23 for 2010 – Japan: World Cup squad analysis

As Japan prepare for their fourth  World Cup – all of which have come in consecutive appearances – a nation which has come so far in the footballing world still has a long way to go. Back in the hands of Takeshi Okada after foreign stewardship in 2002 (Troussier) and 2006 (Zico), expectations are rather low after the Finals draw matches them against Holland, Denmark, and Cameroon.

Ordinarily, and indeed in previous years, there may well have been optimism with regards to progression but despite qualifying with the same usual ease from the Asian Confederation, the majority of supporters do not believe in Okada’s prediction of a place in the final four. Nonetheless, Nippon followers will travel to South Africa in their numbers in hope of success.

Okada has taken the bold step of naming his 23-man squad well before the deadline, allowing us to analyse what he intends to do with the squad and the men to watch if Japan are to better their best showing, which came eight years ago as hosts. Then, a fanatical and noisy home crowd helped them through the group stages, but they fell to Turkey in the second round.

Goalkeepers

One of the few real talking points in Okada’s squad was the recall of 33 year-old World Cup veteran Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi after a broken leg had appeared to end his international career. He will not take the starting gloves away from Seigo Narazaki but can offer the experience of having attended every World Cup Japan have been to, and be somebody for the younger names in the squad to lean upon.

Narazaki, a year older at 34, was the first choice in 2002 but has often had to play second fiddle to Kawaguchi. However, the Grampus Eight veteran is the certain incumbent and brings a composed style of goalkeeping with fine positional sense. He certainly won’t let his team down when it matters, and if he were to suffer an injury there is 116 caps worth of football waiting to cover. Third stringer Eiji Kawashima has six caps since debuting in 2008 and is highly rated as the potential post-World Cup successor to the starting gloves.

Defenders

Okada favours a flat back four, which neither Zico or Troussier consistently stuck with, but he does share in their benefit of a naturalised Brazilian representing the Japanese national team. Marcus Tulio Tanaka was born to a Japanese-Brazilian father and has lived in the country for 14 years, and provides a tall, robust partner at the back for Yuji Nakazawa.

Tanaka’s international record of 7 goals in 35 caps for a defender is impressive and indicative of the sort of presence he offers in a traditionally small team. Captain Nakazawa, on the other hand, complements him with a more simple, traditional style of defending, yet scores as often, with 17 goals to his name in 102 caps. Together the duo ensure a solid base from which to build.

Offering cover should either miss out are Daiki Iwamasa and Yasuyuke Konno. Iwamasa has just two caps but is strong in the air and an almost ever present at club level for Kashima Antlers, whilst Konno can play in midfield should the need arise.

Atsusho Uchida has been the preferred choice at right-back since Okada called him up in 2008 and has just agreed a J-League record move to Schalke in Germany after the World Cup. The 22 year-old has won three league titles, possesses fantastic stamina and will be one of the potential breakout stars of the summer. On the opposite side, Yuto Nagatomo should get the nod. Despite being right-footed, he is an assured performer and has displaced the more experienced Yuichi Komano, who is also right-footed.

Expect much of the best work from Japan’s defence to come from the right hand side where Uchida will get forward with great purpose. In a team which may lack size and presence elsewhere, how the defenders perform against the strength of Kuyt, Bendtner and Eto’o will be key to their chances of progression.

Midfielders

Gone are the days of Nakata, Hattori, and Toda, and whilst Shunsuke Nakamura is still present, his star wanes. 2010 sees a new breed of technical excellence in what will be a five-man midfield, featuring two holding players and three central playmakers. European influence is heavy in the skilful running and creativity of a group of players who have to produce when it matters most.

2002’s hero Junichi Inamoto will turn 31 a week into the tournament and now back in Japan after spending most of the decade in Europe, he will sit alongside Makoto Hasebe with the express intent of breaking up play and moving the ball on to more capable technicians. Neither are exceptionally strong but at the same time they fight their ground and work hard to produce each and every game. If Okada wants to mix things up, Yuki Abe has emerged as a fine option in this role, and carries the added bonus of being a set piece threat.

Of course, Nakamura is fabled for his own exceptional ability with a wand of a left foot, and will have to produce some wizardry in South Africa. Alongside him in the attacking triad will be Keisuke Honda and Daisuke Matsui, who have both excelled in Europe’s second tiers since the last World Cup.

Honda had an exceptional start to the 09/10 season with VVV Venlo and parlayed his form into a big-money move to CSKA Moscow midway through the season. Physically outstanding, he can get forward to partner Okada’s striker of choice and plays with a dynamism missing from other areas of the team. Matsui, meanwhile, is more of a crafter who keeps possession well with silky footwork, and after a brief spell of international exile has worked hard to become a key part of the manager’s plans.

Kengo Nakamura, of no relation, offers similar to Honda and is a threat from long range, but will be short of match action after suffering a broken jaw this season. Formerly a defensive midfielder, he will be able to offer emergency cover deeper in the team if needed. Yashuhito Endo, the 2009 Asian Footballer of the Year, may not start but is a fantastic option to have in reserve, with a delightful free kick in his arsenal.

Strikers

Despite looking likely to opt for a lone striker, Okada has taken five with him to South Africa, at least ensuring options and strength in depth. The starting berth is Shinji Okazaki’s to lose, with the Shimizu S-Pulse man prolific for the national team, leading all international goalscorers in 2009 with an outstanding 15 strikes. Instinctively knowing where the goal is, he will be rewarded for his tireless running with a golden chance at least once every match.

If he struggles to make an impact as the quality of opposition steps up, or suffers an injury, Yoshito Okubo has been a favourite of the manager, and matches Okazaki’s work-rate. Unfortunately, he lacks the same proficiency in front of goal and could lose out to Keiji Tamada, who has experience and found the net in Germany four years ago.

Super-sub options could be found in Takayuki Morimoto and Kisho Yano, who beat out Sota Hirayama for the final squad berth. Morimoto has impressed many whilst playing in Italy for Catania but despite comparisons to Ronaldo abounding in the Italian press, he has failed to make an impact on Okada’s plans. Yano offers height and aerial presence for situations where Japan may need to chase the game, but hasn’t convinced in his seventeen previous caps.

(Photo via candiceecidnac on Flickr)

23 for 2010, Japan, Japanese Football, Squad Analysis, World Cup 2010