9. Japan
How they qualified: Winning their group in the 4th Round of Asian qualifying
Last time: Last 16, lost on penalties to Paraguay
FIFA Ranking: 42
What are their chances in Brazil? The first team apart from the hosts the qualify for Brazil, Japan are likely to be the most competitive of the Asian qualifiers. They suffered a few blips in qualifying, losing to Jordan, but historic wins over Argentina and France in the same period mean Japan will approach the World Cup with a confidence that belies their oddly low world ranking. Since the last World Cup, Japan have been led by former AC Milan boss Alberto Zaccheroni who guided them to their fourth Asian Cup title in Qatar two years ago. Winning the recent East Asian Cup, in which they defeated fellow World Cup qualifiers South Korea and Australia, has only cemented their position as the region's top team. Midfield talisman Yasuhito Endo, the country's most capped player, will be 34 by the time the summer comes round, so this will be his last World Cup, but the current generation of Japanese players is arguably the best ever. Full backs Yuto Nagamoto (Inter) and Atsuto Uchida (Schalke) have established themselves as regular first teamers in both Europe's top leagues and the Champions League. Forward Keisuke Honda has scored wherever he plays and continues to do so for the national team and, in Man United's Shinji Kagawa, they have a truly gifted, if inconsistent, performer. Up against the world's top teams at this year's Confederations Cup, losing all three games may have been a bit of a reality check for this ambitious team, but their 4-3 defeat to Italy was the undoubted match of the tournament and one from which Japan were unlucky to emerge without a point. Depending on the draw that they get, Japan will hope at least to match their previous best performances and make it to the last 16.