Japan Full Team Squad For FIFA World Cup 2022
The Samurai Blues qualified to the FIFA World Cup finals for the very first time in their history in 1998. Then they co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup along with South Korea. Since then they have never looked back and took part in the biggest soccer competition for 6 consecutive times. Although their best record so far has been qualifying for the Round of 16 thrice). This time the Japanese will be once again heading to Qatar with a bigger dream. Let’s see who will be the warriors for Hajime Moriyasu’s side at the Qatar WC.
Japan Team Squad For FIFA WC 2022
| Position | Player Name | Current Club |
| Goalkeeper | Shuichi Gonda | Shimizu S-Pulse |
| Goalkeeper | Eiji Kawashima | RC Strasbourg |
| Goalkeeper | Kosei Tani | Shonan Bellmare |
| Defender | Daiki Hashioka | Sint Truidense VV |
| Defender | Ko Itakura | FC Schalke 04 |
| Defender | Yuto Nagatomo | Tokyo FC |
| Defender | Sei Muroya | Hannover |
| Defender | Yuta Nakayama | PEC Zwolle |
| Defender | Hiroki Sakai | Urawa Red Diamonds |
| Defender | Takehiro Tomiyasu | Arsenal FC |
| Defender | Maya Yoshida | UC Sampdoria |
| Defender | Naomichi Ueda | Nimes Olympique |
| Midfielder | Wataru Endo | VFB Stuttgart |
| Midfielder | Daichi Kamada | Eintracht Frankfurt |
| Midfielder | Gaku Shibasaki | CD Leganes |
| Midfielder | Genki Haraguchi | FC Union Berlin |
| Midfielder | Ao Tanaka | Dusseldorf |
| Midfielder | Hidemasa Morita | Santa Clara |
| Forward | Takumi Minamino | Liverpool FC |
| Forward | Kyogo Furuhashi | Celtic FC |
| Forward | Takuma Asano | VFL Bochum |
| Forward | Junya Ito | KRC Fenk |
| Forward | Yuya Osako | Vissel Kobe |
| Forward | Koji Miyoshi | Royal Antwerp FC |
| Forward | Ado Onaiwu | Toulouse FC |
Manager: Hajime Moriyasu.
Japanese goal line guarding duty will be put upon Shuichi Gonda. The 32 years old goal stopper currently plays for J1 side Shimizu S-Pulse. In fact, he is on loan to SSP from Portuguese side Portimonense. His alternative in the squad will be even more experienced Eiji Kawashima who is on the verge of 40. He has been the number one choice for Japan for years but now with age catching on, he will be the 2nd choice goalie. He is also a few short of a hundred appearances for his country. Meanwhile, the 3rd choice keeper is expected to be Kosei Tani.
Japan has got a pretty experienced back line. All 4 starting defenders have experience of playing in Europe and 3 of them are 30 plus. The only young man among them is Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu. The 22 years old should get current Sampdoria center half Maya Yoshida as his partner at the center part of the defense. Former Inter Milan and Marseille full back Yuto Nagatomo is still the country’s first choice left back and will be a key man in the defense. His right sided counterpart will be another former Marseille player Hiroki Sakai. Nimes defender Naomichi Ueda will be a good option for the Japanese boss. In addition to them, Santa Clara man Hidemasa Morita will be another handy option for the side.
The Asian side has got so many useful options in the middle. Thus the manager may rotate the players for different games. But at the defensive part of the midfield the certain starter will be German Bundesliga star Wataru Endo who is currently at VFB Stuttgart. His partner on most of the occasions will be CD Leganes’ Gaku Shibasaki. Meanwhile, in the upper part of the midfield, Daichi Kamada, another Bundesliga sensation, should be a crucial player. Celtic FC’s Kyogo Furuhashi, experienced Genki Haraguchi will also have vital roles to play.
In the attack, Yuya Osako the Vissel Kobe striker will be the first choice number nine for sure. Liverpool FC’s Takumi Minamino is perhaps the most potential player in the squad and the whole of Japan will be hoping for him to perform. Apart from them, Takuma Asano, Ado Onaiwu as well as Junya Ito will also get their chances either as starters or substitutions.
Predicted Starting Lineup:
Formation: 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3.
Goalkeeper: Shuichi Gonda.
Defense: Hiroki Sakai, Maya Yoshida, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Yuto Nagatomo.
Midfield: Wataru Endo, Gaku Shibasaki, Daichi Kamada, Genki Haraguchi.
Attack: Takumi Minamino, Yuya Osako.
Key Players:
Takumi Minamino, Yuya Osako, Genki Haraguchi, Wataru Endo, Yuto Nagatomo.
