The Japan Football Association has officially announced the 26-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and fans worldwide are buzzing about the selection. Here's the complete English list of players who will represent the Samurai Blue on football's biggest stage.
Goalkeepers
- Shuichi Gonda (Shimizu S-Pulse)
- Daniel Schmidt (Sint-Truiden)
- Eiji Kawashima (Strasbourg)
Defenders
- Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo)
- Maya Yoshida (Schalke 04)
- Hiroki Sakai (Urawa Reds)
- Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal)
- Ko Itakura (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Midfielders
- Wataru Endo (VfB Stuttgart)
- Gaku Shibasaki (Leganés)
- Hidemasa Morita (Sporting CP)
- Daichi Kamada (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Forwards
- Takumi Minamino (AS Monaco)
- Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton & Hove Albion)
- Ritsu Doan (Freiburg)
- Ayase Ueda (Cercle Brugge)
Manager Hajime Moriyasu has opted for a balanced mix of experienced veterans and exciting young talents playing across Europe's top leagues. The inclusion of Arsenal's Tomiyasu and Brighton's Mitoma demonstrates Japan's growing presence in the Premier League.
Notable omissions include Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) and Reo Hatate (Celtic), which has sparked some debate among Japanese football pundits. However, Moriyasu seems confident in his selections, particularly in the attacking department where Minamino and Doan will be expected to provide creativity.
Japan finds itself in a challenging Group E alongside football powerhouses Germany and Spain, as well as Costa Rica. The Samurai Blue will need to be at their absolute best to advance from this "group of death." Their opening match against Germany on November 23rd could set the tone for their entire campaign.
With 17 of the 26 players currently plying their trade in Europe, this might be Japan's most technically gifted World Cup squad ever. The team's ability to adapt to different styles of play will be crucial against their diverse group opponents.