Japan Unveils 23-Man Squad for 2014 FIFA World Cup
Japan head coach Alberto Zaccheroni has officially named his 23-player squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, with just one month to go until the tournament kicks off. The Italian manager has assembled a well-balanced team, blending experience with youth, and is set to lead the Samurai Blue in a challenging group stage.
Notable inclusions in the squad are Keisuke Honda (AC Milan), Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United), and Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan), all of whom are key players for Japan and have extensive European club experience. These players, along with the rest of the squad, will be expected to perform at their best in a tough group featuring Colombia, Greece, and Ivory Coast.
Japan, which has been drawn into Group C, will be looking to progress beyond the group stage and challenge for a place in the knockout rounds. The squad features a mix of solid defenders, dynamic midfielders, and attacking threats, and the team will look to replicate the success of past tournaments where they reached the knockout stages.
Japan’s 23-Man Squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup:
Goalkeepers:
Eiji Kawashima (Standard Liège, BEL)
Shusaku Nishikawa (Urawa Reds)
Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)
Defenders:
Masahiko Inoha (Jubilo Iwata)
Yasuyuki Konno (Gamba Osaka)
Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan, ITA)
Masato Morishige (FC Tokyo)
Atsuto Uchida (Schalke 04, ALL)
Maya Yoshida (Southampton, ENG)
Hiroki Sakai (Hanover, ALL)
Gotoku Sakai (Stuttgart, ALL)
Midfielders:
Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka)
Makoto Hasebe (Nuremberg, ALL)
Toshihiro Aoyama (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka)
Forwards:
Keisuke Honda (AC Milan, ITA)
Yoshito Okubo (Kawasaki Frontale)
Shinji Okazaki (Mainz, ALL)
Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United, ENG)
Hiroshi Kiyotake (Nuremberg, ALL)
Yoichiro Kakitani (Cerezo Osaka)
Manabu Saito (Yokohama F Marinos)
Yuya Osako (Munich 1860, ALL)
Zaccheroni will be looking to bring out the best in his players as Japan aims to build on its reputation as one of Asia’s strongest footballing nations. The Samurai Blue will open their World Cup campaign against Ivory Coast on June 14, before facing Greece and Colombia in their remaining group matches. With a squad full of talent and experience, Japan will be hoping to make a deep run in the tournament.
