Japan brings 20 players playing in Europe to Asian Cup 2023

Japan, Vietnam's upcoming opponent in the 2023 Asian Cup, finalized their 26-player squad on the afternoon of January 1st, with 20 of them currently 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 squad for the 2023 Asian Cup despite his injury. Photo: Reuters — Japan still included Kaoru Mitoma in the squad for the 2023 Asian Cup despite his injury. Photo: *Reuters*

Compared to the 2019 Asian Cup, Japan currently only has five players left: Takehiro Tomiyasu, Wataru Endo, Takumi Minamino, Junya Ito, and Ritsu Doan. These are also some of the best players in Japanese football, alongside 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 was expected to be out for four to six weeks. However, manager Hajime Moriyasu said the injury is recovering well and the 1997-born midfielder will return soon.

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

Japan thrashed Thailand 5-0 in a friendly match on the afternoon of January 1st. Photo: FAT

Japan is expected to have little difficulty securing a place in the knockout stage, facing Vietnam, Iraq, and Indonesia in succession. Mitoma is available to play from the knockout rounds onwards, so coach Moriyasu doesn't want to overlook this big star, aiming for the 2023 Asian Cup title.

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

Under coach Hajime Moriyasu from 2018 to the present, Japan has played increasingly cohesively and impressively. Their 5-0 victory over Thailand this afternoon, January 1st, helped the team set a record of nine consecutive wins.

List of Japanese team participating in 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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