Japan brings 20 players playing in Europe to Asian Cup 2023

Japan, Vietnam's upcoming opponent in the 2023 Asian Cup, finalized the list of 26 players on the afternoon of January 1, of which 20 are playing in Europe.

26 Japanese players come from 24 different clubs. The number of players playing domestically is five. Following them are England, Germany (4 players), France, Belgium (3), Scotland, Netherlands (2), Spain, Portugal and Qatar (1).

Japan still included Kaoru Mitoma in the 2023 Asian Cup despite his injury. Photo: Reuters — Japan still included Kaoru Mitoma in the 2023 Asian Cup despite his injury. Photo: *Reuters*

Compared to the 2019 Asian Cup, Japan now has only five players: Takehiro Tomiyasu, Wataru Endo, Takumi Minamino, Junya Ito and Ritsu Doan. These are also the most outstanding names of Japanese football, along with center back Ko Itakura (Borussia Monchengladbach), midfielder Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad), and Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton).

Mitoma suffered an injury while playing for Brighton in the Premier League and is expected to be out for four to six weeks. However, coach Hajime Moriyasu said the injury is recovering well and the midfielder born in 1997 will return soon.

The two most regrettable absences are central midfielder Ao Tanaka – who scored the winning goal in the 2-1 win over Spain in the 2022 World Cup group stage, and attacking midfielder Daichi Kamada, who plays for Lazio.

Japan defeated Thailand 5-0 in a friendly match at noon on January 1. Photo: FAT

Japan are expected to have no difficulty in qualifying for the group stage when they face Vietnam, Iraq and Indonesia in turn. Mitoma can play from the knockout round, so coach Moriyasu does not want to miss out on the big star, aiming to win the 2023 Asian Cup.

Since the 1992 Asian Cup, Japan has won four times in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011, finished runner-up once in 2019, finished fourth in 2007 and stopped in the quarter-finals twice in 1996 and 2015.

Under coach Hajime Moriyasu since 2018, Japan has played more and more cohesively and impressively. The 5-0 victory over Thailand this afternoon, January 1, helped the team set a record of nine consecutive wins.

List of Japanese team for Asian Cup 2023

Goalkeepers (3): Zion Suzuki (Sint-Truidense), Daiya Maekawa (Vissel Kobe), Taishi Brandon Nozawa (FC Tokyo)

Defenders (9): Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal), Shogo Taniguchi (Al-Rayyan), Ko Itakura (Borussia Monchengladbach), Yuta Nakayama (Huddersfield Town), Hiroki Ito (VfB Stuttgart), Yukinari Sugawara (AZ Alkmaar), Koki Machida (Union SG), Seiya Maikuma (Cerezo Osaka), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Gent)

Midfielders (10): Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Takumi Minamino (Monaco), Junya Ito, Keito Nakamura (Reims), Ritsu Doan (SC Freiburg), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad), Hidemasa Morita (Sporting CP), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton & Hove Albion), Reo Hatate (Celtic), Kaishu Sano (Kashima Antlers)

Strikers (4): Takuma Asano (VfL Bochum), Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), Mao Hosoya (Kashiwa Reysol).

Hieu Luong

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