Japan World Cup Squad Preview

Written by Tony Concannon Tuesday, 11 May 2010 14:06

World Cup Squad Previews

As the sun goes down on domestic seasons across Europe, football fans around the globe are beginning to wake up to the realization that the world's biggest footballing extravaganza is only a matter of days away.

So, where better to start a preview of the 2010 World Cup than in the land of the rising sun, Japan. Unfortunately, hopes are not rising amongst Japanese football fans that the Samurai Blue will get beyond the group stage, or even win a game in South Africa. Placed in Group E with Holland, Denmark and Cameroon, I'm inclined to agree. The big problem Japan face is scoring goals and recent scoreless draws against China and Venezuela, followed by defeats to South Korea and Serbia, all at home, have not gone down well in Tokyo. They did recently beat Hong Kong and Bahrain though!

Manager Takeshi Okada returned for a second spell as national boss in 2007 as Japan turned to a tried and trusted face, following successful (Troussier) and unsuccessful (Zico) experiments with foreign managers. Okada hasn't sprung any surprises in his 23-man squad, apart from including veteran goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (the smallest keeper to play in the Premiership?).  Maybe you can remember him from his short (sorry) spell at Portsmouth a few years back. Now aged 34, Kawaguchi has been a member of every squad since Japan first qualified for the world's top tournament in 1998, but he has not played any football since breaking his leg in September last year. He will only be third choice, so he probably won't play any football for a few more months.

A familiar face that is missing from the squad is former Feyenoord schemer Shinji Ono. Ono has been on good form since returning to the J-League from Holland, but didn't make the final cut. Shunsuke Nakamura, also now back in Japan with boyhood team Yokohama F Marinos, following a disappointing spell in La Liga with Espanol heads a midfield which also consists of Asian Player of the Year Yasuhito Endo (the Asian Pirlo) of Gamba Osaka. The defence also shows strength and is marshalled by veteran Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama F Marinos). Alongside him is Brazilian-born Marcus Tulio Tanaka, who likes to get forward at any opportunity. Full-back Atsuto Uchida also likes to attack down the right flank and is being courted by a number of European clubs.

Two players definitely worth keeping an eye on are CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda and Catania's young livewire forward Takayuki Morimoto. Both have benefitted from moves to Europe to make the squad (as has Wolfsburg midfielder Makoto Hasebe). However, despite a promising season in Serie A, Morimoto may not start many games for Japan in South Africa, somewhat surprising considering their lack of firepower and verve up front. This is I think the main problem Okada's boys will have in South Africa and will probably see them making an early return home after 3 games... and no goals?

        
Goalkeepers: Seigo Narazaki (NagoyaGrampus), Eiji Kawashima (KawasakiFrontale), Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (Jubilo Iwata)

Defenders: Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama F Marinos), Marcus Tulio Tanaka (Nagoya Grampus), Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Daiki Iwamasa (Kashima Antlers), Yuichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata), Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Atsuto Uchida (Kashima Antlers)

Midfielders: Shunsuke Nakamura (Yokohama F Marinos), Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Junichi Inamoto (Kawasaki Frontale), Yuki Abe (Urawa Reds), Makoto Hasebe (VfL Wolfsburg), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow), Daisuke Matsui (Grenoble)

Forwards: Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse), Keiji Tamada (Nagoya Grampus), Yoshito Okubo (Vissel Kobe), Takayuki Morimoto (Catania), Kisho Yano (Albirex Niigata)

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