Japan announce provisional squad for FIFA World Cup 2018
(Courtesy : Japan Times)
The Asian side is put in one of the most unpredictable groups in the World Cup this year.
Newly-appointed head coach Akira Nishino announced his 23-man provisional Japan squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia at a press conference in Tokyo.
Nishino named an experienced team, including the likes of goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, defenders Yuto Nagatomo and Maya Yoshida, midfielders Makoto Hasebe, Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa - all with multiple World Cup appearances.
The majority of the squad ply their trade for clubs in Europe, while eight members of the squad play for teams in the J.League, the country's domestic competition. The one outlier from the trend is Honda, who plays for Pachuca in Mexico.
Japan fell to a 2-0 defeat to Ghana in an international friendly on Wednesday. Their next international friendly is on 8 June against Switzerland in Lugano before playing Paraguay on 12 June in Innsbruck, Austria.
Japan is in Group H at the World Cup, where they will compete against Colombia, Senegal and Poland.
ALSO READ
FIFA World Cup 2018 Venue Guide: Kaliningrad Stadium
FIFA World Cup 2018 Venue Guide: Saint Petersburg Stadium
How Brazil has changed since World Cup 2014
Japan provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Metz/France), Masaaki Higashiguchi (Gamba Osaka), Kosuke Nakamura (Kashiwa Reysol);
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (Galatasaray/Turkey), Tomoaki Makino (Urawa Red Diamonds), Wataru Endo (Urawa Red Diamonds), Maya Yoshida (Southampton/England), Hiroki Sakai (Marseille/France), Gotoku Sakai (Hamburg/Germany), Gen Shoji (Kashima Antlers), Naomichi Ueda (Kashima Antlers);
[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]Midfielders: Makoto Hasebe (Eintracht Frankfurt/Germany), Keisuke Honda (Pachuca/Mexico), Takashi Inui (Eibar/Spain), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund/Germany), Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka/Japan), Genki Haraguchi (Fortuna Dusseldorf/Germany), Takashi Usami (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Gaku Shibasaki (Getafe/Spain), Ryota Oshima (Kawasaki Frontale);
Forwards: Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City/England), Yuya Osako (Werder Bremen/Germany), Yoshinori Muto (Mainz/Germany).
Latest News
- When does Copa America 2024 start?
- When does UEFA Euro 2024 start?
- I-League: Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia breaks Sunil Chhetri's record; scores most goals in single edition
- I-League 2023-24: Aizawl FC thrash Churchill brothers, confirm TRAU's relegation
- Season's second Der Klassiker, leaders Leverkusen host Hoffenheim in Bundesliga 2023-24 Matchday 27
Trending Articles
- Saudi club offers massive €100m per season salary deal to Robert Lewandowski
- Which Indian football team players have played under current Afghanistan boss Ashley Westwood?
- FIFA World Cup 2026 & AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers: 21 March All results
- One record Jurgen Klopp could not break as Liverpool manager
Editor Picks