GROUP H / JAPAN

*--* World Cup record: Played three (0-3-0); goals for: one; goals against: four Best finish: First round in 1998 1998 showing: Eliminated in first round Coach: Philippe Troussier. Nicknamed “the White Witch Doctor” while bouncing around Africa--he has coached South Africa, Nigeria and Burkina Faso--Troussier landed in Japan in 1998, entrusted with guiding the co-hosts to the second round. That would probably entail getting their first Cup victory Players to watch: Hidetoshi Nakata, Shinji Ono, Junichi Inamoto, Atsushi Yanagisawa In brief: Troussier has a capable midfield, led by Nakata, who plays for the Italian club Parma, and Ono, who won the UEFA Cup with the Dutch club Feyenoord, and a favorable draw Quick quote: “Japan has never won a match at the World Cup, but I believe the players will want to write a new chapter in Japanese football history this summer.”--Japan Football Assn. President Shun-Ichiro Okano Forecast: Japan makes history and makes the second round

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