Japan’s preparations for their sixth successive World Cup final appearances have hardly been ideal. Head coach Vahid Halilhodzic was sacked two months before the tournament was due to start, with his replacement Akira Nishino only picking up his first win on 12 June following defeats to Ghana and Switzerland. Dortmund fan favourite Kagawa chimed in with two assists as the Samurai Blue ended a 231-minute goal drought, just in time for their World Cup opener against Colombia.
Despite an indifferent Bundesliga return of five goals and three assists in 2017/18, Kagawa’s experience and creativity will be key if Japan are to negotiate Group H, which also includes Poland and Senegal. The four-time Asian Cup champions have only advanced to the knockout stages twice, but have never gone beyond the last 16. Kagawa going full tilt in the playmaker role, at what could well be the 29-year-old’s final appearance at a World Cup, is enough to cause anyone problems.