Japan
Group: B (Japan, New Zealand, Mexico, England)
Confederation: AFC (Asian Football Confederation)
Current Rank: 4
Kit: Home (royal blue) Away (white)
Head Coach: Norio Sasaki
Previous WC Finish: 10th Place
How They Qualified: Third place in AFC qualifying after losing to Australia 1-0 in semi-final match
WC Appearances: 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007
Star Players: Aya Miyama, Homare Sawa, Kozue Ando
Strengths: Technically strong; tactically disciplined
Weaknesses: Lack dynamic runs in the final third. Haven’t shown well at World Cups in past
Confederation: AFC (Asian Football Confederation)
Current Rank: 4
Kit: Home (royal blue) Away (white)
Head Coach: Norio Sasaki
Previous WC Finish: 10th Place
How They Qualified: Third place in AFC qualifying after losing to Australia 1-0 in semi-final match
WC Appearances: 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007
Star Players: Aya Miyama, Homare Sawa, Kozue Ando
Strengths: Technically strong; tactically disciplined
Weaknesses: Lack dynamic runs in the final third. Haven’t shown well at World Cups in past
ROSTER
Goalkeepers:
Nozomi Yamago (Urawa Reds Ladies)
Miho Fukumoto (Okayama Yunogo Belle)
Ayumi Kaihori (INAC Kobe Leonessa)
Defenders:
Yukari Kinga (INAC Kobe Leonessa)
Kyoko Yano (Urawa Reds Ladies) Megumi Kamionobe (Albirex Niigata Ladies)
Azusa Iwashimizu (NTV Beleza)
Aya Sameshima (Boston Breakers)
Asuna Tanaka (INAC Kobe Leonessa) Saki Kumagai (Urawa Reds Ladies)
Midfielders:
Homare Sawa (INAC Kobe Leonessa) Aya Miyama (Okayama Yunogo Belle) Nahomi Kawasumi (INAC Kobe Leonessa)
Mizuho Sakaguchi (Albirex Niigata Ladies)
Rumi Utsugi (Montpellier HSC)
Forwards: Kozue Ando (FCR 2001 Duisburg)
Karina Maruyama (JEF United Ichihara Chiba)
Shinobu Ono (INAC Kobe Leonessa) Yuki Nagasato (FFC Turbine Potsdam)
Megumi Takase (INAC Kobe Leonessa)
Mana Iwabuchi (NTV Beleza)
Homare Sawa (INAC Kobe Leonessa) Aya Miyama (Okayama Yunogo Belle) Nahomi Kawasumi (INAC Kobe Leonessa)
Mizuho Sakaguchi (Albirex Niigata Ladies)
Rumi Utsugi (Montpellier HSC)
Forwards: Kozue Ando (FCR 2001 Duisburg)
Karina Maruyama (JEF United Ichihara Chiba)
Shinobu Ono (INAC Kobe Leonessa) Yuki Nagasato (FFC Turbine Potsdam)
Megumi Takase (INAC Kobe Leonessa)
Mana Iwabuchi (NTV Beleza)
Did You Know ...
Defender Aya Sameshima is not only playing in her first Women's World Cup, the 24-year-old recently signed a contract with the Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer. Sameshima has trained with the Breakers since late March after her former team, TEPCO Mareeze of the L1-League, saw its training facility and home decimated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Since coming to the states, Sameshima has also played in two friendlies for Japan vs. the U.S. Women's National Team.
Defender Aya Sameshima is not only playing in her first Women's World Cup, the 24-year-old recently signed a contract with the Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer. Sameshima has trained with the Breakers since late March after her former team, TEPCO Mareeze of the L1-League, saw its training facility and home decimated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Since coming to the states, Sameshima has also played in two friendlies for Japan vs. the U.S. Women's National Team.
