Japan squad to be the first team to finalize its members for the World Cup 2022

Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu released the 26-man squad as they are the first country to announce the list competing in Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

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Samurai Blue got as far as the knock-out stage in the previous World Cup in Russia 2018. They stunned the world by leading heavy contender Belgium with two goals, but then defeated shockingly 2-3.

https://twitter.com/roadto2022en/status/1587495394291978240

Japan’s 26-man squad for FIFA World Cup 2022

GK: Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt, Eiji Kawashima

DF: Hiroki Sakai, Miki Yamane, Maya Yoshida, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Shogo Taniguchi, Ko Itakura, Yuta Nakayama, Yuto Nagatomo, Hiroki Ito

MF: Wataru Endo, Hidemasa Morita, Ao Tanaka, Takefusa Kubo, Junya Ito, Gaku Shibasaki, Daichi Kamada, Ritsu Doan, Kaoru Mitoma, Takumi Minamino, Yuki Soma

FW: Daizen Maeda, Ayase Ueda, Takuma Asano

Notable absences

Biggest surprises are the omissions of Yuya Osako, Kyogo Furuhashi, and regular 60-minute-mark substitute Genki Haraguchi.

Their best scorer in the previous World Cup, Takashi Inui who is 34 years of age, is another omission.

Japanese fans have been now talking about the squad which will be battling in Qatar this month. There is an enormous difference compared to the squad in 1998.

Throw back to the time in France, Japan had all of their players from the local league: J-League.

Right now, the depth of Samurai Blue’s squad has been impressive as ever. 20 of 26 based in Europe and 3 of remainder had major European experience. When Moriyasu said he’d have struggled to settle the squad, he was not lying.

The likes of Kubo, Minamino, Tomiyasu,…will make eyes roll this time in Qatar.