Japan 2016 Home Shirt

JAPAN - HOME SHIRT 2016

Japan, known the world over as the Samurai Blue, have been guided by the Japan Football Association since it was founded in 1921. With no single home ground, the national side take their biggest fixtures around the country, with Saitama Stadium 2002 serving as their spiritual fortress. They are the giants of the continent, four-time AFC Asian Cup winners in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011, and a fixture at the World Cup finals since 1998. This deep-blue design carries a lovely story too, with a series of bands across the chest representing the eleven players and a single red line running through them for the supporters, the twelfth man.

By 2016 Japan were under Bosnian boss Vahid Halilhodzic, chasing a sixth straight World Cup. They breezed through the AFC second round as winners of Group E, then stepped up into the tougher final round of 2018 qualifying. This iconic home shirt was on their backs through it all, and the campaign would test the nerve of the whole nation.

The third round began with a jolt. On 1 September 2016 Japan were stunned 1-2 at home by the United Arab Emirates at Saitama, Keisuke Honda firing them ahead before Ahmed Khalil struck twice. Halilhodzic's men responded like champions, winning 2-0 away in Thailand days later and beating Saudi Arabia at home in November to haul themselves back into the qualifying places.

The squad glittered with European talent. Shinji Okazaki arrived fresh from a fairytale 2015-16 season, having won the Premier League title with Leicester City. Alongside him were Honda of AC Milan, Shinji Kagawa of Borussia Dortmund and defender Maya Yoshida of Southampton, a spine that would carry Japan all the way to Russia 2018.

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