World Cup 2022 – Squad Preview: Japan

Hajime Moriyasu has announced his 26-man squad for the World Cup in Qatar. 

The Asian side are looking to match their good recent record in reaching the knock-out stage and beyond.

The coach has overseen a rebuilding of the squad with an emphasis on a new generation of players. 

The question is whether this transition can be achieved successfully in time or not.  But they have been lucky to have had a good talent pool of goalkeepers to choose from. 

It seems that the experienced Eiji Kawashima of Strasbourg will be the option they will go for. Shuichi Gonda and Daniel Schmidt are equally capable should they be called upon though.

This mix of talented youth and experienced veterans is perhaps most evident in defence. Maya Yoshida and Yuto Nagatomo still remain to provide that sense of stability. 

Takehiro Tomiyasu meanwhile is starring for table topping Arsenal at full back and looks a certainty. Ko Itakura of Borussia Monchengladbach and Hiroki Ito would also be able to stake a claim for a deserved starting position. 

Yuta Nakayama was set to be called up but he had to withdraw due to injury. It has not been named who will replace him, but it could be one of Ayumu Seko, Sho Sasaki and Shinnosuke Hakanata who were all players who missed the cut.   

In midfield it seems that the go to man will be Takumi Minamino of Monaco. He could equally be asked to play in more advanced role though. Most of the tackling work will likely be done by either Wataru Endo of Stuttgart or Daichi Kamada of Eintracht Frankfurt. 

Ao Tanaka of Fortuna Dusseldorf could be used as a foil to Minamino or his partner if they play as a four.

Up front is where much of the bright young talent is located. Takefusa Kubo has been making heads turn with Real Sociedad and Daizen Maeda has impressed in with Glasgow Celtic. 

Kaouru Mitoma and Takuma Asano will also be hoping to make an impression. Kyogo Furuhashi, Yoshinori Muto and Yuya Osako all failed to make the cut.

Goalkeepers: Shuichi Gonda (Shimizu S-Pulse), Daniel Schmidt (Sint-Truiden), Eiji Kawashima (Strasbourg).

Defenders: Miki Yamane (Kawasaki Frontale), Hiroki Sakai (Urawa Reds), Maya Yoshida (Schalke), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal), Shogo Taniguchi (Kawasaki Frontale), Ko Itakura (Borussia Monchengladbach), Hiroki Ito (Stuttgart), Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo).

Midfielders: Wataru Endo (Stuttgart), Hidemasa Morita (Sporting CP), Ao Tanaka (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Gaku Shibasaki (Leganes), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), Daichi Kamada (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ritsu Doan (Freiburg), Junya Ito (Reims), Takumi Minamino (Monaco), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad), Yuki Soma (Nagoya Grampus).

Forwards: Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Takuma Asano (Bochum), Ayase Ueda (Cercle Bruges).