Breakdown for Group B

(Reuters) - Following is a team-by-team breakdown of Group B.

JAPAN

Japan have reached their eighth Olympic soccer tournament but coach Yasuharu Sorimachi is facing a rough ride.

Sorimachi's team face European under-21 champions Netherlands, 1996 gold medalists Nigeria and the United States.

"I knew we would get a difficult group," he said after the draw. "Holland are probably the second best side in the world in this age group.

"We have also struggled against African teams so it's an extremely tough proposition. We will study the opposition and try to impose Japan's style of play on them."

His worries have been compounded by news that midfielder Yasuhito Endo, who was due to play as an over-age player, went down with a viral infection and was ruled out.

His club Gamba Osaka said they would not risk sending him to China after he went down with high fever.

Troubled striker Yoshito Okubo was also left out after disciplinary problems.

Japan won the bronze medal in 1968 when the tournament was still amateur, then had to wait until 1996 before they qualified again. Since then, they have been ever-present.

The Japanese were far from convincing in qualifying and faced elimination after a 2-1 defeat to Qatar.

But a 4-0 win over Vietnam and a draw with Saudi Arabia was enough to book their place.

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NETHERLANDS

European under-21 champions Netherlands are expected to lead the continent's challenge at the tournament, where Brazil and Argentina appear to be strong favorites.

The Dutch say the mood in the camp is good and there is no risk of the in-fighting which has often plagued the senior side at major competitions.

"We've got some big-name players but this squad's real strength is that the players are good friends," midfielder Hedwiges Maduro told FIFA's website (www.fifa.com) in an interview in May.

"We've known each other for a long time and we've got a very good relationship. We're prepared to work hard for each other on and off the pitch: the squad has a really great vibe."

Despite missing top striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, the Dutch hosted and won the European under-21 championship last August, beating Serbia 4-1 in the final.

A number of the squad's players are already competing at the top level in Europe, including Liverpool's Ryan Babel and Valencia's Maduro, who was in the senior squad at the last World Cup and made a substitute appearance against Argentina.

"I'm very excited to have this opportunity because the Olympic Games are an amazing competition," said Maduro.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, in fact, many great players have never had the chance to go. It's a very special tournament and I'm really pleased."

Real Madrid's versatile forward Royston Drenthe was outstanding in the European under-21 tournament and could be one of the players of the tournament.

Under coach Foppe de Haan, the Dutch -- bronze medalists three times before the World War II -- will be taking part for the first time since 1952.

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NIGERIA

Nigeria will be attempting to win their second gold medal in Olympic soccer, having become the first African side to win the tournament in 1996.

The Super Eagles are likely to be without midfielder John Obi Mikel, unless there is a last-minute change of heart from coach Samson Siasia.

Siasia became exasperated at Mikel's failure to play in the qualifying matches and has recently been adamant the Chelsea player will not be included in the squad.

However, it is common in Nigeria for last-minute solutions to be found in such cases, often with interference from federation and government officials.

Nigeria, always strong in age-restricted tournaments, were runners-up to Argentina at the 2005 World under-20 championships and are expected to mount a strong challenge in their attempt to emulate their 1996 success.

On that occasion, the Super Eagles knocked out Brazil with a golden goal winner in the semi-final and then produced another late strike to beat Argentina in the final.

The squad included players such as Jay-Jay Okocha, Wilson Aruma and Nwankwo Kano, who all went on to play enjoy success at European clubs and become key players with the senior team.

In Mikel's absence, Olympique Marseille left back Taye Taiwo, whose booming left-footed free kicks have been compared to former Brazil full back Roberto Carlos, is likely to be Nigeria's most influential player.

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UNITED STATES

The United States must improve on their modest scoring record if they are to make an impact in a tough group.

The North Americans are rank outsiders in Group B.

Former Poland international Peter Nowak's team managed only six goals in five games earlier this year in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament, where they lost to Honduras in the final after a semi-final win over Canada had booked their place in China.

Only one of their goals came from open play.

"It's a difficult group definitely, but that's what we expect in a tournament that includes the top 16 teams in the world," Nowak told the U.S. federation's website (www.ussoccer.com).

"They are very quality teams we will face and we have to be up to the challenge.

"This is a great challenge for us and we can gain a lot of experience from these kinds of games and this kind of tournament. The goal is still to go from the group stage to the second round."

The tournament is a golden chance for midfielder Freddy Adu to make his mark at a major tournament, after years of being touted as a future great.

Adu, 19, scored twice in the 3-0 win over Canada, the only qualifying game in which the U.S. managed more than one goal.

Goalkeeper Chris Seitz and forward Jozy Altidore, who scored four goals at last year's World under-20 championship including both in the 2-1 win over Brazil, are the other key players.

Brian McBride, 36, who won 95 caps for the senior team, has been included as one of three over-age players.

The U.S. had qualified for five successive Olympic tournaments until their run was interrupted in 2004, whey they lost out to Mexico. They reached the semi-finals in 2000.

(Writing by Brian Homewood; Editing by Patrick Johnston)

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