Japan in Asia … the first and strongest candidate

Japan participates in the Asian Cup for the ninth time and, despite a small number of entries since 1956, is the first team of the Asian Championship with four titles between 1992 and 2011. It is also the team with the most successful in all editions in which he participated and is now one of the best candidates for the title in the 2019 release.

Posts historically
Japan has missed the Asian Cup since the first edition in 1956 until the 1984 version, then did not miss a single copy and kept a record of continued participation. In the 1988 Qatar edition, Japan had called in the first round after losing three draws against a draw. He returned to the 1992 home standings and won the first title after scoring three wins and two draws.

In the UAE edition in 1996, Japan ended the quarterfinals, but came back in strength at the 2000 editions of Lebanon and 2004 in China and crowned champions of Asia. In the first match, Japan beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 and China 3-1. Then, in the 2007 edition, Japan finished fourth.

But the Japanese team has confirmed its strength on the Asian continent and the kidnapping of the fourth title, only 19 years after his first participation in the Asian Championship, that is to say he won the title every four years and a half. But in the final, eliminated from the quarterfinals of the 2015 edition in Australia, he hopes to return to the UAE podium in 2019. In the group, Japan played 41 games (24 wins, 12 draws and 5 losses) and scored 80 goals against 38 in total.

Matches in Asia and first star
Japan kicks off its 2019 Asian Cup against Turkmenistan on Jan. 9 at Al Nahyan Stadium, then will play its second match against Oman on Jan. 13 at the Madinat Zayed Sports Stadium. Played in Group A during a tough match against the Uzbeks at Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium on January 17th.