Japan will play Mozambique in a hastily-arranged final pre-World Cup friendly on Thursday as Takeshi Okada's side seek a much-needed confidence boost ahead of Monday's opener against Cameroon.
Japan have suffered four consecutive defeats ahead of a fourth consecutive World Cup campaign and face a tough task to reach the knockout stage in a group which also contains Holland and Denmark.
Mozambique lost 3-0 to Portugal in Johannesburg on Tuesday and will head to Japan's base in George for the behind-closed-doors match, which will be split into three 30-minute periods.
Years | Winners | Runner-up | Third place |
2006 | Italy | France | Germany |
2002 | Brazil | Germany | Turkey |
1998 | France | Brazil | Croatia |
1994 | Brazil | Italy | Sweden |
1990 | Germany | Argentina | Italy |
1986 | Argentina | Germany | France |
1982 | Italy | Germany | Poland |
1978 | Argentina | Holland | Brazil |
1974 | Germany | Holland | Poland |
1970 | Brazil | Italy | Germany |
1966 | England | Germany | Portugal |
1962 | Brazil | Czech | Chile |
1958 | Brazil | Sweden | France |
1954 | Germany | Hungary | Austria |
1950 | Uruguay | Brazil | Sweden |
1938 | Italy | Hungary | Brazil |
1934 | Italy | Czech | Germany |
1930 | Uruguay | Argentina | America |