Japan is the ultimate "giant killer." They don't care about your reputation — they'll press you for 90 minutes, execute their system perfectly, and leave you stunned. After beating Germany and Spain in 2022, nobody takes them lightly anymore.
| Player | Pos | ⚽ | 🎯 | 🔫 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaoru Mitoma Brighton | FW | 4 | 2 | 16 |
| Takumi Minamino AS Monaco | FW | 20 | 12 | 55 |
| Daichi Kamada Lazio | MF | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Hiroki Ito FC Bayern Munich | DF | 1 | 2 | 6 |
Japan upset Germany AND Spain in the 2022 World Cup group stage — two of the most celebrated soccer nations in the world. It was one of the biggest shocks in tournament history.
Japanese players now play in top European leagues across England, Germany, Spain, and Italy. The national team's quality has risen dramatically in the past decade.
Japan's team is nicknamed "Samurai Blue." Their fanbase is famous for cleaning up the stadium after matches — Japanese supporters have won worldwide praise for this respectful tradition.