Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni must decide whether to start midfielder Shinji Kagawa in his side's final World Cup Group C game against Colombia on Tuesday.
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Japan, who have taken one point from their opening two matches, need to win and hope Ivory Coast lose to Greece if they are to qualify for the round of 16.
But it remains to see whether they embark on that challenge with Kagawa, dropped for the goalless draw against Greece after a disappointing performance in the 2-1 defeat to Ivory Coast, in the starting lineup.
The decision to remove him from the starting XI sparked debate in Japan, where the Manchester United player enjoys celebrity status.
The player stressed that he would respect whatever decision was made, telling reporters: "That is something the coach decides and has nothing to do with being Japan's No. 10.
"I respect the coach. I felt in the first match that I wasn't performing. In both matches, I haven't been able to get the results I wanted -- but I'm going to try to turn that around in the next match."
Zaccheroni's position could be under threat of Japan fail to make it through the group stage, but he was in a philosophical mood as the tournament began.
"What happens after the World Cup is the last thing on my mind," he said. "The only thing that's decided is that I'll go on vacation in my home town in Italy.
"When you have the opportunity to take part in the World Cup it isn't easy to make plans for the future."