Turkey
- Turkey qualified for this stage despite losing their opening match. None of the eleven nations who lost their opener at the last World Cup managed this and Turkey were the only country of the twelve that lost their opener this time to still progress. (lucky...)
- In total, four Turkish players have served suspensions at this World Cup. The most of any nation so far. (passionate )
- Only eleven Turkish players have ever won 50 international caps and seven of them are in the current Turkish squad. (experienced)
- Turkey have played two matches against an Asian opponent in 2002. In a friendly in March, they drew 0-0 with the other host nation of this World Cup, South Korea. Their last game in this World Cup was a 3-0 win over China.
Turkey have only beaten Chile and China this year. They have drawn two and lost three of their other five games.
-Turkey have scored in each of their six World Cup matches.
-Turkey have scored at least a goal in their last 15 competitive matches. (consistency)
Japan
-An Asian team has only beaten a European nation on five occasions at World Cups. However, three of those have been recorded at this World Cup. No Asian country has ever beaten a European nation in the knockout stages of the World Cup although there have only been two matches so far.
-Japan have played against seven European opponents in 2002. They have beaten Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia and Russia, drawn with Belgium and Sweden and lost to Norway.
-Japan's only defeat in ten matches in 2002 is that loss to Norway in a friendly in May. Their other nine matches have ended with five wins and four draws.
-Neither Turkey or Japan have ever been awarded a penalty at a World Cup.
- Turkey qualified for this stage despite losing their opening match. None of the eleven nations who lost their opener at the last World Cup managed this and Turkey were the only country of the twelve that lost their opener this time to still progress. (lucky...)
- In total, four Turkish players have served suspensions at this World Cup. The most of any nation so far. (passionate )
- Only eleven Turkish players have ever won 50 international caps and seven of them are in the current Turkish squad. (experienced)
- Turkey have played two matches against an Asian opponent in 2002. In a friendly in March, they drew 0-0 with the other host nation of this World Cup, South Korea. Their last game in this World Cup was a 3-0 win over China.
Turkey have only beaten Chile and China this year. They have drawn two and lost three of their other five games.
-Turkey have scored in each of their six World Cup matches.
-Turkey have scored at least a goal in their last 15 competitive matches. (consistency)
Japan
-An Asian team has only beaten a European nation on five occasions at World Cups. However, three of those have been recorded at this World Cup. No Asian country has ever beaten a European nation in the knockout stages of the World Cup although there have only been two matches so far.
-Japan have played against seven European opponents in 2002. They have beaten Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia and Russia, drawn with Belgium and Sweden and lost to Norway.
-Japan's only defeat in ten matches in 2002 is that loss to Norway in a friendly in May. Their other nine matches have ended with five wins and four draws.
-Neither Turkey or Japan have ever been awarded a penalty at a World Cup.
