Japan

Samurai Blue's preferred shape in possession is a 3-4-3 with the wingbacks crucial to progressing the ball. Out of possession, the front three and wingbacks are often required to press man-to-man, with the ball-side wingback pushing high and the weak-side wingback shifting back, sliding inward to form a makeshift back four with the centre-backs.

This system is demanding on the wide players, and Kaoru Mitoma's absence due to a hamstring injury is troublesome for this reason - but there are viable options in relief. The natural 1-for-1 replacement on the left is Reims' Keito Nakamura. There is also Celtic fan favourite Daizen Maeda, but his pressing workrate and ball skills are better suited as depth for one of the 10s behind striker Ayase Ueda (especially with Takumi Minamino missing the tournament as well).

Elsewhere, the CB trio of Junnosuke Suzuki, Shōgo Taniguchi and Junya Watanabe have gelled well as a unit in recent tests, but Hiroki Ito's return means the Bayern man could supplant Suzuki on the left (Ito is also the only natural left-footed CB in the squad). Captain Wataru Endo has been working back from injury in midfield and started the tune-up friendly vs. Iceland, but the duo of Daichi Kamada and Kaishu Sano should be established as first-choice.