FIFA World Cup 2018: 5 lowest ranked teams and their respective key players

#3 Japan

Japan

were

among the first teams to qualify for the World Cup

Rank: 61

Key Player: Keisuke Honda

The Asian champions of 2011 have been a big disappointment in the recent times. Even if their status within the continent is totemic, Japan haven’t beaten a non-Asian side since March 2015 when they defeated Tunisia 2-0 in a friendly.

Their qualifications process for the FIFA World Cup 2018 was nigh-perfect, finishing atop the group in both the rounds, even though there were a few glitches in the second one.

The Samurai Blue have never gone beyond the round of 16 at the World Cups, but their last campaign was a disaster, finishing at the bottom of the group without a win and scoring just twice.

In Russia too, things aren’t going to be any easier. They’ve drawn Senegal, Poland and once again, Colombia, in their group. The latter two are expected to advance to the next round, while Senegal would be a tough prospect on their way to avoid finishing at the bottom again.

Keisuke Honda can lead the charge for the Warriors

Japan do have quite a few big names in Shinji Okazaki, Maya Yoshida, Yugo Nagatomo and Shinji Kagawa. But if there’s someone who’s in real form at the moment, then it's Keisuke Honda. People know him from his Milan days, and even though he’s now out of the picture, he’s making waves far away in Mexico’s Liga MX.

He joined Pachuca last summer and capped off his debut campaign with 12 goals and 5 assists, even finishing within the top 10 goalscorers of the league. The Pachuca team may have finished in the lower half of the table, but Honda was one of the few bright lights.

The 31-year old was also the most prolific Japanese in the qualifiers with 7 goals, and his rich vein of form holds him in a good stead ahead of the tournament proper.