The rise of japanese posterboy

Junichi inamoto

Japan was co hosting the 2002 world cup edition with south korea,they was in group H alongside belgium,russia and tunisia.First game japan drew with belgium 2-2,junichi inamoto score the second goal,and that when inamoto mania was swept across japan,a couple of days later he did score again.This time against russia.Japan win 1-0.He was voted man of the match twice,in a match against belgium and russia.

Inamoto goal against russia

Team v   t   e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Japan	3	2	1	0	5	2	+3	7
Belgium	3	1	2	0	6	5	+1	5
Russia	3	1	0	2	4	4	0	3
Tunisia	3	0	1	2	1	5	−4	1

Group H final standing

Japan was top of the group after they beat tunisia in the last game.In the last 16,inamoto and japanese luck finally run out,they lost to turkey,and their competion is over.But one thing is certain,inamoto was making his name in the international stage with his great perfomance,even his team mate hidetoshi nakata couldn't done it better.Nakata was great in the 1998 edition,but in this world cup, junichi inamoto definitely steal the spotlight. 

Inamoto goal against belgium