Coach: Akira Nishino
Star player: Shinji Kagawa
World Cup best: Second round 2002, 2010
How they got here: Will be appearing at their sixth consecutive World Cup finals after winning their qualification group. Did not win any of their three group games at the 2014 tournament.
Squad news: Other than the drama over the manager's position where Nishino replaced Vahid Halilhodzic at the beginning of April it has been a relatively calm run into the tournament for the Japanese. Defender Hiroki Sakai is nursing a knee ligament injury but should be fit.
Star player: Shinji Kagawa
World Cup best: Second round 2002, 2010
How they got here: Will be appearing at their sixth consecutive World Cup finals after winning their qualification group. Did not win any of their three group games at the 2014 tournament.
Squad news: Other than the drama over the manager's position where Nishino replaced Vahid Halilhodzic at the beginning of April it has been a relatively calm run into the tournament for the Japanese. Defender Hiroki Sakai is nursing a knee ligament injury but should be fit.