2024-01-01T17:19:33+00:00
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/ The Japanese national football team begins its journey in the Asian Cup with a list full of strong elements, in preparation for facing Iraq, Indonesia and Vietnam in the group stage.
Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma was called up to Japan’s squad for the 2023 Asian Cup on Monday, despite an injury that will keep him out for around six weeks.
Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo and Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu were selected alongside Real Sociedad midfielder Takefusa Kubo, while Lazio player Daichi Kamada was excluded.
Japan is looking to win the title for a record fifth time, one title ahead of Saudi Arabia and Iran in second place.
The Samurai have won their last nine matches, most notably their crushing 4-1 win over Germany in a friendly on September 9, which led to the dismissal of coach Hansi Flick and the appointment of Julian Nagelsmann, Turkey 4-2 in the Kirin Cup friendly, and most recently, on Monday, over Thailand 5-0, and they will play Jordan in a friendly match on the ninth of this month.
The list of goalkeepers includes: Daiya Maekawa (Vissel Kobe), Zion Suzuki (Sint-Truiden, Belgium), Taishi Brandon Nozawa (FC Tokyo).
Defenders: Shogo Taniguchi (Qatar), Ko Itakura (Mönchengladbach, Germany), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Gent, Belgium), Yuta Nakayama (Huddersfield, England), Koki Machida (Union Saint-Germain, Germany), Seiya Maikuma (Cerez Osaka, England), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal, England), Hiroki Ito (Stuttgart, Germany), Yukinari Sugawara (Arizona, Netherlands).
Midfielders: Wataru Endo (Liverpool, England), Junya Ito (Reims, France), Takuma Asano (Bochum, Germany), Takumi Minamino (Monaco, France), Hidemasa Morita (Sporting, Portugal), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton, England), Ryo Hatate (Celtic, Scotland), Keito Nakamura (Reims, France), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad, Spain) and Kaisho Sano (Kashima Antlers).
Forward: Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Ritsu Doan (Freiburg), Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), Mao Hosoya (Kashiwa Reysol).