TOKYO (AFP, REUTERS) - Japan dropped former Manchester United star Shinji Kagawa from the Samurai Blue's bid to reclaim the Asian Cup, opting instead for a squad filled with young Europe-based talents.
Coach Hajime Moriyasu on Wednesday (Dec 12) selected several players with only a handful of caps for Asia's showcase football tournament in the United Arab Emirates starting in January.
The likes of Ritsu Doan of Groningen, Shoya Nakajima of Portimonense and Takumi Minamino of Salzburg will lead Japan's bid for a record-extending fifth title.
But there was no place for midfielder Kagawa, 29, now struggling for playing time at Borussia Dortmund.
Leicester striker Shinji Okazaki was also omitted but Southampton centre-back Maya Yoshida has been picked.
Kagawa has long been among the leading stars of Blue Samurai and at his German outfit, but the attacking player has found himself unable to get regular first-team football under Dortmund coach Lucien Favre.
He told the Japanese media last month that he wished to move to Spain to take on a new challenge.
Moriyasu suggested he had been tempted to turn to veterans like Kagawa, but said he needed to pick players in their best form.
"Of course, I wanted help from experienced players, those who went to the Russian World Cup and those who have led Japan for years," he told a press conference.
"Many of the players whom we selected at this time have only limited experiences. I have chosen them with hopes that they would take the ownership of the team and build the national team themselves and fight for the title," he said.
The 32-year-old Okazaki is Japan's third-highest scorer but has failed to find the net for either club or country in a year .
However, the young squad will be supported by Werder Bremen striker Yuya Osako and Galatasaray defender Yuto Nagatomo, both veterans of past World Cups.
Japan won the Asian Cup in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011, but failed in the last edition, won by Australia in 2015.
"Japan's national team did not win the title last time. We will reclaim the Asian Cup and bring back the title," Moriyasu said.
The Asian Cup, which has been expanded to include 24 teams, will be held from Jan 5 to Feb 1. Japan, who have been drawn in Group F, kick off their campaign against Turkmenistan on Jan 9. Oman and Uzbekistan are the other teams in the group.
Football: Manchester City must execute game plan to
Best Football Prediction Site, stakfree24 analysis data from thousands of teams to give you the best football betting tips. Huddersfield end losing run with 0-0
Atletico Madrid slump to biggest defeat of season against ruthless Espanyol Atletico Madrid fell to their heaviest league defeat of the season as they were crushed 3-0 by Espanyol on Saturday, missing the chance to mathematically guarantee they finish second in La Liga ahead of neighbours Real Madrid.
Atletico slump to biggest defeat of season against ruthless
Delighted Jurgen Klopp Tells Gamers To Keep Centered Jurgen Klopp refused to get carried away with the rising expectation that Liverpool can elevate the league title for the primary time in 29 years saying his gamers should keep focussed after they thrashed Arsenal 5-1 on Saturday.
Football: Delighted Klopp tells players to stay focused
Football: West Ham's Michail Antonio scores winner as Spurs suffers first loss at new stadium Michail Antonio fired West Ham to a surprise 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Tottenham vs West Ham result, Premier League 2019 report
Manchester United not 'satisfied' despite winning run, says
Everton 4-0 Manchester City: Pep's Citizens dismantled by impressive Toffees 01/15/2017 4:28 PM It was a performances for the ages as Everton provide another setback for City in one of the
Pep Guardiola says Everton are a top side that have impressed
For Albirex Niigata S and Shuhei Hoshino, the magical number this week is 15. Find out who made FOX Sports Asia's Singapore Premier League (SPL) Team of the Week 14.
London: Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala's family grieved on Friday after British authorities formally identified his body as the one recovered from the submerged wreckage of a plane that went down in the English Channel more than two weeks ago.
Family mourns Sala after footballer's body identified
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will travel with the rest of their squad for their FA Cup semi-final against Brighton and Hove Albion having nearly recovered from a hamstring injury, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday.
Football Frames | For Football Fanatics
AD
Football: Free curry fish head, bak chor mee for Liverpool fans if Reds beat Tottenham to win Straits Times · 6 日前. Liverpool fans will have an extra reason to celebrate if the Reds win the Champions League
Soccer Football - Copa Del Rey - Semi Final Second Leg - Valencia v Real Betis - Mestalla, Valencia, Spain - February 28, 2019 Valencia's Gabriel Paulista in action with Real Betis' Aissa Mandi R
Valencia to face Barca in Copa final after seeing off Betis
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch premier league live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch premier league live streaming live
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch premier league stream reddit
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch soccer live stream links
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch champions league live stream uk
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch champions league live streaming match
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch soccer live stream app
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch soccer am live stream
watch champions league draw live streaming
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch english premier league live streaming online
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch the champions league live stream
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch premier league live streaming qatar
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch live soccer game today
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch soccer games live stream free
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch coppa america live streaming uk
#lfc #oasisandbeatles #crossfit #championship #lovefootball #rockstar #oudmehta #juventus #coutinho #league2 #footballstreaming #Vip45 #rugby #cappucino #bayervshoffenheim #mensnightout #valcea #24x7 #commentimemorabili #bayern #conference #Fcb #knuckleball #liverpoolcity #arsenalfantv #oasisofficial #oasisengland #myfootballuniverse #ignoranza #trollfootball #Liverpool #bayernmunich #pagani #klopp #soccerbible #satira #gym #football #romania #premierleague #fcbarcelona #frasitrap #vandijk #Celtic #ronaldo #adidasslipon #calciatoribrutti #leomessi #PartyTime #arsenal #zidane #champion #afcnews #linkstreaming #watchlive #elcasico #golf #oasis #hotcoffee #livestreams #footballmemes #liverpool #chocolatecoffee #kroenkeout #ucl #mane #golazo #Barca #vip #midnight #livesports #arsenalnews #transfernews #footballfans #messi #zinedinezidane
0 comments:
Post a Comment