-Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic was abruptly sacked, apparently due to some unflattering results and his long-standing feud with senior players, notably forward Keisuke Honda and playmaker Shinji Kagawa.
The 63-year-old veteran will find
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