On 15 December, the head coach of SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) Javier Aguirre announced 23-player roster for the AFC Asian Cup where Japan look to win the back-to-back championship. 9 players from the roster for the FIFA World Cup this summer were replaced with the likes of forward Muto Yoshinori (FC Tokyo)

The core still consists of the familiar players who experienced the last FIFA World Cup together such as forwards Honda Keisuke (AC Milan) and Okazaki Shinji (1.FSV Mainz 05), midfielder Kagawa Shinji (Borussia Dortmund), defenders Uchida Atsuto (FC Schalke 04) and Nagatomo Yuto (FC Internazionale).

Aguirre, saying “I am looking at their quality, not their age,” also listed players such as defender Shiotani Tsukasa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), midfielder Shibasaki Gaku (Kashima Antlers), forward Toyoda Yohei (Sagan Tosu) out of the players he had experimented in six matches since September. A few other notables are first-time selections of goalkeeper Higashiguchi Masaaki (Gamba Osaka) and defender Shoji Gen (Kashima Antlers)

“I selected players who can play multiple positions. All the players other than goalkeepers can play at different positions and in different formations,” explained Aguirre. He also said of midfielder Kiyotake Hiroshi (Hannover 96) who had not been called onto the national team for the past six matches, “My eyes have always been on him even when I didn’t call him up. He’s playing as a starter in a very tough league. I think he’s worth playing on the national team.”

Asked about the strategies to take in the tournament, the coach said “Basically we will play 4-3-3. In offence it can be changed to 3-4-3 and in defence it can be 4-1-4-1. But the important thing is not the system itself, but the players who play in the system. In the training camp, we will get them prepared to attack in different styles and defend in different styles.”

The team will have a training camp in Japan with the help of three training partner players starting from 29 December. Then they will head for Australia on 2 January. During the camp in Australia, a practice match against Auckland City FC (New Zealand) is scheduled.

The AFC Asian Cup is going to start on 9 January, and Japan will face Palestine on 12 in New Castle, Iraq on 16 in Brisbane and Jordan on 20 in Melbourne all in group stage matches. The final is set on 31 January in Sydney.

“We have gotten better as a team through matches against Uruguay and Brazil. We also have a match to play against a New Zealand club and can make some more adjustments there. I think we can start the tournament in good shape. Together with my players I want to defend the Asian Cup title that we currently have.” added Aguirre.

Comments

Javier AGUIRRE Head Coach
We have a very well-balanced team with experienced players who played in the past Asian Cups and World Cups and about eight young players who played only a few national team matches so far. I have been watching Japan National Team since five years ago and even before I came to Japan, I knew of those experienced players. So in the six matches since September, I wanted to watch unexperienced players closely. This time we have some players out of that group who earned their positions. What I want to say to those who are capable of playing on the national team but not selected this time is not to be disappointed and to keep working hard.

I know we have to respect our opponents, but our main focus is on ourselves and we keep looking for the way how we function effectively. We are planning our training camps in order to take our best condition to the first match. In Asia I think Japan are a contender and should be the center of discussion. It’s not easy, but I think what we need to do is take our performance to the next level as we win three group stage matches and move on to quarter-finals, semi-finals and to the final. Together with my players I want to defend the Asian Cup title that we currently have.

Shimoda Masahiro Chairman of Technical Committee
This is the first official tournament under coach Javier Aguirre. We want to keep playing as a team for the title as defending champions. Our national team have had a lot of experience in terms of adjusting to the heat there. We will try to bring players from Europe and players from Japan who will be finishing their off-season together as one team. Then in the training camp from 29 December, players and team staff altogether will try to get prepared for the first match on 12 January.

JFA-TV