NASHVILLE, Tennessee - After pulling off upsets against Brazil last October and England this March in friendlies, expectations for Japan have shot to a level unseen ahead of their past seven World Cups.
But their veteran players showed no sign of contentment with the recent successes at their base camp in Nashville on Wednesday as they went through their paces ahead of Japan's Group F opener on Sunday against the Netherlands, another traditional powerhouse.
"I fully understand friendlies and the first match of the World Cup are totally different animals," said 34-year-old defender Shogo Taniguchi. "We'll strive together and adjust until the very last moment in analyzing our opponents."
Making a Japan record fifth straight World Cup squad, 39-year-old Yuto Nagatomo echoed that sentiment by using the group-stage exit at the 2014 tournament in Brazil under Alberto Zaccheroni as a bitter point of reference.
"Things were going smoothly for those four years, beating Argentina, France and Belgium along the way, only to realize at the end that what we thought was confidence was overconfidence," he said.
"We were slated before the tournaments in South Africa (in 2010), Russia (in 2018) and Qatar (in 2022), and it's the nature of human beings to find it easier to pull together when things aren't going well. I feel we need that at this moment."
Hajime Moriyasu-managed Japan have been publicly talking about their dream of going all the way and 25-year-old fullback Yukinari Sugawara, set for his World Cup debut, believes the team's unique setup will stand them in good stead.
In addition to Maya Yoshida and Takumi Minamino, the two active senior players accompanying the squad despite knowing they are not registered to play at the tournament, former Japan stars Makoto Hasebe, Shunsuke Nakamura and others are on hand to provide valuable insights as coaching staff.
"I think this is the biggest sporting event on the planet...From here on, tournament debutants could feel something different to normal as matchdays approach," Sugawara said. "That's when getting ourselves into the best shape, calling on everything possible including the seasoned senior members, becomes key."
The Netherlands held a press conference in Kansas City after arriving at their base camp on the back of a 1-0 home loss to Algeria on June 3, followed by a 2-1 win over Uzbekistan in their last warm-up game on Monday in New York.
"How far can we go? Hopefully all the way," captain Virgil van Dijk said. "We know how difficult it will be, but our full focus will be on Japan first and foremost."
"Now it's down to us to make sure we start winning games. (On) Sunday there is a very difficult match waiting for us against (a) very good Japan, disciplined with lots of quality, and it's something we look forward to."
