Football: Seasoned veterans, senior members to buttress high-flying Japan

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.